Transcript included in link.

Direct link to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j_KvkltUW

But even so, I mean, all of this is really irrelevant whether Julian’s a journalist or not. The question is, is Julian accused of journalism? And he is. It is the activity that has been criminalized. Not whether he falls into a category or not. It’s the category of the activity that is being criminalized. Receiving, obtaining, and communicating information to the public.

  • Stovetop@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Assange helped Trump get elected, indicating he is driven more by spite than by any sense of justice. He became a right-wing icon.

    I was sympathetic to his cause early on, but at this point I can’t really will myself to give him the benefit of the doubt any longer.

    • SLfgb@feddit.nlOP
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      11 months ago

      If you don’t want to give him the benefit of the doubt, don’t. Just read the indictment, take note of the wording of the charges and whenever you see his name, substitute it by “publisher”. Then think about the implications for National Security reporting if a publisher from another country is extradited to a country he has barely ever even visited.

      • Shalakushka@kbin.social
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        11 months ago

        Decades of austerity and a party that desires no government at all made the US a shit hole, and Assange tipped the scales for that very party in 2016.

        • ShroOmeric@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          Yeah, tipped the scale that’s the problem. Better keep the shit secret like in every functioning democracy, right?? You guys deserve all the shit that is coming to you. I’m sure Trump would be very happy to be surrounded by people who prefer jail jourmalists rather than listen to the truth.

  • Shalakushka@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    Maybe we would believe he was an impartial whistleblower if he acted like one. But, instead, he acted like a political operative because he is one. He can rot for all I care, maybe Putin can help him.

    • SLfgb@feddit.nlOP
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      11 months ago

      You think this won’t impact the work of journalists you like? Think again.

      There is no impartiality clause in the 1A. He isn’t charged with being biased but with publishing, disseminating truthful information relating to US wars to the public.

  • SLfgb@feddit.nlOP
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    11 months ago

    But even so, I mean, all of this is really irrelevant whether Julian’s a journalist or not. The question is, is Julian accused of journalism? And he is. It is the activity that has been criminalized. Not whether he falls into a category or not. It’s the category of the activity that is being criminalized. Receiving, obtaining, and communicating information to the public.