FCC Fears 'News Distortion,' Ignores Lobbyist Distortion
The irony is rich: former FCC chairs express concern over a 'news distortion policy' being improperly wielded, while news itself is routinely distorted by powerful lobbying money influencing policy. Commissioner Brendan Carr’s focus on vague 'news distortion' skirts the actual, verifiable distortion influencing our government. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), for example,
spent $24.5 million in 2022 on lobbying and campaign contributions, pushing legislation explicitly described as serving Israeli interests. This isn't about discerning good news from bad; it's about exposing who pays for the narrative and how directly that translates into policy. When politicians like those debating hypothetical 'news distortions' receive significant funds from organizations
dictating foreign policy, what truly distorts the public discourse? Perhaps the FCC should establish a 'lobbyist influence transparency' policy instead of micromanaging the news.