Twitter dissolves Trust and Safety Council
Twitter dissolves its Trust and Safety Council, the advisory group of nearly 100 independent civil, human rights and other organisations which had been formed by the company in 2016 to address hate speech, child exploitation, suicide, self-harm and other problems on the platform. Twitter informed the group via email shortly before a meeting, scheduled for the night of Dec 13, was to take place, that it was disbanding it. Last week, three council members resigned. Email:
Our work to make Twitter a safe, informative place will be moving faster and more aggressively than ever before, and we will continue to welcome your ideas going forward about how to achieve this goal.
Musk fires Baker for vetting Twitter Files
Musk fires Baker, Twitter’s deputy general counsel, over concerns he tried to suppress information about the social media platform’s handling of the Hunter Biden laptop controversy. Baker was involved in discussions about whether the laptop falls under Twitter’s “hacked materials” policy. In one of the Twitter files’ emails Baker wrote:
I support the conclusion that we need more facts to assess whether the materials were hacked. At this stage, however, it’s reasonable for us to assume that they may have been and that caution is warranted.
Matt Taibbi, the journalist releasing Twitter’s files, said that he and another journalist, Bari Weiss, were dealing “with obstacles to new searches” when Weiss discovered that Baker had vetted the first batch of “Twitter Files” – without knowledge of new management.
Over the weekend, while we both dealt with obstacles to new searches, it was @BariWeiss who discovered that the person in charge of releasing the files was someone named Jim. When she called to ask “Jim’s” last name, the answer came back: “Jim Baker.” “My jaw hit the floor,” says Weiss
“My jaw hit the floor,” says Weiss.
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 6, 2022
Musk said Baker, had offered an “unconvincing” explanation for his actions when confronted.
In light of concerns about Baker’s possible role in suppression of information important to the public dialogue, he was exited from Twitter today…His explanation was …unconvincing.
In light of concerns about Baker’s possible role in suppression of information important to the public dialogue, he was exited from Twitter today
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 6, 2022
Musk fires Gadde
Musk fires Gadde, Twitter’s head of Legal & Policy. Gadde banned Donald Trump from Twitter in January 21.
BREAKING: Elon Musk has fired Vijaya Gadde, head of legal policy, trust & safety, who made the decision to permanently suspend Donald Trump.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 28, 2022
Dropped from COVID ad campaign
Godley is dropped from The Scottish Government’s ‘Let’s Stop The Spike’ ad campaign.
A series of unacceptable tweets by Janey Godley have been brought to our attention and, while she has rightly apologised, trust in our public health messages at this time is paramount. We have therefore taken the decision to withdraw any further campaign material in which Ms Godley features. The material will be discontinued immediately on our own channels and withdrawn as soon as possible from external media.
https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=369321734740168
Trump fires Yates
Trump fires Yates for her refusal to defend his executive order closing the nation’s borders to refugees and people from seven predominantly Muslim countries. The president replaces Yates with Dana J. Boente, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, saying that he would serve as attorney general until Congress acts to confirm Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama. In his first act in his new role, Mr. Boente announced that he was rescinding Yates’s order. Administration statement:
The acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States. This order was approved as to form and legality by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel. Ms. Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration. It is time to get serious about protecting our country. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country.
Fired
Encinia is fired after being charged with misdemeanor perjury on suspicion of lying in the arrest report he filed for the July incident. The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety letter:
I have determined that you have not rebutted the charges set out in the statement of charges.
Fired
After just over a year, Angelides is fired from Abercrombie & Fitch.
Fired
Fields is fired after department officials conduct an internal review that finds he used a maneuver that violates the agency’s training and procedural standards. Sheriff Lott also criticizes the student for “having started this whole incident with her actions”:
He picked a student up, and he threw the student across the room; that is not a proper technique. Deputy Ben Fields did wrong this past Monday, so we’re taking responsibility for that…He’s sorry that this whole thing occurred. It was not his intent…He tried to do his job, and that’s what he feels like he did. He tried to do his job, and it happened very quickly.
