AFN NEWS ON THE HOUR

Thursday, March 15, 2018　

 
 

1)  From ABC News, I’m Richard Cantu. The White House offering its take on the closely watched special congressional election in western Pennsylvania. Republicans eyed a recount and lawsuit in the race in which Democrat Conor Lamb clings to his lead measured in hundreds of votes over Republican Rick Saccone. Several hundred provisional, military, and overseas ballots still need counting. White House Spokesman Raj Shah; why the race is so tight, “The Democrat in the race really embraced the President’s policies and his vision whereas he didn’t really embrace Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader.” The race still has no declared winner.

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2) Outside the U.S. Capitol, “No more silence, end gun violence.” High schoolers are walking out of class to protest gun violence seen repeatedly across the country. The Sacramento, California McClatchy High junior Maya Steinhart, “We are asking for reasonable gun laws, banning bump stocks, raising the age of people who can purchase weapons, background checks.”

 

3) No, this as a judge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida entered the plea of not guilty on behalf of the accused MSD high school massacre shooter Nikolas Cruz. Accused school shooter Nikolas Cruz sat with his head bowed in a Fort Lauderdale court. Judge laid him on charges that he killed 17 people in a Florida school. “In terms of entering a plea, we stand mute your honor.” Cruz’s attorney Melisa McNeill offering to spare the state a costly trial and instead plead guilty if prosecutors promise not to ask for the death penalty. Andy Field, ABC News.

 

4) Great Britain is expelling 23 Russian diplomats believed to be spies. Punishment for the nerve gas attack to put ex-spy Sergei Skripal in hospital. U.S. UN ambassador Nikki Haley calls this a defining moment for the Security Council. “If we don’t take immediate concrete measures to address this now. Salisbury will not be the last place we see chemical weapons used. They could use here in New York.” Russia denies involvement.

 

5) Wall Street now lost 249 points. NASDAQ closed down 14. You’re listing to ABC News.

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You know that old saying. Bad news travels fast. Well, as it turns out, fake news travels even faster. And no, it’s not the Russians’ fault. Kim Komando is with your Friday “Consumer Tech Update.” So, let’s play a game of what if. What if all those false misleading follies undermine online news? It is not because of the Russians or extreme right wing or left wing political cooperatives. What if the problems is with us? Three researchers at MIT found that regardless of the subject whether politics, science, tech, even urban legends, bogus stories are 70% more likely to be retweeted and shared than factual real news. Who’s doing it? Average everyday folks. It is after all that they are subtracted from the equation and the result is still the same. They’ll get better. The more novel and outrageous the story is, the faster it spreads. I can tell you the number of emails that I get was outlandish and sometimes frightening headlines, but quick fact check and reputable websites before folly stories or tweet go a long way. I’m Kim Komando.