Yesterday, Popular Information published a detailed report on the close relationship between former President Donald Trump and Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist who says America should be a "white Judeo-Christian ethnostate." Shortly after the piece was published, we heard from readers who said they were unable to post our story about Loomer on Facebook.
I think everyone should deal with her like the Evangelicals do, because I am sure it frustrates her no end.
As I have reduced my exposure to MSM I feel more optimistic that Harris-Walz can win against Big Billionaire Bro Bucks. I am glad I no longer subscribe to MSM like NYT and WaPo, and Substack is the only social media I subscribe to. Instead I am trying to be politically active and that is good for my soul too, instead of just waiting for doom or winning in November.
Just checked out the link you provided and it's very interesting; an unexpected level of apparent integrity I'd not expected given the past 8 years. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing Charlotte’s Substack. While I am no longer a practicing Christian, I understand the political importance of this movement, but it’s also nice to see folk taking their churches back. This is encouraging!
Jodi, I have never been a practicing Christian, but hearing that Christians are returning to Christianity and sanity, is a relief. Not everyone is under the MAGA spell, and that can help more to turn away. I agree it is very encouraging. Trump's base is disintegrating.
Wow, that was quick! If Facebook seriously means,"We’ve always banned individuals or organizations that promote or engage in violence and hate, regardless of ideology," Trump and his minions (Bannon, Steve Miller, and now JD Vance) would be banned. The parent company Meta is using its power to remove the exposure to truth and the correcting of political news distortions, by taking this convoluted path. Accountable Tech said that its study shows that Meta has "systematically remove[d] trustworthy 'political' content from their recommendation surfaces." It appears that their thinking is muddled in a way that is creating more muddle!
Zuckerberg is very, very rich. He probably pays no taxes, but that will change when the Democrats win the presidency and a majority in Congress. No wonder he sabotages posts that criticize Republicans.
He uses his money to land grab in Hawaii. His compound drives up prices for locals. He’s never known what it’s like to try have to work for basic essentials. He made way too much money as a child and started running a mega company in his early 20s. He lives in a bubble.
I'm so tired of the fb allowing the right to push their agenda, which includes a constant litany of lies, falsehoods, distortions, (call it by whatever name fits), yet slow or block the progressive posts (it's blatantly obvious to those of us on fb who post regularly).
The have a campaign to push only their agenda and block the truth.
The official, unstated (they wouldn’t dare) policy of Corporate media and the two big social network platforms (Musk & Zuck) is as follows: We can’t print certain truths. They're not what we want to hear and not what we want you to hear. Therefore, we will block them or distort them or print alternative narratives more to our liking and more beneficial to our bottom line. And there’s really nothing you can do about it. Hoping hard that we prove them wrong in November and beyond.
Been getting a lot of messages to donate to "Bluegrass PAC" lately. Purports to supporting turning rural areas blue. Hmm...
Googling only got me a "Bluegrass Committee PAC" associated with Mitch McConnell. Ecosia search got me an FEC filing that showed contributions made to various state REPUBLICAN parties. Not certain that these are the same organizations but nothing else was coming up. Check it out yourself. I'm suspicious
Who was it that pointed out several years ago that there are no billionaires on earth who haven't exploited the rest of us to make their money? I think it was either Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders.
My post this past Wednesday: "Hmmm. Second time in a week I've had a post removed for "spam." A few days ago it was a repost of the substack "I REQUIRE Art," the topic? Dogs in art.
Today? Another substack about how Elon is using his money and platform to unethically screw around with AI to basically make it fascist, and how he shouldn't be allowed to have this much money and power. Again, hmmm...."
Both posts were content from the Substack app. I often post progressive, political content. The comments from Meta were as you described: for the art post, that l was trying to falsely generate likes, the other, because it was spam. I filed reviews for both, not that it will make a difference from little ol', unimportant me....
That’s happened to me half a dozen times with reposts of progressive Substack writings. I always click through to “ask for review “ and never get a follow up response. Sometimes the block cites some right wing web page as a source of the alleged truth my post violates.
