Devin Nunes creates his own alternative news site

[Bdatik]

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/...ws-site-402097

LOS ANGELES — House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, a relentless critic of the media, has found a way around the often unflattering coverage of his role in the Trump-Russia investigation — by operating his own partisan news outlet.

Resembling a local, conservative news site, “The California Republican” is classified on Facebook as a “media/news company” and claims to deliver “the best of US, California, and Central Valley news, sports, and analysis.”

But the website is paid for by Nunes’ campaign committee, according to small print at the bottom of the site. Leading the home page most recently: a photograph of Nunes over the headline, “Understanding the process behind #ReleaseTheMemo.”

The story, like many others on carepublican.com, largely excerpts other publications, including both conservative and mainstream sources. Headlines include “CNN busted for peddling fake news AGAIN!,” “California’s budget future isn’t as good as it looks” and “Billions of dollars later, Democrats and the LA Times start to see the light on high-speed rail.”

In a jab at fellow California Rep. Ted Lieu — an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump — the site titled one blurb, “Dem CA Rep roasted on CNN, proceeds to make a fool of himself.”

The outlet includes stories dating from mid-2017, when it was registered by a Fresno-area communications consultant, Alex Tavlian. Nunes’ campaign has paid Tavlian’s company, Sultana Media, $7,773 since July for “advertising; digital advertising management.”

Reached Saturday, Tavlian said his company registered several domains for Nunes’ campaign. But he said he did not manage “The California Republican” and was unfamiliar with it.

Most of the stories on the site are not about Nunes. But the power to self-publish and to bypass the mainstream media would hold special appeal for a lawmaker who has long complained about “fake news” and “anti-Trump, anti-Republican” coverage.

Nunes has come under intense scrutiny for his handling of the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Last month, the editorial board of the dominant newspaper in Nunes’ district, The Fresno Bee, called Nunes “Trump’s stooge,” accusing him of “doing dirty work for House Republican leaders trying to protect President Donald Trump in the Russia investigation.”

In response to negative coverage, Nunes has cast himself as a victim of media smears. He told radio host Rush Limbaugh last week, “Almost every story is fake news. … Almost every story that runs about me is fake. I mean, it’s unbelievable the stuff that is out there.”

He added, "Democracy does die in darkness. The problem is, is the darkness is emanating from the mainstream media themselves. I mean, they refuse, they absolutely refuse to cover the truth. They don’t want to cover it.”

Asked for comment about “The California Republican” website, Anthony Ratekin, Nunes’ chief of staff, said in an email Saturday: “Until Politico retracts its multitude of fake stories on Congressman Nunes, we will not go on the record.”

For strictly electoral purposes, the site would seem superfluous. Nunes holds more cash on hand, $3.8 million, than any other Republican House incumbent in California, and Trump carried his district by nearly 10 percentage points in 2016.

While the site includes sections devoted to national, state and local politics, it also offers some limited sports coverage — it followed the Fresno State football team’s turnaround season last year.

It is unclear how widely “The California Republican” is read. Its Facebook page on Saturday listed just fewer than 3,598 "Likes” and 3,705 followers.

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said before an event in Los Angeles on Saturday that he had not seen the site and would reserve judgment.

But Andrew Janz, Nunes’ main Democratic challenger in his reelection bid, did not hold back. Told of the website’s existence by POLITICO, he derided the publication as “typical Devin Nunes.”

“He’s got fake memos, fake websites and fake news,” Janz said. “It’s disappointing to see a member of Congress, especially one who chairs an important committee, spread misinformation to his constituents, who he knows will just eat it up.”

Looks like the actual site (http://carepublican.news/) is pretty light on articles, however.

And before someone inevitably claims "Fake News", the bottom of the website says "Paid for by the Devin Nunes Campaign Committee"

[Lenonis]

Active members of government should be forbidden from operating a news site. They should be limited to their campaign website and that's it.

Of course the "money is speech" SCOTUS would never agree.

