Jaeah Lee

Jaeah Lee

Associate Interactive Producer

When Jaeah isn't making mockups, researching, or blogging for Mother Jones, she's usually reading about foreign policy, climate change, or new dinner recipes. A lover of mass transit, she can pretty much navigate the New York City subway blindfolded.

Full Bio | Get my RSS |

Prior to joining Mother Jones, Jaeah worked as a research associate at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, focusing on China. Her writings have appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, Global Post, Huffington Post, Talking Points Memo, and Movements.org.

Fact-Checking Liu Xiaobo Critics

—By and

| Wed Dec. 22, 2010 8:38 AM PST

Liu Xiaobo, an imprisoned activist who was awarded this year's Peace prize for his "long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China," is best known for his participation in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and penning articles discouraging violence as a tool of pro-democracy Chinese dissidents. But according to his critics, he's also a fervent supporter of US-led wars.

Last Wednesday, Hong Kong-based professors Barry Sautman and Yan Hairong published a piece in The Guardian arguing that the Western media and Nobel committee have failed to recognize Liu's support of US war-efforts in Vietnam—and that Liu's imprisonment "was unnecessary," because "If Liu's politics were well-known, most people would not favour him for a prize, because he is a champion of war, not peace." To support this point, they cite a quote (translated below) from Liu's 1996 essay, "Lessons From the Cold War":

The free world led by the US fought almost all regimes that trampled on human rights...The major wars that the US became involved in are all ethically defensible.

Since an English translation of Liu's essay doesn't seem to exist, we read his essay in its original Mandarin, but we were unable to locate the quote Sautman and Yan mentioned. Just to be sure, we had another multilingual friend spot-check us, but he couldn't find it either. Looks like Sautman and Yan broadly misquoted the Nobel prize-winner at best. At worst, they deliberately fabricated his views about US involvement in the Vietnam and Korean Wars. One thing they didn't mention: Liu's essay was less concerned with the West's involvement in the Cold War, and is ultimately more interested in China's human rights failures [PDF], stating:

It was not the Americans that destroyed Communist authoritarianism, but that was caused by the self-destructive forces of this system's anti-human nature.

 

 

[Read more in the MoJo blog]

Advertise on MotherJones.com

How is Fox News Like the Communist Party?

—By

| Fri Dec. 17, 2010 2:33 PM PST

The publication of an email from Bill Sammon, managing editor of Fox News's Washington bureau, encouraging reporters to broadcast "wildly misleading" claims about climate science reminds me of my other favorite news-spinner: the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Sammon's email from December 8, 2009, which Media Matters revealed to the public on Wednesday (h/t MoJo's Kate Sheppard), is similar to an October 2009 email he wrote to Fox reporters on covering health care legislation, excerpted below:

Subject: friendly reminder: let's not slip back into calling it the "public option"

  1. Please use the term "government-run health insurance" or, when brevity is a concern, "government option," whenever possible.

  2. When it is necessary to use the term "public option" (which is, after all, firmly ensconced in the nation's lexicon), use the qualifier "so-called," as in "the so-called public option."

  3. Here's another way to phrase it: "The public option, which is the government-run plan."

  4. When newsmakers and sources use the term "public option" in our stories, there's not a lot we can do about it, since quotes are of course sacrosanct.

Sammon is not the first nor only person who has sent out such directives (Iran, Burma...) regarding wording of sensitive issues. One re-wording enthusiast of particular notoriety is the CCP, which routinely circulates instructions to the Chinese press, and which, in turn, journalists affectionately call "Directives from the Ministry of Truth."

[Read more in the Riff blog]

Citizen Solutions in Cancún

—By

| Thu Dec. 9, 2010 5:21 PM PST

The international climate change summit in Cancún wraps up tomorrow, and envoys are jostling over draft agreements into the eleventh hour. Cancún has been almost as disappointing as Copenhagen, but this week I came across a number of citizen-organized solutions that offer a glimmer of hope. They aren’t silver bullets. Still, definitely worth noting.

