There are several comments today about trying to find ways to stop funding Fox News, etc. Please check out this link to Check My Ads here https://checkmyads.org/fox/
Check My Ads (CMA) is a website and business run by 2 amazing young women with an easy system to take down misinformation in our media, with our help. They track which businesses advertise on misinformation websites and notifying those businesses that their ads appear there. Most businesses do not want their ads to appear on controversial websites, so are happy to quickly remove them, and thus their funding from these sites. However, with the way advertising works these days, these businesses do not know where their ads are appearing. Their ads are sold to sites by ad aggregators. So with our help writing emails to these CEOs telling them where we “saw” their ads, we get them to pull their ads from websites, radio sites, and more, thus depriving those sites from existing. CMA has a campaign to take down Fox News from the web.
Don’t doubt their system. They have taken down Steve Bannon’s War Room, and a list of major Jan 6th insurrectionist supporter websites, and more. Yes, some of these sites appear in another place within a few weeks, but these women go after them there and do it again. Each time they do, these sites lose viewers/listeners and have to work harder to find a place to exist and spout their pap. Donate and sign up to send emails to CEOs. It feels so incredible each time we bring down another site.
I am pinning this to the top. I watched the video of the two founders explaining how they intend to force ad exchanges to stop funding Fox by online ads and I signed up to become a member of their effort. I will promote in tonight's newsletter.
To reply to Beth’s comment to stop supporting businesses that advertise on Fox etc., businesses no longer know where their ads are being placed as most ads are handled by ad aggregators. So don’t blame the businesses. Instead work with CheckMyAds.org and let others know about their work. As CMA notifies the corporate heads about their ad placement, they will pull their ads, and thus financial support from the sites.
You can help in a very concrete way by tuning in tonite to fridayaction.org for a fundraiser with guest Jodi Habush Sinykin who is running for a seat in the Wisconsin House…also a key race. It will also help get voters out! 8:00 eastern time/5:00 pacific time
Funny, I had just posted an opinion on this very subject as follows: It proves McCarthy is sympathetic to the insurrectionists and in effect a traiter. Technically elements of that footage should be classified material. And even if not, does he have the right to give away government property to a private citizen?
I have a novel suggestion, at least one I have not seen or heard elsewhere: why does't the Democratic Caucus, or some other interested party with Standing such as the Capitol Police, seek an Injunction in US District Court via Temporary Restraining Order, enjoining Qevin's release of Security Tapes to Tucker, or to anyone else, pending review of the Security issues implicated by such a release? Whether or not such TRO is ultimately successful, such a move would slow down the process, encourage Security review by a federal judge, require Qevin to state under oath (via responsive affidavit) what his true motives are, and quite possibly, be successful.
Ken, I agree. i don't understand the apparent passivity of Democratic leadership over this issue. At the very least, use civil process to force McCarthy to explain himself beyond saying that he has given Carlson an exclusive.
I am having difficulty understanding the furor over these tapes being released. It almost implies that what the public has seen has been manipulated to present a different story. Do the actual tapes reveal a “walk through the park” that the Carlsons of world are saying actually happened?
This inspired me to send the following message to my Senators (my House rep is useless). Feel free to use it.
I am appalled at McCarthy's release of sensitive J6 video evidence to one of the most insensitive and incendiary people on the planet, Tucker Carlson. I implore sensible Senators and Congresspeople to seek an injunction to stop the review and use of non-public information pending a non-partisan assessment of the national security implications of its release, and to insist that its dissemination is simultaneously made to real news media outlets. I'd also request that you encourage members of the House to move to vacate the chair. If this doesn't warrant McCarthy's removal, I struggle to imagine what egregious behavior would. Unfortunately, my rep is Jeff Van Drew, who's part of the problem. Thank you.
As someone, last January, who anxiously watched and waited while Freedom Caucus extremists were extracting concession after concession from Kevin McCarthy, as he desperately attempted to get enough votes to become Speaker, I rightly feared that far-right extremists would be setting the agenda for the next 2 years. Now, nearly 2 months later, I contend that responsibility rests with Democrats to ensure, in 24, that all House Republicans are held politically accountable for every single concession adopted, for everything that appeared in the rules they voted for, and for the constant drumbeat of Republican extremism that invariably will ensue with McCarthy as Speaker.
Stephen, I wrote 24, banking on Democratic Representatives to do their part to ensure voters held House Republicans accountable. That said, given that our country is at a crisis point, I think you’re right—“now is the time for accountability.”