[NYC17]

My general reaction is "meh". The first article I clinked on was a link to an Andrew McCarthy article on National Review tho, so that was unintentionally hilarious.

[Wyrt]

So even Fox isn't enough propaganda for these asshats?

[Thekri]

So even Fox isn't enough propaganda for these asshats?

A recent study showed that at least two employees at Fox News still possess a moral. Not morals plural, but still, too much for non-biased news.

[Reinhard von Lohengramm]

So even Fox isn't enough propaganda for these asshats?

Is CNN, MSNBC, NYT, CBS, ABC, WSJ, etc, etc, enough for you?

[NYC17]

Is CNN, MSNBC, NYT, CBS, ABC, WSJ, etc, etc, enough for you?

IS WSJ supposed to be liberal propaganda now?

Haha.

[Redwyrm]

Is CNN, MSNBC, NYT, CBS, ABC, WSJ, etc, etc, enough for you?

See how many you had to list? If 6 (8 if you count etc, etc) different news organizations are all engaged in the same propaganda (assumbly against Republicans or Trump) Occam's Razor suggests that it isn't propaganda. Or do you think there is one all powerful entity telling all of these news organizations what to print/broadcast?

If so, then you're just precious.

Edit: Also, what other news organizations (other than FOX) repeatedly says that all other sources or news cannot be trusted and only they tell you the truth? So much so that Trump also repeats it. That's a sign of propaganda at work. Don't cross check facts. Don't consult alternative sources of information. Believe only us.

[Xeones]

I find the blatant propaganda campaigns being executed by the government to be really disturbing.

[zorkuus]

I find the blatant propaganda campaigns being executed by the government to be really disturbing.

Your opinion could be treasonous. Could be. We'll see.

[Draco-Onis]

IS WSJ supposed to be liberal propaganda now?

Haha.

If you aren't sucking up to their fearless leader you are liberal propaganda, the WSJ made the critical mistake of reporting facts Trump supporters are allergic to reality.

[Xeones]

Your opinion could be treasonous. Could be. We'll see.

They are welcome to try. I'm not going to back down to right wing extremism.

[Reinhard von Lohengramm]

See how many you had to list? If 6 (8 if you count etc, etc) different news organizations are all engaged in the same propaganda (assumbly against Republicans or Trump) Occam's Razor suggests that it isn't propaganda. Or do you think there is one all powerful entity telling all of these news organizations what to print/broadcast?

If so, then you're just precious.

Edit: Also, what other news organizations (other than FOX) repeatedly says that all other sources or news cannot be trusted and only they tell you the truth? So much so that Trump also repeats it. That's a sign of propaganda at work. Don't cross check facts. Don't consult alternative sources of information. Believe only us.

Ah, yes, the almighty Occam's Razor.

I suppose that means you win the argument, simply by playing that over-used and fallacious card?
Because brevity is the soul of wit...

I'll see your Occam's Razor and raise you Hotelling's Law.

Are they all centrally controlled by a figure behind the shadows? Wouldn't surprise me in the least. Also wouldn't surprise me that one day, one of them stepped upon a sweet spot for viewership, ratings, and profits, that just so happened involve being a propaganda machine. Then, the others, also being business' followed suit. Given the current Overton Window in the West it has been popular to be anti-Trump, it has been popular to be anti-Republican and although you didn't mention it, it has been popular to offload political failings onto Russia like some sort of vicarious sacrifice for one's own political shortcomings.

FOX is controlled opposition, for the most part. They have a few good eggs in their basket - like Carlson.

[DarkTZeratul]

Also wouldn't surprise me that one day, one of them stepped upon a sweet spot for viewership, ratings, and profits, that just so happened involve being a propaganda machine. Then, the others, also being business' followed suit. Given the current Overton Window in the West it has been popular to be anti-Trump, it has been popular to be anti-Republican and although you didn't mention it, it has been popular to offload political failings onto Russia like some sort of vicarious sacrifice for one's own political shortcomings.