School district:
We know important work is ahead of us as we thoughtfully and carefully review the decision-making progress that may lead to a school resource officer taking the lead in handling a student disruption. Conversations that have already started will continue around how we work with the sheriff’s department on improvement and coordination of our work as educators and their work as law enforcement officers.
To cut hundreds of headquarters jobs
Walmart is planning to lay off less than 500 people out of 18,000 at its headquarters in Arkansas as part of the retail giant’s efforts to cut costs
Stone leaves campaign
Stone, an advisor to Trump’s campaign, says he has resigned. However, Trump says he fired him. Stone:
Sorry @realDonaldTrump didn't fire me- I fired Trump. Diasagree with diversion to food fight with @megynkelly away core issue messages
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) August 8, 2015
Trump:
I’m going to kick my 2016 campaign into higher gear, cleaning house, no more “publicity seekers”
Excerpt from Stone’s resignation letter:
Restoring national pride and bringing jobs back to America – your initial and still underlying message – is a solid conservative message. In fact, it catapulted you instantly into a commanding lead in the race. Unfortunately, the current controversies involving personalities and provocative media fights have reached such a high volume that it has distracted attention from your platform and overwhelmed your core message. With this current direction of the candidacy, I no longer can remain involved in your campaign.
Staffer fired for racist posts
Trump’s campaign fires a staffer for having placed racist posts on Facebook. The terminated worker made numerous inappropriate posts dating as far back as 2007. President Obama and Al Sharpton’s daughter are among the people said to have been mentioned, although the person in question, Nunberg, says he does not remember writing them. One of Trump’s advisers confirms that Nunberg is no longer associated with the Donald J. Trump for president campaign,
Fired
University of Cincinnati President Ono confirms Tensing has been fired, and that the school is currently reviewing its police department and policies.
Deputy Prime Minister fired
Prime Minister Najib removes deputy premier Muhyiddin, for raising questions over the government’s closure of newspapers and delays in the continuing investigation of a corruption scandal. Najib:
Members of the cabinet should not air their differences in an open forum that can affect public opinion against the government and Malaysia. I must have a solid and unified team moving in the same direction.
Fired from WWE
Hogan’s is fired from WWE.
WWE has terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan). WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstarted by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.
Fired
BBC drops Clarkson from Top Gear and decides not to renew his contract. BBC director general, Hall:
For me a line has been crossed. There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations……..This decision should in no way detract from the extraordinary contribution that Jeremy Clarkson has made to the BBC. I have always personally been a great fan of his work and Top Gear.
Ousted
The committee demotes Jagland after his opponents win a majority on the panel. This is the first time in its history that the committee has ousted its chairman. Kullmann Five, who declined to explain the decision, will be taking over the vacated position.
The committee chooses a leader every year. This year is a new committee. Jagland has been a good leader for six years.
Suspended indefinitely
NASCAR suspends Busch indefinitely after a family court judge in the state of Delaware rules that Busch abused his ex-girlfriend Driscoll.
Given the serious nature of the findings and conclusions made by the Commissioner of the Family Court of the State of Delaware, NASCAR has indefinitely suspended driver Kurt Busch, effective immediately. He will not be allowed to race nor participate in any NASCAR activities until further notice.
Cancelled
MSNBC cancels The Reid Report. Reid remains at the network as a national correspondent.
When one door closes, others open. Much love to my Twitter fam, my co-workers at @msnbc and to @thereidreport team for all the love today!
— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷 (@JoyAnnReid) February 20, 2015
Cancelled
MSNBC cancels Ronan Farrow Daily. Farrow’s new position is as the host of a series of primetime specials for the network. He is also featured as a special correspondent.
https://twitter.com/RonanFarrow/status/568545838043156480
Manager fired
The manager who was involved in an incident where another employee berated him, which was recorded and posted on YouTube, is fired. Company officials state that Brandon Robertson has been terminated because they did not like the way he handled the situation. Robertson does not believe that he could have done anything differently:
I asked him to leave. What was I supposed to do?