Alan Macleod

Alan MacLeod is Senior Staff Writer for MintPress News. He completed his PhD in 2017 and has since authored two acclaimed books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent, as well as a number of academic articles. He has also contributed to FAIR.org, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, and Common Dreams. Follow Alan on Twitter for more of his work and commentary: @AlanRMacLeod.

Mistrial Declared in Kafkaesque D.C. Trial of Venezuela Embassy Protectors

Judge Beryl Howell has declared a mistrial following a hung jury in the case of the four Venezuela Embassy Protectors charged with “interfering with the protective function of the State Department.”

Alan Macleod
By Alan Macleod
Venezuela embassy protectors Feature photo

The word “Kafkaesque” is thrown around liberally in the modern era, often without warrant. “The Trial,” a 1925 novel written by Bohemian writer Franz Kafka, tells the story of Josef K., a man arrested and prosecuted in a nightmarish kangaroo court while unable to properly defend himself. But nearly 100 years later, another real trial took place in

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Coronavirus: Media and Politicians Take Anti-China Fear Mongering to New Levels

Despite praise from the World Health Organization for its handling of the coronavirus, China has been derided by Western media and politicians alike over nearly every aspect of its response.

Alan Macleod
By Alan Macleod
coronavirus feature photo

Starting in Wuhan in December, the coronavirus outbreak has spread across China, infecting around 64,000 people and worrying the rest of the world. Fueling the panic, media have been printing alarmist scare stories and politicians peddling false information. One prominent example of this is Arkansas senator Tom Cotton, who claimed that the virus

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Citing Hostile “Bernie Bros” Shadowy Group Launches Beat Bernie 2020 PAC

The Beat Bernie 2020 PAC is insisting on keeping its members’ and donors’ identities a secret, due to what they call “a credible fear of threats and backlash from ardent Bernie supporters.

Alan Macleod
By Alan Macleod
Beat Bernie PAC Feature photo

A shadowy new PAC calling themselves the “Beat Bernie 2020” movement has launched what it calls a “massive grassroots fundraising haul” among citizens concerned that “Bernie Sanders is creating irreparable division on the left that will create significant difficulties for the Party’s eventual nominee.” The PAC claims that the Vermont senator is

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Media Presents Anger and Jeers Against Juan Guaido as Hometown Hero’s Welcome

Upon his return to Venezuela, Juan Guaido was greeted by an enraged mob hectoring, jeering and manhandling him, kicking his car and covering him in water and other liquids.

Alan Macleod
By Alan Macleod
Juan Guaido Feature photo

Self-declared Venezuelan “Interim President” Juan Guaido may have been given a hero’s welcome at President Trump’s State of the Union Address last week, but he certainly did not receive the same treatment after he touched down at Simon Bolivar International Airport, Caracas, yesterday. His very presence was enough to turn those present, including

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New Hampshire Primaries Paint a Picture of Modern Day Class War in America

While the primary totals for Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg were relatively close, their support came from radically different segments of the population.

Alan Macleod
By Alan Macleod
Bernie Sanders Feature photo

Unlike Iowa’s debacle, yesterday’s New Hampshire primary results were announced promptly, showing Vermont senator Bernie Sanders in first place with 26 percent of the vote total. Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg was a close second, winning 24 percent of votes and the same number of delegates as Sanders. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar came

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Journalist Abby Martin Sues State of Georgia Over Law Requiring Pledge of Allegiance to Israel

“This censorship of my talk based on forced compliance to anti-BDS laws in Georgia is just one level of a nationwide campaign to protect Israel from grassroots pressure.” — Abby Martin

Alan Macleod
By Alan Macleod
Abby Martin Lawsuit

After refusing to sign a pledge of allegiance to the state of Israel, the state of Georgia shut down a media literacy conference featuring journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin at Georgia Southern University. Martin had recently released a documentary critical of the Israeli government called "Gaza Fights for Freedom." Now she is suing the state,

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“I Will Put an End to Endless Wars:” Is Pete Buttigieg As Antiwar As He Claims?

Pete Buttigieg has promised to “put an end to endless wars,” but there are reasons to suspect a Buttigieg presidency would not be as pacifist as his pronouncement implies.

Alan Macleod
By Alan Macleod
Pete Buttigieg Feature photo

Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg has developed a habit of putting out clever, catchy phrases as part of his bid to win the Democratic presidential nomination. On Friday he released an image of himself reading, “The shape of our democracy is the issue that affects every other issue,” something that was immediately panned by his detractors.

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