Does Saudi Arabia Own Donald Trump?

“Does Saudi Arabia Own Donald Trump?” asks Mehdi Hasan at the Intercept. While the president claims he has “no financial interests” in Saudi Arabia, The Kingdom bailed out Mr. Trump after some of his less-artful deals, and has bought Trump properties for millions.

More:

“Trump tweeted he has no ties to Saudi Arabia. A Fox News account proved him wrong.” Stavros Agorakis, Vox

“Whether Trump has financial interests *in* Saudi Arabia, he has plenty *with* the country,” Philip Bump, Washington Post

“Trump and Kushner Put Saudi’s Money First,” Timothy L. O’Brien, Bloomberg

“11 senators request Trump, sons disclose business ties with Saudi Arabia,” Marisa Fernandez, Axios

“President Trump has a massive conflict of interest on Saudi Arabia,” Noah Bookbinder, Washington Post

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2nd Monday in October

In many parts of the United States the second Monday in October is recognized as a holiday. But just which holiday is it, anyway? Americans disagree. A Vox video.

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Ocean acidification explained in 2 minutes

“Ocean acidification explained in 2 minutes,” a Grist video animated by Amelia Bates and written by Amelia Urry.

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‘Local’ News: Sinclair’s Soldiers in Trump’s War on Media

Nearly 200 TV stations across America are owned by a single company, the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Headquartered in the Baltimore area, the firm is owned by the conservative Smith brothers (no, not them), David, Frederick, J. Duncan, and Robert. Sinclair Broadcast HQ forced local news anchors at its stations to read a script echoing Donald Trump’s dismissal of major media as ‘fake.’ Videos from Think Progress and Deadspin (above) capture the scope of this truly phony ‘local’ editorial item. Right-wing rival Fox News said the Sinclair TV anchors “looked like hostage victims.”

Sinclair’s $3.9 billion deal to buy an additional 42 TV stations from Tribune Media is awaiting FCC and antitrust review. If approved, Sinclair broadcasts could reach 72% of American households.

More:

“How America’s Largest Local TV Owner Turned Its News Anchors Into Soldiers In Trump’s War On The Media,” Timothy Burke, Deadspin

“As Sinclair’s sound-alike anchors draw criticism for ‘fake news’ promos, Trump praises broadcaster.” Paul Farhi, Washington Post

“CNN: Local Sinclair Staff Trash Must-Run ‘Propaganda’ Segments,” Matt Shuham, TPM Livewire

“Sinclair Chairman Claims Entire Print Media Has ‘No Credibility,’” Olivia Nuzzi, New York Magazine

“Sinclair-owned TV station chooses not to air media bias promo,” Avery Anapol, The Hill

“Public Shaming Won’t Stop Sinclair,” April Glaser, Slate

“The nation’s biggest conservative broadcaster is putting words in its anchors’ mouths. Critics blame the FCC.” Brian Fung, Washington Post

Related:

“Local news hurt by broadcast media conglomerate,” Chloe Reichel, Journalist’s Resource

“Sinclair says asking news directors for PAC contributions isn’t a conflict of interest,” Al Tompkins, Poynter

Update:

“‘It borders on a regulatory fraud,” Margaret Harding McGill, Politico

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Grand Central

“Grand Central,” by the Tomasz Stańko Quintet, 2010. Official music video created by Katarzyna Kijek & Przemysław Adamski using 1 km of yarn, four flashlights, and a lamp. The yarn was shaken, illuminated in different ways, and shot in stop motion.

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A Century of Animation

Historic animation highlights 1833 – 1990, courtesy of The Solomon Society.

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Cycle

“Cycle,”directed by Kouhei Nakama. Music by Kai Engel.

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An Irish message for Donald Trump

While visiting the White House this St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Edna Kenny schooled President Donald Trump on immigration.

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Stupid Watergate

John Oliver describes the Trump “Tapp” conspiracy theory.

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The Pentagon Preps for Urban Growth

Growing megacities are breeding grounds for “adversaries and hybrid threats,” and the U.S. Armed Forces are unprepared, claims a video from the “Advanced Special Operations Combating Terrorism” course at the Joint Special Operations University. The privately-produced video, made public by The Intercept’s Nick Turse, is based on a 2014 Army report.

We’re surprised the footage wasn’t used by the Trump campaign.

More:

“Pentagon Video Warns of ‘Unavoidable’ Dystopian Future for World’s Biggest Cities,” Nick Turse, The Intercept

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