Truth Is An Absolute Defense*

Ben Montgomery, an Axios reporter in Tampa, was fired Monday night after a spokesperson for Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted out a photo of his response to a news release that the reporter called “propaganda.” https://t.co/yXAYsN0986

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 16, 2023

But what if he's right?

First, apparently Area Substacker claims to believe that a press release invoking Chris Rufo, Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life, and repeating meaningless propaganda terms at least 14 times, all while claiming to care abt truth, is not propaganda. pic.twitter.com/A42NBoKcxA

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) March 15, 2023

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are “divisive concepts”

that “force division and exclusion” in higher education?

Sounds like propaganda to me.

Also trying to figure out why anybody ever thought Greenwald was very bright:

There's nothing inherently Democratic about reacting badly to stupid propaganda, but in ASS' book, it's the obvious mark of a Democrat.

Huh.

Then he pivots to a random @oneunderscore__ reference.

So ASS goes from objection to stupid propaganda to Democrat to @oneunderscore__.

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) March 15, 2023

The idea here--& ASS is an instrumental part of this progression, in all senses of the term--is that people who call out sloppy propaganda must themselves be punished for doing so.

You must regurgitate Chris Rufo's ugly and stupid view of the world, or you will be punished.

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) March 15, 2023

Greenwald jumps straight over Axios to pick on his favorite targets. Why? Because he doesn’t know what else to say. It’s not an argument, just a screed. Emptywheel connects him to a grander plot, but one where Rufo controls the dark world.

The missing link here is Axios management. What made them fire this reporter? Fear? Or cowardice? I don’t think it was Glenn Greenwald.

You really REALLY want to read this piece. The kinetics of the story any publisher wld love. But the piece tells you a huge amount abt the role of journalism in today's political environment. Very important stuff https://t.co/llNF9qJCJc

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) March 16, 2023

It was cowardice. Axios dropped him like a hot potato. They (reading between the lines) didn’t want to lose access to DeSantis. Your reminder that “news” is the only business in America protected by the Constitution. But that protection does not guarantee profits. That’s the part reporters are not sanctimonious about when they wrap themselves in the First Amendment.

*Sorry, that only works for libel.