Skip to content Skip to footer

News in Brief: Google Sues US Government, and More

Google Sues US Government

Google Sues US Government

On Friday, Google filed a complaint against the Department of the Interior for excluding its products from being considered for a five-year contract to upgrade the department’s email system, according to Reuters. The contract would have been worth more than $59 million. In its complaint, Google stated that the government acted in an “arbitrary and capricious” manner. The Department of the Interior declined to comment.

Sharron Angle Gets “Cease and Desist” Letter From Toy Company

After launching a web site attacking Harry Reid’s positions on immigration last week, Sharron Angle’s Senate campaign received a cease and desist letter from toymaker Hasbro, which produces Monopoly, according to The Huffington Post. Hasbro stated that image of Reid as a game piece with a top hat and cane, resembling Mr. Monopoly, was used without permission. Angle’s web site called the game the “Harry Reid Amnesty Game” and labeled it “fun for the whole illegal family.”

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Indefinitely Approved by Government

The Los Angeles Times reports that the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT ) policy can remain in effect while the government appeals a judge’s most recent ruling, which declared it unconstitutional. The 2-1 ruling extends a temporary order handed down by the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, which itself overturned an injunction on DADT issued by Judge Virginia Phillips in September. The Obama administration has previously stated its opposition to DADT and that the policy should be repealed by Congress, but it also opposed Judge Phillips’ order to immediately suspend the law.

Environmentalist Groups Brace for GOP Gains

Groups like the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters are preparing a message that today’s election results will not mean that voters have rejected the importance of environmental regulation, The Hill stated. A press conference on Wednesday will release an election night poll on voter opinions on clean energy, and green groups will also highlight massive election spending by oil and coal interests.

We’re not going to stand for it. Are you?

You don’t bury your head in the sand. You know as well as we do what we’re facing as a country, as a people, and as a global community. Here at Truthout, we’re gearing up to meet these threats head on, but we need your support to do it: We must raise $21,000 before midnight to ensure we can keep publishing independent journalism that doesn’t shy away from difficult — and often dangerous — topics.

We can do this vital work because unlike most media, our journalism is free from government or corporate influence and censorship. But this is only sustainable if we have your support. If you like what you’re reading or just value what we do, will you take a few seconds to contribute to our work?