For today, links to a report from National Public Radio and to three articles of commentary: from Common Dreams and Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, both via ScheerPost, and nader.org via Common Dreams; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (MEDIA 9-20-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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FROM SEPT. 20   The Pentagon requires a new pledge for reporters. Reported by Jim Kane, David Folkenflik and Scott Detrow | NPR  The Pentagon says journalists must sign a pledge not to gather any information, including unclassified reports, that hasn’t been authorized for release. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM SEPT. 20  Trump’s new restrictions on Pentagon reporters ‘should alarm every American,’ by Jon Queally | Common Dreams / ScheerPost  Journalists and defenders of press freedom are expressing alarm and condemnation after the Pentagon  announced new restrictions on reporters that include pre-approval of stories that include even . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 19  As Ellison buys out TikTok, U.S. moves toward one-party media, by Ari Paul | FAIR / ScheerPost  Larry Ellison is the second-richest billionaire in both the U.S. and the world. But for a long time, unlike many of his peers, he was unable to boast that he controlled a chunk of the news and opinion reaching the American public. Now, he seems to have joined the club. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 19  Eleven questions the Western media should be investigating about the Gaza genocide, by Ralph Nader | nader.org / Common Dreams  Some serious readers would like to see mainstream media and independent media cover several events and matters involving the Israeli war in tiny Gaza and the mass slaughter of its defenseless citizens. READ MORE . . .

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This is either visible or not on another computer.

NOTE: This is the second time the material below has been posted on this website; it is about 3:30 p.m. EDT. Previously the post appeared to have been accessible to visitors as of noon, but was somehow removed, along with two other entries. Perhaps this is an example of “shadow banning” on someone’s part.

For today, links to five reports: from Politico, Kyiv Post, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (MEDIA 9-19-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM SEPT. 19  Pentagon demands journalists sign pledge not to publish certain info or lose access, by Jack Detsch | Politico  The Pentagon on Friday said reporters who cover the agency could access the building only if they agreed not to publish certain information, an unprecedented move that . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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What does free speech mean? Reported by David Folkenflik and Scott Simon | NPR  The First Amendment is meant to protect freedom of speech for the nation’s people and press. But this week, that protection was tested. Click HERE later to listen and, still later, read.

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FROM SEPT. 19  Where does free speech go from here? Reported by Tamara Keith and Domenico Montanaro | NPR  Prominent members of the Trump administration are using their roles to push back on critics, what does this mean for free speech? Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM SEPT. 19  Where could the U.S. government restrict free speech? Reported by Ailsa Chang, Brianna Scott and Patrick Jarenwattananon | NPR  Chang speaks with University of Pennsylvania law professor Amanda Shanor about free speech protections in the wake of the killing of Charlie Kirk. Click HERE to listen and read.

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NOTE: This is the second time the material below has been posted on this website; it is about 3:15 p.m. EDT. Previously it appeared to have been accessible to visitors as of noon, but was somehow removed, along with two other entries. Perhaps this is an example of “shadow banning” on someone’s part.

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For today, links to four reports: from the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, Reuters, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 9-19-25 is HERE, or scroll down. MEDIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Israeli strikes on Gaza City kill at least 14 as some countries move to recognize Palestinian state, by Samy Magdy | AP  CAIRO — Israeli strikes killed at least 14 people overnight in Gaza City, said health officials, as Israel ramps up its offensive there and urges Palestinians to leave. READ MORE . . .

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‘A state of thirst is sweeping Gaza City’: municipality. From Middle East Eye. lsrael destroyed 75 percent of central wells in the besieged encllave, the Gaza municipality spokesperson Asim al-Nabih told Al Jazeera. READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s Gaza City demolitions fan fears of permanent removal of Palestinians, by Nidal al-Mughrabi and Olivia Le Poidevin | Reuters  GAZA — For a decade, Palestinian bank worker Shady Salama Al-Rayyes paid into a $93,000 mortgage on his flat in a tall, modern block in one of Gaza City’s prime neighbourhoods. Now . . . READ MORE . . .

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International Rescue Committee official explains suspension of programs in Gaza City, by Hadeel Al-Shalchi and Scott Simon | NPR  Bob Kitchen, the International Rescue Committee’s head of emergencies, talks about the aid organization’s decision to close all its programming in Gaza City, amid an Israeli military takeover of the city. Click HERE later to listen and, still later, read.

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NOTE: This is the second time the material below has been posted on this website; it is about 3:15 p.m. EDT. Previously it appeared to have been accessible to visitors as of noon, but was somehow removed, along with two other entries.

For today, just two links: to reports from the Associated Press and Anadolu Ajansi; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 9-19-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  MEDIA and GAZA entry for this date are HERE and  HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Russia launches a large-scale attack on Ukraine, killing 3 and wounding dozens, by Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack targeting regions across Ukraine early today, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more, Ukrainian officials said. READ MORE . . .

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4 killed, 1 injured by Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Samara region, by Elena Teslova | Anadolu Ajansi  MOSCOW — Four people were killed and one injured in a Ukrainian night drone attack in Russia’s southwestern Samara region, its Governor Vyacheslav Fedorechev said today. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to five reports: from Politico, Kyiv Post, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (MEDIA 9-19-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM SEPT. 19  Pentagon demands journalists sign pledge not to publish certain info or lose access, by Jack Detsch | Politico  The Pentagon on Friday said reporters who cover the agency could access the building only if they agreed not to publish certain information, an unprecedented move that . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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What does free speech mean? Reported by David Folkenflik and Scott Simon | NPR  The First Amendment is meant to protect freedom of speech for the nation’s people and press. But this week, that protection was tested. Click HERE later to listen and, still later, read.

