Episode Summary: "Don't Believe Your Own Eyes"—State of the Free Press w/ Project Censored's Mickey Huff

Podcast: Green & Red: Podcasts for Scrappy Radicals
Hosts: Bob Buzzanco & Scott Parkin
Guest: Mickey Huff (Director, Project Censored)
Date: February 17, 2026
Episode #: G&R 466

Overview

In this episode, hosts Bob Buzzanco and Scott Parkin are joined by Mickey Huff, Director of Project Censored, to discuss the state of the free press in 2026. The conversation centers on Project Censored's new book State of the Free Press 2026, the role of independent media, the current crisis in media and education, the weaponization of antisemitism, the decline of climate journalism, and the urgent need for critical media literacy in a rapidly consolidating, increasingly authoritarian media landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What is Project Censored? (00:27–06:39)

• Origins & Mission:
  • Founded in 1976 by Carl Jensen at Sonoma State University in response to media handling of Watergate and lack of coverage on key issues.
  • Purpose: Acts as a media watchdog and media literacy organization, focusing on stories ignored or suppressed by mainstream/legacy media.
  • "Carl was actually influenced by the Watergate Scandal, as many in that generation were... But why did it take so long? Why were other independent reporters covering it earlier not taken seriously?"
    — Mickey Huff, 01:41
• Process:
  • Students, faculty, and independent journalists identify underreported stories and why they’re not being covered.
  • Emphasis on critical news literacy and building solutions journalism.

2. Where Do People Get Their News Now? (06:39–16:08)

• Media Habits & News Deserts:
  • About a quarter of Americans live in "news deserts"—areas with little access to credible local news.
  • Rising reliance on corporate news, social media, and algorithms—leading to echo chambers and confirmation bias.
  • "Public trust in the media has been cratering. Yet they're still going to Team Red or Team Blue friendly media to have their confirmation biases fulfilled."
    — Mickey Huff, 07:36
• Lack of Media Literacy:
  • Only six U.S. states teach media literacy in schools.
  • Attacks on public education and the move toward neoliberal, top-down control have left Americans less equipped to critically evaluate news.
• Role of Social Media:
  • Increasing dependence, but with manipulation via algorithms, censorship (shadowbanning), and the risk of misinformation.
  • "The real issue is that many Americans believe that they can get the information they need as a result of what's called news snacking. In other words, if something important is happening, it'll find me."
    — Mickey Huff, 08:38
• Call for Better News Habits:
  • Project Censored provides lists of independent media and educational resources for broadening news consumption.
  • Encouragement to "break toxic media habits" and turn to ethical, community-rooted journalism.

3. Corporate Power and the Assault on Knowledge (16:08–22:51)

• Escalation of Media Consolidation:
  • Ongoing "bonanza period" of corporate mergers, particularly in big tech and mainstream media.
• Coordinated Attacks on Information:
  • Trump/right-wing efforts to abolish education departments, buy up media outlets, and control narratives.
  • Examples: Slashing funds for research, blacklisting certain words, targeting professors and student newspapers for dissent.
  • "We're seeing decimation and abandonment of the National Archives. We're seeing increased suppression of government data... This is an extraordinary period of censorship."
    — Mickey Huff, 18:35
• Wider Social Ramifications:
  • Suppression of education, independent journalism, and dissent aimed at maintaining a poorly informed public.
  • "The assaults on education and academic freedom, the assaults on freedom of the press, they're coordinated and they're connected."
    — Mickey Huff, 19:52
• Spotlight on Independent Media:
  • State of the Free Press 2026 uplifts solutions and organizations (Movement Media Alliance, Drop Site News, indigenous media) that advance media democracy.

4. Weaponization and Criminalization of Antisemitism (22:51–32:14)

• Mainstream Narrative Control:
  • The mainstream press and institutions often equate any criticism of Israel with antisemitism, shutting down debate.
  • "It's criminalization. It's more than a weaponization."
    — Bob Buzzanco, 24:12
• Chilling Effects:
  • University administrators and elite institutions quickly cave to pressure, often persecuting critical professors or student groups.
  • "The Anti Defamation League... almost weaponized itself in ways where it just takes on these definitions that somehow any criticism of Israeli government activity is akin to antisemitism."
    — Mickey Huff, 24:19
• Suppression of Information:
  • Dismissal or distortion of Gaza death tolls, ignoring of journalist casualties (over 200 journalists killed in Gaza).
  • "This is outrageous... More journalists died there than any war, including World War II."
    — Mickey Huff, 26:43
• Impact on Discourse:
  • Labeling all critics as antisemitic prevents serious discussion and is typical of rising authoritarian cultures.
  • "Those are hallmarks of authoritarianism, not a free society."
    — Mickey Huff, 31:22

5. Press Cowardice & Lack of Solidarity (31:28–34:40)

• Press Response to Attacks:
  • Despite direct attacks (e.g., Trump’s public insults on journalists), the establishment press rarely pushes back together.
  • "If those people picked up their stuff and vacated their offices... they said, 'This is a joke, we're not going to be part of it.'"
    — Mickey Huff, 33:02
• Comparison with Other Professions:
  • Journalists and scholars, even in the face of grave threats, seldom risk open resistance—leading to further marginalization and demoralization within these fields.
• Necessity of Critical Thinking:
  • Building a new press culture requires history, critical thinking, and understanding of press independence.

