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Tuesday, July 31, 2018

AMERICANA / JOE’S PISSED

COMING DOWN ON TRUMP’S SHAMEFUL MOSCOW MESSAGE

GUEST BLOG / By Joe Biden, former U.S. Vice President—Late last month, we all saw something I never thought possible even in my wildest imagination: An American President standing on the world stage taking the word of a Russian leader over that of America's own intelligence community. Think about that. This President believed Vladimir Putin's preposterous denials and rejected the overwhelming evidence presented by America's intelligence leaders who have taken a sworn duty to protect our nation. In short, he took Putin's word over America's.

It was a performance that was shocking, shameful, and beneath the office of the President.

Folks, flattering dictators does not advance American interests. It makes us less safe.

Attacking the values that make our democracy strong — including strong institutions, the rule of law, a free press, and fair elections — does not help us lead abroad.

When our president had the chance to confront our number one adversary — who continues to attack our democracy and our allies — he instead chose to embrace him.

He blamed America rather than Russian aggression for the deterioration of our bilateral relations. Trashed his own Department of Justice. And put Vladimir Putin's word above that of our own intelligence community — whose very leaders he appointed.

If we ever needed a demonstration of why elections matter, we saw it last Monday in Helsinki. Our values, our leadership in the world, and our national security were all put at risk.

Readers of PillartoPost.org, we don't just have the opportunity — we have the urgent responsibility as citizens to make a dramatic change in this country's leadership this year.

Every day from now until November 6 and beyond, I'm doing everything that I can to support true American leadership up and down the ballot. And right now, I'm asking you to join me.

We have to make it clear that we believe in democracy over dictatorship, that we support our allies and not those who seek to weaken us, and that we will defend our freedom when it is attacked.

The very best way to do that right now? Participate in the democratic process in the most fundamental way. Educate yourself about the leaders running for office who represent our shared vision for the future.


Donate now.  Click here.

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Monday, July 30, 2018

MEDIA MONDAY / NATIONAL PRESS CLUB HELPS WIN FIGHT TO RELEASE JAILED JOURNALIST

Detention ExplainedClick here for video.

Emilio Gutiérrez's release is a victory for press freedom

GUEST BLOG / By Kathy Kiely, National Press Club Press Freedom Fellow /  kkiely@press.org

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on July 26 agreed to free journalist Emilio Gutiérrez-Soto, ending a nearly eight-month ordeal for the National Press Club Press Freedom award winner.

Gutiérrez's release from a detention facility in El Paso, Texas, will allow him to embark on a Knight-Wallace journalism fellowship at the University of Michigan as he continues to press his case for asylum in the United States.

The legal battle to secure his release galvanized 19 professional-journalism organizations and human-rights groups on behalf of the Mexican reporter, who sought asylum in the United States after his work made him the target of death threats in his home country. He and his son, Oscar, (pictured, above) had been held in detention since Dec. 7, 2017.

"While we deeply regret the long detention of a reporter who violated no laws of this country, we are thrilled that, ultimately, common sense and American values have prevailed in this case," said Kathy Kiely, press freedom fellow for the Press Club's non-profit Journalism Institute, which organized the Gutierrezes' defense.

"We want to thank our partners in this effort, especially those whose persistent work or key interventions kept Emilio's hopes alive during these long months," Kiely added: "Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press, U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Lynette Clemetson of the Knight-Wallace Fellowships, Penny Venetis of the Rutgers University Law School and the many, many other lawyers who volunteered their time to assist Eduardo Beckett, Emilio's indefatigable legal advocate in El Paso."

In June, when acting ICE Director Thomas Homan spoke at an event at the Club, NPC President Andrea Edney made a personal appeal on Gutiérrez's behalf.

"Though it has been far too long an ordeal, especially for Emilio," said Edney, "we are ecstatic and relieved to welcome him back into the ranks of a free press, and to send the message that truth-tellers are still protected in the country that enshrines free speech in its Bill of Rights."

