‘After months of investigation that identified networks of reviewers and editors manipulating the peer review process, Hindawi plans to retract 511 papers across 16 journals, Retraction Watch has learned.
The retractions, which the publisher and its parent company, Wiley, will announce tomorrow in a blog post, will be issued in the next month, and more may come as its investigation continues. They are not yet making the list available.
Hindawi’s research integrity team found several signs of manipulated peer reviews for the affected papers, including reviews that contained duplicated text, a few individuals who did a lot of reviews, reviewers who turned in their reviews extremely quickly, and misuse of databases that publishers use to vet potential reviewers.
Richard Bennett, vice president of researcher and publishing services for Hindawi, told us that the publisher suspects “coordinated peer review rings” consisting of reviewers and editors working together to advance manuscripts through to publication. Some of the manuscripts appeared to come from paper mills, he said.
We asked what prompted the investigation. Bennett told us:
In April 2022, Hindawi’s Research Integrity team led an initial investigation into a single Special Issue (SI) after a Chief Editor raised concerns about some of the papers published in it. The team decided to investigate the content of the journal further. Through this investigation, the team highlighted a pattern of irregular and concerning reviewer activity and identified potential ‘bad actors’ that were present across many of these publications.
These concerns prompted the Publishing Insights and Research Integrity teams, enabled by recently enhanced analytic capabilities and newly developed dashboards providing views across all reviewer activity, to conduct a wider investigation to determine whether these same bad actors were involved in peer review manipulation elsewhere in the Hindawi portfolio.
Following the discovery that these bad actors were present in other journals, the Hindawi leadership team put in place a cross-functional working team combining the manual and data-driven investigation which resulted in the identification of further published articles.
In early August, Hindawi expanded the investigation under a combined investigation team comprising Research Integrity experts, data and analytics experts, publishing and operational teams, and legal counsel from both Wiley and Hindawi. This team evaluated in depth review activity across all potentially impacted articles and manuscripts. This resulted in a list of ‘compromised’ reviewers and editors in addition to the bad actors already discovered, identification of networks that exist between them, patterns of review activity, and insight into published articles and manuscripts at each stage in the review process that we could initially label as ‘compromised’. On September 6, the combined investigation team began assessing published articles which led to the initial recommendation to retract 511 articles that are compromised based on reviewer activity alone. We expect ongoing investigations to result in further retractions.’
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Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 2 | Recorded February 17, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 21 Seconds
“The family formation problem facing America and why immigration is not the solution.” Our guests are: Alfred Ortiz, Dr. Steve Camarota, Todd Bensman, Shelby Busch, Dan Schultz.
Bannon’s War Room | Evening Edition | Recorded February 17, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 59 Seconds
Rush Limbaugh. “He once again showed his toughness and his courage, virtually every day he was at the microphone.” Our guests are: Alexandra Preate, John Fredericks, Dr. Peter Navarro, Boris Epshteyn, Rudy Giuliani.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 1 | Recorded February 16, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 50 Seconds
“I think the reason is [Biden’s] just not up to the job, this guy is a hollow shell” Our guests are: Dave Ramaswamy, Michael Yon.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 2 | Recorded February 16, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 25 Seconds
“An ideal means” for smugglers, criminals, and anti-border activists to evade immigration laws. Plus: a preview of how the Biden regime is going to try to slip in amnesty piecemeal.” Our guests are: Chris Chmielenski, Mary Ann Mendoza, Mark Krikorian, Kane.
Bannon’s War Room | Evening Edition | Recorded February 16, 2021 | Video: 49 Minutes
“The sun doesn’t always shine the wind doesn’t always blow, or in the case if Texas you get freezing rain and it stops the wind turbines from turning” Our guests are: Daniel Turner, Dr. Peter Navarro, Boris Epshteyn, Rudy Giuliani.
February 15, 2020 | Nightly News Rebroadcast | Video: 51 Minutes 34 Seconds
A historic winter storm is moving across the southern and central United States.
Supporters turned out in Florida to salute former President Donald Trump on President’s Day.
