Who's behind the news?
Who's behind the news?
1.5.0
Newsjunkie.net is a resource guide for journalists. We show who's behind the news, and provide tools to help navigate the modern business of information.
Use of Data
Suppression BlogSuppression BlogBrennan Center for Justice. Cities are not burning, and there is no insurrection
According to President Trump, insurrectionists and “antifa” are running loose in American cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland. The strategy behind this declaration? Build up enough evidence to invoke the Insurrection Act, something the president has explicitly nodded several times. -acs
The Economist. "Narco-terrorism" and the new War on Drugs
Roosevelt Roads Naval base in Puerto Rico is picking up traffic after a near 20-year abandonment. The reason? A new war on drugs, or maybe, the awakening of war that never really ended. -acs
Newsweek. Supreme court on a pro-President track
Who can fire federal officials, and under what circumstances? Where do typical laws apply, and when can they be overruled? Trump's cabinet is determined to examine the extent of the President's executive power, but experts say they shouldn't pretend their hands are tied on important issues. -acs
NBC. DOE alters out of office statements to reflect partisan positioning against democrats
During the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, some Department of Education employees found that their out-of-office email messages had been altered, without their consent, to overtly blame Senate Democrats for the shutdown. Some employees even took it upon themselves to reset the message, only to find it switched back to its altered state. -acs
Axios. Trump's gov shutdown provides a preview of what's to come
Amid the current government shutdown, Trump is leveraging his power to reshape federal policy and purge dissenting agencies, accelerating efforts to centralize executive control. -acs
Capital & Main. Despite its mega-Blue status, California is the leader in def-facto school segregation
California essentially gave up formal desegregation efforts in the 1980s, following the passage in 1979 of Proposition 1, which barred the use of busing to integrate classrooms. According to UCLA’s Civil Rights Project, the amount of intensely segregated schools has quadrupled to 44.5% in the last thirty years. -acs
RSF. Nicaragua working with Russia to spread Kremlin propaganda on national outlets
Beginning in 2022, Nicaragua’s RT and Sputnik outlets implemented a structured propaganda network with the Russian government, spreading propaganda about both regimes to unsuspecting citizens. This operates in tandem with the government’s shutdown of independent outlets, leaving Nicaraguans without a reliable news source. -acs
The White House. The White House pins government shutdown on the "radical left"
The United States government is shut down due to budget disagreements. 750,000 government workers are facing a furlough, with many being forced to work without pay. The White House is blaming the shutdown on the Democrats despite the GOP’s lack of attendance at yesterday’s a pro forma session to discuss the budget. See also: Housing and Urban Development website and Health provision excerpt -acs
WIRED. Why villainizing Tylenol could actually lead to increased autism rates
Tylenol is one of the few approved fever-reducing medications for use during pregnancy. Many researchers argue that studies linking Tylenol to autism fail to account for confounding factors. Conversely, high fevers during pregnancy have been associated with an increased risk of autism in children. -acs
Reuters. US concerned about Europe's censorship despite its own violations
“As the President and Vice President have noted, we have seen a concerning trend in Europe—with American digital platforms, independent journalists, and private citizens in Europe all being subject to arrest and punitive regulatory fines for basic exercises of free expression.” The US feels it has the authority to call out censorship of reporters when actions by US governing bodies reflect the same practices. The president’s office has directly called for the firing of reporters who disagree with their policies. -acs
The Intercept. Canada, France, and the United Kingdom recognized Palestine as a state but continue to send weapons to Israel
Last week, the governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia joined dozens of the world’s nations in recognizing Palestine as a state, with France and Luxembourg to follow. Despite this recognition, major Western states continue to provide arms and financial support to the Israeli military, enabling the continuation of a large-scale massacre of Palestinian civilians. -acs
US Department of Education. DOE announces new American civics lessons crafted by over 40 groups, including Hillsdale College and Turning Point USA
The America 250 Civics Education Coalition was formed to promote patriotism, civic knowledge, and understanding of America’s founding principles in schools nationwide. Critics are quick to call out historic hypocrisies and systematic erasures of key information by several involved parties. -acs
TechPolicy.press AI generated falsities highlighted by major platforms
Blindly trusting AI overviews promotes the spread of unverified information, particularly regarding breaking news. Examples of this include Grok and Google’s AI overview, which spread misinformation after the murder of Charlie Kirk. -acs
The New Republic. Why won't Trump and Kash Patel release the Epstein files?
