Sara Sirota

J.D. Candidate @FordhamLawNYC. Former journalist/researcher with @insidedefense @theintercept @econliberties @Capitol_Forum

[Austin Ahlman for Congress @ahlmanforne]

Nebraska ignited a populist, independent rebellion against both major parties – and the rich and powerful who they answered to. It helped break the first guilded age and fundamentally transformed politics for decades to come. This year, we can do it again 💪 #NebraskaProud

[Sara Sirota @SaraLSirota]

Must check out this important interview with the fiercely independent House candidate Austin Ahlman —>

[Zeteo @zeteo_news]

"[Democrats and Republicans] are so damned scared of outside spending that they won't take any risks."

Congressional candidate @ahlmanforne explains why he’s running as an independent in Nebraska, noting why he believes American politics are at a breaking point.

[Lee Hepner @LeeHepner]

If the Paramount-WB merger goes through (the States and the Court will have the final word), evidence of interference would support unwinding the merger under Sen. @CoryBooker's CLEAN Mergers Act.

Passing this legislation should be a priority of the new Congress.

[American Economic Liberties Project @econliberties]

NEWS: Reporting from the Wall Street Journal reveals investigators were leaning toward recommending a challenge to the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger and were surprised by Friday's announcement from the DOJ stating otherwise.

"The Justice Department’s Paramount investigation is one of several in which antitrust staffers have felt sidelined in the second Trump administration. That includes the department’s decision in March to settle a long-running monopoly case against Live Nation—after the trial had begun. State attorneys general continued to litigate the case and won."

[Austin Ahlman for Congress @ahlmanforne]

Corporate food monopolies have imposed an invisible tax on every family in America – and it’s been carnage for towns like mine left in their wake.

So proud of my fellow anti-monopoly crusaders for continuing to call this out.

[Sara Sirota @SaraLSirota]

Read now —>

[Austin Ahlman for Congress @ahlmanforne]

Okay, this is a dangerous post but I’ll do it.

There are two justice systems in this country. Everyone knows it. Nobody in DC will say it. I’m going to – and it’s far bigger than Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein, and Democrats and Republicans are silent about it.

See, there’s a justice system for you and me, and then there’s the system for the wealthy and well-connected elites.

Let’s talk about it.

In 2003, the Bush Administration took us to war in Iraq based on a lie. Thousands died. Billions were wasted. They also invaded everyone’s privacy and conducted illegal mass surveillance of American citizens.

Nobody went to jail. The Republicans who cheerled it and the Democrats who rubber-stamped it looked the other way.

In 2008, Wall Street crashed the entire global economy. Millions lost their jobs and thousands lost their family homes. People were sent into bankruptcy. People died through suicide and not being able to pay medical bills.

None of the bankers responsible went to jail. Democrats and Republicans who raked in Wall Street donations looked the other way.

In the 2000s and 2010s, the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma flooded American communities with OxyContin, knowing it was addictive, lying about it, and paying doctors to prescribe it. The opioid crisis they helped fuel killed half a million Americans. The Sacklers are big donors, so their company paid a fine and they kept their billions.

Nobody went to jail. Democrats and Republicans looked the other way.

From 2016-2019, Boeing’s executives knew the 737 MAX had a fatal flaw that caused it to override pilots and ram into the ground. They hid it from regulators. 346 people died in two crashes before they were forced to take action.

Hundreds dead but Boeing just paid a fine. Nobody went to jail.

In the early 2020s, it was revealed that Meta’s own internal research showed Instagram was driving teenage girls toward depression, eating disorders, and suicide. They knew. They concealed it. They kept it running because it made them money.

Nobody went to jail. Congress did nothing.

In the mid 2020s, the Biden Administration and (and bureaucrats in the State Department) gave Israel a blank check of taxpayer money to wage a horrific war in Gaza that spiralled across the region. It is actually illegal under US law to send weapons to a country that obstructs aid and carries out atrocities. They did it anyway, and so did the current administration.

Nobody went to jail. One of those State Department bureaucrats is running to be our next congressman, and our current congressmen is an AIPAC-endorsee who supported it all the way.

And then this year there has been the illegal war in Iran – also brought to you by AIPAC and neocons and based on lies – which has cost taxpayers billions, killed countless civilians, and driven up prices of gas and fertilizer and everything else that we’ll be paying for for years.

Nobody will go to jail. Nobody will be held accountable.

This is what I mean about elite impunity being a massive problem in this country that nobody dares talk about.

If that angers you, remember my name and consider voting for me November: I’m Austin Ahlman, son of proud, working-class Norfolk meatpackers, and we can’t let the Epstein Class get away with this anymore.

These executives and politicians and bureaucrats have committed illegal acts that have killed mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. They’ve robbed millions of their livelihoods. Infringed on fundamental rights and freedoms. Made every American poorer.

If you or I did that, imagine the consequences. But for them, the penalty is… nothing. And it’s a bipartisan policy.

Here’s the truth: If we never hold elites accountable for their actions, this will never change. We need to elect independents who will speak these hard truths, push for justice, and ensure that everyone in this country is playing by the same set of rules.

It’s time to end elite impunity once and for all.

