“Fake News”, PropOrNot and the Return of McCarthyism

Global Research News Hour Episode 163

“This list was never intended to be “black”. This is NOT a list of “paid” or “knowing” propaganda sources. It is NOT an attempt to censor, blacklist, or tar anyone…We are happy to remove any outlet whose operators understand how Putin’s Russia is a brutal authoritarian kleptocracy that uses “fake news” as online propaganda, and resolves to help do something about it.” – PropOrNot, clarification on its list of “fake news” sites [1]

“While I cannot take the time to name all the men in the State Department who have been named as members of the Communist Party and members of a spy ring, I have here in my hand a list of 205.” – Senator Joseph McCarthy (February 9, 1950) [2]

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Donald Trump emerged triumphant in the 2016 U.S. elections in spite of media bias [3][4] and polling favouring his Democratic rival for the presidency, Hillary Clinton. This victory left the mainstream media pundits and opiners apoplectic and stunned, and scrambling for possible explanations.

Their conclusion? The American electorate have been fooled by “fake news” stories, coming from Russian propaganda sources, favouring Trump!

Less than a month after the election, the prestigious media organ known as the Washington Post highlights and effectively promotes an anonymous website which has, through some arcane methodology, compiled a list of about 200 separate on-line news outlets which the site deems suspect. PropOrNot, as it is called, claims that it was formed “as an effort to prevent propaganda from distorting U.S. political and policy discussions” and that its immediate aim “is to empower the American voter and decrease the ability of Russia to influence the ensuing American election.”

The “fake news” sites listed include Blackagendareport.com, corbettreport.com, Paulcraigroberts.org, counterpunch.org, consortiumnews.com, rt.com, newcoldwar.org, zerohedge.com, wikileaks.org, truthdig.com, drudgereport.com, and globalresearch.ca to name just a few.

On November 30, the U.S. House of Representatives approved by a vote of 390-30 the so-called Intelligence Authorization Act (HR 6393), which would allow for the creation of an interagency committee “to counter active measures by the Russian Federation to exert covert influence.” Such measures, according to the Bill include “covert broadcasting,” “media manipulation,” and “disinformation and forgeries.” [5]

As of this writing, major media outlets are reporting on CIA claims that Russian interference helped Donald Trump secure the presidency.

This week’s installment of the Global Research News Hour examines the way US elite interests are deliberately instigating uncertainty about independent and particularly dissident news reporting and analysis, and how that figures into the political realm.

First we hear from Toronto-based journalist and media critic Barrie Zwicker about PropOrNot, whether America is returning to an age of McCarthyite ‘witch-hunting’ and whether a similar phenomenon may be materializing in Canada.

We will then hear an interview recorded by CFUV’s Chris Cook for Gorilla-Radio with journalist and broadcaster Dave Lindorff about the House-approved Intelligence Authorization Act, and the growing cold war tensions being catalyzed in its wake.

Finally, fellow broadcaster and journalist Stephen Lendman, host of the Progressive Radio News Hour offers his thoughts on the ‘fake news’ meme in the context of the recent presidential elections, and its significance for US foreign policy and the future of authentic journalism. 

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

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Length (59:22)

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The Global Research News Hour airs every Friday at 1pm CT on CKUW 95.9FM in Winnipeg. The programme is also podcast at globalresearch.ca . The show can be heard on the Progressive Radio Network at prn.fm. Listen in every Monday at 3pm ET.

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 Notes:

1) http://www.propornot.com/p/the-list.html

2)http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Communists_In_Government_Service.htm

3) http://www.globalresearch.ca/election-campaign-debate-moderator-distorted-syrian-reality/5550667

4) http://www.globalresearch.ca/podiumgate-how-the-clintons-rigged-the-first-presidential-debate/5549313

5) H.R. 6393: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, sec 501; https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr6393/text/eh; sec. 501

 

 

 

 

 


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