[Read more in the Blue Marble blog]

CHARTS: World's GMO Crop Fields Could Cover the US 1.5 Times Over
Tue Feb. 26, 2013 4:06 AM PST

China's "Ultimate Goal Is a Huge Fracking Industry"
Tue Nov. 27, 2012 4:08 AM PST

Lines of 150 People and 90 Minute Waits in Akron, Ohio
Tue Nov. 6, 2012 5:55 PM PST

GOP Platform Flashback: "Government Must Have a Heart"
Fri Sep. 7, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

How Our Digital Newsroom Uses Google’s Chart Tools
Fri Aug. 31, 2012 8:15 AM PDT

Stellar Crime Reporting Doesn't Come for Free
Mon Aug. 20, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

US Female Olympians Have Won More Medal Points Than All but Four Countries
Sun Aug. 12, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

New Bill Would Cut $113 Billion in Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Fri May. 11, 2012 12:30 AM PDT

M83 Takes Synthpop Back to the Future
Mon May. 7, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

Justice Takes Electronica Mainstream
Mon Apr. 23, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

Charts: Dirty Energy's Election Ad Spending Spree
Wed Apr. 18, 2012 10:50 AM PDT

Will Pennsylvania Reverse its Gag Order on Fracking Chemicals?
Mon Apr. 16, 2012 1:56 PM PDT

Calculator: How Much Does Using Coal Really Cost?
Mon Apr. 2, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

What Your Shampoo Bottle Isn't Telling You
Fri Mar. 9, 2012 3:04 PM PST

Barnes & Noble, National Geographic's Illegal Logging Ties
Fri Mar. 2, 2012 4:00 AM PST

It's Polar Bear Day. How Much Do You Care?
Mon Feb. 27, 2012 11:34 AM PST

Which Major Corporations Are Backing a Climate-Denier Think Tank?
Sat Feb. 18, 2012 4:00 AM PST

EPA to Cruise and Cargo Ships: No More Dumping on California's Coasts
Thu Feb. 9, 2012 1:13 PM PST

A Zagat-Style Guide for Ethical Diners
Mon Dec. 5, 2011 3:30 AM PST

From Rock Musician to Anti-Slavery Activist
Mon Nov. 21, 2011 4:00 AM PST

Which Household Cleaners Contain Toxins?
Thu Nov. 17, 2011 10:19 AM PST

EPA Could Save 35,700 Lives by Limiting Soot, but Won't
Thu Nov. 17, 2011 5:15 AM PST

The EPA Isn't Protecting You From the Worst Polluters
Tue Nov. 8, 2011 10:30 AM PST

Energy Department: World CO2 Emissions Rising Faster Than Ever
Fri Nov. 4, 2011 12:54 PM PDT

Slave-Labor Candy, Union-Busting Costumes, and Lead-Laden Fake Bling: Happy Halloween!
Mon Oct. 31, 2011 2:30 AM PDT

BPA Makes Little Girls Anxious and Depressed
Tue Oct. 25, 2011 3:00 AM PDT

Report: Countries Catch Way More Bluefin Tuna Than They're Supposed To
Fri Oct. 21, 2011 1:48 PM PDT

Boehner's Funding From Coal up 2,400 Percent
Thu Sep. 15, 2011 3:15 AM PDT

The Return of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Mon Aug. 15, 2011 3:30 AM PDT

Why Bottled Water Companies Target Blacks and Latinos
Mon Aug. 15, 2011 2:30 AM PDT

Outside Lands' Gourmet Ghetto
Sat Aug. 13, 2011 2:25 PM PDT

What It'll Take to Make Seattle Carbon Neutral
Thu Aug. 11, 2011 3:00 AM PDT

New Report: CO2 Emissions Cost Way More Than You Think
Wed Aug. 3, 2011 5:04 PM PDT

