Politics

The Hobbledehoy collects articles and podcasts from reliable sources of factual reporting, but with a clear, self-acknowledged left-leaning or progressive editorial bias.
Find the most recent articles from historians Timothy Snyder and Heather Cox Richardson, journalist Sarah Kendzior, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, former U.S. Senator Al Franken, and the global news program Democracy Now!

Comey was concerned publicly blaming Russia for hacks of Democrats could appear too political in run-up to elections

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FBI Director James B. Comey advised against the Obama administration publicly accusing Russia of hacking political organizations on the grounds that it would make the administration appear unduly partisan too close to the Nov. 8 election, according to officials familiar with the deliberations.

But he supported the administration’s formal denunciation last month as long as it did not have the FBI’s name on it, they said. Comey was sensitive not only to his agency appearing to influence the election but also to seeming biased while it was conducting an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions.

At the same time, the bureau works with Russian services on a variety of terrorism and criminal matters.

Source: Comey was concerned publicly blaming Russia for hacks of Democrats could appear too political in run-up to elections – The Washington Post

Ed Vaizey calls for minimum wage for ‘gig economy’ self-employed | Business | The Guardian

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The call came from Ed Vaizey, who until July was the minister for digital industries, and if heeded would require a major change in business models for fast-growing firms relying on self-employed contractors paid on a piecework basis.

They include companies such as the taxi app firm Uber, which has 40,000 drivers enrolled on its system in the UK, and delivery giant Hermes, which relies on 10,500 self-employed couriers to deliver parcels for retailers including John Lewis and Next. Neither currently guarantees workers the minimum wage.

Uber last week said it would appeal against an employment tribunal ruling that its drivers should not be classed as self-employed and so should receive the minimum wage. HM Revenue and Customs is also investigating whether Hermes couriers are wrongly classed as self-employed following an investigation by the Guardian that uncovered concerns some were earning below the £7.20 national living wage that is statutory for employees and workers aged 25 and over, but not the self-employed.

READ FULL STORY at Source: Ed Vaizey calls for minimum wage for ‘gig economy’ self-employed | Business | The Guardian

John Oliver on the US election’s latest low: ‘Please let this thing be over soon’ | Television & radio | The Guardian

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The host referred to this election as a ‘grinding hell’ as he discussed the new Clinton email twist that involves disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner

Source: John Oliver on the US election’s latest low: ‘Please let this thing be over soon’ | Television & radio | The Guardian