Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 17 (June 2020 - August 2020)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part2 (2000s)
Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 17 (June 2020 - August 2020)
“American flags representing the 200,000 dead from COVID-19 planted at the base of the Washington Monument” by Ted Eytan under CC BY-SA 2.0.
From June to August 2020, the events surrounding WikiLeaks and Julian Assange were entangled with a series of political controversies and global incidents. During this period, protests against racial injustice and the COVID-19 pandemic remained prominent. Here is a summary of the key events:
In June, protests erupted across the United States after the killing of George Floyd, and tensions escalated as President Trump threatened to use military force against protesters. Tear gas was used to disperse protesters near a church for a photo op by the president.
Reality Winner, an NSA whistleblower, raised concerns about her health during the COVID-19 pandemic while in prison, arguing that her medical conditions put her at risk.
Protests against racial injustice spread globally, including in Paris, amid international outrage over George Floyd's death.
Facebook faced criticism for its handling of inflammatory posts by President Trump. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, continued to face pressure over the platform's content policies.
Prosecutors revealed a plot by three men to terrorize protests in Las Vegas, highlighting the potential for violence during the demonstrations.
Questions arose about Russia's low reported death toll from COVID-19, leading to speculation and scrutiny from Western nations.
Reports discussed the possible spread of a conspiracy theory made in America but potentially amplified by Russia, shedding light on the intersection between domestic and foreign disinformation campaigns.
Facebook faced calls from civil rights groups to pause its ad platform, amid concerns about the spread of hate speech and misinformation.
The impact of COVID-19 on prisons and jails was highlighted on John Oliver's show, addressing the challenges faced by incarcerated individuals during the pandemic.
The issue of fake social media accounts manipulating information was explored, emphasizing the need for individuals to be vigilant about what they see online.
Reports emerged alleging that Russia secretly offered bounties to Afghan militants to kill U.S. troops, sparking outrage and raising questions about the U.S.-Russia relationship.
Montana's GOP was found to have violated campaign finance laws, leading to legal consequences for the party.
President Trump was briefed on possible Russian bounties on U.S. troops, raising concerns about the administration's response.
The eviction crisis caused by the pandemic was discussed on John Oliver's show, shedding light on the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals and families.
Divergent views within intelligence agencies about the intelligence on Russian bounties were reported, adding complexity to the situation.
Officials stated that an Afghan contractor distributed Russian cash to kill American soldiers, further fueling concerns about the U.S.-Russia dynamic.
Russia passed constitutional amendments that paved the way for President Putin to remain in power for an extended period, drawing attention to his political longevity.
Democrats and healthcare experts emphasized the need to address the shortage of protective gear during the pandemic.
Presidential candidate Joe Biden criticized President Trump's handling of the alleged Russian bounties, highlighting a contrast in foreign policy approaches.
Issues with the quality of medical gear provided to nursing homes during the pandemic came to light, indicating deficiencies in the distribution process.
The Supreme Court ruled that states can bind presidential electors' votes, affirming the power of states in the electoral process.
Concerns were raised about the dwindling supply of protective gear for medical workers, highlighting ongoing challenges in responding to the pandemic.
The complex nature of Russia's support for the Taliban in Afghanistan was examined, underscoring the intricacies of international alliances and conflicts.
A former prosecutor from the Mueller investigation announced a book about the inquiry, providing insights into the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Western nations accused Russia of attempting to steal COVID-19 vaccine data, exposing the global race for a vaccine and potential cyber threats.
Protests erupted in Russia after the arrest of Sergei Furgal, the governor of Khabarovsk Krai, raising concerns about political freedom and dissent.
John Oliver's show explored conspiracy theories related to the pandemic, highlighting the dangers of misinformation.
Reality Winner, the NSA whistleblower, tested positive for COVID-19 while in prison, leading to concerns about her health and safety.
Police in Richmond, Virginia, claimed that white supremacists disguised as Black Lives Matter protesters instigated riots, exposing the complexities of protest dynamics.
Senator Tammy Duckworth expressed frustration over President Trump's silence on reports of Russia offering bounties on U.S. troops.
Reports indicated that President Trump never raised the issue of Russian bounties with President Putin, raising questions about the administration's response.
A man who helped ignite George Floyd riots was identified as a white supremacist, underscoring the presence of extremist elements during protests.
Reports revealed the failure of Jared Kushner's testing plan for COVID-19, highlighting challenges in the administration's pandemic response.
Questions arose about whether the Trump administration ignored COVID-19 testing needs in Democratic states, raising concerns about political motivations in pandemic response.
Analyses compared Putin's rule in Russia to that of a Central Asian dictator, emphasizing the consolidation of power in his hands.
