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Advertizing Cartel GARM Shuts Down In Response To Antitrust Lawsuit Filed By X, Rumble Over Alleged Illegal Boycott
August 09, 2024
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World Federation of Advertizers (WFA) has announced that it will discontinue its Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) initiative, effective immediately. This decision comes in response to an antitrust lawsuit filed 48 hours earlier, by Elon Musk’s X and YouTube alternative Rumble against GARM and several major advertizers, alleging a conspiracy to boycott both platforms and withhold billions of dollars in advertizing revenue.

The lawsuit, filed in Texas federal court, accused GARM members, including Unilever, Mars, CVS, Ørsted, and others, of colluding to withhold advertizing revenue from X after Musk’s acquisition of the platform in 2022.

In response to the lawsuit, WFA CEO Stephan Loerke informed members that the decision to discontinue GARM was not taken lightly, citing limited resources and the need to prioritize the organization’s core activities. The shutdown temporarily sets back WFA's efforts to censor right-leaning content on the internet, as critics warn that the organization may surreptitiously come up with another rebranded anti-free speech effort.

Musk had encouraged other companies to file similar lawsuits against advertizers who boycott them, suggesting there may also be "RICO" violations. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, is an American law aimed at combating organized crime.

Following the news of GARM's closure, X CEO Linda Yaccarino posted to X: "No small group should be able to monopolize what gets monetized. This is an important acknowledgement and a necessary step in the right direction. I am hopeful that it means ecosystem-wide reform is coming."

"This is a big win for the First Amendment and a big win for Chairman Jordan's oversight work," said Russell Dye, a spokesperson for the Committee that made the revelations about the targeted boycott of X and other companies by GARM.

Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski wrote on X: "A court ruled Google is a monopoly. WFA shuts down GARM. And it's only Thursday. #RumbleWinning."

Pavlovski, had in a series of X posts and TV appearance, exposed how the cartel of advertizers boycotted and tried to force Rumble to censor right-leaning content creators on the platform.

He wrote:

"1st drop -- @Diageo_NA is on the GARM Steer Team, leading the cartel to boycott Rumble, X, and others that don’t meet their one-size-fits-all brand safety standards.

"'There is no scenario where we approve a platform that has @scrowder, @RealAlexJones, or the like.' - Diageo.

"Meanwhile I'm willing to bet they advertize on YouTube, Facebook and others (where @scrowder is also available).

"2nd drop -- We pitched @dunkindonuts and @InspireBrands beacause Rumble over indexes with coffee consumption. Their discrimination against "right wing culture" inspired us to build @rumble1775 coffee, a coffee for all cultures (which is doing great btw).

"Both @Diageo_NA and @dunkindonuts want us to drop @scrowder and get away from "right wing culture" in order to get ad dollars from them.

"My response: No, we don't discriminate. All cultures are welcome on Rumble.

"Here are the emails we received from both @InspireBrands / @dunkindonuts and @Diageo_NA

"Inspire Brands / Dunkin Donuts didn’t want to advertize on Rumble because of 'right wing culture,' and Diageo doesn’t want to advertise when creators like Crowder are on Rumble."

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U.S. Military Airstrike In Southern Caribbean Targets Vessel Allegedly Operated By Venezuelan Tren de Aragua Gang

The U.S. military on Tuesday, conducted a precision strike in the southern Caribbean against a vessel that had departed from Venezuela and was allegedly operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, a transnational criminal organization designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. government.

President Donald Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, stating that 11 individuals, whom he referred to as "narcoterrorists" or "terrorists," were killed in the strike while the boat was transporting illegal narcotics in international waters. The strike was described as a "kinetic" operation carried out in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility.

The U.S. military confirmed a "precision strike" against the vessel. Trump shared a 29-second video clip on Truth Social showing a small, multi-engine speedboat traveling at sea before a bright flash and flames engulfed it. The video is largely in black and white, and Venezuela's Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez falsely suggested it was artificially generated.

No U.S. military personnel were injured in the operation Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the "lethal strike" on X stating it targeted a drug vessel operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization.

The Tren de Aragua gang originated over a decade ago within the notoriously violent prison system of Venezuela's Aragua state. It has since expanded its operations across Latin America, including to Chile, Colombia, and the United States, where it is involved in drug smuggling, kidnapping, extortion, sex trafficking, and acts of extreme violence such as beheadings.

The Biden administration designated it a transnational crime organization in 2024. President Trump, upon returning to office, escalated the designation, formally declaring Tren de Aragua a "Foreign Terrorist Organization" in February 2025, a move that is unusual for a criminal gang.

The strike on the vessel occurred amid a significant U.S. military deployment in the southern Caribbean. In recent weeks, the U.S. has sent at least seven warships, including the nuclear-powered submarine USS Virginia, and over 4,500 Marines and sailors to the region.

This build-up, which includes Aegis guided-missile destroyers like the USS Gravely and USS Jason Dunham, is part of the Trump administration's broader strategy to combat drug trafficking from Latin America. The administration has also increased surveillance flights with P-8 spy planes over international waters.

The deployment has been met with strong condemnation from Venezuela, with President Nicolás Maduro calling it an "extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat" and vowing to "declare a republic in arms" if attacked. Maduro has ordered troops to the border with Colombia and urged civilians to join militias in response.

The strike represents a dramatic escalation in the U.S. approach to drug cartels, signaling a willingness to use military force in the Americas.

The U.S. has also offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest on drug-trafficking charges. Despite the military action, the administration has not signaled plans for a land invasion of Venezuela.

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September 03, 2025
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Comedian Graham Linehan Arrested In UK Over Critical Transgender Posts On X

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The posts that prompted his detention included one from April 20 stating: "If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls."

Another post from April 19 showed an image of a trans rally with the caption: "A photo you can smell."

He subsequently wrote: "I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. Fuck em."

The 57-year-old was taken to a police station, questioned about the posts, and subsequently hospitalized due to a severe spike in blood pressure, which he described as "stroke territory," before being released on bail with a condition prohibiting him from posting on X until a further interview in October.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest and stated that officers became concerned for his health, resulting in the hospital visit, but claimed his condition was neither life-threatening nor life-changing. The arrest was carried out by armed officers from the MPS Aviation Unit.

Linehan described being met by five armed officers immediately after disembarking from his American Airlines flight, escorted to a private area, and informed of his arrest. He was placed in a cell and questioned about the tweets, during which his blood pressure reportedly reached over 200, leading to his transfer to the emergency department at a hospital for observation.

The arrest comes days before Linehan is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 4, 2025, facing two charges: one of harassing transgender activist Sophia Brooks on social media and another of damaging her mobile phone during an October incident. He has denied these charges.

Linehan, is the Irish comedy writer best known for creating the sitcoms Father TedThe IT Crowd, and Black Books. He has become a prominent and outspoken critic of transgender rights movements since around 2018.

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