Daily Links: 08/06/17 – Saudi Arabia to execute government critics

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)

Slow couple news days (ain’t that a change?), so have a shortened Links post.

• The US’s wonderful ally, Saudi Arabia, is about to execute 14 people, including three who were juveniles when sentenced, who were convicted by a sham trial for criticizing their government.
  (via @radleybalko)

• White House issues their “guidance” for implementing Trump’s trans military ban: encouraging early retirement and firing trans officers up for promotion. Combat troops’ status is unclear. LGBTQ advocacy group Lambda Legal plans to challenge the ban in court.
  (via Joe.My.God.)

• Solid write-up in The Week about why so many on the Left don’t trust politicians like Kamala Harris ^[pictured] and Cory Booker, and why race has nothing to do with it, despite the sleazy accusations from establishment leaders. Not mentioned but also troubling is Harris’s support for civil asset forfeiture and defense of the death penalty.
  (via @ggreenwald)

• And finally, skepticism alert: Are Brooklyn antivaxxers refusing to vaccinate their pets over autism fears? Reports all point to one source, a local weekly newsletter, that features anecdotes from two vets who report “concerns” from an unknown number of clients, and quotes from several people on the street who don’t buy it. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if this were real to some extent, but let’s wait for actual data before drawing conclusions.
  (via Friendly Atheist; thanks to Lan for the Snopes link)

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