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This week on CounterSpin: The Biden administration says it’s making progress toward its goal to slow migration from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador by addressing the causes of that migration. The White House “Call to Action” foregrounds private sector “investments” as key to creating economic opportunity and to rooting out corruption in the region. And companies like Microsoft and PepsiCo have stepped up to do…well, what exactly? And how does this differ from the support for transnational corporations and their extractive, profit-driven policies that has misled US involvement for decades? Azadeh Shahshahani is legal and advocacy director at Project South. She joins us to raise some questions about the US government’s claim that this time, they’re really bringing stability and security to northern Central America.
Transcript: ‘The US Must Break Free of the Banana Republic Mentality’
Also on the show: Facebook would appear to be 0 for 4 in tests of its ability to detect and reject ads containing blatant election-related misinformation—in this case, ahead of important elections in Brazil. The group Global Witness found what they’re calling a “pattern” of the social media platform allowing ads on the site that violate the most basic of standards—including, for example, telling folks the wrong date to vote. At what point does “Oops! But please believe we take all of this very seriously!” stop being a plausible excuse? We talk with Jon Lloyd, senior advisor at Global Witness.
Transcript: ‘Bizarre Decisions From Facebook Call Into Question Moderation Systems’
Plus Janine Jackson takes a quick look at how NPR misremembers the Afghan invasion.
Though I am not surprised ,I remain disappointed in Steve Inskeep’s interview. But at NPR ,he is far from alone in his war -fevered coverage of Afghanistan and Iraq. As someone who listened daily to NPR in those days, I only recall hearing a voice critical of both wars only once on “Talk of the Nation” where she was debating a hawkish voice. But more common was a TOTN hour titled’How can the US win in Afghanistan?” But “independent” NPR never questioned thestated rationales for our invasion of either country. Not only were Scott Simon and Steve Inskeep rivals for most devoted Pentagon shill, but also for who had the most annoying laugh on National “public” Radio