President Trump intensified efforts to undermine confidence in the upcoming election ahead of the Democratic National Convention, indicating concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
A Senate report stated that Trump campaign Russia contacts posed a grave threat, shedding light on the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Clashes occurred between far-right Proud Boys supporters and Black Lives Matter protesters in Portland, highlighting the divisions and tensions in society.
Russian dissident Alexei Navalny was poisoned, leading to his medical treatment in Germany and sparking suspicions of Kremlin involvement.
Amidst concerns about foreign interference, Russian-backed organizations were accused of amplifying QAnon conspiracy theories.
The Supreme Court denied the addition of Green Party candidates to the Montana ballot, indicating limitations on third-party access to elections.
The poisoning of Navalny was analyzed, providing insights into the use of exotic poisons in Russian operations.
Navalny's team pointed to the Kremlin's involvement in the attack, suggesting a connection between the Russian government and the poisoning.
A former aide claimed that Trump had a public meltdown over a missed phone call from Putin, shedding light on their relationship.
During this period, the events surrounding WikiLeaks and Julian Assange intersected with various political controversies, protests against racial injustice, the COVID-19 pandemic, and concerns about foreign interference in elections. These events highlighted the complexity of global issues and the ongoing challenges in maintaining transparency, accountability, and stability in the political landscape.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 5, 2023
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Next: Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 18 (September 2020 - October 2020)
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Putin Is A War Criminal
Russia Is A Terrorist State:
Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6 (2022+)
Sources for Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 17 ( June 2020 - August 2020):
With rare candor, employees protest Facebook’s Trump policy – AP News June 1, 2020
Trump threatens military force against protesters nationwide – AP News June 1, 2020
Tear gas, threats for protesters before Trump visits church – AP News June 1, 2020
Tensions mar Paris protest as Floyd outrage goes global – AP News June 2, 2020
Protesters return to the streets as Trump decries ‘lowlifes’ – AP News June 2, 2020
Zuckerberg still under fire over inflammatory Trump posts – AP News June 2, 2020
Prosecutors: 3 men plotted to terrorize Vegas protests – AP News June 3, 2020
Russia’s low virus death toll still raises questions in West – AP News June 14, 2020
A Conspiracy Made in America May Have Been Spread by Russia – The New York Times June 15, 2020
Facebook aims to help voters, but won’t block Trump misinfo – AP News June 16, 2020
Civil rights groups call for ‘pause’ on Facebook ads – AP News June 17, 2020
Coronavirus VIII: Prisons & Jails – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver June 22, 2020
Official finds Montana GOP violated campaign finance laws – AP News June 26, 2020
Coronavirus IX: Evictions – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver June 29, 2020
NSA Differed From CIA, Others on Russia Bounty Intelligence – The Wall Street Journal June 30, 2020
Russia just paved the way for Putin to be president for life – Vox July 2, 2020
Democrats say US needs to address protective gear shortage – AP News July 2, 2020
Biden Slams Trump on Russia Bounties in Foreign Policy Contrast – VOA News July 3, 2020
Feds stop sending nursing homes gowns described as useless – AP News July 3, 2020
Justices rule states can bind presidential electors’ votes – AP News July 6, 2020
Protective gear for medical workers begins to run low again – AP News July 7, 2020
The tangled web of Russia’s Taliban support – Axios July 8, 2020
Former Mueller prosecutor writing book on investigation – AP News July 13, 2020
Russia Is Trying to Steal Virus Vaccine Data, Western Nations Say – The New York Times July 16, 2020
Sergei Furgal protests: Putin picks new governor after murder allegation – BBC July 20, 2020
Coronavirus: Conspiracy Theories – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver July 20, 2020
Reality Winner tests positive for COVID-19 in Texas federal prison – USA Today July 21, 2020
Exclusive: Trump never raised Russia’s Taliban bounties with Putin – Axios July 29, 2020
How Jared Kushner’s Secret Testing Plan “Went Poof Into Thin Air” – Vanity Fair July 30, 2020
Did Trump and Kushner ignore blue state COVID-19 testing as deaths spiked? – NBC News August 4, 2020
Putin Is Ruling Russia Like a Central Asian Dictator – Foreign Policy August 6, 2020
Trump campaign Russia contacts were ‘grave threat’, says Senate report – BBC August 19, 2020
Alexei Navalny: Putin critic ‘probably poisoned’ – doctors – BBC August 24, 2020
Supreme Court denies push to add Green Party candidates to Montana ballot – The Hill August 25, 2020
Navalny and Russia’s arsenal of exotic poisons – BBC August 26, 2020
Navalny’s team sees Kremlin behind attack – BBC August 27, 2020