Republicans try to block election reform, Amazon Twitter army, UK Queen protected from looted artefacts law, Amazon drivers
Inside the Koch-Backed Effort to Block the Largest Election-Reform Bill in Half a Century
The New Yorker citing a recording of a Jan. 8 call between a policy adviser to McConnell and the leaders of several conservative groups.
The participants conceded that the bill, which would stem the flow of dark money, was so popular that it wasn’t worth trying to mount a public-advocacy campaign. Instead, a senior Koch operative said that opponents would be better off trying to kill the bill in Congress.
Amazon’s Twitter army was handpicked for “great sense of humor,” leaked document reveals
The Intercept citing 2018 Amazon documents produced under the codename “Veritas."
Anticipating criticisms of worker conditions at their fulfillment centers in particular, Amazon designed Veritas to train fulfillment center workers chosen for their “great sense of humor” to confront critics — including policymakers — on Twitter in a “blunt” manner.
The document, produced as part of the pilot program in 2018 and marked “Amazon.com Confidential,” also includes examples of how its ambassadors can snarkily respond to criticisms of the company and its CEO. Several examples involve Sen. Bernie Sanders, a longtime critic of the $1 trillion firm who has been targeted by it in recent days. It also provides examples of how to defend Bezos.
UK police barred from searching Queen's estates for looted artefacts
The Guardian citing documents obtained through FOIA requests.
The culture minister’s private secretary, who was not named, stated that the draft bill had been carefully phrased when it referred to the Queen’s special exemption. “Separately, we wish to ensure that the powers of part 4 of the bill are not exercisable in relation to Her Majesty’s private estates,” the official wrote.
Documents show Amazon is aware drivers pee in bottles, despite company denial
The Intercept citing Amazon policy documents.
One document from January, marked “Amazon Confidential,” details various infractions by Amazon employees, including “public urination” and “public defecation.” The document was provided to The Intercept by an Amazon employee in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who, like most of the employees I talked to, was granted anonymity to avoid professional reprisal.
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