The Democrats have to get out in front of the 24 elections and Biden has started the process like his speech yesterday in Virginia Beach. We need to push back everyday.
Thanks, Robert, for acknowledging the importance of every day citizens like myself who are coming out to work for democracy. I just picked up 100 postcards to write to voters in Wisconsin before March 20... it's an easy thing to do and I encourage others to take up pens and buy a few stamps to do this too.
Thank you,Robert Hubbell, for acknowledging voters turned activists. Writing postcards with Markers For Democracy is a privilege and has provided a comprehensive education “Saving Democracy One Postcard at a Time”
For me personally, this postcard writing and lesrning experience helps to keep Hope alive.
The shameless, hypocritical Congressional Republicans keep sinking lower and lower. Is there not one GOP member of Congress who will publicly criticize McCarthy's actions and demand he resign? Perhaps the Biden administration needs to sanction McCarthy and his insurrectionist allies, just as we sanction oligarchs and leaders who threaten their own countries and the peace of the world.
I have several emotions this morning but one in particular is anger. Had Merrick Garland and his Justice Department investigated and prosecuted the congress critters that aided and abetted the insurrection maybe they wouldn’t have (1) been re-elected and (2) been able to do such damage. Loudermilk, Greene, Perry and all the others shouldn’t even be in congress now.
This is the crux of the problem and the source of my greatest anger and frustration. That, and that dangerous lies, that cost peoples’ lives and threaten our Democracy, are allowed to proliferate for the sake of “Free Speech.”
Bravo to all who wrote, and write, letters to the editor and those involved in Wisconsin!!! With each ¨it gets worse,¨ I somehow kept seeing the glass go from half full to overflowing with truth, honesty, the rights of all, and a stronger democracy coming. Yes. We. Can. ❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙
I hope this action by McCarthy is enough to spur someone to exercise one of his other capitulations - a motion to vacate the speaker’s chair. I also hope the media plays a loop of his hapless "performance" during the insurrection while real leaders (Pelosi, Schumer, Hoyer, McConnell, Scalise, "Momentary" Mike Pence, and others) took action that Trump was loathe to or did not deign to do. His alleged shouting match with Trump seems belied by his infamous pucker-up trip to Mar-A-Lago.
Robert, I really like your ability to point out the problems we are facing but also offer practical solutions for us to take. Thank you for another excellent Today's Edition!
Robert, another deferential legal question: since the Capital footage contains evidence in a criminal investigation, couldn’t the DoJ seek a court injunction against its selective release in accordance with the rules of judicial procedure you cite? Since Fox News and Tucker Carlson are (unfortunately) not defendente, I imagine they would have no legal right to review these materials, nor can they credibly argue that “exclusive” access is in the public interest.
Many readers have raised similar questions and suggested similar legal efforts in the comments section and today's emails in my inbox. While I don't want to discourage anyone from undertaking such efforts, I think there is a high likelihood that the courts would say this is a question of internal House governance that is beyond the reach of the courts. So for example, the filibuster in the Senate is undoubtedly unconstitutional, but no court ever has or will rule to that effect.
I agree we have come a long way over the past several years and the grass roots organizations are doing an outstanding job and more people are engaged than ever before. What is frustrating to me and many others is watching the revelations of the assault on our Democracy by Fox News of the world and the outright behavior of Kevin McCarthy and Majorie Taylor Greene and the feeling of helplessness that they are getting away with stuff and no one can stop them. I am a big believer in writing letters to the newspapers which I do all the time but newspaper readership is down and the people we need to get to probably don’t read the newspaper anyhow and have other sources of information and news. The key I think is following the money. We need to make our point of views known to those corporations who fund Fox News and are major contributors to the campaigns of McCarthy and many others and send them a message about how we feel. The cost of losing customers and damage to a brand’s reputation is priceless and maybe if the cost to support these organizations and candidate’s becomes to expensive they will send a message to those engaged in this behavior and tell them it is no longer acceptable. It can’t hurt.
Agree: "The key I think is following the money. We need to make our point of views known to those corporations who fund Fox News and are major contributors to the campaigns of McCarthy and many others and send them a message about how we feel."