The legal settlement came six days before the government was due to appear at a hearing before federal Judge David Guaderrama to argue for their continued detention. Lawyers representing Gutiérrez had argued that the detention was ordered, in part, in retaliation for the reporter's criticism of U.S. immigration policies. In ordering the hearing, Judge Guaderrama said there was sufficient evidence to suggest the case be reviewed.

The judge cited an ICE official's admonition that Gutiérrez's press allies should "tone it down," delivered to Press Club Executive Director Bill McCarren while McCarren was in El Paso last December to plead for their release. Guarderrama expressed his concerns about a potential violation of free speech rights of the Gutierrezes'.

Gutiérrez now will head to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the prestigious Knight-Wallace Fellowship, which funds one academic year for a select group of accomplished journalists from around the world, allowing them to pursue individual research and collaborative skill building at the University of Michigan.

FREED.  Emilio Gutierrez-Soto (left) and his son Oscar as they appeared immediately after being released from an ICE detention facility in El Paso, Texas.  Image: Julian Aguilar, Texas Tribune.

"This settlement represents a significant show of support for press freedom," said fellowship director Lynette Clemetson, who met with Gutiérrez at the El Paso detention facility to invite him to join the 2018-19 class as a special Press Freedom Fellow. "It is important that Americans demonstrate in very tangible ways our commitment to the vital role of journalism in democratic societies. There is a full community of support in Ann Arbor, eager to welcome Emilio, to restore his wellbeing, and to help him resume the journalism work that means so much to him."

Gutiérrez fled Mexico in 2008 after being threatened multiple times over his reporting of official corruption. He entered the United States legally, through an official port of entry in New Mexico, requesting asylum for himself and his then-15-year-old son, Oscar. Initially, immigration authorities separated and confined father and son, but in 2009, U.S. officials determined that Gutiérrez had a "credible fear" of returning to his home country and paroled them. While awaiting adjudication of their asylum case, they lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico, eventually making a living by operating a food truck.

In July, 2017, however, an El Paso immigration judge denied their asylum claim. He questioned Gutiérrez's journalism credentials and argued that the Mexican government could protect the reporter. In a friend-of-the-court brief that helped win a review of that decision, the Press Club and other journalism groups presented more than 100 of Gutiérrez's newspaper clippings, unearthed by Mexico State University Professor Molly Molloy, as well as many reports by expert groups outlining the dangers facing journalists in Mexico.

The brief was drafted, pro bono, by First Amendment lawyers Chuck Tobin and Steve Zansberg of the Ballard Spahr firm and Mark Flores of Littler Mendelson. All three lawyers are former journalists; Tobin is a member of the National Press Club.

While his case was on appeal, Gutiérrez was invited to the Club to accept the John Aubuchon Press Freedom award on behalf of journalists in Mexico, now the most dangerous country in the western hemisphere for reporters, according to Reporters Without Borders.

Weeks after his speech at the Club, during a routine check-in, immigration officials handcuffed Gutiérrez and his son and announced they were deporting them, despite a pending appeal in his asylum case. An 11th-hour phone call from the Board of Immigration Appeals stopped the deportation, but ICE detained the two men and refused to let them go, even after the BIA ordered a review of the asylum denial.

In March, the Rutgers University Law School international human rights law clinic filed a writ of habeas corpus seeking Gutiérrez's freedom. The Club, joined by 19 other professional journalism organizations, supported the effort with another friend-of-the-court brief, drafted by Flores, Tobin and Zansberg.

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MEDIA MONDAY / QUESTIONS THAT GOT WHITE HOUSE REPORTER BANNED


(with microphone) Kaitlan Collins, 26, is an American journalist. She is a White House Correspondent for CNN. Previously, Collins served as the White House Correspondent for the website The Daily Caller.

The Media Today: Why the White House banning a CNN reporter actually matters

From Columbia Journalism Review’s The Media Today report of July 25.