Donald Trump claims they are a liberal hoax and Kash Patel says he can’t legally release them. Now, Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie is accusing the president and Patel of protecting Trump’s friends and hiding the names of the 20 men involved in Epstein’s trafficking operation. -acs
The New Republic. DOJ deletes study on politics of domestic terrorists
The Justice Department removed a 2024 study by the National Institute of Justice that found right‑wing violence “continues to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic violent extremism” in the U.S., including far more far‑right attacks since 1990 than from far‑left or radical Islamist extremists. Critics argue the removal reflects a political motive to reshape the narrative around which side is responsible for political violence. -acs
Dropsite News. Israel paid Google $45 million in effort to hide famine in Gaza
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has initiated a six-month, $45 million advertising campaign with Google to promote the message that there is no hunger in Gaza, despite the United Nations declaring a famine in the region. The campaign, which includes ads on YouTube and other platforms, is part of a broader effort to counter international criticism and portray the humanitarian crisis as exaggerated. -acs
Columbia Journalism Review. CBS ownership pressure on editors shows censorship on the network is not new CBS News has faced internal and external pressures over its coverage of the Gaza conflict, culminating in the resignation of longtime 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens after a segment on U.S. complicity in Gaza airstrikes prompted criticism from pro-Israel groups. The controversy intensified following a $16 million settlement with Donald Trump over a lawsuit alleging deceptive editing of a 2024 interview with Kamala Harris, leading to heightened corporate oversight and the appointment of a new ombudsman, Kenneth Weinstein, sparking concerns about editorial independence. -acs
The Guardian. CBS installs conservative thought leader as "bias ombudsman"
CBS’s installs new “bias ombudsman,” Kenneth Weinstein under contract pressure from the Trump administration. Critics worry that this undermines the network’s editorial independence by giving direct control over messaging to the White House. -acs
EPA. EPA ending Greenhouse Gas reporting program
The EPA is being very particular with its choice of words in its newest press release, declaring an emissions tracking program “burdensome”. Administrator Lee Zeldin argued that the program imposes unnecessary burdens without directly contributing to environmental or health improvements, as it does not support specific regulations or Clean Air Act obligations. -acs
NPR. US DOE report authored by climate change deniers
Over 85 climate scientists have issued complaints against a recent report released by the Department of Energy. The report was intended to cover climate change, but experts are saying the report is severely misdirected and littered with falsehoods. The report was authored by four experts who do not view climate change as a legitimate threat, and the report itself contains numerous instances where DOE authors cherry-picked or misrepresented climate science, calling the endeavor's legitimacy into question. -acs
The Intercept. New US report on human rights abuses in Israel is significantly shorter than any other year, coming in at only 9 pages
Every year, the US publishes a global, country-specific report on human rights abuses. Last year, Israel, which is currently in several active and deadly armed conflicts, had a report over 100 pages long. This year, the report was only 9 pages despite no significant policy or human rights changes to explain the shortening. These congressionally mandated reports, used "to guide U.S. decisions on diplomacy and aid," are extremely important in dictating our political relationships. Despite the International Criminal Court having actively imposed sanctions on Israel, the US’s report appears sparse and raises bigger concerns about its relationship with the country. -acs
Louisiana Illuminator. Trump appoints 2020 election conspiracy-theorist as senior position at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
