Masha Gessen | The Apparent Poisoning of a Pussy Riot Member

23 September 18 PM It's Live on the HomePage Now: Reader Supported News FEED THE GREEDY CORPORATION, STARVE THE TRUTH-TELLER: The vast majority of our readers are far more likely to hand their money to the very corporations whose abuses they rely on us to monitor than they are to give us - any money at all - to monitor them. It's not that you do not come to RSN, it’s that most of you do not help out. As a result, the abusive corporate entities thrive while smaller, honest organizations are left without means. Stop funding the problem and start funding the solution! Now would be a good time. / Marc Ash, Founder Reader Supported News Sure, I'll make a donation! Masha Gessen | The Apparent Poisoning of a Pussy Riot Member  Masha Gessen, The New Yorker Gessen writes: "New details have emerged in the apparent poisoning of Russian activist Pyotr Verzilov, a member of the protest-art group Pussy Riot, and they may shed light on the deaths of three Russian journalists who were shot in the Central African Republic in July." READ MORE Brett Kavanaugh. (photo: Chris Wattie/Reuters) Rebecca Solnit | The Brett Kavanaugh Case Shows We Still Blame Women for the Sins of Men Rebecca Solnit, Guardian UK  EXCERPT:  We know there is virtually nothing a straight white man can do to discredit himself, especially if he has elevated status. We routinely see plagiarists, domestic violence perpetrators, liars, thieves, inappropriate masturbators, gropers, and incompetent men put forward as reliable sources and respectable citizens. Ken Starr took sexual assault very seriously when he let the Whitewater investigation into Bill Clinton veer over into Clinton’s sexual misconduct. Yet he overlooked sexual assault when, as president of Baylor University, he was responsible for protecting female students. In 2016 the university fired him after an independent report showed a “fundamental failure” to respond to student sexual assault allegations. Now, on Kavanaugh, Starr is treated as a credible source. He told a news site: “I’ve known him since 1994. I’ve worked alongside him – this is so wildly out of character.” We’ve heard men testify like this before – for example, in 2011, Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s pal Bernard-Henri Lévy asserted, “the Strauss-Kahn I know, who has been my friend for 20 years and who will remain my friend, bears no resemblance to this monster” his victim described. Other women came forward to report being sexually assaulted by the monster Lévy had not met. We have been here before. Solnit writes: "We have been here before. We have been here over and over in an endless, Groundhog Day loop about how rape and sexual abuse happen." READ MORE The Salisbury suspects identified by British police as Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov. (photo: PA) Russian Passport Leak After Salisbury May Reveal Spy Methods Andrew Roth, Guardian UK Roth writes: "A leak of Russian government data about the suspects in the Salisbury poisoning may provide a rare insight into how Russia's military intelligence agency provides cover identities for its agents abroad." READ MORE Jason Miller. (photo: Twitters) CNN's Pro-Trump Commentator Jason Miller Exits After Abortion Pill Dosing Accusations Jon Levine, The Wrap Levine writes: "Pro-Trump CNN political commentator Jason Miller announced Saturday that he has 'decided to step away' from the network after a recent accusation in a legal filing that he slipped abortion pills to a former lover without her knowledge." READ MORE Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. (photo: Tom Brenne/NYT) Trump Administration Seeks to Limit Access to US for Immigrants Who Use or Are Likely to Use Public Assistance Nick Miroff, The Washington Post Miroff writes: "The Trump administration will make it much more difficult for immigrants to come to the United States or remain in the country if they use or are likely to use housing vouchers, food subsidies and other 'non-cash' forms of public assistance, under a new proposal announced Saturday by the Department of Homeland Security." READ MORE Walmart employee. (photo: Getty Images) Walmart Sued for Alleged Discrimination Against Pregnant Workers Melanie Schmitz, ThinkProgress Schmitz writes: "Federal regulators have filed a lawsuit against Walmart claiming the retailer forced pregnant workers to take unpaid leave and refused their requests for less physically demanding duties." READ MORE Deforestation. (photo: WWF) Norway Becomes World's First Country to Ban Deforestation Katie Pohlman, EcoWatch Pohlman writes: "Norway has become the first country to ban deforestation. The Norwegian Parliament pledged May 26 that the government's public procurement policy will be deforestation-free." READ MORE Contribute to RSN Become a Fan of RSN on Facebook and Twitter Update My Monthly Donation