@JuddLegum's Threads
71 added
Now that the Trump campaign has the green light to lie in Facebook ads, here is what is happening.
Just a string of unhinged falsehoods.
In exchange for cash, Facebook is infecting its users with misinformation.
Just a string of unhinged falsehoods.
In exchange for cash, Facebook is infecting its users with misinformation.
Here is another Facebook ad that Trump is running today that falsely claims there is some sort of effort to prevent him from running an ad during the Super Bowl. (There isn't and the campaign has already bought the time.)
This is not trivial. Trump is currently paying Facebook nearly $700,000 PER WEEK to spread these kind of lies. And that number will only increase as the election draws nearer.
Stay informed about the online campaign by signing up for my newsletter ➡️ popular.info/subscribe
Stay informed about the online campaign by signing up for my newsletter ➡️ popular.info/subscribe
1. I don't think people fully understand how dysfunctional and dangerous Facebook's political ad policy is
Yes, people know Facebook allows politicians and parties to lie
But it's so much worse
This is important, so I'm going to explain in detail.
Yes, people know Facebook allows politicians and parties to lie
But it's so much worse
This is important, so I'm going to explain in detail.
2. Facebook says, except for candidates and parties, political ads are subject to fact checking
This isn't trivial. Super PACs play a huge role in politics and are going to be spending big bucks on Facebook
So how are these ads fact-checked?
This isn't trivial. Super PACs play a huge role in politics and are going to be spending big bucks on Facebook
So how are these ads fact-checked?
3. First, Facebook takes the money.
Then Facebook starts running the ad on the platform.
THERE IS ZERO EFFORT TO FACT CHECK ANY POLITICAL AD BEFORE ITS PUBLISHED
Facebook will show any political ad to as many people as you can afford with no fact-checking
Then Facebook starts running the ad on the platform.
THERE IS ZERO EFFORT TO FACT CHECK ANY POLITICAL AD BEFORE ITS PUBLISHED
Facebook will show any political ad to as many people as you can afford with no fact-checking
1. Facebook's political ad policy is MUCH WORSE than you think
The company says it subjects Facebook ads from Super PACs to fact-checking
But, as a practical matter, Super PACs can lie in Facebook ads
And a large pro-Trump Super PAC is taking advantage
popular.info/p/facebook-all…
The company says it subjects Facebook ads from Super PACs to fact-checking
But, as a practical matter, Super PACs can lie in Facebook ads
And a large pro-Trump Super PAC is taking advantage
popular.info/p/facebook-all…
2. The Committee to Defend the President is running an ad claiming Biden is "a criminal who used his power as VP to make him and his son RICH"
The claim has been debunked repeatedly by Facebook's official factcheckers
BUT FACEBOOK WILL NOT REMOVE THE AD
popular.info/p/facebook-all…
The claim has been debunked repeatedly by Facebook's official factcheckers
BUT FACEBOOK WILL NOT REMOVE THE AD
popular.info/p/facebook-all…
3. Facebook tells me its NOT ENOUGH that the claim has previously been ruled false.
The fact-checkers must review this new ad again.
Will they?
It's entirely up to the fact-checkers.
In the meantime, Facebook has its money and the lies spread.
popular.info/p/facebook-all…
The fact-checkers must review this new ad again.
Will they?
It's entirely up to the fact-checkers.
In the meantime, Facebook has its money and the lies spread.
popular.info/p/facebook-all…
1. Extremists groups descending on Virginia today are using Facebook to promote violence.
Facebook took no action until I reached out for comment.
Even then, Facebook's response has been incomplete and haphazard.
popular.info/p/extremist-gr…
Facebook took no action until I reached out for comment.