Thank you Judd. Your work is so valuable for calling out the billionaires and tech bros. Keep up the great work. I forward your stuff to my community constantly. I’m off most MSM although I still like Nicolle and Lawrence. I don’t read NYT, WaPo or WSJ. I rely on people like you and Heidi Cuda and Joyce Vance and HCR. And Ruth Ben-Ghiat. 🫶
I read all of those stacks too. I know there's only 24 hours in a day, but you'd probably also like Jeff Tiedrich's "Everyone has a right to my own opinion" which is angry and hilarious every day. Sarah Kendzior is terrific too, but in a very different way to Jeff.
Substack is great; I subscribe to several newsletters, including Popular Information of course! I appreciate being able to read what I believe to be intelligent and coherent opinions; sometimes even investigative reporting such as what you offer here (thank you, Judd). Understanding the risk of an echo chamber, I try to look further when a story matters a lot to me.
That said, along with WaPo and NYT, I have also discontinued and refuse to look at Facebook, Twitter/X, Threads, etc. I kept my Instagram account only because I've so far managed to cultivate a feed filled with art, music, and funny animal videos; kind of a safe place for brief viewing and no doom-scrolling, like the magazines of old. I will give it up in a heartbeat if it goes awry.
This unimportant information is offered only to say that I have come to believe that social media is responsible for the awful state we are in. Too much, too often, filled with toxic opinions and outright lies. Screen time is linked to depression among young (and not so young) people as well as impulse control issues in very young children. Neither META nor "X" are providing platforms for truth; quite the opposite I would say. I hope this doesn't happen on Substack. Or maybe it already has and I've not come across it yet. So while you may be upset at META for blocking a PI story, it only makes sense that it would. Gems thrown into a pig pen will quickly disappear under the muck to become just more fodder for the ever hungry piggies.
Linda, thank you for your comments. I too have made drastic reductions in MSM, I read substack, and am a new volunteer for the local democratic party. It has energized me. Doing something, instead of just absorbing what is sent to me is a huge mind shift.
Let’s face it. Zuckerberg, much like his frenemy Musk, was, is, and always will be a coward and a fraud, and only concerned with $$$. The main difference is that the latter is orders of magnitude more malevolent and malignant.
I want to turn toward the comments on this stream, and especially those who talk about their drift in how they receive media. Good for you for abandoning social media, most of it is a cesspool. But for those who have cut off MSM for substacks and opinion, be very careful whose tune you follow. See, the problem with Fox News and others like it is that they are not news but opinion based on someone else's work in getting the story. Your favorite substacks, while written by educated, informed and we hope honest people, are mostly opinion based on reporting culled from the MSM.
Don't abandon MSM, instead write to the reporters and editors of the publications whose news is not up to standards. Every reporter and editor I have written to has written back, some call because they want to make sure their story is correct, and clear.
On this superhighway of information, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
I've always tried to publish basic informative and instructive pieces on how to be involved in our democracy for whatever folks I'm connected to. Definitely nothing like what one would call attacks, but even my stuff gets far less reaction, so I assume it's being suppressed. If we can't discuss real issues of importance, this isn't social media, it's just entertainment or less.
There is nothing preventing anyone from posting on SM that Judd/Cox/Clymer/others are worth reading on Substack/ reddit, etc. and people should check them out. reposting of articles is convenient, but hardly necessary. Discuss, that is the way to share the Good Word.
Laura Loomer is discussed in this inspiring piece by Charlotte Clymer as she tells us about Evangelicals for Harris.
https://charlotteclymer.substack.com/p/wait-evangelicals-for-harris
I think everyone should deal with her like the Evangelicals do, because I am sure it frustrates her no end.
As I have reduced my exposure to MSM I feel more optimistic that Harris-Walz can win against Big Billionaire Bro Bucks. I am glad I no longer subscribe to MSM like NYT and WaPo, and Substack is the only social media I subscribe to. Instead I am trying to be politically active and that is good for my soul too, instead of just waiting for doom or winning in November.
