Podcast Summary: "Banned from Google"
The Charlie Kirk Show with guest Alex Marlow (Editor-in-Chief, Breitbart)
Date: August 1, 2020
Overview
In this episode, Charlie Kirk is joined by Alex Marlow, Editor-in-Chief of Breitbart, to discuss the heavy suppression of Breitbart content on platforms like Google, Twitter, and Facebook. The conversation explores censorship by Big Tech, alleged political motives behind these actions, and the broader implications for free speech, election fairness, and market competition. The discussion is lively, candid, and unapologetically conservative, delving into the strategic power of Silicon Valley and what conservatives can do to push back.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Breitbart's Suppression on Google
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Breitbart traffic from Google is "down almost to zero".
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Marlow details a years-long decline, hitting a new low after May 6, 2020.
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Unless a user types "Breitbart" or a Breitbart-specific name into Google, Breitbart articles are virtually unfindable—particularly for political search terms like "Biden" or "Joe Biden".
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Quote:
"Breitbart's visibility index in Google is down 99.7% from Election Day in 2016."
— Alex Marlow (02:44)
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Conservative sites dominate the bottom in visibility index; 8 of the bottom 10 are conservative, with Breitbart among the lowest.
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Attempts to search Breitbart headlines verbatim will not yield the outlet’s stories on Google, though plagiarized or aggregated versions may appear.
"Pick out your favorite (Breitbart) story of the day and search for the headline verbatim, the Breitbart article won’t come up."
— Alex Marlow (05:34)
2. Big Tech as a Political Gatekeeper
- Platforms like Twitter and Facebook also restrict Breitbart and conservative voices, with inconsistent and opaque policies that tilt left.
- Conservative and populist movements are intentionally minimized by tech leadership, citing a leaked Google meeting after the 2016 election where execs called for making "populism and nationalism a blip or a hiccup".
"Kent Walker...said he intends to make populism and nationalism...a blip or a hiccup."
— Alex Marlow (02:53)
3. Election Interference and Free Speech
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Marlow asserts that algorithmic censorship is a form of election interference, silencing dissenting or non-mainstream views during key democratic moments.
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There’s agreement that tech companies exercise outsized power over the public discourse, controlling what information voters can access.
"We’ve outsourced our First Amendment to these businesses...they can decide unilaterally if your business sinks or swims."
— Alex Marlow (07:15)
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Dr. Robert Epstein’s Research:
- Epstein (described as a "top expert" and old-school liberal, planning to vote for Biden) says Google could move up to 10% of the vote through algorithmic manipulation.
"He thinks Google is gonna manipulate the election to the tune of 10%."
— Alex Marlow (21:01)
4. Debate Over Regulation and the Free Market
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Kirk and Marlow critique the argument that dissatisfied users can simply "use a different search engine", citing tech companies' habitual acquisition or suppression of potential competitors.
"They purchase all their competitors at a multiple ... because the long-term return is them not being around."
— Charlie Kirk (10:46)
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They question free-market fundamentalism when it comes into conflict with core principles like free speech and competition.
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Both agree that true competition is now blocked by "ideologically discriminatory tactics" and potentially monopolistic practices in multiple tech sectors (search, cloud, advertising).
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There is enthusiasm, but also skepticism, regarding government breaking up Big Tech (i.e. antitrust solutions).
5. Political Establishment’s Complicity
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Both parties, but especially Republicans, are critiqued for accepting tech company donations and not acting decisively.
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Lobbying is characterized as "legalized bribery", and accepting such money is compared to taking funds from hostile foreign powers.
"Lobbying is really code for bribery...they are trying to buy off as many people as they can in Washington."
— Alex Marlow (25:36)
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Example: Congressman Greg Steube has pledged not to accept tech money; the hosts urge more to follow.
6. Broader Implications for Culture and Policy
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The centralization of information poses a unique threat to democracy, free speech, and Western values.
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New "fifth branch of government": Tech companies exercise as much authority as the bureaucracy, but as unelected and unaccountable entities.
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The left uses Big Tech as a "blunt, forced object to be able to destroy conservatives all across the world and across the country." (Charlie Kirk, 13:48)
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They lament the decline of institutions like the ACLU that once championed free speech for all—even for views they opposed.
7. What Can Be Done? Solutions and Action Steps
- Raise awareness:
- Encourage sharing these stories and data, as publicity is one of Big Tech's vulnerabilities.
- Investigate:
- Push for transparency and algorithm audits; antitrust cases are already in the works at the state level.
- Fund alternatives:
- Support or create rival platforms free from political censorship.
- Hold politicians to account:
- Demand politicians refuse tech money or get "primaried" (challenged) by others.
- Give lawmakers a "15-day grace period" to return tech donations.
- Notable Policy Suggestion:
- Dr. Epstein suggests open-sourcing Google's algorithm as a transparency measure.
"He thinks this can all be solved by making the Google algorithm public."
— Charlie Kirk (34:29)
- Identifying Tech’s Monopoly Structure:
- Marlow and Kirk argue that simply reaching high market share should be a trigger for regulatory scrutiny.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Tech’s Power:
"Other than the United States government, it is the most powerful consolidated group of people on the planet. They were never elected, they were never chosen, and they're largely anonymous."
— Alex Marlow (09:30)
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On Conservative Think Tanks Defending Big Tech:
"They take money from these tech companies to go argue for pure free market dogma...do you actually think Google believes in free market dogma?"
— Charlie Kirk (16:37)
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On Suppression of Dissent:
"These are anonymous non-doctors telling doctors what they can and can't say on the Internet. Wow."
— Alex Marlow (24:36)
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On Google’s Slogan Change:
"It used to be 'don't be evil' was their slogan and they dropped it. They dropped that as their slogan."
— Alex Marlow (20:28)
Essential Timestamps
- 01:18 — Alex Marlow introduces the Google ban on Breitbart
- 02:44 — Evidence of Breitbart's decline in Google search results
- 05:34 — Even verbatim searches for Breitbart headlines do not return actual Breitbart links
- 07:15 — Marlow on the privatization of the First Amendment
- 10:46 — Kirk on the futility of "using another search engine"
- 13:48 — Kirk: The left views Big Tech as a "fifth branch of government"
- 21:01 — Dr. Epstein and the potential for Google to sway 10% of the vote
- 24:36 — Suppression of coronavirus dissent and "Twitter timeouts"
- 25:36 — Marlow: "Lobbying is really code for bribery."
- 34:29 — Possible solution: Make Google’s algorithm public
Final Thoughts
Call to Action:
Kirk and Marlow conclude with a sense of urgency that conservatives must publicly pressure Big Tech, support alternative platforms, refuse Big Tech money, and demand regulatory action to break up monopolistic structures. The threat, they argue, is existential for Western society’s information ecosystem and for the future of free discourse in America.
Closing Moment:
"We're gonna keep talking till they put us in prison."
— Charlie Kirk (39:11)
For further information and engagement:
- Visit Breitbart.com
- Follow Alex Marlow (@alexmarlow) on Twitter
This summary covers all major discussions, memorable moments, and themes, providing clear attributions and timestamps for easy reference.