Even then, Facebook's response has been incomplete and haphazard.
popular.info/p/extremist-gr…
2. Joshua Shoaff, the leader of American Warrior Revolution, posted a video to Facebook on December 13 announcing he was coming to Richmond and arguing an African-American legislator in Virginia should be lynched.
popular.info/p/extremist-gr…
popular.info/p/extremist-gr…
3. After being contacted by Popular Information last Friday, Facebook removed the video and Shoaff's personal account.
But they left up the American Warrior Revolution Page which has 540K followers
Shoaff published another video, repeating the threats
popular.info/p/extremist-gr…
But they left up the American Warrior Revolution Page which has 540K followers
Shoaff published another video, repeating the threats
popular.info/p/extremist-gr…
I don't trust Lev Parnas and am not inclined to believe anything he says that can't be verified in other ways.
There is overwhelming evidence against Trump and its a mistake to re-frame the case as a referendum on the credibility on one of Giuliani's goons.
As of now, the documentary evidence that Parnas has produced. Including letters from Giuliani to the Ukrainian government, is what's significant
1. YouTube is pushing climate disinformation videos to MILLIONS of people through its recommendation engine
YouTube then monetizes the videos with advertisements from big brands
So both YouTube and the climate deniers are profiting from junk science
popular.info/p/youtube-broa…
YouTube then monetizes the videos with advertisements from big brands
So both YouTube and the climate deniers are profiting from junk science
popular.info/p/youtube-broa…
2. In response, Google told popular.info it doesn't consider all climate disinfo to be "harmful"
For example, it considers climate misinformation clipped from Fox News to be part of a legit public discourse on a political & scientific issue
popular.info/p/youtube-broa…
For example, it considers climate misinformation clipped from Fox News to be part of a legit public discourse on a political & scientific issue
popular.info/p/youtube-broa…
3. @Avaaz, which conducted the study, identified major brands advertising against climate disinfo, including:
@Zipcar
@Samsung
@Showtime
@7eleven
@redbull
@Uber
@UnderArmour
@Loreal
I contacted all of the companies above and did not hear back
popular.info/p/youtube-broa…
@Zipcar
@Samsung
@Showtime
@7eleven
@redbull
@Uber
@UnderArmour
@Loreal
I contacted all of the companies above and did not hear back
popular.info/p/youtube-broa…
UPDATE: In October, I identified a network of 14 purportedly independent Facebook pages that only promoted content from The Daily Wire
Facebook said the pages were "real pages run by real people" and didn't violate its rules
We now know that isn't true
popular.info/p/three-update…
Facebook said the pages were "real pages run by real people" and didn't violate its rules
We now know that isn't true
popular.info/p/three-update…
2. Over the last several months, Facebook has implemented a new policy that requires certain pages to verify their ownership.
13 of the 14 pages identified by Popular Information are OWNED BY THE DAILY WIRE
popular.info/p/three-update…
13 of the 14 pages identified by Popular Information are OWNED BY THE DAILY WIRE
popular.info/p/three-update…
3. Recall these pages posted the same Daily Wire content at the same time ("coordinated")
And while they were claiming to be run by individuals or be independent media outlets, they were all owned and operated by the Daily Wire ("inauthentic")
popular.info/p/three-update…
And while they were claiming to be run by individuals or be independent media outlets, they were all owned and operated by the Daily Wire ("inauthentic")
popular.info/p/three-update…
Wow.
Texts from Giuliani cronies, just released by House, are incredibly disturbing.
One text discusses unsavory characters in Ukraine willing to "help" with Yovanovitch for "a price"
A few weeks later Yovanovitch was told to leave immediately over concerns about her safety
Texts from Giuliani cronies, just released by House, are incredibly disturbing.
One text discusses unsavory characters in Ukraine willing to "help" with Yovanovitch for "a price"
A few weeks later Yovanovitch was told to leave immediately over concerns about her safety
Keep in mind, Pompeo has blocked the State Department from providing ANY DOCUMENTS to Congress.
State Department officials called former ambassador Yovanovitch and told her to come home immediately because of a security threat against her
State Department officials called former ambassador Yovanovitch and told her to come home immediately because of a security threat against her
Also relevant.
