Right-wing operatives deploy massive network of fake local news sites to weaponize CRT
popular.info
Last Tuesday night, Glenn Youngkin (R) was elected the next governor of Virginia. At 9:15 PM, Garrit Lansing, president of WinRed, the main online fundraising vehicle for Republican candidates, sent this tweet: What is West Nova News? And what does it have to do with Ian Prior, the former spokesperson for Attorney General Jeff Sessions? This is where things get interesting.
Youngkin built his entire campaign on these lies. We need to start holding candidates accountable for their lies while they are campaigning, before it’s too late. Fake media sites might not be required to meet journalistic fact-checking standards, but candidates should be held to a higher standard. I am so glad I don’t live in Virginia. It’s frightening to think about what will happen in states that elect governors with so little integrity.
Not a great article to wake up to. With a captive robot media blanket over swing states (I haven’t yet checked in my locality), and disappearing educators teaching critical thinking, conservatives really may be able to suffocate liberal/progressive voices, however well funded and coordinated. So glad I have a puppy to get me outa bed at all…
So here’s a question. For years I sold radio advertising and in election years, there was a certain period of time when all stations had to give equal time and the lowest published rate to all political candidates and ads. Television stations had to do the same thing. I don’t know if this is an FCC rule or a specific federal law. I’m just wondering, if these “news sites” are considered “media”, is there a case against them for intentionally skirting these rules by not having paid advertisers and only publishing what is very clearly political content designed to influence elections for just one party or candidate during an election period without allowing equal media access to the other party or disclosing who is financing the creation and distribution of content ?
You can & should keep reporting on these right-wing dark money machines. But until Democratic leaders actually *DO* something, or we voters do more than gasp & proclaim shock, nothing will change. And, in fact, things will only get worse. We have gotten the leaders we deserve. Calling Nancy Pelosi the greatest Speaker of the House in history? She’s not. Electing Joe Biden then watching & waiting patiently while he “studies” the idea of adding seats to SCOTUS. Of course he predictably decided against it. Both of them are pathetically ineffective. Biden’s vax mandate is now in the court system and the order has been stayed, if it goes to SCOTUS, what do you think the chances are of those right-wing hacks upholding it? And don’t even get me started on Manchin and Sinema. Two Senate sh!ts have completely derailed Biden’s agenda, yet who gets blamed? The progressive caucus in the House. Biden was right about one thing, the American people don’t see anything being done in Washington. But what he also fails to understand or acknowledge is that includes the huge nothing being done about the insurrectionists who’ve mostly gotten mild slaps. 60 days for the brazen woman who flew to DC in a private plane then declared she wouldn’t go to jail?! WTF!? Democrats are a hot mess but it’s OUR fault for waiting and watching patiently while time ticks away and the sting and shock grow numb. Frog meet boiling water. Yes I’m frustrated. I’m frustrated as HELL. And anyone who’s not, hasn’t been paying attention.
I understand, though I regret I cannot give you the source(because I failed to make note of it), that these types of ads and articles in Spanish around the country targeting Latino voters are even more numerous.
Get 'em! Great work. They're burying swing states in so much propaganda & lies sold as "news" in a manner where they can't tell that it's not legit. Networks like this need to be exposed & brought down. They mess up search results, bring no education value and set us further apart in unifying as a country to accomplish the big things ahead of us.
The most galling part of this anti-CRT propaganda is that it's so artlessly done. They don't even bother to change the font or the opening words, and often can't be bothered to change the very headline of these sensational pieces to make it seem as if it they aren't carbon copies.
As ham-handed as this all is, though, it seems to be working. This is why I feel it's so important to, as we expose these attempts to subvert a more nuanced view of systemic prejudice and of our own history, to confront the platforms such as Facebook and YouTube which facilitate the proliferation of this disinformation. While not a cure-all, it's an important step in curbing the influence of the anti-CRT campaign.
Either the graphic reporting how many anti-CRT stories were published in each state is incorrect, or the numbers written in the text of the article are. Looks like FL and TX got flipped. Just an FYI
This relationship map connects the dots between donors, these would-be news sites and Google. The nonprofit eligibility of groups spreading disinfo should be reviewed. https://embed.kumu.io/d607a38ed9e4a1e0e5e37c68683a7af3
Thank you for your much-needed investigative journalism. It was a gripping read.
What a mess. It seems like search engines, advertisers, and social media companies could affect change if publically pressured; if they can't be forced to manage fake news through laws and legislation. I wonder if there is public research that shows where online users find access to online prints of articles. I bet some of the largest sources of access would be Facebook, Google News, and Twitter. If those companies alone could monitor fake news, that would cause a dramatic shift in the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
Welcome to the pre-post-Biden America. CRT will keep the wind in their sails for about as long as same-sex marriage did, an issue that ensured Dubya's reelection. It lasted for about one more election cycle.