Langhorne Slim Hits the Alt-Country Road
Fri Jul. 22, 2011 6:30 PM PDT

How I (Almost) Became an Air Guitar Fan
Mon Jul. 4, 2011 3:30 AM PDT

RJD2's Four-Handed Vinyl Orchestra
Mon Jun. 20, 2011 3:50 AM PDT

Why Bolivia Still Won't Sign a Global Climate Agreement
Wed Jun. 8, 2011 10:31 AM PDT

Sleigh Bells' Postmodern Punk
Mon Jun. 6, 2011 4:30 AM PDT

How Bad Is Climate Change for Your Lungs?
Fri Jun. 3, 2011 2:16 PM PDT

Asobi Seksu: Music for Space Travel?
Mon May. 30, 2011 4:20 AM PDT

NOAA's Gamble on the Bluefin Tuna
Fri May. 27, 2011 4:37 PM PDT

Yelle's Safari Disco Universe
Mon May. 23, 2011 3:36 AM PDT

Forget Earthquakes: Fires Are the Biggest Threat to US Nuclear Plants
Wed May. 11, 2011 1:54 PM PDT

What We Didn't Know About Internet Controls
Thu Apr. 21, 2011 2:20 PM PDT

BP to Oil Spill Victims: Get Off My Stoop!
Fri Apr. 15, 2011 12:50 PM PDT

The #18DaysInEgypt Media Revolution
Fri Apr. 15, 2011 12:01 AM PDT

5 Ways to Sip a Cocktail and Save the World
Thu Apr. 14, 2011 11:50 AM PDT

The EPA's Moment of Truth
Wed Apr. 6, 2011 2:24 PM PDT

Senators' "Sneak-Attack" on the EPA
Wed Mar. 16, 2011 12:00 PM PDT

In Arctic, Warmer Climate Means More "Beavers Defecating" And Disease
Fri Mar. 4, 2011 5:00 AM PST

Charts: How Foreign Firms Flood America With Guns—and Get Rich Doing It

We import millions of firearms from nations with far stricter gun control laws than the United States.

Thu Apr. 4, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

Anti-Choice March Madness: The Worst State for Women

Which state will dominate in this tournament of lady-haters?

Thu Mar. 21, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

Charts: This Is What Happens When You Defund Planned Parenthood

Dozens of clinics have shut down in Texas, leaving nearly 200,000 women in search of affordable health care.

Thu Mar. 14, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

More Than Half of Mass Shooters Used Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Magazines

Congress considers banning weapons that have caused carnage in shopping malls, schools, and city streets.

Wed Feb. 27, 2013 4:01 AM PST

Chinese Cyberwarfare, Explained

So…just how screwed are we?

Thu Feb. 21, 2013 4:01 AM PST

MAP: Does Your State Let You Carry a Gun on Campus?

Five states now do, and seven others may soon follow—including Texas, where a shooting just shook up a community college.

Wed Jan. 23, 2013 6:56 AM PST

Charts: Suicide, PTSD and the Psychological Toll on America's Vets

14 staggering stats about the invisible wounds of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thu Jan. 17, 2013 4:11 AM PST

151 Victims of Mass Shootings in 2012: Here Are Their Stories

Bearing witness to the worst year of gun rampages in modern US history.

Fri Dec. 21, 2012 2:16 AM PST

Watch: The Year of Mass Shootings

2012 was the bloodiest yet. Here's a video collection of our reports on gun atrocities.

Fri Dec. 14, 2012 9:18 PM PST

Should I Buy a Fake Christmas Tree or a Real One?

How I tried—and failed—to buy the "greenest" tree possible.

Wed Dec. 12, 2012 4:03 AM PST

Does Costco Destroy Baby Manatees? MoJo's Eco-Doom Headline Generator

When climate change takes over, this little robot will carry on if we cannot.

Mon Dec. 10, 2012 4:03 AM PST

Is Your Pension Fund Taking Land Away From African Farmers?

A new report finds that some of the biggest funds are involved in deals that could shortchange subsistence farmers in the developing world.

Wed Dec. 5, 2012 4:03 AM PST

Will China's New Policy Silence Future Protesters?