Trump, during his infamous call with Zelensky, said this about on Yanvanovitch: "She's going to go through some things"
Trump, during his infamous call with Zelensky, said this about on Yanvanovitch: "She's going to go through some things"
Hi @mollywood @kairyssdal:
I just got out of the car and your NPR segment on Facebook's policy on misinformation in political ads contained misinformation.
Molly said that Facebook has consistently refused to "police content."
This isn't true!
I just got out of the car and your NPR segment on Facebook's policy on misinformation in political ads contained misinformation.
Molly said that Facebook has consistently refused to "police content."
This isn't true!
@mollywood @kairyssdal Facebook polices all kinds of content! It partners with numerous fact-checking organizations.
This is a specific EXEMPTION that only applies to political ads by candidates and parties. Facebook subjects all other ads to fact-checking.
Your listeners deserve the truth.
This is a specific EXEMPTION that only applies to political ads by candidates and parties. Facebook subjects all other ads to fact-checking.
Your listeners deserve the truth.
Facebook put in place this exemption as it tries to curry favor with the Trump, whose campaign has put out numerous ads with blatant falsehoods.
Facebook says they didn't change their policy, which is a sleight of hand. In 2016, Facebook didn't have a fact-checking program!
Facebook says they didn't change their policy, which is a sleight of hand. In 2016, Facebook didn't have a fact-checking program!
1. Since Trump ordered the drone attack that killed Soleimani, television news has been filled with commentary on the strike.
Many of TV pundits who weighed in have undisclosed ties to the defense industry.
popular.info/p/9-iran-pundi…
Many of TV pundits who weighed in have undisclosed ties to the defense industry.
popular.info/p/9-iran-pundi…
2. Joe Lieberman appeared on Fox News on January 6 praising Trump for ordering the strike.
He was introduced as the former Democratic VP nominee.
NOT DISCLOSED: Lieberman works for an Israeli weapons manufacturer looking to expand sales to the DoD
popular.info/p/9-iran-pundi…
He was introduced as the former Democratic VP nominee.
NOT DISCLOSED: Lieberman works for an Israeli weapons manufacturer looking to expand sales to the DoD
popular.info/p/9-iran-pundi…
3. William Cohen appeared on CNN on January 5. He was identified as the “former secretary of defense.”
NOT DISCLOSED: Cohen runs a consulting firm which “has assisted [defense] clients to compete for and win tens of billions of dollars in contracts.”
popular.info/p/9-iran-pundi…
NOT DISCLOSED: Cohen runs a consulting firm which “has assisted [defense] clients to compete for and win tens of billions of dollars in contracts.”
popular.info/p/9-iran-pundi…
In an internal message, the former head of Facebook's advertising team (and current executive), @boztank, says Facebook delivered Trump victory in 2016 and is poised to do so again in 2020 but the company should not change any of its advertising policies
facebook.com/boz/posts/1011…
facebook.com/boz/posts/1011…
@boztank The internal message was first reported by the NYT but then @boztank posted the whole message publicly.
According to the NYT, many other Facebook employees objected to the company's current policy of allowing politicians, including Trump, to lie in ads
nytimes.com/2020/01/07/tec…
According to the NYT, many other Facebook employees objected to the company's current policy of allowing politicians, including Trump, to lie in ads
nytimes.com/2020/01/07/tec…
@boztank The full post falsely claimed Facebook never changed its ad policies. Facebook may not have changed how they ENFORCED its policy as compared to 2016, but its written ad policy was changed in September 2019 to accommodate Trump.
I first reported that here: popular.info/p/facebook-say…
I first reported that here: popular.info/p/facebook-say…
UPDATE: The Trump campaign is holding another contest to have a meal with Trump. This time it's dinner in Florida.
At least one previous contest, breakfast with Trump in NYC in September, was a fraud.
The "winner" did not have breakfast with Trump.
popular.info/p/update-trump…
At least one previous contest, breakfast with Trump in NYC in September, was a fraud.