New DHS appointee, Heather Honey, previously called for overturning the 2020 election results. In her new post, Honey will be partially in charge of determining election infrastructure and security. While elections are mostly dealt with on a state level, the DHS has authority when it comes to protecting voter information from foreign intrusions. According to Adrian Fontes, Arizona’s Democratic secretary of state, “when the agency gives a platform to individuals who have actively worked to erode public trust, it becomes harder to view DHS as a reliable partner in election security.” -acs
Poynter. Misinformation and conspiracy growing in Iceland
Iceland's isolation, wealth, rich culture, and high education levels have shielded it from conspiracy-mongering, but this safeguard is eroding. Increased social media use has opened the door to conspiracy theories and AI nonsense, negatively impacting mental health, according to concerned scholars. -acs
Columbia Journalism Review. Whitehouse.gov is more prevalent than ever in Google search results, questioning its reliability is only natural
Presenting themselves as credible news, several White House-affiliated outlets have surfaced prominently in Google News search results, raising concerns about information transparency. According to the Columbia Journalism Review, these partisan sources, many of which are not widely recognized as independent news organizations, frequently appear among the top results for queries such as “Is DC safe?” For international visitors seeking reliable information, the prominence of government-aligned messaging raises questions about the role of federal agencies, including articles by the Department of Defense, which has previously overseen the deployment of troops in American cities. -acs
Harvard Law Today. You are not required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and religious minorities are the reason
From executive orders calling to jail those who burn the US flag, to students who refuse to stand or recite the pledge of allegiance, our freedom is secured by the First Amendment and strengthened in the courts. An underlying truth? Religious minority groups are a large part of solidifying these rights. -acs
NBC. The fight against digital misinformation and AI identity theft for Latino journalists
Fake AI news videos are rapidly spreading on TikTok, outpacing efforts to remove them, and are now used to spread misinformation and impersonate journalists. NBC reports that "a network of nearly 90 TikTok accounts has been using artificial intelligence to create fake versions of high-profile Spanish-language journalists and spread falsehoods online for potential financial gain." The increasing difficulty in regulating AI, especially within the vast digital landscape, raises important questions about the safety of social media users, where simply posting online can lead to unforeseen dangers and misrepresentation. -acs
DW. Over 750 health professionals call on RFK Jr. to stop spreading medical misinformation
US healthcare professionals are concerned that RFK Jr.'s remarks on vaccines and infectious diseases are putting them in danger. More than 750 experts (many of them anonymous) have sent a collective letter to the US Secretary of Health, asking him to ensure the safety of medical staff. This follows a deadly shooting at the CDC the earlier this month, where the attacker, reportedly motivated by alleged COVID-19 vaccine side effects, specifically targeted the building. -acs
Nieman Lab. How Mississippi's new social platform law isolates its residents, with Bluesky the first to fall
Bluesky became the first social media platform to block users in Mississippi due to new laws regulating online activity for minors. Though designed to protect children, the law actually restricts residents' access to outside news and information. Scholars and lawyers, including Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, believe the law is unconstitutional because it limits First Amendment rights for minors and adults. Requiring users to prove their age to access information limits freedom of information. Non-compliance results in a $10,000 fine per user, a significant burden for a small company like Bluesky. -acs
Factcheck.org. Trump’s DC crime report is riddled with error
According to the Council on Criminal Justice, '"The homicide rate in DC fell 19% in the first half of this year (January-June 2025) compared to the same period last year.'" Additionally, with crime at its lowest point in decades, using comparisons to much larger international cities to justify the militarization of the capital is a gross overstep of power. -acs
