News Information and Media Site: How Facebook failed Kenosha

THE BIG STORY

Joe Biden's Kenosha visit did what Donald Trump's didn't: centered on the community in crisis

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump visited Kenosha, Wisconsin, where protests are ongoing after police there shot Jacob Blake. But during his visit, Trump barely spoke about Blake or the police shooting, and instead focused on the violence and property damage.

Seeking contrast, Joe Biden visited Kenosha on Thursday — a rare pandemic-era trip far from his home in Delaware — and used much of his time in the city to give a platform to people in the community and their feelings.

For Biden, the trip was intended to show he, unlike Trump, can be a unifier. Biden spoke by phone with Blake, and gathered with several of Blake's family members at the Milwaukee airport ahead of an event at a Kenosha church.

During his visit, Biden spoke for long stretches but mostly listened. Biden heard from a woman upset about the looting and damage at her gallery during the protests, and a Black lawyer horrified by the video footage of Blake's shooting.

Joe Biden speaks at Grace Lutheran Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Sept. 3. Alex Wong / Getty Images.

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Facebook says it removed a militia event page threatening violence in Kenosha. It didn't.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement that the company removed a militia event where people discussed gathering in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to shoot and kill protesters.

Here's the thing: BuzzFeed News has learned that the company never took any such action. The event was taken down by the militia group itself — after two people were killed.

The event, which was created by the Kenosha Guard, a self-proclaimed militia group, had hundreds of RSVPs and became a hotbed of threats. But Facebook allowed the event page and the Kenosha Guard page to remain on its platform despite newly instituted policies banning militia groups.

"I fully plan to kill looters and rioters tonight," one person wrote on the event page, according to screenshots seen by BuzzFeed News.

SNAPSHOTS

Election officials and social media companies are begging you to ignore Trump and not vote twice. Voting twice is illegal. Trump has suggested people try to do so to test the integrity of the election system. But, again, voting twice is illegal.

The suspect in the deadly shooting in Portland was killed as officials tried to arrest him. Michael Reinoehl, a 48-year-old who had said on social media that he was "100% ANTIFA all the way," was killed as federal officers attempted to take him into custody. He was being sought for the death of pro-Trump activist Aaron J. Danielson.

Trump made fun of politicians wearing masks during a crowded rally where many didn't wear masks. At a Pennsylvania rally, Trump made light of wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to a crowd of many maskless people.

Rapper Silentó was arrested after allegedly attempting to strike two strangers with a hatchet. The rapper, who is known for his debut hit "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)," was arrested twice over the weekend — the second time after allegedly threatening two strangers with a hatchet.

Filming for The Batman has halted after Robert Pattinson reportedly contracted COVID-19. Filming on the latest reboot for Batman began earlier this year but was first stalled in March amid the pandemic. According to Variety, there are still roughly three months of filming to complete.

FACEBOOK AND THE ELECTION

Facebook won't accept new political ads the week before the election — but older ones with lies are still OK

First, here's the wider context: Social networks are facing increasing pressure to police political advertising on their platforms ahead of the US elections. Some critics have urged tech companies to stop running political ads altogether.

On Thursday, Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook will introduce a new one-week ban on new ads prior to the election. Zuckerberg said the ban is because he is "concerned" about the challenges people could face while voting.

Here's how he framed the decision: "I'm also worried that with our nation so divided and election results potentially taking days or even weeks to be finalized, there could be an increased risk of civil unrest across the country."

The social network will continue showing users all political ads that candidates or political action committees buy before that day, and continue to let these groups adjust who they target. And, crucially: Candidates for political office will also still be able to run ads containing lies.

TIME FOR A BREATHER

Because you need some longreads for the long weekend

Why Chadwick Boseman's death hurts so much. Last week, Chadwick Boseman, star of Black Panther died. I wrote about how, in a year of so much Black grief, losing an actor who made a career of celebrating Black life feels so painful.

COVID-19 turned my anxieties about having a baby into a reality. Shruti Swamy penned a thoughtful piece about parenthood and the pandemic: "As a person who is prone to depression and anxiety, I've found these last months to be literal manifestations of both — danger is everywhere! Why bother leaving the house?"

21 new fall books you won't want to put down. Fall is here, and you're going to want to get all cozy for this reading list.

Spend time making a list of everything that grounds you in gratitude,

Elamin

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📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.

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