6. Crisis in Climate Journalism (34:40–41:41)

• Corporate Sabotage:
  • Washington Post (owned by Jeff Bezos) and other outlets gut climate coverage; industry advertising shapes narratives.
  • "It doesn't behoove Bezos's newspaper to report on the facts of it because it flies directly into the interests of Bezos, the board, the shareholders..."
    — Mickey Huff, 36:27
• Persistent Underreporting:
  • Project Censored has covered climate underreporting for decades (e.g., ExxonMobil’s knowledge of climate change, historical environmental coverups).
• Profit Motive:
  • Media’s dependence on fossil fuel and pharmaceutical ads discourages hard-hitting reporting.
  • "It's exacerbated by capitalism... works as a business, it doesn’t work in the public interest."
    — Mickey Huff, 38:41
• Authoritarian Pushback:
  • The administration attacks not just environmental nonprofits and protesters, but undermines the EPA, information dissemination, and environmental protections to protect profits.

7. Glimmers of Hope: Independent Media and Shifting Public Opinion (41:41–47:00)

• Independent & Citizen Journalism:
  • Despite mainstream control, shifting public sentiment on issues like Israel and ICE demonstrates the impact of independent media and social media mobilization.
  • "It's because there are independent outlets and citizen journalists and advocates that are going out there and telling these stories."
    — Mickey Huff, 42:12
• Critical Media Literacy as Solution:
  • Teaching people to question sources, seek out independent media, and develop critical habits is essential for a healthy democracy.
  • “There’s no power for the people without journalism by and for the people.”
    — Maya Shenwar & Laura Witt, quoted by Mickey Huff, 43:55
• Grassroots Networks:
  • Growth of indie podcasting and media alliances (e.g., Labor Podcast Radio Network) points to diversification and resilience of oppositional media.

8. The Role of Project Censored & the Imperative of Media Literacy (47:00–end)

• Legacy & Importance:
  • Project Censored, after 50 years, remains vital in exposing censored stories and platforming independent journalism.
  • "If we really had a press oven buying for the people, right. Those major corporate outlets would be public commodities, not for profit."
    — Mickey Huff, 48:26
• Call to Action:
  • Need for more public education, media literacy in K–12, continued creation and support of independent outlets.
  • "People need to come together... through critical media literacy education, through storytelling, and through empathetic and active listening..."
    — Mickey Huff, 48:45
• Ongoing Relevance:
  • “I wish we didn’t need to be here after 50 years. But if I look around, it seems like we’re needed maybe more than ever.”
    — Mickey Huff, 50:36

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Nuance is a corpse in our culture. Everybody's got to be at one extreme or another.” — Mickey Huff, 01:17
• “Many Americans now... get their information from social media platforms... controlled with algorithms, shadow banning... appealing to confirmation bias.” — Mickey Huff, 07:33
• “Only six states teach media literacy in this country. And that's another part of the problem. We lack civic literacy, historical literacy and media literacy.” — Mickey Huff, 07:46
• “Escalation of media corporate power... is greater now than it's ever been because concentration of corporate power is greater anytime since... the late 1800s.” — Scott Parkin, 16:41
• “This is a brazen kind of gloves off, mask off approach to it, to where they're not even pretending anymore. When the administration lies, they double and triple down.” — Mickey Huff, 18:56
• “The Anti Defamation League is really... almost weaponized itself... any criticism of Israeli government activity is akin to antisemitism.” — Mickey Huff, 24:19
• “Facts do not cease to exist simply because they’re ignored.” — Mickey Huff quoting Aldous Huxley, 29:10
• “When more and more people begin realizing that what they were watching in the corporate media is absolutely 180 degrees from what happened outside their front door, they no longer can trust it.” — Mickey Huff, 43:33

Important Timestamps

• 00:27–01:41: Introduction to Mickey Huff and Project Censored.
• 03:41–05:30: Project Censored's history and philosophy.
• 06:39–08:38: Where do people get their news? Problem of news deserts and lack of media literacy.
• 10:28–14:28: Role of social media, “news snacking,” and Dunning-Kruger effect in US public.
• 16:08–19:52: Assaults on education, media concentration, coordinated authoritarian trends.
• 22:51–31:28: Weaponization of antisemitism, chilling of discussion on Israel/Palestine.
• 34:40–37:55: Decline of climate journalism, silencing of environmental reporting in corporate media.
• 41:41–45:27: Grassroots resistance: independent media, changing public opinion, and the role of critical media literacy.
• 47:00–50:36: Project Censored’s mission, grassroots media alliances, and the continued fight for public-interest journalism and education.

For Listeners

Resources:

• projectcensored.org
• parkindymedia.org
• The State of the Free Press 2026 book
• Labor Podcast Radio Network

Encouragement:
Seek out independent, ethical journalism. Broaden your media sources. Support media literacy and education at all levels.

“We try to walk the walk. We try to practice what we teach. And education is a real central part of Project Censored, which also sets us apart from other media watchdogs.”
—Mickey Huff (15:50)