Politico. Inside the not-so-super savings of DOGE
Receipts apprehended Politico by tell a very different story of DOGE’s cuts than previously believed. Per a POLITICO report, “analysis of DOGE data reveals the organization saved less than 5 percent of its claimed savings from nearly 10,100 contract terminations.” -acs
NYT. Trump-Putin summit opened the door for a myriad of misinformation
In the days before and after US leader Donald Trump met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, official Russian media accounts wasted no time spreading fake or false information online. It all started with a post on X, written in English, from the country’s Defense Ministry stating, “Ukraine was planning to stage a false attack on its own soil for the benefit of “Western reporters” and blame it on the Russians in an effort to disrupt the talks.” This was followed by a second claim that an assassin, who had the intent of killing both leaders, was apprehended by United States Army’s 10th Special Forces Group. Both stories were deemed false by NewsGuard, a company that tracks disinformation online. -acs
E&E News. Understanding the team behind Energy Secretary Chris Wright
The EPA recently announced that would be lessening its regulations on greenhouse gasses and the Department of Energy published a report stating that global warming was not as big of an issue as we had previously thought. What got us to this point? In this case, it started in late March, when Secretary Wright began making calls to scientists that would support his mission. The result? A conservative science superteam. -acs
The Hill. Trump’s battle against free speech: DEI and ESG
Trump has paved his way in the US by brandishing big promises for freedom of speech, or just freedom in general. He has, however, made it abundantly clear that this free speech is selective, hinging on what is agreeable for him. Since he took office in January, we have seen him wage battles against the cultural and educational backbones of the country from law-firms, to universities, to legacy media corporations, often citing concerns about DEI or liberal bias. -acs
Politico. Investigating the uncertain fate of the Voting Rights act
In 2013, the Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder struck down the “preclearance” requirement, which had forced certain states to get federal approval before changing voting rules. Since then, the Voting Rights Act has been on shaky ground, as states threaten to gerrymander their districts to favor their political missions, and the Supreme Court takes on cases that have acted to uphold voter protections for minority groups in states like Louisiana. -acs
France 24. Inside the Global Fact-Checking Network, Russia’s verification organization
France 24 reports that "a number of the experts on GFCN's website frequently disseminate false information online, relying on unverified, untrustworthy sources." Additionally, multiple GFCN members have ties to the Kremlin, and the organization's president, Vladimir Tabak, has faced sanctions from numerous Western nations. -acs
Mother Jones. MAHA and Trump’s EPA are at odds
After Lee Zeldin announced major changes to the EPA’s relationship with greenhouse gases and its intent to lay off all of health research scientists, it became clear the agenda was not focused on human health, but rather, the economic health of the nation. Critics are now calling out RFK Jr.’s lack of commentary on the changes being made, stating they do more to harm Americans, than help. What are the true goals of these two departments? It remains unclear, and supporters aren’t having it. -acs
Politico. Democrats and Republicans fight for control over the narrative surrounding the Big Beautiful Bill
With Congress out for August recess, representatives will soon be returning home to answer to their constituents. The highly contested Big Beautiful Bill is facing significant backlash in the press, prompting questions and concerns from citizens who want to know how this bill, framed as a huge tax break for the wealthy, will affect them. -acs
Axios. EPA to change messaging on climate change, abandoning greenhouse gas theory
The EPA's Lee Zeldin announced plans to roll back the 2009 finding linking greenhouse gases to deteriorating human health. This coincides with a new goal to lessen carbon emission rules for cars and trucks. Zeldin made the announcement on the Fox affiliated podcast, “Ruthless,” and also posted an article on the EPA’s website.