A new environmental regulation could make it easier for authorities to suppress protesters before they hit the streets.

Fri Nov. 16, 2012 4:13 AM PST

Now That's What I Call Gerrymandering!

Americans didn't intend to elect a Republican majority to the House of Representatives. Thanks to GOP-engineered redistricting, they did.

Wed Nov. 14, 2012 4:03 AM PST

Charts: Ladyparts Strike Back

Check out all the record-breaking wins by the women of our next Congress.

Fri Nov. 9, 2012 4:03 AM PST

Charts: The Voter Guide for Your Ladyparts

Eleven reasons why every woman should vote on Tuesday.

Fri Nov. 2, 2012 3:08 AM PDT

Maps: Solitary Confinement, State by State

An exclusive review of how state prisons use isolation to discipline inmates and weed out gang members.

November/December 2012 Issue

Flowchart: Are You a Taker or a Maker?

Tonight, when Joe Biden and Paul Ryan face off, you better know whether you're a "taker" or a "maker."

Thu Oct. 11, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

MAP: Which States Hunt Wolves?

Hunting of Canis lupus is making a major comeback.

Mon Oct. 1, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

Map: A Wave of Teacher Strikes in Illinois

Following Chicago's big teacher strike, several Chicagoland districts are facing new protests. And: see strikes near you over the last 40 years.

Thu Sep. 20, 2012 12:28 PM PDT

Charts: You Might Be the 47 Percent If…

…you don't owe federal income taxes because you're a working mom, a soldier, a millionaire, or a corporation.

Tue Sep. 18, 2012 3:47 PM PDT

Voter Suppression: Coming to a State Near You?

If you're planning on voting in November, here's a few things you should know.

Mon Sep. 17, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

Map: How Much Do Your Local Teachers Earn?

Are they scraping by or making bank? Some data behind the education debate.

Fri Sep. 14, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

Scissors, Seamus, and Wedding Cake: A History of Mitt Romney in 30 Objects

A virtual tour of our GOP nominee's defining moments.

Mon Aug. 27, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

Charts: UFO Sightings Are More Common Than Voter Fraud

As Pennsylvania's new ID law goes on trial, some eye-popping stats about a problem no one can prove exists.

July/August 2012 Issue

Digital Voting Machines: Still FUBAR??

Twelve years after Bush v. Gore, bad technology could still wipe out your vote.

July/August 2012 Issue

Charts: Women's Athletics, 40 Years After Title IX

How the landmark gender-equity law has—and hasn't—evened the playing field.

Fri Jun. 22, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

Want to Ditch Citizens United? A DIY Guide

Pick your own path to an America without super-PACs.

Mon May. 21, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

How Walmart Conquered the World

Walmart's journey from small-town five-and-dime to mother of all megastores.

March/April 2012 Issue

Interactive Explainer: How the GOP Stealth Money Machine Works

A hands-on look at how millions of dollars mysteriously end up in the pockets of Republican candidates around the country.

Tue Jan. 17, 2012 4:00 AM PST

Trading Faces: Portlandia's Fred Armisen

A comic sketch of the quick-drumming, hipster-lampooning, laugh-inducing SNL master impersonator.

Wed Jan. 4, 2012 4:00 AM PST

Forget the US News College Rankings. Enroll Here and Actually Get a Job.

Here are nine top-notch degree programs in fields that are both cool and hiring like mad.

Thu Sep. 15, 2011 3:00 AM PDT

Burning Man Spotlight: Why Naked Women Rule

An artist's quest to empower women using 9,000 pounds of steel.

Thu Sep. 1, 2011 3:00 AM PDT

Girl Talk: The Making of a Mashup Star

How Gregg Gillis, armed only with a laptop, came to rule the dance party.

Mon Apr. 25, 2011 4:09 AM PDT

Climategate: Anatomy of a Scandal

How a hacker, some oil-funded pundits, and a credulous press undermined decades of climate research.

Thu Apr. 21, 2011 3:00 AM PDT