[Ryan Grim @ryangrim]

Wow. Big get for Austin Ahlman

[Austin Ahlman for Congress @ahlmanforne]

Mike Flood is working to kill Donald Trump’s bipartisan housing bill on behalf of Wall Street, which wants to replace the American dream of owning a home with centrally planned rental communities.

There’s someone in this race you can accuse of communism, but it’s sure not me.

[Austin Ahlman for Congress @ahlmanforne]

Damn right.

[Austin Ahlman for Congress @ahlmanforne]

Both parties would rather lose with big money than win without it. That’s why we’ve got to get independents into office and force a realignment.

It’s what saved our country from the first gilded age. And it’s the only thing that can save us from this one.

[Austin Ahlman for Congress @ahlmanforne]

Mike Flood has been leading the charge to make sure big banks and private equity can continue owning homes.

Why? Because the majority of the $1.3 million sitting in his campaign account is from corporate PACs tied to insurance, finance, and real estate interests.

I fought like hell to make sure my family’s home stayed in our hands—not the bank’s. I’ll fight just as hard for you when I’m in Congress.

[Austin Ahlman for Congress @ahlmanforne]

The fact that the party establishment has been spreading lies about our launch is sad.

We put together a world-class video on a $15k budget because we skipped the overpriced DC consultants and asked real Nebraskans to tell our story. We live our values, and that’s why we’ll win.

[Austin Ahlman for Congress @ahlmanforne]

My Dem opponent, a former Biden-Trump DC State Department official, just described me as someone who's “never had to solve real-world problems.”

I’m focused on my GOP opponent, but boy, I think I’m more in touch with the problems Nebraskans face than you'll ever be.

[Austin Ahlman for Congress @ahlmanforne]

I’m in this to beat Mike Flood – and yes, this is personal. 

We grew up in the same town, but Millionaire Mike’s life was not like mine. I lived in trailer parks. Our whole family spent periods living in my grandmother’s basement. I went to bed hungry. 

But last year, Millionaire Mike – who takes more than half his cash from corporate pacs and special interests – voted to hand tax cuts to big business and billionaires while gutting healthcare, education and food programs. Those callous votes show he takes voters for granted. 

Why didn’t folks hear about this? Because Millionaire Mike is also a media monopolist who bought up our local media. 

And right now, he’s sabotaging a bipartisan housing bill – supported by President Trump and even Senator Warren – because he wants to protect Wall Street speculators who are buying up homes to extort desperate families. That should be banned. 

And while we’re struggling with gas over $4 a gallon and farmers battle rising fertilizer prices, Millionaire Mike is all in on the Iran war while raking in money from AIPAC. I’ll vote to stop funding dumb foreign wars.

Most Republicans and Democrats in this district feel frustrated with their options and the failed political establishment on both sides. They use culture wars to divide us and stop us focusing on things that would actually improve people’s lives. 

I’m not a Democrat. I’m not a Republican. I’m Independent Nebraskan who wants to give folks something to vote for – not against. 

With your support, we’re going to #TakeNebraskaBack

[Sara Sirota @SaraLSirota]

@mattyglesias It’s not winnable for a Dem but definitely winnable for an Independent.

[Sara Sirota @SaraLSirota]

There is no one who will fight back against the political establishment and predatory corporations to defend his community harder than my dear friend Austin. He’s whip smart and endlessly good-hearted too. Please consider donating to his insurgent campaign!

[Austin Ahlman for Congress @ahlmanforne]

I'm Austin Ahlman. Nebraska is my home. This is our fight. You are my people.

Let’s take Nebraska back.

[Sara Sirota @SaraLSirota]

@metzgov Congrats Bryan!!

[Austin Ahlman for Congress @ahlmanforne]

Happy New Year! To mark the occasion, we got a heavy-hitting slate of Democratic pollsters and analysts to give their unfiltered thoughts on what the party needs to learn in order to fix its brand and win big again.

The consensus? Vulgar Bernie-ism is back baby.

[Valerie Insinna @ValerieInsinna]

Important to note that all of the defense trade publications refused to sign the Pentagon's media access policy, and we write about budget and military technology--not exactly what you think of when you envision "activists who masquerade as journalists."

[Defense One @DefenseOne]

Defense Trade Press Statement on Media Restrictions at the Pentagon

For decades, the defense trade media has been a trusted source of news and insight about Defense Department programs, budgets, and strategy. Ethical, accurate, and timely reporting makes that possible. The public, industry, and indeed the department itself benefit from granting credentialed defense reporters access to unclassified areas in the Pentagon and from the trust engendered by that access.

The Pentagon has been seeking to impose unprecedented restrictions on journalists’ ability to cover the military for several months. Having restricted where unescorted media may go in the Pentagon—such that even visiting the public affairs offices of the military services now requires an escort—department leaders are asking reporters to sign a document acknowledging a vague new policy that, on its face, appears to contravene the First Amendment. This policy threatens to punish reporters who ask legitimate questions in the course of their daily work and to impose material harm on our news organizations for factual reporting.

Journalists from the undersigned defense trade publications will not sign this new policy. Our newsrooms will continue to cover topics of military, defense, and national security fairly and independently.

Aviation Week
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Defense One
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Inside Defense
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