The "winner" did not have breakfast with Trump.
popular.info/p/update-trump…
The Trump campaign has refused to disclose the names of the winners of any of the other 15 contests to win meals with Trump.
They have refused to respond to my written request for the names of the winners, which is a violation of state law.
popular.info/p/update-trump…
They have refused to respond to my written request for the names of the winners, which is a violation of state law.
popular.info/p/update-trump…
The Trump campaign has also ignored inquiries about the winners of these contests from reporters from the Washington Post and the New York Times.
I will continue to stay on this story.
Sign up for my newsletter for updates ➡️ popular.info/subscribe
I will continue to stay on this story.
Sign up for my newsletter for updates ➡️ popular.info/subscribe
1. This photo is fake (photoshopped)
2. The man on the left is Hassan Rouhani, who is still President of Iran
3. It's embarrassing that you are a United States Congressman
2. The man on the left is Hassan Rouhani, who is still President of Iran
3. It's embarrassing that you are a United States Congressman
There is going to be an awful lot of misinformation floating around in the coming days and weeks.
My newsletter, Popular Information, can help.
It's like my Twitter only with full sentences, original research and reporting.
Sign up ➡️ popular.info/subscribe
My newsletter, Popular Information, can help.
It's like my Twitter only with full sentences, original research and reporting.
Sign up ➡️ popular.info/subscribe
UPDATE: Gosar is still digging
1. America is at the precipice of another all-out war in the Middle East.
The Sunday talk shows on NBC, ABC, CBS, and CNN featured SEVEN guests who voted for or publicly supported the Iraq War and NONE who publicly opposed it.
popular.info/p/2020-is-the-…
The Sunday talk shows on NBC, ABC, CBS, and CNN featured SEVEN guests who voted for or publicly supported the Iraq War and NONE who publicly opposed it.
popular.info/p/2020-is-the-…
2. Congressman Chris Van Hollen opposed the Iraq War and appeared on Fox News Sunday.
But Van Hollen was a candidate when Congress voted to authorize the war in 2002.
So none of the five major shows included anyone who voted against the Iraq War
popular.info/p/2020-is-the-…
But Van Hollen was a candidate when Congress voted to authorize the war in 2002.
So none of the five major shows included anyone who voted against the Iraq War
popular.info/p/2020-is-the-…
3. Meet The Press featured former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, who said Trump had "ample domestic legal authority to take [Soleimani] out"
Neither MTP nor Johnson revealed he's on the board of defense contractor Lockheed Martin. He's paid 300K+ per year.
popular.info/p/2020-is-the-…
Neither MTP nor Johnson revealed he's on the board of defense contractor Lockheed Martin. He's paid 300K+ per year.
popular.info/p/2020-is-the-…
Former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson appeared on Meet The Press and asserted Trump had "ample domestic legal authority to take [Soleimani] out without an additional congressional authorization"
NOT DISCLOSED: Johnson is currently on the board of defense contractor Lockheed Martin
NOT DISCLOSED: Johnson is currently on the board of defense contractor Lockheed Martin
It's unclear why national news programs don't feel an obligation to disclose their guest's OBVIOUS conflicts of interest
I'll have more on the media's failures following the Soleimani assassination in my newsletter, Popular Information.
Sign up ➡️ popular.info/subscribe
I'll have more on the media's failures following the Soleimani assassination in my newsletter, Popular Information.
Sign up ➡️ popular.info/subscribe
In case you were wondering, Johnson does not have a volunteer position with Lockheed. He was paid over 300K in 2018
1. There were 19 hijackers, not 12
2. There is no evidence tying Soleimani to 9/11
3. Soleimani is a Shiite & the hijackers were Sunnis
4. After 9/11, Soleimani cooperated w/US, providing intelligence against the Taliban
5. Soleimani was a bad guy; Pence's tweet is garbage
2. There is no evidence tying Soleimani to 9/11
3. Soleimani is a Shiite & the hijackers were Sunnis
4. After 9/11, Soleimani cooperated w/US, providing intelligence against the Taliban
5. Soleimani was a bad guy; Pence's tweet is garbage
REMEMBER: Creating fake ties to 9/11 was the precise strategy used to justify the Iraq War
WE ARE STILL ON THE SAME BS 17 YEARS LATER
I'll be tracking this closely in my newsletter, Popular Information.