Also: NYT. In Game-Changing Climate Rollback, E.P.A. Aims to Kill a Bedrock Scientific Finding Washington Post. EPA moves to end climate regulation under Clean Air Act |
-acs
CNBC. YouTube takes down over 11,000 Russian, Chinese propaganda videos
The company has been making an effort to take down propaganda and “spammy” content from its platform. In the second quarter alone, YouTube took down tens of thousands of “state-linked propaganda campaigns from China, Russia and more.” -acs
National Observer. The Canadian far-right is taking pages out of Trump's climate playbook
Over the past few months, the northern Prairie provinces and Ontario have been consumed by wildfires, causing deteriorated air quality and even death. While this would normally cause a heightened concern over environmental policy going forward, a different tone is appearing amongst Canada's far-right. There has been a significant rise in co-option of far-right conspiracy theories taking off from media sources like "Rebel News, The Daily Skeptic, Bjorn Lomberg, Jasmin Laine, Marc Nixon, The Fraser Institute and the Heritage Foundation" sparking concern amongst Canadian citizens and policymakers. -acs
PressGazette. French journalist claims 4,000 fake AI news websites have been generated to trick Google algorithms
Google has become AI’s toy. Generative AI programs are being used to create a slew of fake websites populated with plagiarized iterations of other articles in order to influence SEO. -acb
The Guardian. X lets bots edit posts, creating concern for disinformation
X declared that large language models are now capable of drafting community notes to address or rectify problematic posts, before they are released by users. This move has raised questions about the validity of their research methods and their effectiveness in identifying content that violates rules. -acs
FPRI. Burkina Faso: Powerful disinformation lab is an international security disaster
Report by Raphael Parens: Burkina Faso government is struggling to deliver basic services, the country’s literacy rate is low--both the quality of education and the number of students enrolled in primary and secondary schools are low. The lack of education is problematic on its own, but when combined with the junta government’s approach to propaganda and controlling the flow of information, it is a fiasco. Echo chambers exist across the world, but in Burkina Faso they are heavily enforced by the government and fostered by an education system that does not prioritize critical thinking. -gjw
MSNBC. Disinformation' from the top down is being used against judges
Podcast: U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey, Esther Salas, discusses Speak Up for Justice, a forum of legal voices aimed at warning against the dangers of politicizing and intimidating legal figures. -gjw
BBC. Israel-Iran conflict unleashes wave of AI disinformation
Videos created using artificial intelligence boast of Iran's military capabilities, alongside fake clips showing the aftermath of strikes on Israeli targets. -gjw
The Intercept. Politically-spun disinformation colors murder before facts known
Bots and influencers distort real-world violence before leads can be investigated and facts determined. -gjw
Guardian. Oklahoma schools teach 2020 election conspiracy theories as fact
Oklahoma state superintendent Ryan Walters installed Heritage Foundation chief, key behind Project 2025, for curriculum guidance. -gjw
BBC. India strike on Pakistan: ‘Operation Sindoor’ unleash wave of misinformation online
One video, which had more than 400,000 views on X at the time of writing, claiming to show an explosion caused by a Pakistani response was actually from the 2020 Beirut Port explosion in Lebanon. -acb
Science/AAAS. Vaccine experts rally together to counter US administration misinformation
The Vaccine Integrity Project is being spearheaded by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota and funded by Christy Walton, an heir to the Walmart fortune. -acb
Politico. State Department eliminates office fighting foreign disinformation
Secretary of State Rubio claimed the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office at the State Department, formerly known as the Global Engagement Center, had “spent millions of dollars to actively silence and censor the voices of Americans they were supposed to be serving.” -gjw
NYT. Trump fuels a “machinery of misinformation”
Government watchdog Common Cause said the administration had pursued a strategy of “disinformation overload” that was overwhelming not only its opponents but also the judicial system. - gjw
EHN. EPA staff letter accuses Trump of deception to support fringe ideology
Trump is making accusations of fraud, waste, and abuse as justification for firing federal workers and defunding critical environmental programs. But the real waste, fraud, and abuse would be to strip away these funds from the American people. - gjw
NYT. Vast quantities of climate and environmental information have been removed from official websites
