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Amid the chaos and dysfunction at the Kabul airport, the Biden administration left behind 100+ USAGM employees, plus their families and contractors — Now that the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan is complete, many stories of heroic efforts to save Americans and Afghan allies are pouring out …
Discussion:
USA Today, @albertomiguelf5, @neoavatara, @mccormackjohn, @kimzetter, @farhip, @dlippman, @leahmcelrath, @swanniontv, @joshrogin, @joshrogin, @joshrogin, Voice of America, @noonanjo, @hughhewitt, @heatherchilders, @victoriacoates, @kir_bigg50, @joshrogin, @joshrogin, @joshrogin, @joshrogin, @kenweinstein, @repmeijer, @poppyharlowcnn, New York Times and The Hill
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The Biden administration pledged to support press freedom around the world, but so far has failed the test in Afghanistan — Joe Biden pledged to support press freedom, but so far he hasn't followed through on his promises. — The Biden administration came to power pledging to put human rights …
Discussion:
@davidakaye, @kenweinstein, @jrezaian, @peterlattman, @nicdawes, @kathleencarrll, @wsjforero, @pressfreedom, @cjchivers, @wsjopinion and New York Times


NYT is adding a paywall to Wirecutter, starting after users read 10 stories/month, charging $5/month or $40/year but free for NYT premium digital subscribers — Site will be available for $5 every four weeks or as part of a Times premium bundle — New York Times Co. plans to put …
Discussion:
@alexweprin, The New York Times Company, @kimmasters, @myurow, @myurow, @russpitts, @adriana_lacy, @matthewkeyslive, @rafat, @sdkstl, @gabrielsnyder, @delrayser, @ylitvinenko, @thedavidmurphy, @timherrera, @davidellis, @videodante, @mattietk, @glennf, @jamesstevenson, @karengeier, @samitsarkar, @ranjanxroy, @greengart, @tomfrankly, @parismartineau, @cubicleapril, @astepanovich, @xpatriciah, @devindra, @mattzeitlin, @davidclinchnews, @mmasnick, @abeaujon, @pkafka, @patiencehaggin, @mrpope, @bmorrissey, @robaeprice, @reneritchie, @oliverdarcy, @jbu3, @videodante, @myurow, @thevowel, @dangillmor, @jaredlholt, @ylitvinenko and Nieman Lab


Flipboard adds features that suggest related topics and let readers quickly choose subjects they care most about; it plans to expand topic fine-tuning soon — The magazine-style aggregation app always wanted to steer clear of the ugly side of virality. Now it's even easier to customize it to your passions.
Discussion:
@kfury and @dancormack


Facebook plans to downrank current events content and political posts in the News Feed, which could reduce traffic to some news publishers — Facebook plans to announce that it will de-emphasize political posts and current events content in the News Feed based on negative user feedback, Axios has learned.
Discussion:
About Facebook, @saralang, @brandonetc, @realkiradavis, @brentbozell, @brendannyhan, Reclaim The Net, @parkermolloy, Wired, @themaxburns, @goangelo, @aaronhuertas, Fast Company, @tonyromm, @calebjhull, @martinsfp, @kailijoy, @jeremylittau, Social Media Today, @sbg1, Nieman Lab, The Verge, Insider and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »


UK government launches a consultation on new rules that would make streaming services subject to the same standards as traditional broadcasters — Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the Government is looking to introduce ‘proportionate’ new rules. — N
Discussion:
GOV.UK, Light Reading and Reuters


Sources: Amazon is developing a live audio feature, led by its Music division, with a focus on live music and potentially radio and podcasts — Amazon is investing heavily in a new live audio feature that's similar to other live audio offerings like Clubhouse, Twitter Spaces and Spotify's new live audio platform, sources tell Axios.


LinkedIn is abandoning its Stories format at the end of September and has told advertisers to adjust their ad campaigns accordingly — Brands will have to adjust ad campaigns when video format leaves the platform after September — LinkedIn is telling advertisers to prepare for the end …
Discussion:
The Verge, LinkedIn, @caseynewton, @lars, @katie_roof, @dbinkowski, @kateconger, @profjeffjarviss, @adage, @film_girl, @backlon, @shaayohn, @chrisbrogan, @arainert, @carnage4life, @sarthakgh, @mgsiegler, @daviddtss, Gizmodo and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »


The Associated Press names Julie Pace, its Washington bureau chief, as its new executive editor and senior vice president — Julie Pace, The A.P.'s Washington bureau chief, started out wanting to be an international correspondent. Now she has the top newsroom job.


Sources: Vice Media is raising $85M from existing investors since SPAC talks have ended; as part of the deal, co-founder Shane Smith is giving up voting control — Vice Media is raising over $85 million in fresh capital from existing investors, as talks to go public via a special purpose acquisition company …
Discussion:
Financial Times, @joshsternberg, @rafat, @joeljohnson, @zeeshanaleem, @jakesherman, @richlightshed, @parismartineau, @kenli729, SPAC Track and The Wrap


Conflicts over race, culture, and inclusion have roiled the Romance Writers of America and other groups devoted to books and literature — Conflicts over race, culture and inclusion have roiled the Romance Writers of America, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and other groups devoted to books and literature.
Discussion:
@liz_a_harris, @xanalter, @penamerica and @nytimesbooks


Telegram opens live streams to an unlimited number of viewers, up from 1,000, making the service into a fully fledged mobile live streaming platform — Along with more forwarding options — Telegram, the messaging app that's becoming more and more like a fully-fledged social media network …
Discussion:
Telegram, @abebrown716, MacRumors and Android Police, more at Techmeme »