Several prominent figures in the MAGA sphere were contacted by The New York Times this week as the outlet tried reaching out for a comment regarding a story they’re working on that’s based on Media Matters for America analysis.
Fox News contributor Joe Concha explained Media Matters is one of the most “corrupt” and “radical” media organizations in America.
“And, the New York Times, which has vast resources and personnel, instead of doing its own research has now outsourced this to a patently dishonest activist organization whose number one mission outside of taking out this network is to squash any and all free speech through astroturf campaigns online against anyone or anything they consider to be conservative or even right of center,” he said on Tuesday.
Concha went on to note that X owner Elon Musk previously referred to the George Soros-owned Media Matters as “an evil propaganda machine,” saying Musk, “ain’t wrong.”
The purpose of the impending hit piece, according to the Fox contributor, is to pressure YouTube into demonetizing or even deplatforming users such as Benny Johnson, Ben Shapiro and others.
“Remember, YouTube is owned by Google. And, Google is the number one donor to the Democratic Party out of Silicon Valley,” he pointed out.
The NYT article will reportedly focus on “misinformation” being spread on YouTube by conservative commentators.
Of course, as America saw with the Hunter Biden laptop story ahead of the 2020 election, the left-wing political establishment will often cry “disinformation” on news that turns out to be true.
Former Fox anchor Tucker Carlson posted screenshots of a text conversation he had with NYT reporter Nico Grant, who asked for a comment regarding “election misinformation” allegedly spread by Tucker.
Grant provided a Carlson quote where the ex-Fox newsman said the election was “clearly stolen,” which is an opinion held by tens of millions of Americans.
Hinting they’ll be pressuring YouTube to demonetize content creators identified as spreaders of “misinformation,” Grant also asked Carlson if the platform ever demonetizes his videos or sends him notices informing him his “content contains disinformation.”
Tucker responded by asking why the NYT is “working with a left wing hate group to silence critics of the Democratic Party,” and roasting the journalist for his “shameful” participation in the censorship crusade.
“I hope you’re filled with guilt and self-loathing for sending me a text like this. Please quote me,” Tucker added.
Grant persisted, asking if Tucker would like to address any of the questions he was sent.
“Would I like to participate in your attempt to censor me?” Tucker asked. “No thanks. But I do hope you’ll quote what I wrote above and also note that I told you to fuck off, which I’m now doing. Thanks.”
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) October 29, 2024
Musk got a kick out of Carlson’s post, writing, “Perfect response,” along with a crying laughing emoji.
Perfect response đ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 29, 2024
Podcast host Benny Johnson also posted his questions from Grant, which asked him to address “misinformation” such as saying the border is open, that lawfare against Trump is election interference and that Kamala Harris was selected as the Democrat candidate through a rigged primary process.
I was just informed the New York Times is writing a hit piece on me.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 29, 2024
What did I do?
– I said Democrats created an open border without âsufficient evidenceâ
– That lawfare against Trump is 2024 election interference
– That Kamalaâs DNC nomination without a primary âwas riggedâ pic.twitter.com/2NcYQDZ1tY
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro are also being targeted in the attack piece.
đ¨ The New York Times is working with the partisan, leftwing Media Matters to silence Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, and me.
— Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) October 29, 2024
We are particularly honored by the designation as #1 among "major YouTube creators."
We are proud to be included with Ben and Tuckerâtwo GREAT Patriots! pic.twitter.com/hVOXgZM7j0
Shapiro accused NYT and Media Matters of “destroying conservative media” influencers “in order to pressure YouTube to demonetize and penalize any and all conservatives ONE WEEK FROM THE ELECTION.”
2/ What, precisely, is NYT doing? It's perfectly obvious: using research from Media Matters, a radical Left-wing organization whose sole purpose is destroying conservative media (see below), in order to pressure YouTube to demonetize and penalize any and all conservatives ONE⌠pic.twitter.com/GzgXdVSwhF
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 29, 2024
“That’s the entire game here. Run an article in America’s ‘most trusted newspaper’ that declares pretty much every major conservative a purveyor of ‘misinformation’ on YouTube, thus strong-arming YouTube into taking action against conservatives,” he explained.
4/ This isn't about "election misinformation." Obviously. As pretty much everyone knows, I have always acknowledged that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. And if it is "election misinformation" to point out the "rigging" of the voting rules for election 2020, resulting in massive⌠pic.twitter.com/bxaNfpLJV1
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 29, 2024
The journalist also noted that it’s an Americans’ First Amendment right to hold the belief that Joe Biden didn’t win the 2020 election.
He wrote, “You don’t have to purvey ‘misinformation’ to be the target. You just have to support Trump.”
6/ But that's the point: you don't have to purvey "misinformation" to be the target. You just have to support Trump.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 29, 2024
Shapiro followed up, noting the establishment media shut down the Hunter Biden laptop story by claiming it was Russian disinformation in order to help get Joe Biden elected.
Now, he says they’re “openly trying to intimidate YouTube, one of the most dominant news platforms in America, into shutting down anyone who isn’t pro-Kamala.”
8/ In 2024, they're even more brazen: they're openly trying to intimidate YouTube, one of the most dominant news platforms in America, into shutting down anyone who isn't pro-Kamala. pic.twitter.com/nwbwfRY3zf
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 29, 2024
“If ever you doubted that The New York Times is part of the Democrat-Media Human Centipede,” he told his followers on X, “doubt no longer.”
10/ They can't get away with it, and they won't. If ever you doubted that The New York Times is part of the Democrat-Media Human Centipede (see below), doubt no longer. pic.twitter.com/MGxqzNgMds
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 29, 2024
Providing the same answer as Tucker, Shapiro also told the NYT to go fuck themselves.
11/ So, The New York Times wants comment? Here's my comment: kindly, go f*ck yourself.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 29, 2024
YouTube, Facebook, Apple, Spotify and Pinterest joined forces in August of 2018 to ban Infowars and Alex Jones in a move he predicted was only the beginning of more widespread censorship.
Ahead of the 2020 presidential election, YouTube purged all videos of Jones uploaded by other users.
Jones and Infowars have been the canary in the coal mine when it comes to internet censorship, and he was right when he warned others they’d be next.
The elite are desperate to silence populist voices waking Americans up to the globalist agenda, but this blatant act of last-minute election interference will only further open their eyes.