And a heated exchange between a CBS reporter and Trump impeachment lawyer Michael van der Veen goes viral.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 1 | Recorded February 15, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 35 Seconds
“Mitch McConnell has got to go,” “He’s a poison.” Our guests are: Natalie Winters, Steve Cortes, Tom Del Beccaro.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 2 | Recorded February 15, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 35 Seconds
“California is in play.” “I never thought I’d say those words.” Our guests are: Tom Del Beccaro, Dr. Maria Ryan, Dan Schultz, John Fredericks, Melissa Huray.
Bannon’s War Room | Evening Edition | Recorded February 15, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 50 Seconds
“His one last regret was he didn’t get on the” CCP’s sanctions list. Curtis Ellis Our guests are: Boris Epshteyn, Dr. Peter Navarro, Michael Walsh.
The Nation Speaks | One Step Closer to Texit; Is Biden Admin Soft on Huawei?; US Grid Vulnerability | Video: 58 Minutes 50 Seconds
In this episode of The Nation Speaks, we take a closer look at the Texit movement. Daniel Miller, president of the Texas Nationalist Movement (Texit), explains why he thinks the Lone Star State should be independent. Then, we ask three Texans how they feel about the movement.
Republicans are worried that the Biden administration might be too soft on Chinese tech giant Huawei. Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) discusses those concerns and more.
Finally, Dr. Eric Cole, cybersecurity expert and author of upcoming book “Cyber Crisis,” tells us about the vulnerabilities of the U.S. grid, after hackers gained access into the water treatment system in Oldsmar, Florida.
February 12, 2020 | Nightly News Rebroadcast | Video: 50 Minutes 37 Seconds
Former President Trump’s defense team debunks the Democrats’ case for impeachment; New York’s governor met with President Joe Biden today to talk about the pandemic; and lawmakers are trying to up the minimum wage to $15 an hour nationwide.
Bannon’s War Room | Evening Edition | Recorded February 12, 2021 | Video: 49 Minutes
War Room explains why the Trump legal defense team didn’t go for 10, but still put a “total nail in the coffin of the cynical sham of an impeachment,” says Boris Epshteyn. Our guests are: Boris Epshteyn, Dr. Yan.
Bannon’s War Room | Saturday Edition Hour 1 | Recorded February 13, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 40 Seconds
“The bottom line is you look at this matrix you see just a sea of check marks, virtually every state has most or all of these irregularities,” Navarro said. “This is the money shot.” Our guests are: Dr. Peter Navarro.
Bannon’s War Room | Saturday Edition Hour 1 | Recorded February 13, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 46 Seconds
“It all ties back to the CCP.” Our guests are: Frank Gaffney, Mary Ann Mendoza.
The Lincoln Project, Facing Multiple Scandals, is Accused by its Own Co-Founder of Likely Criminality
The group of life-long Republican Party consultants who, under the name “The Lincoln Project,” got very rich in 2020 with anti-Trump online messaging has spent weeks responding to numerous scandals on multiple fronts. Despite the gravity of those scandals, its conduct on Thursday night was in a whole new category of sleaze. It not only infuriated their long-time allies, but also constituted the abuse of Twitter’s platform to commit likely illegal acts.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 1 | Recorded February 12, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 41 Seconds
“These barriers have to come down immediately,” Kassam said. “Bring down that wall right now. Today. No more politicization. [The National Guard] are not the political shock troops of the Democrat Party.” Our guests are: Richard Baris, Steve Cortes, Matt Braynard.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 2 | Recorded February 12, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 47 Seconds
“This is completely fake, just like everyone else after Trump has worked out his usefulness to them,” Beattie said. “It’s the same story.” Our guests are: Gad Saad, Darren Beattie, Maria Ryan, Dan Schultz.
February 11, 2020 | Nightly News Rebroadcast | Video: 51 Minutes 41 Seconds
At least 5 people are dead after a 100 car pile-up in Texas. Democrats wrap up their case against Trump, and Disney faces backlash after firing an actress over her social media posts.
