Crash Course: Rudy Giuliani admits it

Trumpworld's election fraud claims were apparently based on unverified social media posts [Crash Course] Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Written by [Brett Bachman](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0QhaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9CcmV0dEFCYWNobWFuVwNzcGNCCmFSQo1ZYTAZT5RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Rudy Giuliani finally admits it Thanks to a [public deposition of Rudy Giuliani](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0R_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvcnVkeS1naXVsaWFuaS1vcGVubHktYWRtaXRzLWhpcy1mcmF1ZC1ldmlkZW5jZS1jYW1lLWZyb20tc29jaWFsLW1lZGlhLXBvc3RzLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), we finally know where Trumpworld's claims of widespread voter fraud originated: social media. That's about all we know, however, because even Giuliani doesn't seem to remember which pages — or even which platforms — his so-called "evidence" came from. None of that stopped him from mounting a monthslong campaign to overturn the election, of course. The news came out in recently unearthed court documents from a defamation case involving Giuliani, filed by an employee of election security company Dominion Voting Systems, which various characters in Trump's inner circle blamed for "rigging" the 2020 election in favor of Joe Biden. In the deposition, Giuliani even admitted that he did not independently contact his sources or fact-check their claims, adding that doing so would have made him a "terrible lawyer." "It's not my job in a fast-moving case to go out and investigate every piece of evidence that's given to me," Giuliani said. "Why wouldn't I believe him? I would have to have been a terrible lawyer… gee, let's go find out it's untrue. I didn't have the time to do that." (Photo via Getty Images) The brutal allure of "Squid Game" Netflix's new South Korean thriller series, "Squid Game," became an overnight sensation recently, and is poised to overtake "Bridgerton" as the streaming service's most-watched title, ever. And, like all good art, the most interesting part of the entire phenomenon is what it tells us about ourselves. The show's premise is relatively simple — people sign up for an underground game that promises millions in winnings for one lucky contestant, not knowing that if they lose, it will cost them their lives. "It really is an excellent distillation of how predatory capitalism works," Salon TV critic Melanie McFarland writes — and the success of "Squid Game" shows us just how pervasive these themes are in societies across the globe. Read McFarland's [full review of the show here](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvc3F1aWQtZ2FtZS1uZXRmbGl4LWRlYnQtcHJlZGF0b3J5LWNhcGl0YWxpc20vP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFSQo1ZYTAZT5RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). (Photo via YOUNGKYU PARK / Netflix) - Alex Jones cries foul [after court rules he must pay for his Sandy Hook conspiracy theories](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0SIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDEvYWxleC1qb25lcy1jcmllcy1mb3VsLWFmdGVyLXJ1bGVzLWhlLW11c3QtcGF5LWZvci1oaXMtc2FuZHktaG9vay1jb25zcGlyYWN5LXRoZW9yaWVzLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) - Joe Manchin has made $5.2M from his coal company — [and gets big donations from fossil-fuel industry](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0ScaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvam9lLW1hbmNoaW4taGFzLW1hZGUtNTJtLWZyb20taGlzLWNvYWwtY29tcGFueS0tYW5kLWdldHMtYmlnLWRvbmF0aW9ucy1mcm9tLWZvc3NpbC1mdWVsLWluZHVzdHJ5X3BhcnRuZXIvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFSQo1ZYTAZT5RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) - Marco Rubio [wants to go after corporations — but there's a catch](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvbWFyY28tcnViaW8td2FudHMtdG8tZ28tYWZ0ZXItY29ycG9yYXRpb25zLS1idXQtdGhlcmVzLWEtY2F0Y2gvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFSQo1ZYTAZT5RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) - In Netflix thriller "The Guilty," [cop Jake Gyllenhaal mesmerizes](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDEvdGhlLWd1aWx0eS1yZXZpZXctbmV0ZmxpeC1qYWtlLWd5bGxlbmhhYWwvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFSQo1ZYTAZT5RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) during one fateful night on the job - Kraken lawyer [Sidney Powell now unwelcome at Trump