OptOut/Mother Jones Team Up, Israel Lobby Wins, The Supreme Court, and COVID’s Summer Wave

This week, OptOut's Important Context has a cross-published article with MOTHER JONES about how a right-wing media hosts have been selling airtime to the political influence network of Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui.

Guo, who was convicted on federal fraud charges last month, has spent years cozying up to Trump World. For example, he has allied himself with Steve Bannon, with whom he would a venture called the New Federal State of China ostensibly dedicated to toppling the Communist Party of China.

Previously, Important Context revealed that operatives from Guo's network were recruiting prominent conservatives–including Donald Trump's 2024 national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt–to write and/or sign their name to opinion pieces lauding the billionaire's projects and painting him as a victim of political persecution by the CCP. This latest story reveals another means by which Guo's people were puffing up his image to right-wing audiences.

Right-Wing Broadcasters Sold Media Hits to Supporters of a Chinese Fraudster

How backers of MAGA mogul Guo Wengui purchased television and radio appearances.

Important ContextDan Friedman

In Other News

Progressive firebrand Rep. Cori Bush lost her primary against an opponent backed by the Israel lobby to the tune of millions of dollars. Bush has been a strong voice against what international experts are calling a genocide in Gaza. JACOBIN explained.

AIPAC Bought Cori Bush’s Seat

Wealthy pro-Israel donors drove Congresswoman Cori Bush out of office because she thinks Palestinians’ lives matter.

Ben Burgis

The race had turned nasty. United Democracy Project, a super PAC tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), had run ad targeting Bush, that distorted her face. THE INTERCEPT had that story.

AIPAC Used Distorted Photo of Cori Bush in $7 Million Negative Ad Blitz

AIPAC’s super PAC, which is backing Wesley Bell, used distorted photos of Bush as part of a $7 million ad blitz against the progressive incumbent.

The InterceptAkela Lacy

Bush is the second progressive Israel critic ousted this cycle by pro-Israel money.  While the defeats are certainly setbacks for the left, the national discourse on Israel/Palestine is changing. The bipartisan consensus is fraying. THE NATION published a piece about the moral implications of Bush's position on Israel.

Cori Bush May Have Lost an Election, but She Won the Moral High Ground

The Missouri Democrat was among the first to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, and there can be no disputing that she stood on the right side of history.

The NationJohn Nichols

Kamala Harris selected her running mate last week, overlooking Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was widely seen as too overtly pro-Israel, in favor of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a former national guardsman and congressman. While many on the left claimed victory,  Walz is an Israel supporter–though he has was friendlier to campus protesters than Shapiro. THE NEW REPUBLIC poured some cold water on the "left wins" narrative.

The Tim Walz Nod: Caving to the Left? No. Reaching Into the Heartland.

Kamala Harris’s new running mate has one hell of a résumé.

The New RepublicMichael Tomasky

Supreme Court Woes

Right-wing Justice Neil Gorsuch's new book makes the case for empowering the court at the expense of the regulatory state. The justice was part of the majority that threw out the Chevrone doctrine which held that administrative agencies are entitled to deference in their reasonable interpretations of the statutes they are charged with enforcing in cases of ambiguity.

Neil Gorsuch Makes the Case for a Judicial Power Grab

In his new book he rails against the regulatory state and explains why judges should have its power instead.

The New RepublicTimothy Noah

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, dealt a blow to the most vulnerable Americans, empowering municipalities to clear homeless encampments even if no shelter space is available. The new ruling was criticized as an effort to criminalize homelessness. COUNTERPUNCH had the story.

The Supreme Court to the Homeless: Drop Dead!

So income from your three jobs won’t cover your rent increase. There are no beds at the shelter and public housing has a waiting list decades long. You

CounterPunch.orgEve Ottenberg

Right-wing Justice Clarence Thomas is facing renewed scrutiny for undisclosed luxury travel gifts from his billionaire benefactor Harlan Crow. STATES NEWSROOM reported.

Chair of U.S. Senate tax panel probes GOP megadonor’s travel gifts to Clarence Thomas • Idaho Capital Sun

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden has asked billionaire Harlan Crow’s attorney for details on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s travel.

Idaho Capital SunAshley Murray

COVID-19 Again

Well, it's August and the nation is facing another major surge of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the illness COVID-19. OptOut Editorial Director Walker Bragman was recently featured in THE NATION alongside Yale epidemiologist Gregg Gonsalves with a piece about why the pandemic seems to have such staying power.

Why Covid Keeps Winning

We didn’t learn a thing.

The NationGregg Gonsalves

Meanwhile, there seems to be some movement in Washington to get relief to long COVID sufferers. Long COVID is estimated to affect millions of people and can be either mild or totally disruptive to one's existence. STATES NEWSROOM had that story too.

Senators urge better access to disability payments for Long COVID patients • Virginia Mercury

Va. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine among legislators pushing Social Security Administration to ease disability benefits access for long COVID patients

Virginia MercuryCasey Quinlan

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