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FROM SEPT. 19  Where does free speech go from here? Reported by Tamara Keith and Domenico Montanaro | NPR  Prominent members of the Trump administration are using their roles to push back on critics, what does this mean for free speech? Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM SEPT. 19  Where could the U.S. government restrict free speech? Reported by Ailsa Chang, Brianna Scott and Patrick Jarenwattananon | NPR  Chang speaks with University of Pennsylvania law professor Amanda Shanor about free speech protections in the wake of the killing of Charlie Kirk. Click HERE to listen and read.

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For today, links to four reports: from the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, Reuters, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 9-19-25 is HERE, or scroll down. MEDIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Israeli strikes on Gaza City kill at least 14 as some countries move to recognize Palestinian state, by Samy Magdy | AP  CAIRO — Israeli strikes killed at least 14 people overnight in Gaza City, said health officials, as Israel ramps up its offensive there and urges Palestinians to leave. READ MORE . . .

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‘A state of thirst is sweeping Gaza City’: municipality. From Middle East Eye. lsrael destroyed 75 percent of central wells in the besieged encllave, the Gaza municipality spokesperson Asim al-Nabih told Al Jazeera. READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s Gaza City demolitions fan fears of permanent removal of Palestinians, by Nidal al-Mughrabi and Olivia Le Poidevin | Reuters  GAZA — For a decade, Palestinian bank worker Shady Salama Al-Rayyes paid into a $93,000 mortgage on his flat in a tall, modern block in one of Gaza City’s prime neighbourhoods. Now . . . READ MORE . . .

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International Rescue Committee official explains suspension of programs in Gaza City, by Hadeel Al-Shalchi and Scott Simon | NPR  Bob Kitchen, the International Rescue Committee’s head of emergencies, talks about the aid organization’s decision to close all its programming in Gaza City, amid an Israeli military takeover of the city. Click HERE later to listen and, still later, read.

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For today, just two links: to reports from the Associated Press and Anadolu Ajansi; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 9-19-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  MEDIA and GAZA entry for this date are HERE and  HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Russia launches a large-scale attack on Ukraine, killing 3 and wounding dozens, by Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack targeting regions across Ukraine early today, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more, Ukrainian officials said. READ MORE . . .

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4 killed, 1 injured by Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Samara region, by Elena Teslova | Anadolu Ajansi  MOSCOW — Four people were killed and one injured in a Ukrainian night drone attack in Russia’s southwestern Samara region, its Governor Vyacheslav Fedorechev said today. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to nine reports: from the Associated Press, the Cradle, Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor, Anadolu Ajansi, and Reuters; others or at least headlines are available by clicking on their names and initials below. (GAZA 9-18-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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UN votes to let Palestinian leader address General Assembly by video after U.S. visa denial. From AP. UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations General Assembly voted today to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address its annual meeting of world leaders by video after the United States revoked his visa last month. The motion passed by a vote of . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. foreign affairs committee approves expansion of secretive arms stockpile for Israel. From the Cradle. The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee today voted 27-24 to approve the State Department Reauthorization bill (H.R. 5300), which, among other provisions, permits unlimited transfers of U.S. arms to a special Israel-based stockpile in the next fiscal year. READ MORE . . .

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Israel threatens ‘unprecedented force’ against Gaza City. From Middle East Eye. Israel has threatened to use “unprecedented force” in its assault on Gaza City, even as an increasing number of countries have condemned its attack on the urban centre. READ MORE . . .

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WHO chief calls for ceasefire, warns Gaza hospitals on the verge of collapse. From Middle East Monitor. The World Health Organization chief today called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza . . . READ MORE . . .

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Internet restored in Gaza after 2-day outage amid Israeli attacks, by Mohamed Majed and Zeynep Tüfekci Gülay | Anadolu Ajansi  GAZA / ISTANBUL  — Internet and landline services in Gaza have been restored after being disrupted for two days due to Israeli attacks targeting the city’s infrastructure. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 18  U.S. vetoes UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate Gaza ceasefire and hostages, by Farnoush Amiri | AP  UNITED NATIONS — The United States once again vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution Thursday that had demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, saying that the effort did not go far enough in condemning Hamas. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

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FROM SEPT. 18  U.S., Israel criticize UN staff over Israel-Hamas War stance amid protests, documents show. From Reuters. The United States and Israel have sent complaint letters to top United Nations officials contesting the impartiality of their staff over the Israel-Hamas War, documents showed, as hundreds of UN staff protested outside its European headquarters on Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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Pope Leo condemns Israel’s mass killing in Gaza, says ‘not ready’ to call it genocide. From the Cradle. Pope Leo XIV has said on Thursday the Vatican is not ready to label Israel’s campaign in Gaza genocide, stressing that “officially, the Holy See does not believe that we can make any declaration at this time about that.” READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post, Tass, the Associated Press, and Reuters; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 9-18-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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EU moves to speed up ban on Russian gas imports in latest sanctions package. From AFP. The EU proposed Friday to speed up its ban on Russian natural gas imports, part of a new sanctions package aimed at weakening the Kremlin’s ability to continue with its war against Ukraine. Under the plan, the bloc . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post and Tass.

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Ukraine aims to expand its weapons industry to deter Russia and help allies, by Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV — With little chance of NATO membership for Ukraine, the country’s Western allies have bought into an alternate strategy for helping it repel Russian aggression: invest billions in Ukraine’s weapons industry so it can better defend itself. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine advances security ties with allies, vows to keep hitting Russian energy, by Olena Harmash and Mike Collett-White | Reuters  KYIV – Ukraine is making progress in intensive talks to formalise legally binding security guarantees with the United States and European allies, a key part of its bid to end the war with Russia, First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya said. READ MORE . . .

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