So basically, your argument is that every news media organization that isn't falling over themselves to praise Trump's every deed is doing so solely because hating Trump is popular and should be discounted entirely?

[Machismo]

Ah, yes, the almighty Occam's Razor.

I suppose that means you win the argument, simply by playing that over-used and fallacious card?
Because brevity is the soul of wit...

I'll see your Occam's Razor and raise you Hotelling's Law.

Are they all centrally controlled by a figure behind the shadows? Wouldn't surprise me in the least. Also wouldn't surprise me that one day, one of them stepped upon a sweet spot for viewership, ratings, and profits, that just so happened involve being a propaganda machine. Then, the others, also being business' followed suit. Given the current Overton Window in the West it has been popular to be anti-Trump, it has been popular to be anti-Republican and although you didn't mention it, it has been popular to offload political failings onto Russia like some sort of vicarious sacrifice for one's own political shortcomings.

FOX is controlled opposition, for the most part. They have a few good eggs in their basket - like Carlson.

Carlson is quickly becoming the worst that Fox has to offer, and that is really saying something.

[Reinhard von Lohengramm]

So basically, your argument is that every news media organization that isn't falling over themselves to praise Trump's every deed is doing so solely because hating Trump is popular and should be discounted entirely?

Slow, slow clap.

Carlson is quickly becoming the worst that Fox has to offer, and that is really saying something.

That is a matter of truth, and therefore a matter of perspective.

Although personal I'm more prone to analysis and predictions of The Daily Wire than any of the BIG news corps.

[Thekri]

Ah, yes, the almighty Occam's Razor.

I suppose that means you win the argument, simply by playing that over-used and fallacious card?
Because brevity is the soul of wit...

I'll see your Occam's Razor and raise you Hotelling's Law.

Are they all centrally controlled by a figure behind the shadows? Wouldn't surprise me in the least. Also wouldn't surprise me that one day, one of them stepped upon a sweet spot for viewership, ratings, and profits, that just so happened involve being a propaganda machine. Then, the others, also being business' followed suit. Given the current Overton Window in the West it has been popular to be anti-Trump, it has been popular to be anti-Republican and although you didn't mention it, it has been popular to offload political failings onto Russia like some sort of vicarious sacrifice for one's own political shortcomings.

FOX is controlled opposition, for the most part. They have a few good eggs in their basket - like Carlson.

It is impressive how you managed to compress all this text into your profile picture, and not lose any of the meaning from the full version. Your "Explanation" is so full of fallacious logic and nonsensical trains it can really only be summed up by your own avatar.

[Machismo]

Slow, slow clap.



That is a matter of truth, and therefore a matter of perspective.

Although personal I'm more prone to analysis and predictions of The Daily Wire than any of the BIG news corps.

The Daily Wire is also nothing but garbage. Shapiro is a hypocritical fool.

[PosPosPos]

Slow, slow clap.

So what exactly is your point bringing up those news outlets if not to turn up your nose at them for not worshipping your Trump?

I am sure if you can give a reasonable explanation people would retract their accusation that you are a Trump shill who can't accept that his idol is nothing but a failure of a human being.

[Reinhard von Lohengramm]

One after the other, the three lowest rungs on the pyramid appear to strike me.

Laughable.

It is impressive how you managed to compress all this text into your profile picture, and not lose any of the meaning from the full version. Your "Explanation" is so full of fallacious logic and nonsensical trains it can really only be summed up by your own avatar.

Yellow Zone.

The Daily Wire is also nothing but garbage. Shapiro is a hypocritical fool.

Red Zone.

So what exactly is your point bringing up those news outlets if not to turn up your nose at them for not worshipping your Trump?

I am sure if you can give a reasonable explanation people would retract their accusation that you are a Trump shill who can't accept that his idol is nothing but a failure of a human being.

Orange Zone.

Not quite in perfect order, but good enough.