Upon your recommendation, Robert, I'm writing Postcards to Voters to encourage voters to elect Judge Janet Protasiewicz to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. A good friend of mine is also on board. Linda Garson Smith
I don't understand something very basic: how does McCarthy even have the kind of access to the surveillance tapes from the Capitol Hill complex that would allow him to turn them over? Is he as Speaker the only one who has access to them? Isn't there a law or regulation restricting their public dissemination, for the obvious security reasons?
Both Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate have access to the tapes. The capital police work for congressional leader ship and must essentially do what they say. So Capitol Police have given access to Tucker Carlson as directed by Kevin McCarthy. Other news organizations have asked Democrats for similar access but Schumer has demurred for the moment because of the security concerns implicated by McCarthy's reckless wholesale grant of access to Tucker Carlson.
Robert, thank you your attention to McCarthy’s release of the security footage. I am not normally a person who panics but that release feels ominous to me for all the reasons you noted. I hope that one of the efforts to slow or stop the release is successful. And more letters to the editor is a good way to start.
Speaking of LTEs, thanks also for noting Dave Mech’s letter to the editor in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on the alleged “mask study”.” Just thought it might tickle some funny bones here to know that Dr. Mech (rhymes with beach) studied wolf behavior for a living.
Totally appropriate as the person who pushed back against a scientific study supporting the MAGA political agenda, right? (I’ll take wild wolves any day. They aren’t dangerous to humans. MAGA wolves, on the other hand...)
There are several comments today about trying to find ways to stop funding Fox News, etc. Please check out this link to Check My Ads here https://checkmyads.org/fox/
Check My Ads (CMA) is a website and business run by 2 amazing young women with an easy system to take down misinformation in our media, with our help. They track which businesses advertise on misinformation websites and notifying those businesses that their ads appear there. Most businesses do not want their ads to appear on controversial websites, so are happy to quickly remove them, and thus their funding from these sites. However, with the way advertising works these days, these businesses do not know where their ads are appearing. Their ads are sold to sites by ad aggregators. So with our help writing emails to these CEOs telling them where we “saw” their ads, we get them to pull their ads from websites, radio sites, and more, thus depriving those sites from existing. CMA has a campaign to take down Fox News from the web.
Don’t doubt their system. They have taken down Steve Bannon’s War Room, and a list of major Jan 6th insurrectionist supporter websites, and more. Yes, some of these sites appear in another place within a few weeks, but these women go after them there and do it again. Each time they do, these sites lose viewers/listeners and have to work harder to find a place to exist and spout their pap. Donate and sign up to send emails to CEOs. It feels so incredible each time we bring down another site.
I am pinning this to the top. I watched the video of the two founders explaining how they intend to force ad exchanges to stop funding Fox by online ads and I signed up to become a member of their effort. I will promote in tonight's newsletter.
To reply to Beth’s comment to stop supporting businesses that advertise on Fox etc., businesses no longer know where their ads are being placed as most ads are handled by ad aggregators. So don’t blame the businesses. Instead work with CheckMyAds.org and let others know about their work. As CMA notifies the corporate heads about their ad placement, they will pull their ads, and thus financial support from the sites.
Posted link to the Public on FB.
You can help in a very concrete way by tuning in tonite to fridayaction.org for a fundraiser with guest Jodi Habush Sinykin who is running for a seat in the Wisconsin House…also a key race. It will also help get voters out! 8:00 eastern time/5:00 pacific time
Pinning to the top for other readers to see. This event is Wednesday, March 1 at 8:00 PM Eastern, 5:00 PM Pacific.
Funny, I had just posted an opinion on this very subject as follows: It proves McCarthy is sympathetic to the insurrectionists and in effect a traiter. Technically elements of that footage should be classified material. And even if not, does he have the right to give away government property to a private citizen?
I have a novel suggestion, at least one I have not seen or heard elsewhere: why does't the Democratic Caucus, or some other interested party with Standing such as the Capitol Police, seek an Injunction in US District Court via Temporary Restraining Order, enjoining Qevin's release of Security Tapes to Tucker, or to anyone else, pending review of the Security issues implicated by such a release? Whether or not such TRO is ultimately successful, such a move would slow down the process, encourage Security review by a federal judge, require Qevin to state under oath (via responsive affidavit) what his true motives are, and quite possibly, be successful.
Ken, I agree. i don't understand the apparent passivity of Democratic leadership over this issue. At the very least, use civil process to force McCarthy to explain himself beyond saying that he has given Carlson an exclusive.