By Pete Vernon, Columnist, Columbia Journalism Review--CNN’s Kaitlan Collins did her job, and then got punished by the White House for it. The aggressive retaliation by government officials drew outrage from journalists, rival networks, and the White House Correspondents Association.

Collins, serving at the television pool reporter at an Oval Office photo opportunity on Wednesday, called out questions to President Trump about his former lawyer’s taping of conversations and Vladimir Putin’s failure to accept an invitation to Washington. This is common practice among White House reporters. Trump declined to answer the questions, which is his right. But then things took a turn, as Collins says she was called before Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and newly appointed deputy chief of staff Bill Shine and told that she would not be allowed to attend an open press event in the Rose Garden later in the day.

The response from fellow journalists was swift. New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker called the decision “outrageous,” adding, “A strong leader does not fear questions. A strong democracy does not shield its leader from those who question authority.” Fox News anchor Bret Baier also stood up for his network’s rival, saying, “As a member of the White House press pool, Fox stands firmly with CNN on this issue of access.” Meanwhile, the White House Correspondents Association issued a statement strongly condemning the decision. “This type of action is inappropriate, wrong-headed, and weak,” wrote WHCA President Oliver Knox. “It cannot stand.”


Apparently, the White House has decided that singling out CNN won’t hurt them. On President Trump’s recent European trip, he attacked CNN unprompted at a press conference in the UK, refused to answer a question from the network’s Jim Acosta, and pivoted to Fox News’s John Roberts, saying, “Let’s go to a real network.” The White House later pulled national security advisor John Bolton from a scheduled appearance on CNN as retaliation for what it said was “bad behavior.”

The full-throated response on Wednesday comes as solidarity among those covering the president has been on the rise. After receiving criticism for not backing Acosta at that UK press conference, Roberts issued a defense of the outlets that Trump had disparaged. Then, at a press briefing last week, Hill reporter Jordan Fabian yielded the floor to NBC’s Hallie Jackson when Sarah Sanders tried to brush past one of Jackson’s follow-up questions.

The outrage from journalists to Collin’s banning was palpable, but in order to have an impact they must also make it clear to the public why this story matters beyond the understandable anger and frustration from CNN. After all, the White House allowed CNN cameras and other network reporters to cover Trump’s afternoon event, so is this dust-up really all that important? The real reason why this is significant is that Trump’s constant attacks on the press—so regular that they barely register anymore—have now been backed by concrete action from his minions. As with any number of individual incidents involving this administration and the media, the specific action won’t hasten the end of the free press as we know it, but the sum of Trump’s deliberate attempts to undermine trust in journalism has long-lasting consequences.

Below, more on the reactions to the White House’s decision on Collins.
Support from the competition: Fox News President Jay Wallace issued a statement saying, “We stand in strong solidarity with CNN for the right to full access for our journalists as part of a free and unfettered press.” The support from Fox is especially notable not just because of its rivalry with CNN, but also because Shine was a longtime executive at the network until he was ousted last year over his handling of sexual harassment allegations.

But...: Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs apparently didn’t get the message. “It's about time there were consequences for disrespectful behavior in the White House,” Dobbs said on his Wednesday program.

Play-by-play: CNN’s Brian Stelter has an overview of the entire incident, noting that “other reporters who were in the room said Collins was perfectly respectful” during her questioning of Trump.

“Inexcusable”: NBC’s Hallie Jackson responded to the White House’s action with a strong message. “Let's be clear: it is inexcusable, unacceptable, and sets an extremely dangerous precedent,” she wrote.” “We shout questions at the president regularly. It's called: doing our job.”

Changing the channel: White House events aren’t the only place that Trump wants to avoid CNN. The New York Times’s Katie Rogers and Maggie Haberman report that the president was furious that Melania Trump’s television aboard Air Force One was tuned to CNN on their recent foreign trip.