The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Big Tech Still Silencing Conservatives on Social Media plus NPR New CEO Questions 1st Amendment
Release Date: May 10, 2024
Host: Ben Ferguson
Featuring: Senator Ted Cruz
Publisher: Premiere Networks

Introduction and Background

In this episode of The 47 Morning Update, host Ben Ferguson delves into two pressing issues affecting the political landscape in the United States: the ongoing suppression of conservative voices by Big Tech companies and the concerning stance of NPR’s new CEO, Kathryn Marr, on the First Amendment.

Big Tech’s Influence and Suppression of Conservative Voices

Ben Ferguson opens the discussion by highlighting the pervasive influence of Big Tech on shaping public opinion, particularly emphasizing how conservative narratives are being marginalized. He shares a personal anecdote, stating, “I spoke out again against Big Tech a few years ago at a CPAC convention and before I landed home, after I spoke out about Big Tech, specifically Facebook, my accounts were shut down” (00:01). This experience underscores a broader trend where conservative figures face diminishing reach and engagement on major social media platforms.

Senator Ted Cruz’s Investigation and Report

Senator Ted Cruz joins the conversation to elaborate on his recent report titled "Weaponizing Terms of Service: How Online Service Providers Use Broad Policies to Silence Conservatives." As the ranking member on the Senate Committee of Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Cruz has been actively investigating the alleged abuse of power by Big Tech.

Notable Points from Senator Cruz:

• Examples of Silencing:

  • Twitter and Facebook suppressing stories about Hunter Biden’s laptop before the 2020 election.
  • YouTube removing videos critical of the Biden administration and blocking episodes of Ferguson’s podcast.
  • Direct TV discontinuing services to conservative networks like One America News Network and Newsmax under pressure from Democratic leaders.
  • Intuit and JP Morgan Chase denying services to organizations like the National Committee of Religious Freedom.
  • GoFundMe blocking $10 million in donations to the Canadian Truckers Freedom Convoy (04:04).

• Impact on Elections: Cruz emphasizes that these actions can significantly alter election dynamics by disproportionately affecting conservative outreach during critical periods.

• ADL’s "Bad Gateway" Report: Cruz references the Anti-Defamation League’s findings on deplatforming, noting that:

  1. Popularity rankings of extremist websites decrease immediately after deplatforming.
  2. It takes users a long time to return to these websites, if at all.
  3. Unexpected deplatforming prolongs the recovery of website popularity.
  4. Replicating platform services externally presents challenges like higher costs and smaller audiences (10:09).

Mechanisms of Deplatforming

Senator Cruz details how companies like Slack and Eventbrite are using their terms of service to effectively silence conservative organizations without transparent explanations:

• Slack: Terminated the workspace of "Libs of TikTok" due to posts about gender affirming hysterectomies and all-age drag shows, citing policy violations aimed more at the conservative audience than actual content issues (12:34).
• Eventbrite: Removed event pages for conservative events related to Matt Walsh’s documentary "What Is a Woman?" and speaker Riley Gaines based on vague policy breaches, disrupting the organizations' outreach efforts (15:31).

The Double Standards in Content Moderation

Ferguson and Cruz discuss the apparent hypocrisy in how Big Tech handles different types of content:

• Selective Enforcement: While Eventbrite flagged and removed conservative events, it allowed inflammatory events supporting violent protests, such as Black Lives Matter rallies that led to violence, to remain active without similar repercussions (22:37).
• Impact on Infrastructure: The removal of essential services for conservative groups not only limits their communication capabilities but also hinders their operational effectiveness, creating an uneven playing field in public discourse.

NPR’s New CEO and First Amendment Concerns

Transitioning to the second major topic, Ferguson shifts focus to NPR’s newly appointed CEO, Kathryn Marr, whose public statements have raised red flags about NPR’s commitment to unbiased journalism.

Key Concerns Raised:

• Bias and Partisanship: Marr has openly criticized figures like former President Donald Trump, labeling him a “deranged, racist sociopath” and stating her support for censoring opposing views.
• Impact on NPR’s Integrity: The shift in NPR’s audience demographics from 26% conservative in 2011 to 11% in 2023, alongside Marr’s provocative comments, suggests a significant leftward bias (25:12).
• Freedom of Speech: Marr has described the First Amendment as a challenge, indicating a preference for regulating content to align with her ideological stance rather than upholding free speech principles (33:31).

Notable Quotes:

• Senator Cruz on NPR’s Shift: “By 2023, those numbers had shifted dramatically. It was now instead of 37% liberal, it was 67% liberal. And instead of 26% conservative, it was only 11% conservative.”
• Kathryn Marr on Truth: “Our reverence for the truth might be a distraction that's getting in the way of finding common ground and getting things done” (37:00).

Calls for Oversight and Accountability

Ferguson and Cruz argue that NPR, funded by taxpayers, should uphold nonpartisan journalism standards. They call for Congressional oversight to address what they perceive as blatant partisanship and censorship under Marr’s leadership.

Senator Cruz’s Position:

• Immediate Action: “If NPR cares at all about journalistic integrity, if they care at all about continuing to receive taxpayer funds, they should terminate Catherine Maher immediately.”
• Accountability Measures: Stressing the need for rigorous scrutiny of headless NPR to prevent the propagation of biased propaganda using taxpayer money.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a strong stance against both Big Tech's suppression of conservative voices and NPR’s perceived shift towards partisan bias under its new CEO. Ben Ferguson emphasizes the importance of awareness and accountability in safeguarding free speech and unbiased journalism.

Key Takeaways:

• Big Tech’s Role in Political Discourse: A significant concern is the selective suppression of conservative voices by major online platforms, potentially swaying public opinion and electoral outcomes.
• NPR’s Editorial Direction: The appointment of Kathryn Marr as NPR’s CEO has sparked fears of increased bias and censorship, challenging the organization's commitment to impartial journalism.
• Call to Action: Ferguson and Cruz advocate for legislative oversight and accountability to ensure that both Big Tech and public media entities uphold principles of free speech and unbiased reporting.

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Ferguson: “Big Tech is obviously had a massive influence over public opinion in this country.” (00:01)
• Senator Ted Cruz: “What we know about is it using web-based products and services, online service providers to ban conservative organizations from using their technology.” (07:35)
• Senator Ted Cruz on NPR Bias: “They would amplify stories like the Russia collusion story, even if they were not supported by the facts.” (26:27)
• Kathryn Marr on Truth: “What the truth actually is... we all have different truths based on where we come from.” (36:50)

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the critical discussions from the episode, providing insights into the challenges posed by Big Tech’s influence on political discourse and the implications of leadership changes at NPR on media impartiality. Notable quotes are included with timestamps to highlight key moments in the conversation, offering a clear understanding for those who haven’t listened to the episode.