I am having difficulty understanding the furor over these tapes being released. It almost implies that what the public has seen has been manipulated to present a different story. Do the actual tapes reveal a “walk through the park” that the Carlsons of world are saying actually happened?
I am afraid Dems are passive on too many issues.
Hey, it's the Trump Method . . . why not try it? It's always worked for him and his.
This inspired me to send the following message to my Senators (my House rep is useless). Feel free to use it.
I am appalled at McCarthy's release of sensitive J6 video evidence to one of the most insensitive and incendiary people on the planet, Tucker Carlson. I implore sensible Senators and Congresspeople to seek an injunction to stop the review and use of non-public information pending a non-partisan assessment of the national security implications of its release, and to insist that its dissemination is simultaneously made to real news media outlets. I'd also request that you encourage members of the House to move to vacate the chair. If this doesn't warrant McCarthy's removal, I struggle to imagine what egregious behavior would. Unfortunately, my rep is Jeff Van Drew, who's part of the problem. Thank you.
Just sent your text to Mike Lawler (NY R) Thank you so much for making it so easy!
I sent a similar email to my representatives as well. I hope they hear us loud and clear.
Robert, can you include a link to your post?
Hi Robert, yes, it was a comment I made to Lucian Truscott's newsletter on the same subject.
https://open.substack.com/pub/luciantruscott/p/if-the-answer-is-kevin-mccarthy-what?r=lq31l&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
There's an old "Texanism" that was allegedly a defense to murder 150 years ago: "He *needed* killin'!"
Quiverin' Qevin should thank his lucky stars that is no longer in use.
And to state the obvious, you are making a historical observation and not suggesting that violence is an appropriate response today.
Robert Clay Allison 1840-1887 He never killed a man that did not need killing.
As someone, last January, who anxiously watched and waited while Freedom Caucus extremists were extracting concession after concession from Kevin McCarthy, as he desperately attempted to get enough votes to become Speaker, I rightly feared that far-right extremists would be setting the agenda for the next 2 years. Now, nearly 2 months later, I contend that responsibility rests with Democrats to ensure, in 24, that all House Republicans are held politically accountable for every single concession adopted, for everything that appeared in the rules they voted for, and for the constant drumbeat of Republican extremism that invariably will ensue with McCarthy as Speaker.
Why wait till 2024 now is the time for accountability
Stephen, I wrote 24, banking on Democratic Representatives to do their part to ensure voters held House Republicans accountable. That said, given that our country is at a crisis point, I think you’re right—“now is the time for accountability.”
The Democrats have to get out in front of the 24 elections and Biden has started the process like his speech yesterday in Virginia Beach. We need to push back everyday.
Agreed.
Good call. But let's have some accountability now. I'm fed up with being lied to and bullied by troglodytes.
Susan, Please note the exchange in this thread initiated by Stephen Berg shows I fully agree with you.
Thanks, Robert, for acknowledging the importance of every day citizens like myself who are coming out to work for democracy. I just picked up 100 postcards to write to voters in Wisconsin before March 20... it's an easy thing to do and I encourage others to take up pens and buy a few stamps to do this too.
Thank you,Robert Hubbell, for acknowledging voters turned activists. Writing postcards with Markers For Democracy is a privilege and has provided a comprehensive education “Saving Democracy One Postcard at a Time”
For me personally, this postcard writing and lesrning experience helps to keep Hope alive.
thank you for doing your part!
thanks for doing your part!
The shameless, hypocritical Congressional Republicans keep sinking lower and lower. Is there not one GOP member of Congress who will publicly criticize McCarthy's actions and demand he resign? Perhaps the Biden administration needs to sanction McCarthy and his insurrectionist allies, just as we sanction oligarchs and leaders who threaten their own countries and the peace of the world.
Not a bad idea.
I have several emotions this morning but one in particular is anger. Had Merrick Garland and his Justice Department investigated and prosecuted the congress critters that aided and abetted the insurrection maybe they wouldn’t have (1) been re-elected and (2) been able to do such damage. Loudermilk, Greene, Perry and all the others shouldn’t even be in congress now.
I agree 100%.
This is the crux of the problem and the source of my greatest anger and frustration. That, and that dangerous lies, that cost peoples’ lives and threaten our Democracy, are allowed to proliferate for the sake of “Free Speech.”
