The AP reports: A Saudi court has sentenced a doctoral student to 34 years in prison for spreading “[allegedly false] rumors” and retweeting dissidents, according to court documents obtained Thursday, a decision that has drawn growing global condemnation. Activists and lawyers consider the sentence against Salma al-Shehab, a mother of two and a researcher at […]
Category: Conspiracy Theories
Parts of the Mar-A-Lago Search Warrant Affidavit Will Be Unsealed
From today’s court order: THIS CAUSE is before the Court on motions to unseal the search warrant materials, including the probable cause affidavit, that were filed by the Media-Intervenors. ECF Nos. 4, 6, 9, 20, 22, 23, 30-33. Today I held a hearing on the motions. As I ruled from the bench at the conclusion […]
Podcast Episode 4 is out
The fourth episode of my podcast “Strangers on the Internet” just dropped (the direct link for Apple Podcasts is here). My co-host, psychologist Michelle Lange, and I discuss how to approach first dates, Google strangers, and avoid ghosting. Come learn about the basics of dating safety AND etiquette for a more enjoyable experience all around. We […]
Salman Rushdie Stabbed at Upstate N.Y. Lecture, by Man “with Sympathies Toward Iranian Government”
The suspect has apparently just been identified as Hadi Matar; the N.Y. Sun (Joe Marino & Evan Simko-Bednarski) reports, A New Jersey man with sympathies toward the Iranian government was arrested and accused of stabbing famed novelist Salman Rushdie on Friday, according to law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation…. Sources told The Post that an initial […]
Stand With Ukraine Flip-Flops
For a high school extracurricular project, my son Sam, with the help of his brother Ben, put together these Stand With Ukraine Flip-Flops, which he’s selling at StandWithUkraineFlipFlops.com. Sam is into zoos (he’s a volunteer Avian Specialist Docent at the L.A. Zoo), so all proceeds will be donated to benefit Ukrainian zoos, which have apparently […]
Volokh Being Prosecuted for Anti-Government Speech
That’s Maria Volokh, a municipal government candidate in Moscow (not the one in Idaho), being prosecuted for speech critical of the war in Ukraine (see Mediazona, in Russian). Volokh’s and her codefendant Sergey Smirnov’s speech apparently consisted of walking through the center of Moscow with black tape over their mouths and carrying posters with “*** […]
August Open Thread (2022) – The Corbett Report
It’s the first weekend of August, so you know the drill . . . . . . unless you’re new to the site, in which case you might not know the drill! This is the monthly open thread for members to discuss whatever might be on their mind, any stray or off-topic thought, any news […]
Former Va. Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax’s #TheyLied Libel Lawsuit Against N.Y. Public Radio
It was just filed today, Fairfax v. N.Y. Public Radio & WNYC (E.D. Va. Aug. 6, 2022); I’m traveling and so don’t have time to analyze it closely, but I thought I’d link to the Complaint. Here’s the opening, which of course is just Fairfax’s allegation: This defamation suit arises primarily from intentionally fabricated, false, […]
Announcing “Strangers on the Internet” Podcast
I am happy to announce the launch of a new project concocted by psychologist Michelle Lange and myself: our podcast “Strangers on the Internet”, which gives listeners an academic take on dating apps, love, safety, relationships, and much more. Its official website is here (click the link and then hit the “Follow” button to add […]
Libel! I Wasn’t Accused of Killing Anyone in April — Only in May
From Magistrate Judge Lanny King’s Report and Recommendation recommending dismissal of plaintiff’s libel claim in Rhodes v. Buccieri, just adopted today by Judge Greg Stivers (W.D. Ky.): Plaintiff claims that the [A & E Court Cam] episode’s statement that he was facing “CHARGES” for an “April 2016 Murder” was false and defamatory. The statement was, […]