News: politics

Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts

Sunday, February 15, 2026

The Epstein files cover-up: Botched or calculated? | The Listening Post

This video from Al Jazeera's The Listening Post covers three main topics: the Epstein files, the internet crackdown in Iran, and the militarization of American football through the Super Bowl.

The first segment focuses on the Epstein files (0:43) and the alleged cover-up by the US Department of Justice.

The video highlights the disorderly release of over 3 million documents, 180,000 images, and 2,000 videos (0:43-0:52).

It discusses the failed redaction of names of high-profile suspects and the accidental exposure of victims' identities (1:02-1:06).

The segment emphasizes the lack of accountability in the US, particularly concerning Donald Trump's name appearing frequently in the files (1:31-1:38).

Accountability in the U.S. fails due to several factors:

Lack of Action Despite Evidence: Despite the release of the Epstein files and awareness of what happened, no one is facing accountability (2:47-2:51).

Media Complicity: The media is seen as complicit because it is not asking key questions about the unredacted parts of the files (2:52-2:57).

Politicization of Justice: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is described as essentially serving as "Trump's personal law firm" rather than representing the American people's interests (4:06-4:14). This suggests a breakdown in the impartiality of the justice system.

Calculated Strategy: The release of the files is seen by some as a "calculated move" to "muddy the waters" and solely blame the deceased Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, rather than the wider network (3:00-3:08, 4:37-4:55).

Political Party Loyalty: Unlike in the past (e.g., Watergate), Republicans are no longer willing to stand up to a Republican president, backing "every move that he does" regardless of scandal (8:09-8:31). This prevents accountability from within the political system.

Gaslighting through Media Apparatus: The video claims a "media apparatus" is dedicated to "gaslighting millions of people each and every day to believe that he did absolutely nothing wrong" (8:41-8:50), making it difficult for the public to demand accountability.

Deep Societal Rot: The speaker expresses concern that "pedophilia is no longer a bipartisan issue" and that the "rot inside of this country is so incredibly deep," making it difficult to mend the "deep fracture" in the justice system (9:04-9:18:49).

Unwillingness of US Government to Pursue Justice: It is stated that the U.S. will most definitely not get accountability, and other governments abroad are encouraged to pursue it instead (9:52-9:55).

Experts in the video suggest the release was a calculated move to muddy the waters and pin the syndicate on Epstein alone (3:00-3:08, 4:37-4:55).

The role of social media and crowd-sourcing in scrutinizing the files is also discussed (10:10-10:26).

The second segment covers the internet blackout in Iran (11:31) and the repression of journalists.

Iranian authorities imposed a total internet blackout during anti-government protests, leading to a renewed wave of repression against journalists and political figures (11:31-11:47).

The video notes the difficulties journalists face in reporting and the punitive measures taken against them (11:53-12:23).

It suggests that Chinese technology from companies like Huawei and Hikvision may be aiding Iran in its internet filtering and surveillance capabilities (13:05-13:34).

The final segment examines the militarization of American football and the Super Bowl (14:12).

The Super Bowl is presented as a spectacle where militarism is aggressively marketed, from choreographed flyovers to flags (14:15-14:23).

The deep-rooted relationship between the NFL and the military is explored, with football's language often mirroring war analogies (15:58-16:13).

The segment highlights the mutual benefits of this relationship, allowing the military to showcase hardware, recruit soldiers, and reinforce narratives (16:49-16:57).

The "paid patriotism" scandal of 2015 is mentioned, where taxpayer funds were used to stage military displays during games (19:07-19:22).

The segment concludes by asserting that these events present a sanitized version of military service, allowing Americans to feel patriotic without confronting the harsh realities of war (22:46-23:07).

Saturday, February 7, 2026

World's Toughest Lives: Stories from the Hidden Worlds | Full Series | Free Documentary

This documentary, "World's Toughest Lives: Stories from the Hidden Worlds," explores the lives of people in five unique and challenging communities across the globe. Each segment highlights the resilience, daily struggles, and cultural practices of residents in these remote or overlooked areas.

Here's a breakdown of the communities featured:

Philippines: Manila North Cemetery (0:00:00-0:41:34) This section focuses on a community living within a sprawling cemetery, where thousands of people coexist with the deceased due to poverty and a lack of housing. The video shows daily life, including funerals (2:52), small businesses thriving around death (6:36), and the celebration of All Souls Day (14:38). It also touches on the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community (26:42) and the threat of forced demolitions (34:41).
Peru: La Rinconada (0:41:34-1:25:11) Set in the world's highest human habitation, this segment delves into the lives of gold miners in the Peruvian Andes. It details their dangerous work (40:51), the "cachure system" (46:22) where miners gamble for their earnings, and the environmental pollution from cyanide (58:40). The community also faces extreme poverty (1:03:23), health risks like tuberculosis (59:30), and high crime rates (1:15:50).
Nigeria: Makoko (1:25:11-2:08:13) This part of the documentary explores a floating slum in Lagos, Nigeria, built on stilts over water. It highlights the community's unique culture surrounding death and funerals (1:23:40), the importance of fishing (1:28:06), and the craft of building dugout canoes (1:30:48). The residents face significant challenges with polluted water (1:37:50), limited access to education (1:43:53), and pervasive crime, including human trafficking and drug dealing (1:53:24).
Russia: Oymyakon (2:08:13-2:53:34) The video takes viewers to the coldest inhabited place on Earth, Oymyakon, Siberia. It showcases how residents endure brutal temperatures (2:14:18), maintain traditional practices like animal husbandry (2:25:44) and ice fishing (2:23:12), and continue to celebrate life events like weddings (2:19:10). The segment also explores the historical context of the settlement (2:16:41) and the blend of traditional beliefs with Soviet-era cultural influences (2:46:34).
India: Dharavi (2:53:34-3:20:56) The final segment is set in Dharavi, one of the world's largest slums, located in Mumbai, India. It portrays Dharavi as a bustling economic hub with a massive underground economy (2:51:01, 2:58:15). The video highlights stories of migrants seeking a better life (2:56:40), the influence of Bollywood with acting classes (3:12:31), and the dual roles of women as homemakers and breadwinners despite societal challenges (3:17:41).