Sign up here ➡️ popular.info/subscribe
WE ARE STILL ON THE SAME BS 17 YEARS LATER
I'll be tracking this closely in my newsletter, Popular Information.
Sign up here ➡️ popular.info/subscribe
Some of the eventual hijackers did travel through Iran. Here is what the 9/11 Commission said about that
1. 2019 was my first year as an independent journalist and I learned that this work can still make a big difference
popular.info/p/the-year-in-…
popular.info/p/the-year-in-…
2. The reporting in my newsletter, Popular Information, shut down online disinformation campaigns on Facebook, exposed fraud in the Trump campaign, and cut off Amazon's assistance to right-wing extremists.
The truth still matters.
popular.info/p/the-year-in-…
The truth still matters.
popular.info/p/the-year-in-…
3. I've compiled some of the highlights from the last 12 months. I hope you'll check it out.
My work this year has focused on ACCOUNTABILITY for powerful people and institutions.
There is so much more to be done.
popular.info/p/the-year-in-…
My work this year has focused on ACCOUNTABILITY for powerful people and institutions.
There is so much more to be done.
popular.info/p/the-year-in-…
1. How many Google employees know that, last month, their company contributed $5000 to Devin Nunes?
popular.info/p/googles-holi…
popular.info/p/googles-holi…
2. My guess is very few
And this is part of a much larger problem
A new Harvard study found employees are almost completely unaware of their company's political activity
And this activity is often at odds to the company's stated values
popular.info/p/googles-holi…
And this is part of a much larger problem
A new Harvard study found employees are almost completely unaware of their company's political activity
And this activity is often at odds to the company's stated values
popular.info/p/googles-holi…
3. It's a missed opportunity because the same Harvard study found that most people working for large corporations believe the political activity of other companies is a big problem and favor reform.
But they believe THEIR company is an exception
popular.info/p/googles-holi…
But they believe THEIR company is an exception
popular.info/p/googles-holi…
The NYT has added a lengthy "editors note" to the top of Bret Stephens column.
It includes this claim: "Mr. Stephens was not endorsing the study or its authors’ views, but it was a mistake to cite it uncritically"
That is a lie.
Stephens was unequivocally endorsing the study
It includes this claim: "Mr. Stephens was not endorsing the study or its authors’ views, but it was a mistake to cite it uncritically"
That is a lie.
Stephens was unequivocally endorsing the study
Here is the original column, via @ashleyfeinberg. Stephens writes: "The common answer is that Jews are, or tend to be, smart. When it comes to Ashkenazi Jews, it’s true."
He then goes onto quote the 2005 column.
That's an endorsement of the study and its conclusions.
He then goes onto quote the 2005 column.
That's an endorsement of the study and its conclusions.
This unsigned "editors note" implies the problem was not the column but THE READERS' FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND STEPHENS ACTUAL POINT.
That is an insult.
The idea that Stephens was not endorsing this study is a farce.
That is an insult.
The idea that Stephens was not endorsing this study is a farce.
As far as I can tell Joe Biden has done nothing wrong with respect to Ukraine and should welcome the opportunity to testify.
Of course, so should Mulvaney, Bolton, etc.
Of course, so should Mulvaney, Bolton, etc.
Biden agreeing to testify would put more pressure on Trump admin officials to agree to testify.
Really think Biden’s reluctance to testify is not based on political strategy but his desire to protect Hunter.
