Drama and theater! The veil is lifting. Tech giants are useful, but they seem driven by parasites. The same can be said of legislative bodies, entertainment giants, and prosecutors going after the January 6 Capitol Insurrection.
Jessica Watkins has an interesting story to tell. Her defense of January 6 could convince the public that the prosecution is over-stating its case, looking to hang anyone and everyone possible as payback for the Capitol being breached. In acquitting those who occupied their legislative floor in 2014, Taiwan’s dignity far outshines that of America’s. To the US Supreme Court: You have a higher bar to reach, so to speak.
Social media takes a bumpy turn for the better. Australia’s social media law is somewhat vague, but mainly forces dialog. As understood by the Times, the Aussie law, along with the infamous ‘Articles 11’ of the EU law, aren’t aimed at the normal guy nor the pundit. Instead, they aim at huge tech giants who use AI to aggregate enormous numbers of new stories as one more added feature of their already behemoth-sized tech services. The infamous EU ‘Article 13’ law banning memes is another story. While Europe wants to tax links on Apple and Google, then ban memes for nearly everyone, Australia just wants Facebook and Google to have a conversation when they re-post part of a news story.
While the giants fight, originality steps up. In the approaching shadow of it becoming illegal to use any old music on YouTube, the need for original music spikes. Such laws were lobbied for by big entertainment companies; ironically it is big entertainment that now faces its fiercest competition from billions of ‘little guys’—who used to be their customers.
So, to the tech giants, tech-phobic lawmakers, copyright mongers, and prosecutors: Keep overreaching. Just keep overreaching.
Trump
State & Local
Michigan restaurants push for increased capacity limits // WOOD NBC 8 Grand Rapids, MI
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of energy emergency in MI // ABC 12 Flint
Liquor licenses suspended at Michigan bar violating 25% capacity, 10 p.m. closing rules // MLive.com
Republicans
Trump-McConnell rift threatens GOP’s Senate hopes // Politico
The Birthplace of the Republican Party Buckles After Trump Nearly Blew Up the GOP // Politico
Trump declares war on McConnell, vows to back MAGA challengers // CNBC
Trump rips McConnell in lengthy statement after being acquitted in impeachment trial // CNN
Violence, Radicalism & Terrorism
Alleged Oathkeeper says she was protecting VIPs at Trump rally // CNN
Soc Media, Cybersecurity & Tech
What is Article 13 and Article 11? // IT Pro
Australia news code: What’s this row with Facebook and Google all about? // BBC News
Facebook restarts talks over Australia media law // Politico (EU)
News Law – Facebook Australia // australia.fb.com
Space
Mars landing team ‘awestruck’ by photo of descending rover // Phys.org
NASA Mars Perseverance rover has successfully landed // CNN
Mid East
US sanctions inflicted $1 trillion damage on Iran’s economy: FM // Aljazeera
NATO Focus
UPDATE 1-White House says U.S. not inviting Russia to G7 // Yahoo News
U.S. enters NATO meetings: China and Russia threats, Afghanistan war drags // CNBC