Thread by @JDVance1

Alright, here’s a story about how the media often shapes narratives instead of reporting the truth, and how a small untruth can morph into a lie that’s repeated again and again throughout the media bubble. But first, let me tell you about Appharvest:

Appharvest is an agricultural technology company in Kentucky. I got involved four years ago, and have been a supporter and investor of the company ever since. I’ve seen it morph from an idea into a publicly traded company with the potential to transform our food system.

I love this company, the people involved, and the founder, who has become a dear friend. But my ability to be useful now that it’s a public company is limited, I’m thinking about a political run, and whatever I do politically, I hate the insane reigning political orthodoxy...

...so last month, I started talking with other members of the board about stepping down. The basic thinking was: I’m going to keep speaking my mind, and I’d rather do that unconstrained by the demands of a public board. And I thought the company would be better off too.

Now, do I think this is unfair? Yes. Do I think progressive board members at public companies are worried about their viewpoints affecting their companies? Obviously not, and the last few weeks have shown everyone: corporate America is totally in the tank for the left.

But this is the reality we face, and it’s a *political* problem. In other words, the marriage between the left and corporate power isn’t going to end through any other means than political intervention. So better to fight it on that front than turn Appharvest into a flashpoint.

So last Friday, April 9, at 3:13 eastern (the timing is important), I sent formal notice to the board that I was stepping down. That became effective the following Monday, April 13.

On April 13, Bloomberg‘s @deenashanker posted a story that said Appharvest announced my departure “in response” to a Bloomberg inquiry about my “controversial statements.” I was only asked for comment “via LinkedIn,” which is kind of like asking me for comment through MySpace.

The clear implication is that I was forced down because of my tweets. The only problem? The two “controversial“ tweets were posted on April 9, at 3:58, and on April 12. In other words, I resigned before I sent the tweets. And the suggestion that I was forced down is absurd.

I’ve seen this lie repeated in any number of media outlets, from local Louisville and Cincinnati papers to national outlets like the Washington Post. But let me just say again: the idea that I was forced out of Appharvest because of some tweets is obviously untrue. It is a lie.

This is how too many in our press operate, and it’s why the media is one of the least trusted institutions in society: gin up a story, run it without proper sourcing, and let it run through multiple outlets. To everyone that’s run this lie: please do your stealth edits.