No evidence that Hunter broke the law but Hunter did act unethically when exploited his last name to land a lucrative position in Ukraine
No evidence that Hunter broke the law but Hunter did act unethically when exploited his last name to land a lucrative position in Ukraine
I'm going to use this thread to keep track of people at the NYT who are speaking out against Bret Stephens racist column, where he approvingly cites "research" from a white supremacist to argue that white jews are smarter than other people
Please reply with anything I'm missing
Please reply with anything I'm missing
1. Something important happened on the way to impeachment that was basically ignored
On 10/22, GOP Leader McCarthy said we should LISTEN TO THE DIPLOMATS about QUID PRO QUO
In other words, if diplomats said there was a quid pro quo this would be serious
popular.info/p/the-third-ma…
On 10/22, GOP Leader McCarthy said we should LISTEN TO THE DIPLOMATS about QUID PRO QUO
In other words, if diplomats said there was a quid pro quo this would be serious
popular.info/p/the-third-ma…
2. The same day, the top US diplomat in Ukraine, Bill Taylor was deposed
He said explicitly there was a quid pro quo for both the White House meeting AND the military aid
Taylor is not a Democrat. The Trump admin recruited him out of retirement in June
popular.info/p/the-third-ma…
He said explicitly there was a quid pro quo for both the White House meeting AND the military aid
Taylor is not a Democrat. The Trump admin recruited him out of retirement in June
popular.info/p/the-third-ma…
3. In November, Gordon Sondland, who was serving as U.S. ambassador to the EU, testified that there was a quid pro quo for the White House meeting and the military aid.
Sondland is a Republican fundraiser who donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural.
popular.info/p/the-third-ma…
Sondland is a Republican fundraiser who donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural.
popular.info/p/the-third-ma…
1. Because of Trump's tax cuts, there are now 91 highly profitable companies that are paying ZERO or LESS THAN ZERO in federal income taxes, including:
Amazon
Chevron
Netflix
Starbucks
FedEx
Halliburton
JetBlue
popular.info/p/less-than-ze…
Amazon
Chevron
Netflix
Starbucks
FedEx
Halliburton
JetBlue
popular.info/p/less-than-ze…
2. All the companies listed above pay LESS THAN ZERO in federal income taxes. That means Amazon, which made $10 billion in profits in 2019, was sent a check by the federal government.
It's insane.
popular.info/p/less-than-ze…
It's insane.
popular.info/p/less-than-ze…
3. It's hard to overstate how unpopular corporate tax cuts are.
69% of Americans believe corporations don't pay enough taxes.
6% of Americans believe corporations pay too much.
Seem like this should be a bigger deal.
popular.info/p/less-than-ze…
69% of Americans believe corporations don't pay enough taxes.
6% of Americans believe corporations pay too much.
Seem like this should be a bigger deal.
popular.info/p/less-than-ze…
1. Wisconsin could play a decisive role in 2020.
Trump beat Clinton by 23K votes (out of 3M cast) in 2016.
Now, a right-wing advocacy group has convinced a judge to immediately purge 200K voters from the rolls.
It sounds bad.
The details are worse.
popular.info/p/purge-the-vo…
Trump beat Clinton by 23K votes (out of 3M cast) in 2016.
Now, a right-wing advocacy group has convinced a judge to immediately purge 200K voters from the rolls.
It sounds bad.
The details are worse.
popular.info/p/purge-the-vo…
2. In October, Wisconsin's election board sent out 234K to people who may have moved.
They did this in 2017 with a 30 day time period to respond.
But the process kicked TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS OFF THE ROLLS
popular.info/p/purge-the-vo…
They did this in 2017 with a 30 day time period to respond.
But the process kicked TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS OFF THE ROLLS
popular.info/p/purge-the-vo…
3. So this time, the Wisconsin election board (3Ds, 3Rs) unanimously decided to send the letters but NOT immediately kick off people who didn't respond.
They would wait until 2021
That's when WILL, a group backed by Wisconsin's biggest GOP donors, sued
popular.info/p/purge-the-vo…
They would wait until 2021
That's when WILL, a group backed by Wisconsin's biggest GOP donors, sued
popular.info/p/purge-the-vo…
