Not only are Democrats openly attempting to manipulate the flow of information and control what you see, hear and believe - now, they're not even making an attempt to hide it.
According to the New York Times, congressional Democrats sent a letter to cable promiders including Comcast, AT&T, Spectrum, Dish, Verizon, Cox and Altice, as well as digital services including Roku, Amazon, Apple, Google and Hulu, demanding to know how these companies plan to stop “the spread of dangerous misinformation” sent over their airwaves.
“To our knowledge, the cable, satellite and over-the-top companies that disseminate these media outlets to American viewers have done nothing in response to the misinformation aired by these outlets,” Democratic California Reps. Anna Eshoo and Jerry McNerney alleged in the letter.
And by “dangerous misinformation,” they mean anything that doesn’t lock-step with the one-sided progressive narrative the left has been pushing for decades –and, now, is mandating. After all, left-leaning news outlets were permitted to run with wild - and repeatedly debunked- conspiracy theories for years, including multiple disproven hoaxes about Trump's alleged collusion with Russia, accusations that he once called all Mexicans murderers and rapists, claims that he called neo-Nazis "very fine people," and more more, all while intentionally stifling stories that cast a negative light on Democrats.
Related: AOC Says House Dems Are Discussing a Commission to 'Reign In' Media Who Publish 'Disinformation'
News outlets accused by Democrats of spreading “disinformation and extremism” include both Fox News and Fox Business, along with newcomers One America News Network and Newsmax, all of whom came under fire following the 2020 election for promoting what leftists were quick to dub “conspiracy theories” - including questions over election integrity and concerns over COVID-19. Outlets that gave oxygen to anything other than the immediate acceptance of government shutdowns and President Joe Biden’s valid election were then blamed for “fanning the flames” that led to the January 6 unrest at the Capitol.
Now, Democrats are actually pressuring private cable companies to remove these networks, which draw millions of voluntary viewers every day, from their airwaves.
“Are you planning to continue carrying Fox News, OANN, and Newsmax on your platform both now and beyond the renewal date?” the Democrats’ letter demands. “If so, why?”
Democrats say the inquiries could lead to congressional hearings over what cable companies plan to do to censor these networks and their viewpoints.
Fox News responded to the Democrats' letter in a statement, calling it a "terrible precedent."
“As the most watched cable news channel throughout 2020, FOX News Media provided millions of Americans with in-depth reporting, breaking news coverage and clear opinion. For individual members of Congress to highlight political speech they do not like and demand cable distributors engage in viewpoint discrimination sets a terrible precedent.”
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr also expressed concern over congressional lawmakers pressuring private companies to censor certain news outlets, calling it a "chilling transgression of free speech."
“By writing letters to the cable providers and other regulated entities that carry these news media outlets, the Democrats are sending a message that is as clear is it is troubling — these regulated entities will pay a price if the targeted newsrooms do not conform to Democrats’ preferred political narratives,” Carr said Monday in a statement. “This is a chilling transgression of the free speech rights that every media outlet in this country enjoys.”