Fausta's Blog

American and Latin American Politics, Society, and Culture

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Wise words from the young

The young girl in the video posits that the media is creating a narrative. I’m not sure who originated the narrative at this point, but I agree with her that the media is simulating a reality of sorts. Hours, days, of sundry talking heads opining about a press conference have priority over news such as

  1. Mike Pence’s official visits to Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Panama, the latter being cut short over the North Korea situation
  2. Colombia’s FARC official disarmament day while dissenting FARC factions fight government forces
  3. Russia arming Venezuela’s government in exchange for oil
  4. al-Qaeda taking territorial control in Syria
  5. and of course, yesterday’s terrorist attack in Spain.

Read my article, Wise words from the young



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Mexico: Government spying on journalists

Several prominent journalists and activists in Mexico have filed a complaint accusing the government of spying on them by hacking their phones.

The report says that the software, known as Pegasus, was sold to Mexican federal agencies by Israeli company NSO Group on the condition that it only be used to investigate criminals and terrorists.

The software can infiltrate smartphones and monitor calls, texts and other communications, the New York Times said. It can also activate a phone’s microphone or camera, effectively turning the device into a personal bug.

But instead of being used to track suspected criminals, the targets allegedly included investigative journalists, anti-corruption activists and even lawyers.

. . .

Nine people have now filed a criminal complaint

The BBC lists,

  • “Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Centre: One of the most respected human rights groups in Mexico, it has looked into the disappearance and suspected massacre of 43 students in 2014 and other high profile cases, including a military raid that left 22 dead in 2014. Its executive director and two other senior executives allegedly received infected messages
  • “Aristegui Noticias: Award-winning journalist Carmen Aristegui, who also hosts a daily programme on CNN en Español, has reported on suspected cases of corruption and conflict of interest, including a scandal involving the wife of President Enrique Peña Nieto acquiring a $7m (£5.5m) house from a government contractor. Two members of her investigative team and her under-age son allegedly received some 50 messages
  • “Carlos Loret de Mola: A popular journalist at leading TV network Televisa, he allegedly received several messages containing the software
  • “Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO): It has led efforts for anti-corruption legislation. Two senior members were allegedly targeted.”

Interestingly, the NYT, which started the investigation, is partially owned by Carlos Slim.

Mexico is one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists and media workers, and press freedom faces persistent threats.

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Mexico: Another news editor shot

Mexico is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists.

Mexican news editor shot as attacks against journalists soar

A Mexican journalist was shot and injured early on Wednesday in the eastern state of Veracruz, the state attorney general’s office said, the latest in a spate of attacks against reporters in Mexico.

The 51-year-old news editor at La Opinion de Poza Rica, a newspaper in the violent oil-drilling city of Poza Rica in the drug-ravaged state, was shot outside his home early on Wednesday morning. The attorney general’s office in a statement identified him only as ‘A.A.G.’ but the State Commission for the Protection of Journalists named him as Armando Arrieta Granados.

The Committee to Protect Journalists keeps track of incidents, with Veracruz being the deadliest state.

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The not-quite-fake but rather manipulated news

If, as the Washington Post says, “Democracy Dies in Darkness”, the media should get a lot of the credit for dimming the lights. Not for simply making up stories out of whole cloth (remember the “hacked power grid” story that turned out to be one laptop with malware?), but also by omitting or ignoring pertinent information.

Two stories this week illustrate the point. Read my post, The not-quite-fake but rather manipulated news

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The daily fake: The yearbook prank

The Daily Mail, New York Post, U.S. News and World Report, and the International Business Times ran stories alleging that Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch had started a club named “Fascism Forever” while in high school.

What is astonishing about this is the only undeniable fact: None of the journalists in any of the four newspapers, nor their editors reviewing the story, thought of doing one thing – calling Georgetown Prep (telephone available at their website) and actually asking any questions on this story.

Read my post,, The daily fake: The yearbook prank.



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Jorge Ramos’s “racial war” rhetoric

Jorge Bonilla reports that Univision’s open borders advocate is kicking it up a notch,

Ramos, the journalist that Trump booted from a press conference nearly a year ago, claims that the hatred, racism and intolerance that were the hallmarks of the Republican’s campaign have already caused a racial war.

“It’s war. We are in a pitched battle between those who defend immigrants and the anti-immigrant. Since all these immigrants are without protection, the mayors of big cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Denver, and several universities, just to name a few, have decided to take charge of immigrant defense”, he says.

…

“The country is totally divided, full of hatreds, resentments, a very dangerous desire for vengeance, and with very little tolerance. What is being discussed here is how to resist Trump”, he added.

“Racial war” may not be a good idea to promote by the whiter-than-white Ramos.

But then we’re talking about the guy who wanted to convince his audience that Jeb! is Latino.

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