resorts](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0SUaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIva3Jha2VuLWxhd3llci1zaWRuZXktcG93ZWxsLXVud2VsY29tZS1hdC1yZXNvcnRzLS10aGV5LXdvbnQtZXZlbi1hbnN3ZXItaGVyLWNhbGxzLXJlcG9ydF9wYXJ0bmVyLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) — and they won't even answer her calls - Why billionaires love to [park their wealth in places like South Dakota](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0SCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvd2h5LWJpbGxpb25haXJlcy1sb3ZlLXRvLXBhcmstdGhlaXItd2VhbHRoLWluLXBsYWNlcy1saWtlLXNvdXRoLWRha290YV9wYXJ0bmVyLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) - [Steven Van Zandt's memoir "Unrequited Infatuations"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvc3RldmVuLXZhbi16YW5kdC1tZW1vaXItdW5yZXF1aXRlZC1pbmZhdHVhdGlvbnMtcmV2aWV3Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) details the transformative power of taking risks - Experts find [Arizona's 'hoax' audit was even worse than it looked](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0SOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvZXhwZXJ0cy1maW5kLWFyaXpvbmFzLWhvYXgtYXVkaXQtd2FzLWV2ZW4td29yc2UtdGhhbi1pdC1sb29rZWQtbWFkZS11cC10aGUtbnVtYmVyc19wYXJ0bmVyLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~): "Made up the numbers" - Low health literacy is [a "silent pandemic" that affects the majority of Americans](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0SDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvbG93LWhlYWx0aC1saXRlcmFjeS1pcy1hLXNpbGVudC1wYW5kZW1pYy10aGF0LWFmZmVjdHMtdGhlLW1ham9yaXR5LW9mLWFtZXJpY2Fucy8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYVJCjVlhMBlPlFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) - The [many betrayals of "Ted Lasso"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvdGVkLWxhc3NvLW5hdGUvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFSQo1ZYTAZT5RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) - Elon Musk [starts beef with Biden in scorched-earth interview](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDEvZWxvbi1tdXNrLXN0YXJ0cy1iZWVmLXdpdGgtYmlkZW4tc2F5cy1pcy1jb250cm9sbGVkLWJ5LXVuaW9ucy8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYVJCjVlhMBlPlFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), says president is "controlled by unions" - [Here's the absolute best way to cook french fries](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0SBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvdGhlLWFic29sdXRlLWJlc3Qtd2F5LXRvLWNvb2stZnJlbmNoLWZyaWVzLWFjY29yZGluZy10by1zby1tYW55LXRlc3RzX3BhcnRuZXIvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFSQo1ZYTAZT5RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), according to so many tests - A [controversial study claims researchers can "treat" some autism symptoms](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0SOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvYS1jb250cm92ZXJzaWFsLXN0dWR5LWNsYWltcy1yZXNlYXJjaGVycy1jYW4tdHJlYXQtc29tZS1hdXRpc20tc3ltcHRvbXMtaW4tZWFybHktY2hpbGRob29kLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) in early childhood - QAnon extremists [are making inroads with Mormons](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvcWFub24tZXh0cmVtaXN0cy1tYWtlLWlucm9hZHMtd2l0aC1tb3Jtb25zLXJlcG9ydC8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYVJCjVlhMBlPlFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) - GOP governor [fights to use COVID relief funds to build new prisons](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDEvZ292ZXJub3ItdG8tdXNlLXJlbGllZi1mdW5kcy10by1idWlsZC1uZXcvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFSQo1ZYTAZT5RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) - Today's anti-mask activists [have much in common with anti-handwashing doctors](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDEvZmFjZW1hc2tzLWh5Z2llbmUtaGlzdG9yeS8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYVJCjVlhMBlPlFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) of the 1840s - Man targeted in alleged Proud Boys assassination plot [found dead under suspicious circumstances](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0SWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvbWFuLXRhcmdldGVkLWluLWFsbGVnZWQtcHJvdWQtYm95cy1hc3Nhc3NpbmF0aW9uLXBsb3QtZm91bmQtdW5kZXItc3VzcGljaW91cy1jaXJjdW1zdGFuY2VzX3BhcnRuZXIvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFSQo1ZYTAZT5RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) - And, finally, are you bored with beige pasta? [Grab a head of broccoli and a