September 12 – The Most Fascinating News of the Day – NextDraft

Long Arm of the Lawless: “Iran’s perceived reliance on criminals rather than intelligence agents underscored an alarming evolution in the tactics of a country considered by U.S. and Western security officials to be among the world’s most determined and dangerous practitioners of ‘transnational repression,’ a term for the use of violence and intimidation by governments on the sovereign territory of others to silence dissidents, journalists and others seen as disloyal.” WaPo (Gift Article): Iran Turns to Hells Angels and Other Criminal Gangs to Target Critics As we learned a few weeks ago, the strategy to reach Western countries is not limited to Iran. WaPo: How China Extended Its Oppression to an American City.

+ Good night Good night: The FBI has been pretty overworked lately. Well, specifically the FBI units targeting New York Mayor Eric Adams’ administration and his appointees. New York City police chief resigns amid nightclub investigation. “Caban’s phone was seized last week around the same time that FBI agents were searching the homes of top Adams administration officials as part of a separate investigation.”

+ Stupid people do: Bomb threats have been made at multiple buildings in Springfield, Ohio. (The dog-eating nonsense that should have destroyed Trump and Vance’s candidacies immediately is not only insane, it’s dangerous.)

+ Floating a check: “A tech billionaire jumped from a SpaceX capsule hundreds of miles above Earth on Thursday to perform the first private spacewalk, a risky endeavor once reserved for professional astronauts.”

+ Time for De-Deshaun: “His ability to play quarterback in the NFL — or perceived ability to play quarterback in the NFL — has helped his professional career survive lawsuits and allegations of sexual misconduct by nearly two dozen women — mostly massage therapists — in Houston. Despite the ugly, disturbing details and a looming NFL suspension, Cleveland sent three first-round draft picks, one third-round pick and two fourth-round picks to the Texans in exchange for Watson. The Browns subsequently signed Watson to a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million deal. It was the ultimate sign that talent trumps all. Even in the NFL, where there is no such thing as shame, it was a breathtaking, bottom-line deal.” The Browns put all the sexual assault stuff aside when they signed Deshaun Watson. But now he’s terrible on the field, too. Will the Browns finally start to address what he’s reportedly doing off the field? (Deshaun Watson is reportedly facing another sexual assault lawsuit.)

+ Smoked out: The best, worst, and most surprising moments from the 2024 MTV VMAs. The smoke machine pumping during Shawn Mendes’ performance looked like my apartment in the ‘90s. In other news, lip-synching hasn’t improved.

+ wanted, Dead or Alive: “The 62-year-old singer happened to be filming a music video for his song ‘The People’s House’ on the bridge … At one point, he saw a woman in blue standing nearby on the outer ledge.” Jon Bon Jovi helps talk a woman off the edge of a bridge. Ledge-endary.