Youngkin built his entire campaign on these lies. We need to start holding candidates accountable for their lies while they are campaigning, before it’s too late. Fake media sites might not be required to meet journalistic fact-checking standards, but candidates should be held to a higher standard. I am so glad I don’t live in Virginia. It’s frightening to think about what will happen in states that elect governors with so little integrity.
Not a great article to wake up to. With a captive robot media blanket over swing states (I haven’t yet checked in my locality), and disappearing educators teaching critical thinking, conservatives really may be able to suffocate liberal/progressive voices, however well funded and coordinated. So glad I have a puppy to get me outa bed at all…
So here’s a question. For years I sold radio advertising and in election years, there was a certain period of time when all stations had to give equal time and the lowest published rate to all political candidates and ads. Television stations had to do the same thing. I don’t know if this is an FCC rule or a specific federal law. I’m just wondering, if these “news sites” are considered “media”, is there a case against them for intentionally skirting these rules by not having paid advertisers and only publishing what is very clearly political content designed to influence elections for just one party or candidate during an election period without allowing equal media access to the other party or disclosing who is financing the creation and distribution of content ?
Fantastic Journalism!
Excellent work.. thank you. Now can you do something about the trolls commenting here?
You can & should keep reporting on these right-wing dark money machines. But until Democratic leaders actually *DO* something, or we voters do more than gasp & proclaim shock, nothing will change. And, in fact, things will only get worse. We have gotten the leaders we deserve. Calling Nancy Pelosi the greatest Speaker of the House in history? She’s not. Electing Joe Biden then watching & waiting patiently while he “studies” the idea of adding seats to SCOTUS. Of course he predictably decided against it. Both of them are pathetically ineffective. Biden’s vax mandate is now in the court system and the order has been stayed, if it goes to SCOTUS, what do you think the chances are of those right-wing hacks upholding it? And don’t even get me started on Manchin and Sinema. Two Senate sh!ts have completely derailed Biden’s agenda, yet who gets blamed? The progressive caucus in the House. Biden was right about one thing, the American people don’t see anything being done in Washington. But what he also fails to understand or acknowledge is that includes the huge nothing being done about the insurrectionists who’ve mostly gotten mild slaps. 60 days for the brazen woman who flew to DC in a private plane then declared she wouldn’t go to jail?! WTF!? Democrats are a hot mess but it’s OUR fault for waiting and watching patiently while time ticks away and the sting and shock grow numb. Frog meet boiling water. Yes I’m frustrated. I’m frustrated as HELL. And anyone who’s not, hasn’t been paying attention.
I understand, though I regret I cannot give you the source(because I failed to make note of it), that these types of ads and articles in Spanish around the country targeting Latino voters are even more numerous.
Get 'em! Great work. They're burying swing states in so much propaganda & lies sold as "news" in a manner where they can't tell that it's not legit. Networks like this need to be exposed & brought down. They mess up search results, bring no education value and set us further apart in unifying as a country to accomplish the big things ahead of us.
Excellent newsletter this morning! Thanks folks.
Outstanding reporting, please report and share.
Good stuff. Chapeau.
The most galling part of this anti-CRT propaganda is that it's so artlessly done. They don't even bother to change the font or the opening words, and often can't be bothered to change the very headline of these sensational pieces to make it seem as if it they aren't carbon copies.
As ham-handed as this all is, though, it seems to be working. This is why I feel it's so important to, as we expose these attempts to subvert a more nuanced view of systemic prejudice and of our own history, to confront the platforms such as Facebook and YouTube which facilitate the proliferation of this disinformation. While not a cure-all, it's an important step in curbing the influence of the anti-CRT campaign.
Either the graphic reporting how many anti-CRT stories were published in each state is incorrect, or the numbers written in the text of the article are. Looks like FL and TX got flipped. Just an FYI
This relationship map connects the dots between donors, these would-be news sites and Google. The nonprofit eligibility of groups spreading disinfo should be reviewed. https://embed.kumu.io/d607a38ed9e4a1e0e5e37c68683a7af3
Thank you for your much-needed investigative journalism. It was a gripping read.
What a mess. It seems like search engines, advertisers, and social media companies could affect change if publically pressured; if they can't be forced to manage fake news through laws and legislation. I wonder if there is public research that shows where online users find access to online prints of articles. I bet some of the largest sources of access would be Facebook, Google News, and Twitter. If those companies alone could monitor fake news, that would cause a dramatic shift in the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
Welcome to the pre-post-Biden America. CRT will keep the wind in their sails for about as long as same-sex marriage did, an issue that ensured Dubya's reelection. It lasted for about one more election cycle.