Just checked out the link you provided and it's very interesting; an unexpected level of apparent integrity I'd not expected given the past 8 years. Thank you for sharing.
Charlotte Clymer is one of the best writers on Substack. Her insights are priceless.
I want to add, that Charlotte wrote an essay on fairness and children that stunned me the moment I read it, and yes, brought me to tears. https://charlotteclymer.substack.com/p/yes-life-isnt-fair
I read it often as a reminder of how unequal life is in our country especially for kids.
Checking it out...thanks for the link!
Thanks for sharing Charlotte’s Substack. While I am no longer a practicing Christian, I understand the political importance of this movement, but it’s also nice to see folk taking their churches back. This is encouraging!
Jodi, I have never been a practicing Christian, but hearing that Christians are returning to Christianity and sanity, is a relief. Not everyone is under the MAGA spell, and that can help more to turn away. I agree it is very encouraging. Trump's base is disintegrating.
Wow, that was quick! If Facebook seriously means,"We’ve always banned individuals or organizations that promote or engage in violence and hate, regardless of ideology," Trump and his minions (Bannon, Steve Miller, and now JD Vance) would be banned. The parent company Meta is using its power to remove the exposure to truth and the correcting of political news distortions, by taking this convoluted path. Accountable Tech said that its study shows that Meta has "systematically remove[d] trustworthy 'political' content from their recommendation surfaces." It appears that their thinking is muddled in a way that is creating more muddle!
Zuckerberg is very, very rich. He probably pays no taxes, but that will change when the Democrats win the presidency and a majority in Congress. No wonder he sabotages posts that criticize Republicans.
He uses his money to land grab in Hawaii. His compound drives up prices for locals. He’s never known what it’s like to try have to work for basic essentials. He made way too much money as a child and started running a mega company in his early 20s. He lives in a bubble.
Or perhaps it's not muddled but deliberate!
I'm so tired of the fb allowing the right to push their agenda, which includes a constant litany of lies, falsehoods, distortions, (call it by whatever name fits), yet slow or block the progressive posts (it's blatantly obvious to those of us on fb who post regularly).
The have a campaign to push only their agenda and block the truth.
Keep up your fantastic work.
The official, unstated (they wouldn’t dare) policy of Corporate media and the two big social network platforms (Musk & Zuck) is as follows: We can’t print certain truths. They're not what we want to hear and not what we want you to hear. Therefore, we will block them or distort them or print alternative narratives more to our liking and more beneficial to our bottom line. And there’s really nothing you can do about it. Hoping hard that we prove them wrong in November and beyond.
So, unless you call ass on their so-called policies, they've adopted the billionaire mantra "It applies to thee, but not to me." Of course they have.
Yup, I got that same notice when I shared this article.
Been getting a lot of messages to donate to "Bluegrass PAC" lately. Purports to supporting turning rural areas blue. Hmm...
Googling only got me a "Bluegrass Committee PAC" associated with Mitch McConnell. Ecosia search got me an FEC filing that showed contributions made to various state REPUBLICAN parties. Not certain that these are the same organizations but nothing else was coming up. Check it out yourself. I'm suspicious
Thank you as always, Judd, for demanding accountability.
We have billionaires as a policy choice
Who was it that pointed out several years ago that there are no billionaires on earth who haven't exploited the rest of us to make their money? I think it was either Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders.
It was both. together, in harmony. Over and over.
My post this past Wednesday: "Hmmm. Second time in a week I've had a post removed for "spam." A few days ago it was a repost of the substack "I REQUIRE Art," the topic? Dogs in art.
Today? Another substack about how Elon is using his money and platform to unethically screw around with AI to basically make it fascist, and how he shouldn't be allowed to have this much money and power. Again, hmmm...."
Both posts were content from the Substack app. I often post progressive, political content. The comments from Meta were as you described: for the art post, that l was trying to falsely generate likes, the other, because it was spam. I filed reviews for both, not that it will make a difference from little ol', unimportant me....