Hundreds of volunteers, including EOT Harvest members Internet Archive and EDGI, are working to download government data recreate the digital tools that allow the public to access that information. - gjw
PBS. First-hand stories of digital misinformation boosting paranoid thinking
Zach Mack and David Robert Grimes wanted to find out why people we think we know, in this case Mack’s father, turn to conspiracy thinking. Truncated, flawed, simplistic report, yet with some valid analysis. - gjw
Guardian. More US states report measles cases amid vaccine misinformation
RFK jr has shied away from directly recommending vaccinations during the recent outbreak while also promoting alternative treatments. He has also suggested the Texas child who died of measles last week was unhealthy or malnourished, despite medical reports that she was healthy and had no underlying conditions. - gjw
CAAD. German elections: AfD-led disinformation puts climate action at stake
Climate misinformation spread during the German election period primarily on X, Telegram and TikTok. This was supported by platform and media amplification, and was part of a wider trend of climate denial worldwide. - gjw
The Free Press. How the U.S. Government Controls Ukrainian Media
USAID funded the vast majority of 'independent' media in Ukraine. What American taxpayers don't realize is that their money went to suppressing the truth. - ab
Times of Israel. Gaza documentary translates ‘Jihad’ to ‘resistance,’ ‘Jews’ to ‘Israeli army’
In fresh scrutiny of controversial film, report accuses broadcaster of ‘whitewashing’ terror support with what an Israeli diplomat calls ‘intentional mistranslations’. “Gaza: How To Survive a War Zone” was deleted from the news agency’s streaming service when mentions of ‘Jihad’ and ‘Jews’ had been mistranslated, the Telegraph newspaper reported. The Telegraph also reported the narrator was the son of a Hamas leader. - dg
France 24. US propagandist paid by Kremlin targets German election with network of fake news sites
A US fugitive linked to the Kremlin runs AI-generated fake news sites to boost Germany's far-right AfD. - jy
Newsweek+Newsguard. Russia's War on Ukraine: Three Years, Three Hundred and Two False Claims
NewsGuard debunked 302 Russian propaganda claims on Ukraine, increasingly driven by AI and false corruption narratives. - jy
BBC. Kari Lake to lead Voice of America
Election loss-denier nominated to lead America’s voice to the world. - gw
AP. FACT FOCUS: A look at false and misleading claims Trump made at inaugural events
The AP fact-checked statements made during Trump's inaugural events, including false claims about the 2020 election, inflation rates under the Biden administration, and the impact of tariffs. - jy
Guardian. ChatGPT search tool vulnerable to manipulation and deception, tests show
Medium. Does CNN’s Embrace of Fake News Point To a Massive Crises Of Western Credibility?
The Independent. An Everett newspaper is shutting down after the mayor sued for defamation
CWU. Misinformation & Fake News Case Studies
The Bulwark. The Real Scandal of Our Media Tycoons
Indiana University Bloomington. White lies
GIJN. Is it Ever Okay for Journalists to Lie to Get a Story?
FTC. Final rule banning fake reviews and testimonials
Newsweek. The Right is more willing to spread fake news, study says
Inside Climate News. Social media is growing vehicle for climate misinformation
The Conversation. Disinformation campaigns are a are a public health risk but NZ has no effective strategy to deal with them
NATO. NATO’s approach to countering disinformation
BBC. The 'Sift' strategy: A four-step method for spotting misinformation
U.S. Cyber Command. Russian Disinformation Campaign “DoppelGänger” Unmasked: A Web of Deception
U.S. Senate Committee. New Joint Bicameral Staff Report Reveals Big Oil’s Campaign of Climate Denial, Disinformation, and Doublespeak
LA Times. Dubious history of the Santa Monica Observer, the outlet behind that false Paul Pelosi story
Newsjunkie. Santa Monica Observer: Disinformation site masquerading as friendly local news
CNN. Black lawmakers call for probe of GOP House candidate over campaign ad with wrong election date
Guardian. Far-right website admits there was no fraud at 2020 vote count in Atlanta
Guardian. What price are US media outlets paying for spreading election lies? (Analysis)
Guardian. Far-right site Gateway Pundit settles defamation suit with election workers
AP. Hungarians protest state media ‘propaganda factory’ and demand unbiased press
NPR. How Russia’s RT went from a cable news clone to covert operator
NPR. Voting-tech company settles with right-wing network over false election claims
NBC. Smartmatic and Newsmax reach settlement in election defamation case
The Guardian. TV giant known for rightwing disinformation doubles down on its national news agenda
The Nation. Misinformation Is Destroying Our Country. Can Anything Rein It In?
AP. Right-wing influencers were duped to work for covert Russian operation, US DOJ says
PBS. How right-wing disinformation is fueling conspiracy theories about the 2024 election
Edited by Alex Smythe, Jenny Young, Damon Gitelman, and Gordon Whiting