The people in these communities employ various strategies to survive the difficult conditions they face:

Manila North Cemetery, Philippines:
- Many people live in the cemetery due to poverty and lack of housing, transforming it into a makeshift home (0:00:00).
- They sustain themselves through small businesses and daily labor, often centered around the ongoing funeral activities (6:36 - 7:00, 36:32 - 36:38).
- Despite challenges, they maintain a peaceful equilibrium between life and death, hope and sorrow, and find joy in their community (39:04 - 39:09, 40:07).
La Rinconada, Peru:
- Miners endure the harsh conditions and dangerous labor in hopes of striking it rich by finding gold (41:18 - 41:25).
- They participate in the "cachure system," where they gamble one day a month on keeping whatever ore they haul, often preferring this risk over regular wages (46:22 - 46:31).
- They rely on spirituality, including indigenous customs and Roman Catholic worship, and make offerings to deities like Aicha for good fortune in mining (42:23 - 42:27, 41:15 - 41:22).
- An entire economy has sprung up around the mine, with hostels, bars, markets, and restaurants catering to the miners (1:08:12 - 1:08:39).
- Women, known as "pelicqueras," find a way to make a living by sifting through debris trucked out of the mine to find specks of gold (1:05:54 - 1:06:04).
Makoko, Nigeria:
- Fishing is a crucial part of daily life and provides an economic lifeline for the community (1:28:06 - 1:28:30).
- Craftsmen build dugout canoes which are essential for daily activities like visiting family, transporting goods, attending school, and even sleeping (1:30:54 - 1:32:09).
- Women engage in demanding work like preparing and roasting fish for consumption and sale, often for around 80 cents each (1:32:32 - 1:33:23).
- The waterways are arteries for a bustling water-based economy, where almost all trade is conducted by boat, with merchants selling various wares (1:34:46 - 1:35:12).
- Local businesses like carpenters, tailors, and electricians cater to most of Makoko's needs, often reusing electronic components (1:37:05 - 1:37:29).
- A local security group called the Y Brigade patrols the waterways to combat petty crime (1:53:24 - 1:53:41).
- Some men from semi-reformed street gangs engage in physical training ("pumping iron") to toughen up for survival in Makoko (1:58:00 - 1:58:19).
- Many residents hold hope for the community's youth to carry Makoko into the future (2:03:33 - 2:03:36, 2:04:32 - 2:04:34).
Oymyakon, Russia:
- The town has a coal-powered boiler house that pumps hot water throughout the community via a network of pipelines, warming homes and providing much-needed heat (2:10:07 - 2:10:16, 2:11:42 - 2:12:02).
- Animal husbandry, particularly raising cattle and horses, is an essential part of daily life, providing food, fur, and transportation (2:25:44 - 2:25:50, 2:27:51 - 2:28:10).
- They utilize a nearby thermal spring to water their cattle, which remains unfrozen despite the extreme cold (2:27:26 - 2:27:44).
- The town has a humble central store that sells a limited range of produce brought in from the regional capital (2:30:26 - 2:30:34).
- Schooling continues for the town's youth, with classes only cancelled if temperatures drop below -50°C, ensuring access to education (2:31:15 - 2:31:42).
Dharavi, India:
- The slum operates a bustling underground economy worth up to a billion dollars each year, with workshops and rudimentary factories forming its backbone (2:50:57 - 2:51:04).
- Migrant workers are renowned for their entrepreneurialism, producing almost anything imaginable (2:55:05 - 2:55:10).
- The textiles industry provides work for many migrants, with constant fabric cutting and stitching (2:55:16 - 2:55:27).
- Residents forge ahead regardless of the harsh conditions like sewage, lack of toilets, scarce clean water, and the threat of malaria (2:59:18 - 2:59:31).
- The community maintains a diverse sectarian mix, with the Hindu majority generally coexisting peacefully alongside Christian and Muslim communities (3:00:41 - 3:01:00).
- Many women fulfill dual roles as both homemakers and breadwinners, contributing to their families' welfare despite gender stereotypes (3:18:10 - 3:18:18).
- They find moments of enjoyment and distraction in cricket, the national sport, which is followed with "almost religious fervor" (3:23:55 - 3:24:21).