blender](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvcmVjaXBlLWNyaXNwZXItZHJhd2VyLXBhc3RhLWJyb2Njb2xpLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) to receive Crash Course. Stop making fun of the Arizona election "audit" Sure, some some Trumpers were dismayed by the "results" of the Cyber Ninjas' supposed "audit" of Maricopa County's 2020 election — and we can all admit the process was deeply funny in a come-on-they-can't-be-serious kind of way. But these fake audits are only part of a long-term strategy, [Salon columnist Chauncy DeVega writes](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0SFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvcXVpdC1tYWtpbmctZnVuLW9mLXRoZS1jeWJlci1uaW5qYXMtYXJpem9uYS1hdWRpdC0tdGhlLWZhc2Npc3RzLWFyZS1zdGlsbC13aW5uaW5nLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) — a strategy that is soon to be copied in other states, regardless of how ridiculous they seem to those outside the right-wing media bubble. "That world of "normal" politics is dying, and gradually being replaced by a malignant new normalcy," DeVega argues. "In response, new rules and frameworks must be adopted if we really want to stem the fascist tide. But decades of habit and personal, financial and emotional investment in a political and social system that rewarded American elites and their mouthpieces are not easy to reject." "The fake audits in Arizona and elsewhere are not a joke. Those who choose to laugh are driven by self-interest, anxiety, fear and denial. They are retreating from the ugly reality of the situation, and from the hard work that will be necessary to save or redeem democracy." - "[The Conservatives Dreading—And Preparing for—Civil War](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXRsYW50aWMuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2FyY2hpdmUvMjAyMS8xMC9jbGFyZW1vbnQtcnlhbi13aWxsaWFtcy10cnVtcC82MjAyNTIvVwNzcGNCCmFSQo1ZYTAZT5RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)," The Atlantic - "[Greenwashing the Military-Industrial Complex](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RRaHR0cHM6Ly90aGViYWZmbGVyLmNvbS9sYXRlc3QvZ3JlZW53YXNoaW5nLXRoZS1taWxpdGFyeS1pbmR1c3RyaWFsLWNvbXBsZXgtY3JhdmVuVwNzcGNCCmFSQo1ZYTAZT5RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)," The Baffler - "[Free Steven Donziger](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0Q7aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdyZXB1YmxpYy5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZS8xNjM4NTEvZnJlZS1zdGV2ZW4tZG9uemlnZXJXA3NwY0IKYVJCjVlhMBlPlFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)," The New Republic - "[Searching for Mr. X](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RSaHR0cHM6Ly9tYWdhemluZS5hdGF2aXN0LmNvbS9zZWFyY2hpbmctZm9yLW1yLXgtYW1uZXNpYS1taXNzaXNzaXBwaS1yYWRpby1teXN0ZXJ5L1cDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)," The Atavist - "[The great sperm heist: ‘They were playing with people’s lives](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0SIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZ3VhcmRpYW4uY29tL2xpZmVhbmRzdHlsZS8yMDIxL3NlcC8yNS90aGUtZ3JlYXQtc3Blcm0taGVpc3QtdGhleS13ZXJlLXBsYXlpbmctd2l0aC1wZW9wbGVzLWxpdmVzP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9cG9ja2V0X215bGlzdFcDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~),'" The Guardian Bill Maher defends Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema It's a match made in heaven. ["Real Time" host Bill Maher wants everyone to know](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMDIvYmlsbC1tYWhlci1kZWZlbmRzLWpvZS1tYW5jaGluLWt5cnN0ZW4tc2luZW1hLXNheXMtdGhleS1oYXZlLXRoZWlyLXRodW1iLW9uLWF2ZXJhZ2UvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFSQo1ZYTAZT5RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) that he's on the side of Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema — arguing Friday night that the pair of moderate Senators holding nearly the entirety of Congress at bay "might have their thumb more on the pulse on the average Democrat in the country." "They're mad at them because they're not progressive enough, forgetting that they only got elected because they're not progressives!" Maher said. "They're moderates." (Photo via HBO/Screengrab) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Copyright © 2021 Crash Course, All rights reserved. Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0RBaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPTM1NDM5NTJXA3NwY0IKYVJCjVlhMBlPlFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjPBI_P0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgphUkKNWWEwGU-UUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)