On the Media: "The Games We Play" – A Detailed Summary

Release Date: October 23, 2020
Hosts: Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield
Produced by WNYC Studios

1. AOC’s Twitch Livestream: Innovating Get-Out-The-Vote Efforts

The episode opens with a focus on Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (AOC) innovative use of the streaming platform Twitch to engage voters. In an effort to mobilize the electorate, AOC hosted a three-hour livestream where she both played the popular game "Among Us" and delivered her political message.

Notable Moments:

• At [05:48], it's highlighted that during the livestream, AOC opened and closed the event with strong calls to action:

  “If you are able to vote, we are here. Iwillvote.com make sure that you make your voting plan.” – AOC [05:48]

• The stream attracted over 400,000 viewers, surpassing previous viral moments like Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Joe Biden:

  “At the peak point of the stream, folks at the DNC were saying that they were getting the most referrals to iwillvote.com than they ever have.” – McKenna Kelly [07:44]

• AOC’s interaction with viewers included moments that were later clipped and circulated widely, enhancing her reach:

  “You go to the doctor and you say, I have this problem... And then you just go pick it up and that's it...” – AOC [08:38]

2. The Power of "Stan" Culture in Political Campaigns

The discussion delves into the phenomenon of "Stan" culture—dedicated fanbases that passionately support their chosen figures. This culture played a significant role in Ed Markey’s successful campaign.

Key Insights:

• Patricia Hernandez explains how early fan art and online communities paved the way for robust support:

  “She has been building, building this community of people for a very, very long time.” – McKenna Kelly [09:28]

• Ed Markey’s digital team emulated successful strategies from the Bernie Sanders campaign, utilizing meme pages and grassroots online engagement to propel his reelection:

  “They saw how powerful that was. So they were building meme pages for Markey.” – McKenna Kelly [11:21]

3. Historical Context: The 1934 California Governor’s Race and the Birth of Media Politics

A pivotal segment explores the 1934 gubernatorial race in California between Upton Sinclair and opponents backed by powerful media moguls like William Randolph Hearst.

Highlights:

• Greg Mitchell, a historian, recounts how Sinclair's unexpected primary win ignited the first modern media campaign:

  “The reaction to Sinclair's primary win was swift and furious, ushering in the first modern media campaign.” – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [21:34]

• The Los Angeles Times, under the influence of editor Kyle Palmer, launched relentless negative advertising against Sinclair, marking a shift towards coordinated media attacks:

  “We're going to beat this son of a bitch Sinclair any way we can.” – Kyle Palmer (as portrayed) [23:17]

• Hollywood's involvement included the creation of fabricated newsreels to tarnish Sinclair's image, illustrating early instances of media manipulation:

  “They hired actors to portray bums and other Sinclair supporters.” – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [23:53]

4. The Evolution and Impact of Negative Campaigning

The episode traces how negative advertising techniques developed during Sinclair's campaign have become standard in modern politics.

Key Points:

• Founders Clem Whitaker and Leon Baxter pioneered political consulting by focusing on attack ads and media spin, setting templates for future campaigns:

  “If you have to explain something, you've already lost the issue.” – Clem Whitaker (as portrayed) [30:05]

• Their strategies emphasized repetitive messaging and creating relentless narratives, akin to propaganda techniques:

  “You have to say something seven times to make a sale.” – Patricia Hernandez [30:13]

• The transition from party-led campaigns to consultant-driven strategies marked a significant change in political campaigning dynamics:

  “They turned the campaign over for the first time to what we now call political consultants.” – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [25:05]

5. Modern Disinformation and the Rise of Content Farms

Transitioning to contemporary issues, the hosts discuss how digital technology has facilitated sophisticated disinformation campaigns, paralleling historical tactics.

Notable Examples:

• Laura Walters’ Experience: A journalist was deceived by a fake organization, Peace Data, purportedly linked to Russia's Internet Research Agency (IRA), highlighting vulnerabilities in modern journalism:

  “Alice Schultz messaged me on LinkedIn... Would you be interested in writing something for us?” – Laura Walters [36:25]

• The transformation of content farms into political propaganda machines, such as Newsinator and Locality Labs, demonstrates the seamless blending of misinformation with legitimate news content:

  “Locality Labs is a pay-for-play operation. Conservative clients paying for propaganda disguised as vetted local reporting.” – Bob Garfield [41:16]

• Priyanjana Bengani discusses the intricate methods used to mask the true intent behind these operations, making it challenging to trace and expose:

  “They charge their clients to create and publish made-to-order propaganda dressed up as news.” – Bob Garfield [41:16]

6. Media Trust and Political Manipulation

The conversation emphasizes the erosion of trust in media due to the proliferation of fake news and manipulated content, posing significant threats to democratic processes.

Insights:

• The ease of creating fake news outlets and forged documents has amplified misinformation, complicating efforts to ensure factual reporting:

  “Digital tools make it easy to create genuine looking forgeries of actual documents.” – Bob Garfield [37:37]

• Journalists like Laura Walters are urged to exercise heightened due diligence to combat these deceptive practices:

  “Alice Schulz used a Gmail account and not, you know, a staff account...” – Laura Walters [46:10]

7. Republican Party Dynamics and Media Narratives Under Trump

The episode critiques the media's portrayal of Republican fractures post-Trump era, arguing that many GOP members remain staunchly aligned with Trump despite media speculation.

Critical Observations:

• Li Zhu from Vox highlights that reports of a Republican exodus from Trump may be overstated, pointing out high voting alignment with Trump among key GOP figures:

  “Ben Sasse has voted with Trump 86.7% of the time... Martha McSally 94.8%.” – Bob Garfield [50:47]

• The hosts challenge media narratives suggesting imminent major splits within the Republican Party, likening them to unfounded fears rather than observable realities:

  “Each defection could cause a domino effect... But turns out that was one wall that went up and stayed up.” – Bob Garfield [51:17]

8. Conclusion: The Persistent Challenges of Media Manipulation

Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield conclude by reflecting on the enduring nature of media manipulation tactics and their implications for democracy. They underscore the necessity for vigilance and critical consumption of media to safeguard truth and transparency.

Notable Quotes:

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on AOC’s Twitch strategy:

  “You go to the doctor and you say, I have this problem... And then you just go pick it up and that's it.” [08:38]

• Greg Mitchell on Upton Sinclair’s impact:

  “The reaction to Sinclair's primary win was swift and furious, ushering in the first modern media campaign.” [21:34]

• Clem Whitaker on campaign messaging:

  “If you have to explain something, you've already lost the issue.” [30:05]

• Laura Walters on encountering disinformation:

  “I just can't help but laugh. It is to laugh or it is to cry.” [47:51]

This episode of On the Media offers a comprehensive exploration of the intricate games played within political campaigns and media landscapes. By juxtaposing historical instances with contemporary challenges, Gladstone and Garfield provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the evolving tactics that shape public perception and democratic engagement.