Bravo to all who wrote, and write, letters to the editor and those involved in Wisconsin!!! With each ¨it gets worse,¨ I somehow kept seeing the glass go from half full to overflowing with truth, honesty, the rights of all, and a stronger democracy coming. Yes. We. Can. ❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙
I hope this action by McCarthy is enough to spur someone to exercise one of his other capitulations - a motion to vacate the speaker’s chair. I also hope the media plays a loop of his hapless "performance" during the insurrection while real leaders (Pelosi, Schumer, Hoyer, McConnell, Scalise, "Momentary" Mike Pence, and others) took action that Trump was loathe to or did not deign to do. His alleged shouting match with Trump seems belied by his infamous pucker-up trip to Mar-A-Lago.
Robert, I really like your ability to point out the problems we are facing but also offer practical solutions for us to take. Thank you for another excellent Today's Edition!
When they were passing out brains, Kevin thought they said "trains," and asked for a slow one.
And one that operates off the rails!
✅
Robert, another deferential legal question: since the Capital footage contains evidence in a criminal investigation, couldn’t the DoJ seek a court injunction against its selective release in accordance with the rules of judicial procedure you cite? Since Fox News and Tucker Carlson are (unfortunately) not defendente, I imagine they would have no legal right to review these materials, nor can they credibly argue that “exclusive” access is in the public interest.
Many readers have raised similar questions and suggested similar legal efforts in the comments section and today's emails in my inbox. While I don't want to discourage anyone from undertaking such efforts, I think there is a high likelihood that the courts would say this is a question of internal House governance that is beyond the reach of the courts. So for example, the filibuster in the Senate is undoubtedly unconstitutional, but no court ever has or will rule to that effect.
I agree we have come a long way over the past several years and the grass roots organizations are doing an outstanding job and more people are engaged than ever before. What is frustrating to me and many others is watching the revelations of the assault on our Democracy by Fox News of the world and the outright behavior of Kevin McCarthy and Majorie Taylor Greene and the feeling of helplessness that they are getting away with stuff and no one can stop them. I am a big believer in writing letters to the newspapers which I do all the time but newspaper readership is down and the people we need to get to probably don’t read the newspaper anyhow and have other sources of information and news. The key I think is following the money. We need to make our point of views known to those corporations who fund Fox News and are major contributors to the campaigns of McCarthy and many others and send them a message about how we feel. The cost of losing customers and damage to a brand’s reputation is priceless and maybe if the cost to support these organizations and candidate’s becomes to expensive they will send a message to those engaged in this behavior and tell them it is no longer acceptable. It can’t hurt.
Agree: "The key I think is following the money. We need to make our point of views known to those corporations who fund Fox News and are major contributors to the campaigns of McCarthy and many others and send them a message about how we feel."
please see my comment below re CheckMyAds.org
--->>> follow the money <<<--- We can lead with our own bank accounts; don't support businesses who do business with these yahoos.
Exactly right.
Upon your recommendation, Robert, I'm writing Postcards to Voters to encourage voters to elect Judge Janet Protasiewicz to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. A good friend of mine is also on board. Linda Garson Smith
Bless you for doing your part!
I don't understand something very basic: how does McCarthy even have the kind of access to the surveillance tapes from the Capitol Hill complex that would allow him to turn them over? Is he as Speaker the only one who has access to them? Isn't there a law or regulation restricting their public dissemination, for the obvious security reasons?
Thanks, as ever, for your careful analysis.
Both Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate have access to the tapes. The capital police work for congressional leader ship and must essentially do what they say. So Capitol Police have given access to Tucker Carlson as directed by Kevin McCarthy. Other news organizations have asked Democrats for similar access but Schumer has demurred for the moment because of the security concerns implicated by McCarthy's reckless wholesale grant of access to Tucker Carlson.
It looks like my thank you reply was not posted: thank you very much, Robert, for the clarifying background.
Robert, thank you your attention to McCarthy’s release of the security footage. I am not normally a person who panics but that release feels ominous to me for all the reasons you noted. I hope that one of the efforts to slow or stop the release is successful. And more letters to the editor is a good way to start.
Speaking of LTEs, thanks also for noting Dave Mech’s letter to the editor in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on the alleged “mask study”.” Just thought it might tickle some funny bones here to know that Dr. Mech (rhymes with beach) studied wolf behavior for a living.
Totally appropriate as the person who pushed back against a scientific study supporting the MAGA political agenda, right? (I’ll take wild wolves any day. They aren’t dangerous to humans. MAGA wolves, on the other hand...)