Ben Shapiro SCHOOLS House Committee on Big Tech Censorship

Summary

The speaker addresses a trust crisis in media due to legacy media's alleged bias towards left-leaning narratives, exemplified by recent events involving President Biden. They argue that despite this, legacy media maintains advertising revenue due to an informal pressure system involving Democratic legislators, advertisers, and brand safety organizations like the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM). This system, they claim, favors left-wing media and stifles conservative competitors, leading to calls for Congress to investigate and uphold free speech principles.

Takeaways

• 📰 The speaker asserts that there is a trust crisis in media due to legacy media's alleged bias and misinformation.
• 🤔 The speaker questions why legacy media continues to thrive despite a loss of public trust, suggesting an informal pressure system.
• 🚫 The speaker claims that Democratic legislators and the White House are creating a system that favors left-wing media in advertising.
• 💡 The speaker explains that conservative media outlets are labeled as 'dangerous' by legacy media and political allies to suppress their growth.
• 🗣️ The speaker cites specific instances where politicians have pressured social media platforms to censor or control content.
• 🛡️ The speaker discusses the role of third-party organizations like the Global Alliance for responsible Media (GARM) in setting brand safety standards.
• 🚷 The speaker argues that GARM's standards are subjective and used to marginalize conservative viewpoints.
• 📉 The speaker shares personal experiences of how their media outlet has been affected by these standards, including significant drops in visibility.
• 📈 The speaker highlights the financial implications of not adhering to GARM's standards, making it difficult for non-compliant businesses to operate.
• 🇺🇸 The speaker calls for the defense of the First Amendment rights, suggesting that the Congress should investigate the relationships between media cartels and government agencies.
• 🛑 The speaker concludes by urging an end to government coercion of private companies to censor speech, emphasizing the importance of upholding free speech principles.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the script regarding the media?

The main issue discussed is the trust crisis in the media, where legacy media organizations are accused of lying to preserve left-leaning narratives, leading to a loss of trust among the public.

Why do some Americans not trust the media according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, some Americans, particularly non-Democrats, do not trust the media because of instances where the media has allegedly lied or misrepresented information to uphold certain political narratives.

What is the 'informal pressure system' mentioned in the script?

The 'informal pressure system' refers to an unspoken arrangement created by Democratic legislators, the White House, legacy media advertisers, and brand safety organizations, which ensures that advertising dollars flow only to left-wing media.

How does the speaker explain the continued market share of legacy media despite the loss of trust?

The speaker suggests that legacy media continues to gain share in the advertising market because of an informal pressure system that favors left-wing media, ensuring their financial stability.

What role does the Global Alliance for responsible Media (GARM) play according to the script?

GARM is portrayed as a cartel that sets brand safety standards which are used to determine what content is safe for advertising. The speaker argues that these standards are subjective and used to marginalize conservative viewpoints.

Why does the speaker believe that conservative media outlets are being targeted?

The speaker believes conservative media outlets are targeted because they challenge the narratives preferred by GARM and its members, which are allegedly aligned with left-leaning ideologies.

What incident involving Joe Rogan is mentioned in the script?

The incident mentioned involves Joe Rogan stating that he took Ivermectin after getting COVID-19, which led to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki pressuring Spotify to take action against misinformation.

What is the speaker's view on the role of government in regulating free speech?

The speaker argues that government officials are overstepping their bounds by pressuring private companies to censor speech that they find objectionable, which the speaker sees as a violation of free speech principles.

What actions does the speaker suggest Congress should take in response to the issues raised?

The speaker suggests that Congress should investigate the arrangements between censorship cartels like GARM and executive branch agencies, and also stop engaging in violations of free speech principles.

How does the speaker describe the consequences for media outlets that do not conform to GARM's standards?

The speaker describes that media outlets not conforming to GARM's standards face being deemed 'not brand safe,' which can lead to a significant reduction in advertising revenue and effectively throttle their business.

What is the speaker's stance on the current state of free speech in the media?

The speaker is critical of the current state of free speech in the media, asserting that there is a coordinated effort to suppress conservative viewpoints and calling for a defense of the First Amendment.