Democrat Impeachment Managers Make The Case To Impeach Themselves & Fellow Democrats | Video: 2 Minutes 19 Seconds
In a stunning presentation of ‘facts’, Democrat House managers make the perfect case to impeach themselves, their fellow Democrats, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Democrat Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Presidential candidate Joe Biden and Vice-Presidential candidate Kamala Harris. They called for continuing riots, violence and claimed that the election of Donald Trump in 2016 was a stolen election.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 1 | Recorded February 11, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 54 Seconds
“They’ll happily hold the Constitution up with one hand and stab you in the back with the other.” Our guests are: Boris Epshteyn, Brian Kennedy, Dan Schultz, Darren Beattie.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 2 | Recorded February 11, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 43 Seconds
“Why is everyone so allergic to counting the ballots in any place where there is a controversy?” Our guests are: Darren Beattie, Dr. TCC, Dr. Ming, Mike J. Lindell.
Bannon’s War Room | Evening Edition | Recorded February 11, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 59 Seconds
Raheem Kassam says the National guard is being “deployed for political ends” as if this was Beijing. Our guests are: John Solomon, Boris Epshteyn, Dr. Peter Navarro, Melissa Huray.
Kabuki Theater, Doctored Videos & Fake News Complete The Picture Of Another Democrat Dubious Impeachment | Video: 12 Minutes 12 Seconds
After what appears to be claim after claim of House managers being able to read minds, Kabuki theater and doctored videos, Democrats and CNN finally get directly challenged by Senator Mike Lee over the House manager’s use of CNN’s fake news reports. Pandemonium and confusion breaks out. As one viewer put it, “What an embarassment.” House managers close the session by removing the false statements attributed to Mike Lee by the House managers and CNN “on the grounds that it is not true.”
February 10, 2020 | Nightly News Rebroadcast | Video: 51 Minutes 53 Seconds
Democrats begin laying out their case for why they say Trump is responsible for the violence at the Capitol building, 14 states urge Biden to reverse course on the Keystone XL pipeline, and Border Patrol agents make more arrests for illegal entries.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 1 | Recorded February 10, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 50 Seconds
“This is maybe the most important story revolver has ever run,” he said. “I promise you the rabbit hole goes far deeper.” Our guests are: Gov. Eric Greitens, Darren Beattie, Mike J. Lindell.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 2 | Recorded February 10, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 50 Seconds
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” Our guests are: Gov. Eric Greitens, Mike J. Lindell, Rudy Giuliani, Dan Schultz, Boris Epshteyn.
Bannon’s War Room | Evening Edition | Recorded February 10, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 59 Seconds
“Don’t hog being the smartest person in the neighborhood. Share being the smartest person in the neighborhood” Our guests are: Dr. Peter Navarro, Natalie Winters
February 9, 2020 | Nightly News Rebroadcast
A majority of the Senate agree that Trump’s impeachment trial should go on, a new proposal means Americans could get up to thirty-six-hundred dollars a year for each of their children, and a Texas Senator teams up with the state’s governor to fight censorship.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 1 | Recorded February 9, 2021
“There’s two problems with her rebuttal: she insulted the voters of Wyoming and we’re not buying the narrative,” “Number two, the people of Wyoming are very intelligent.” Our guests are: Terry Schilling, Frank Eathorne, Sonny Borelli, Ben Bergquam, Thomas Farnan, Jack Posobiec.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 2 | Recorded February 9, 2021
“This is the man who spent 40 years selling the country,” said Raheem Kassam. “They claim he won the election and what is the first thing he did? China can propagandize in the schools again.” Our guests are: Terry Schilling, Jack Posobiec, Kane, Adam Kredo.
Bannon’s War Room | Evening Edition | Recorded February 9, 2021
With the President’s lawyers refusing to go there, we may never get the receipts presented in the well of the senate. Our guests are: Jack Posobiec, Boris Epshteyn, Dr. Peter Navarro, Dr. Yan.
February 8, 2020 | Nightly News Rebroadcast
Trump’s legal defense team laid out their argument ahead of the former president’s impeachment trial; a survey suggests the GOP can’t risk losing the diverse coalition Trump built over the past four years; and journalist and author Andy Ngo gives an update on Antifa.