Wow...this is why these giant platforms run by billionaires need to be abandoned. They are the hemlock tea of critical thought!
That’s happened to me half a dozen times with reposts of progressive Substack writings. I always click through to “ask for review “ and never get a follow up response. Sometimes the block cites some right wing web page as a source of the alleged truth my post violates.
Thank you Judd. Your work is so valuable for calling out the billionaires and tech bros. Keep up the great work. I forward your stuff to my community constantly. I’m off most MSM although I still like Nicolle and Lawrence. I don’t read NYT, WaPo or WSJ. I rely on people like you and Heidi Cuda and Joyce Vance and HCR. And Ruth Ben-Ghiat. 🫶
I read all of those stacks too. I know there's only 24 hours in a day, but you'd probably also like Jeff Tiedrich's "Everyone has a right to my own opinion" which is angry and hilarious every day. Sarah Kendzior is terrific too, but in a very different way to Jeff.
Ditto
Adding to the list: I just subscribed to PoliticusUSA The Daily, excellent writing and fantastic article today!
Substack is great; I subscribe to several newsletters, including Popular Information of course! I appreciate being able to read what I believe to be intelligent and coherent opinions; sometimes even investigative reporting such as what you offer here (thank you, Judd). Understanding the risk of an echo chamber, I try to look further when a story matters a lot to me.
That said, along with WaPo and NYT, I have also discontinued and refuse to look at Facebook, Twitter/X, Threads, etc. I kept my Instagram account only because I've so far managed to cultivate a feed filled with art, music, and funny animal videos; kind of a safe place for brief viewing and no doom-scrolling, like the magazines of old. I will give it up in a heartbeat if it goes awry.
This unimportant information is offered only to say that I have come to believe that social media is responsible for the awful state we are in. Too much, too often, filled with toxic opinions and outright lies. Screen time is linked to depression among young (and not so young) people as well as impulse control issues in very young children. Neither META nor "X" are providing platforms for truth; quite the opposite I would say. I hope this doesn't happen on Substack. Or maybe it already has and I've not come across it yet. So while you may be upset at META for blocking a PI story, it only makes sense that it would. Gems thrown into a pig pen will quickly disappear under the muck to become just more fodder for the ever hungry piggies.
Linda, thank you for your comments. I too have made drastic reductions in MSM, I read substack, and am a new volunteer for the local democratic party. It has energized me. Doing something, instead of just absorbing what is sent to me is a huge mind shift.
Let’s face it. Zuckerberg, much like his frenemy Musk, was, is, and always will be a coward and a fraud, and only concerned with $$$. The main difference is that the latter is orders of magnitude more malevolent and malignant.
FB seems to have become more aggressive of late in this practice.
I want to turn toward the comments on this stream, and especially those who talk about their drift in how they receive media. Good for you for abandoning social media, most of it is a cesspool. But for those who have cut off MSM for substacks and opinion, be very careful whose tune you follow. See, the problem with Fox News and others like it is that they are not news but opinion based on someone else's work in getting the story. Your favorite substacks, while written by educated, informed and we hope honest people, are mostly opinion based on reporting culled from the MSM.
Don't abandon MSM, instead write to the reporters and editors of the publications whose news is not up to standards. Every reporter and editor I have written to has written back, some call because they want to make sure their story is correct, and clear.
On this superhighway of information, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
I've always tried to publish basic informative and instructive pieces on how to be involved in our democracy for whatever folks I'm connected to. Definitely nothing like what one would call attacks, but even my stuff gets far less reaction, so I assume it's being suppressed. If we can't discuss real issues of importance, this isn't social media, it's just entertainment or less.
Interesting and also very disturbing. How do we share your hard work and insightful information.
There is nothing preventing anyone from posting on SM that Judd/Cox/Clymer/others are worth reading on Substack/ reddit, etc. and people should check them out. reposting of articles is convenient, but hardly necessary. Discuss, that is the way to share the Good Word.