A recent spate of mass e-mails nearly crippled the State Department’s communications and generated a terse cable — sent out to all employees, of course — threatening disciplinary action if diplomats and others don’t cut it out. The note blamed abuse of the “reply all” button for the “e-mail storm.”


AP via Google:

The cable orders employees to “take immediate action” to ensure they and their colleagues are “aware of the negative impact of hitting ‘reply all’ ” and to delete e-mails addressed to large numbers of people that they might receive in error.

“Anyone who disregards these instructions will be subject to disciplinary actions,” [Under Secretary of State for Management Patrick] Kennedy wrote in the cable, which begins: “Please ensure widest distribution of this message.”

Read more

Dig, Root, Grow

This year, we’re all on shaky ground, and the need for independent journalism has never been greater. A new administration is openly attacking free press — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Your support is more than a donation. It helps us dig deeper into hidden truths, root out corruption and misinformation, and grow an informed, resilient community.

Independent journalism like Truthdig doesn't just report the news — it helps cultivate a better future.

Your tax-deductible gift powers fearless reporting and uncompromising analysis. Together, we can protect democracy and expose the stories that must be told.

This spring, stand with our journalists.

Dig. Root. Grow. Cultivate a better future.

Donate today.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG