Daily Archives: June 16, 2020

@StateDept Reactions: Americans Convicted in Moscow (Outrage) and Manila (Silence Now Concern)

June 16, 2020 By in Americans Abroad, Consular Work, Court Cases, Media, Mike Pompeo, State Department Tags: , , , ,

Updated: 10:45 am PST

 

Top VOA Officials Resign as Michael Pack Assumes Charge as CEO of @USAGMgov

June 16, 2020 By in Confirmations, Federal Agencies, Media, Political Appointees, Resignations, Trends, Trump, U.S. Senate Tags: , , ,

 

The newly confirm CEO Michael Pack “oversees all aspects of U.S. international media.”  He reportedly also “provides day-to-day management of USAGM’s operations, including oversight of the technical, professional, and administrative support as well as strategic guidance and management of other programs. USAGM’s management team is listed here.

@StateDept Senior Leadership “Requests” US Embassy Seoul to Take Down BLM Banner

June 16, 2020 By in Ambassadors, Media, Mike Pompeo, Protests, Social Media, State Department, Top Ranks, Trends, Trump, U.S. Missions Tags: , , , , ,
On June 13, we posted this: US Embassy Seoul Displays Giant #BlackLivesMatter Banner In Support of Fight Against Racial Injustice.
US Embassy Seoul’s BLM banner that went up on Saturday came down on Monday. CNN reports that senior State Department leadership asked the embassy in Seoul to take down the Black Lives Matter sign that Ambassador Harry Harris had hung from the building’s façade . A spokesman for the embassy confirmed to CNN that the large Pride flag has also come down. Via CNN:
“The request from the department’s 7th floor — where Secretary of State Mike Pompeo‘s offices are located — cited as its reason the fact that Black Lives Matter is a non-profit organization and that the US government does not encourage contributions to the group or promote any specific organization, the source said. It is not clear why the Pride flag — which was hung in late May, according to the embassy’s Facebook page — was removed and no explanation has been offered yet.”
According to Bloomberg “on Monday, after the banners were removed, the embassy said that U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris did not intend “to support or encourage donations to any specific organization. To avoid the misperception that American taxpayer dollars were spent to benefit such organizations, he directed that the banner be removed.”