Barrett Brown Update: New Defense Team, Feds Fish For Activists
By Christian Stork on May 2, 2013
Several new developments in the Barrett Brown case suggest that the playing field between the cyber-activist/journalist and the government may be starting to even out-at least a bit. But the feds aren't giving up anytime soon.

Dancing in Jaffa
By James Huang on Apr 28, 2013
Who wouldn't like, for once, to hear a story of Israelis and Palestinians getting along? Here's a moving program to help children in this troubled land to bridge the perennial hostility gap-literally, by touching. Put the cynicism aside for a moment and revel in this beautiful documentary trailer.

More "Not In The George W. Bush Presidential Library And Museum": The Cronyism
By Tim McDonnell on Apr 26, 2013
If you want a fairy tale account of recent history-with an engaged president taking tough choices in the public interest-hightail it to Dallas and visit the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. If you'd prefer the real story-of cronyism, incompetence, cynicism and self-dealing by the American aristocracy, read on.

George W. Bush Presidential Library And Museum
By Russ Baker on Apr 24, 2013
The new George W. Bush Library and Museum is dedicated to educating the public. Here's one story it left out. Play ball!

George Carlin: How Politicians Talk
By James Huang on Apr 21, 2013
All those weaselly words politicians use? George Carlin was on the case.

Docs We Like: Brothers On The Line
This documentary about the three Reuther brothers of the United Auto Workers, tells, through one very important union, the remarkable story of the rise and fall of organized labor. It also addresses the crucial symbiosis between unions and the civil rights movement. There's even a curious connection to the deaths of JFK, RFK and MLK.

NYT'S Rhodes To Nowhere: A Cipher In The Oval Office
Weird just keeps getting weirder. A close read of the New York Times's profile of a mysterious top Obama speechwriter and advisor raises questions about the media, the presidency, and power itself.

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US Media Double Standard--on Uprisings In Syria And Uprisings In...the US
By Russ Baker on Feb 11, 2013
Why is torching a police kiosk an admirable thing in Syria but cause for consternation in the United States? Why is protest again corrupt central power in one country a good thing-and something to be dismissed in another? WhoWhatWhy asks....WhyWhyWhy

Thee "Blood" Items You Probably Have In Your House Right Now
By Our Roving Correspondent on Feb 9, 2013
A few things to unsettle you. Hey! No need to thank us. (Oh, and a few things you can do to settle right back.)

Radioactive Eye Glasses...Silverware...Zippers...Hip Joints...Anyone?
By Karen Charman on Feb 7, 2013
Every ten years or so, the nuclear establishment trots out a proposal to offload some of its so-called low-level waste-radioactive metals, concrete, soil, plastics, and other materials-onto the public. In the past, this idea was met with outrage and was stopped. But as the nation's nuclear garbage pile continues to grow, the pressure to release some of it into commerce-and thus our daily lives-mounts.

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Over at WhoWhatWhy.com, Christian Stork has a thorough analysis debunking the most common myths propagated about the West's nuclear stand-off with Iran. It's all so familiar, isn't it? I know if I think really hard, I can figure it out. Oh, wait - it's just like the buildup to both wars in Iraq! And of course both times, the media did their best stenography impression.

That's why stories like this are so important. In his "Idiot's Guide to Iran and the Bomb," Stork lists 8 important lessons for all people to keep in mind when surveying the media landscape around Iran's nuclear program.

What he has to say will hardly be news for many C&L readers, but this should be required reading for anyone concerned about the future of Middle East policy. The first lesson taught, with exhaustive documentation, is that Iran is not building nuclear weapons. Considering how hard the mainstream media is working to convince us otherwise, it might be hard to grasp. But that's why stories like this tutorial are needed. Click here to see the rest of what Stork calls his "introductory course in intellectual self-defense":

Lesson #1: Iran is not building nuclear weapons National Intelligence Estimate: “We judge with high confidence that in fall 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program.”

(2007 National Intelligence Estimate Iran: Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities; November 2007)“Several senior Israeli officials who spoke in recent days to The Associated Press said Israel has come around to the U.S. view that no final decision to build a bomb has been made by Iran.” (Associated Press, “Israel shifts views on Iran”; March 18, 2012)

The 2011 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), a synthesized compilation of data evaluated by America’s 17 intelligence agencies, declared that there were no serious revisions to the controversial (for war hawks) 2007 NIE—which stated Iran stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003. While the 2011 estimate did include updated progress on Iran’s civilian nuclear program, such as an increased number of operative centrifuges, it still could not muster any evidence to indicate the program was being weaponized.These findings echo reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has also concluded that Iran is not building nuclear weapons. The IAEA accounts are typically pored over for the slightest hint of ambiguity or malevolence, which are then promulgated as the most important takeaways in Western news summaries.

As we like to say, go read the rest.