Rand Paul Speaks Out Against Democrats Hypocrisy On Impeachment & Political Violence
BREAKING: @RandPaul UNLOADS on Impeachment, the Media and Democrats’ Double Standard.
WOW pic.twitter.com/ZWFYN8KOZq
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) January 26, 2021
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 1 | Recorded February 8, 2021
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 2 | Recorded February 8, 2021
“Come on down,” Lindell says, standing by the evidence in Absolute Proof “100 percent.” Our guests are: Mark J. Lindell, Dr. Maria Ryan, Dan Schultz.
Bannon’s War Room | Evening Edition | Recorded February 8, 2021
“They are using scientism against you.” Our guests are: Jack Posobiec, Boris Epshteyn, Dr. Peter Navarro, Richard Fernandez, Amanda Shea.
The Journalistic Tattletale and Censorship Industry Suffers Several Well-Deserved Blows
A new and rapidly growing journalistic “beat” has arisen over the last several years that can best be described as an unholy mix of junior high hall-monitor tattling and Stasi-like citizen surveillance. It is half adolescent and half malevolent. Its primary objectives are control, censorship, and the destruction of reputations for fun and power. Though its epicenter is the largest corporate media outlets, it is the very antithesis of journalism.
I’ve written before about one particularly toxic strain of this authoritarian “reporting.” Teams of journalists at three of the most influential corporate media outlets — CNN’s “media reporters” (Brian Stelter and Oliver Darcy), NBC’s “disinformation space unit” (Ben Collins and Brandy Zadrozny), and the tech reporters of The New York Times (Mike Isaac, Kevin Roose, Sheera Frenkel) — devote the bulk of their “journalism” to searching for online spaces where they believe speech and conduct rules are being violated, flagging them, and then pleading that punitive action be taken (banning, censorship, content regulation, after-school detention). These hall-monitor reporters are a major factor explaining why tech monopolies, which (for reasons of self-interest and ideology) never wanted the responsibility to censor, now do so with abandon and seemingly arbitrary blunt force: they are shamed by the world’s loudest media companies when they do not.
Just as the NSA is obsessed with ensuring there be no place on earth where humans can communicate free of their spying eyes and ears, these journalistic hall monitors cannot abide the idea that there can be any place on the internet where people are free to speak in ways they do not approve. Like some creepy informant for a state security apparatus, they spend their days trolling the depths of chat rooms and 4Chan bulletin boards and sub-Reddit threads and private communications apps to find anyone — influential or obscure — who is saying something they believe should be forbidden, and then use the corporate megaphones they did not build and could not have built but have been handed in order to silence and destroy anyone who dissents from the orthodoxies of their corporate managers or challenges their information hegemony.
Oliver Darcy has built his CNN career by sitting around with Brian Stelter petulantly pointing to people breaking the rules on social media and demanding tech executives make the rule-breakers disappear. The little crew of tattletale millennials assembled by NBC — who refer to their twerpy work with the self-glorifying title of “working in the disinformation space”: as intrepid and hazardous as exposing corruption by repressive regimes or reporting from war zones — spend their dreary days scrolling through 4Chan boards to expose the offensive memes and bad words used by transgressive adolescents; they then pat themselves on the back for confronting dangerous power centers, even when it is nothing more trivial and bullying than doxxing the identities of powerless, obscure citizens. . .
Bannon’s War Room | Saturday Edition Hour 2 | Recorded February 6, 2021
“The problem is we’re not in control of it, and the reason we’re not in control of it is because we’re not in it,” said Schultz. How to take control? Become a precinct committeeman. Schultz said there are 400,000 positions, “but over 200,000 are vacant.” Our guests are: Dan Schultz, Mike J. Lindell.
Bannon’s War Room | Saturday Edition Hour 1 | Recorded February 6, 2021
“This has to be because he’s violating the censorship put out by the new Stasi,” Giuliani said. “Pretty soon they’re gonna come visit your homes.” Our guests are: Jack Posobiec, Rudy Giuliani.