Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 23 (July 2021 - October 2021)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 2 (2000s)
Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 23 (July 2021 - October 2021)
“Jill Stein in Red Square” by Jill2016 under CC BY 3.0.
From July to October 2021, a series of events unfolded, capturing global attention and shedding light on various issues. During this period, there were no major developments directly involving WikiLeaks or Julian Assange, but other significant events unfolded across the world.
In July, concerns arose about ransomware hackers and their potential inability to get paid for their cyberattacks. The release of NSA whistleblower Reality Winner from prison also made headlines, with discussions on her adjustment to life after imprisonment.
Tucker Carlson, a prominent Fox News host, attracted scrutiny for his controversial statements and actions. The impact of Carlson's rhetoric and influence on American society was examined by various media outlets.
In Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed his imperial ambitions through an essay, heightening tensions between the two nations. Meanwhile, the historic support of Green Party candidate Jill Stein by Nina Turner sparked controversy and discussion.
Throughout August, various issues gained attention. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver covered topics such as ransomware, the Taliban, and the conflict in Afghanistan. The increasing conflicts and violence surrounding mask and vaccine mandates were also highlighted.
In September, Facebook faced criticism when it was revealed that the company's rules did not apply to everyone equally. The actions and influence of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko were examined, shedding light on his controversial regime.
Russian President Putin entered self-isolation due to COVID-19 cases in his inner circle, while a new book revealed that former President Donald Trump's secret memo on Afghanistan withdrawal blindsided his national security team.
In October, the co-opting of Christianity by conservative groups, voter suppression tactics, and the launch of Andrew Yang's Forward Party made headlines. The issue of misinformation, particularly on social media platforms like Facebook, garnered significant attention.
The mysterious case of the COVID-19 lab-leak theory was explored, raising questions about the origins of the pandemic. Anti-vaccine sentiments and their spread on Facebook were scrutinized, along with the platform's handling of divisive user content and its impact on hate and terrorism.
The Taiwan-China conflict and the role of Facebook in fueling division and hate speech were also discussed. The media landscape faced criticism, with Fox News distancing itself from Tucker Carlson's Capitol riot documentary.
During this period, global events reflected the complexities of technology, politics, and societal divisions. While WikiLeaks and Julian Assange did not feature prominently, the discussions around cybersecurity, government transparency, social media influence, and geopolitical tensions shaped the narrative of the time.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 5, 2023
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Next: Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 24 (November 2021 - December 2021)
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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 23 (July 2021 - October 2021):
TUCKER CARLSON’S MANUFACTURED AMERICA – The Atlantic July 12, 2021
Putin’s new Ukraine essay reveals imperial ambitions – Atlantic Council July 15, 2021
Tucker Carlson’s Self-Loathing International Tourism – The Atlantic August 6, 2021
Ransomware – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver August 16, 2021
Who are the Taliban? – BBC August 18, 2021
Mask, vaccine conflicts descend into violence and harassment – AP News August 21, 2021
Ukraine’s president pledges to ‘return’ Russia-annexed Crimea – Al Jazeera August 23, 2021
Afghanistan – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver August 23, 2021
Lukashenko – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver September 13, 2021
Putin in self-isolation due to COVID cases in inner circle – AP News September 14, 2021
How Conservatives Co-Opted Christianity – Second Thought September 24, 2021
How the Christian right embraced voter suppression- Vox September 28, 2021
Andrew Yang Launches Forward Party Following Split From Democrats – Newsweek October 5, 2021
Americans agree misinformation is a problem, poll shows – AP News October 8, 2021
Alexei Navalny: Russia’s jailed vociferous Putin critic – BBC October 8, 2021
How one Facebook worker unfriended the giant social network – AP News October 10, 2021
Misinformation – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver October 11, 2021
The Mysterious Case of the COVID-19 Lab-Leak Theory – The New Yorker October 12, 2021
Neo-fascists exploit ‘no-vax’ rage, posing dilemma for Italy – AP News October 13, 2021
Amid the Capitol riot, Facebook faced its own insurrection – AP News October 22, 2021
Facebook dithered in curbing divisive user content in India – October 24, 2021
People or profit? Facebook papers show deep conflict within – AP News October 25, 2021
Facebook’s language gaps weaken screening of hate, terrorism – AP News October 25, 2021
Taiwan – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver October 25, 2021
Facebook froze as anti-vaccine comments swarmed users – AP News October 26, 2021
America ‘on fire’: Facebook watched as Trump ignited hate – AP News October 28, 2021