Misinformation, Fascism, and Elon Musk
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We have been light on the newsletters this month—and with everything happening so quickly, it’s easy to miss a lot in a very short time. Sadly, OptOut is a small operation and we have been going full-steam on our original reporting over at IMPORTANT CONTEXT.
But we’re back with another newsletter of top stories happening right now. Strap in.
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DONATE HERE!First Things First
It has been a busy time for IMPORTANT CONTEXT, OptOut’s official investigative reporting newsletter. We started off with a report about a new lawsuit from the right-wing lawfare group New Civil Liberties Alliance, which receives a significant amount of funding from Koch family foundations. The new litigation is a follow up a previous case NCLA was also involved in, Murthy v. Missouri, in that it centers around government efforts to combat the spread of anti-vax misinformation on social media. The plaintiffs, a group of individuals who claim to have been harmed by the COVID-19 vaccines, allege that the government pressured social media companies into “censoring” their content.
Walker Bragman
Next, we reported on a pandemic-focused panel discussion at Emory University featuring a prominent COVID contrarian doctor who has questioned the safety of the COVID vaccines and praised prominent anti-vaccine activist Robert Kennedy Jr. University of California, San Francisco professor Dr. Vinay Prasad, who has ties to the right-wing Brownstone Institute, was a panelist at Stanford University’s October 4 health policy symposium. That event was organized by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration and a senior fellow at the right-wing Hoover Institution.
Walker Bragman
Finally, IMPORTANT CONTEXT reported on new details on the Stanford health policy symposium. The event was organized by UK-based charity which organizer Bhattacharya is involved with called Collateral Global. The organization has ties to anti-vaccine groups and has spent years opposing government efforts to control the spread of COVID-19.
Walker Bragman
Election 2024
The 2024 election cycle is nearing its end. But there is growing concern among some election observers about the tenor of the race. Donald Trump is running what some are calling an “fascist” campaign reminiscent of authoritarians like Adolf Hitler.
Observers have noted his use dehumanizing rhetoric about migrants and vow to use the federal government to go after his perceived enemies. Trump has said genetically criminal migrants are flooding into the country; that migrants are “poisoning the blood” of the country—a phrase used by the dead German dictator; that Haitian migrants are eating peoples’ pets (which is false). He has been promising mass deportations and even likened his enemies to “vermin.”
In a recent interview, Trump suggested he might use the military against the "enemy from within." The comments drew immediate backlash and were highlighted by the Harris campaign, which has reportedly been growing alarmed by a recent batch of tight polls showing the vice president losing ground.
THE NEW REPUBLIC had an analysis about Tump’s enemies comment.
The Daily Blast with Greg Sargent
Meanwhile, TNR also published a strong piece focused on the struggles of the Harris campaign—namely the candidate’s inability to distance herself from the unpopular incumbent, Joe Biden.
Alex Shephard
Money in Politics
Meanwhile, far-right billionaire Elon Musk is under fire for what some are suggesting is an “illegal” scheme to buy the election. Musk is offering money, including a chance to win million dollars, to swing-state voters who sign his super PAC’s petition arguing for the First and Second Amendment. WHOWHATWHY had a good analysis of the story.
Klaus Marre
Since formally endorsing Trump, Musk has spent $75 million of his own money on the race and campaigning alongside the Republican in swing states. STATES NEWSROOM reported.
Ariana Figueroa
That campaigning has taken the form of town hall events where the South African-born billionaire has spoken about issues like the problems with immigration and alleged threats to “free speech.” PENNSYLVANIA CAPITAL STAR (via MICHIGAN ADVANCE/STATES NEWSROOM) reported.
John Cole, Kim Lyons
A Musk-connected PAC, meanwhile, has been sending targeted mailers to Muslim and Jewish voters in Michigan with contradictory messages about Harris’s position on Gaza. The mailers highlight a critical vulnerability for Harris, who has adopted a middle of the road position on what experts increasingly believe is a genocide and thus failed to articulate how her approach would differ from Biden’s.
Jon King
Musk isn’t the only billionaire pouring money into the election.THE CENTER FOR MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY had a must-read story concerning GOP megadonor Richard Uihlein.
Uihlein’s Restoration PAC has raised a massive amount of money and dished out significant sums to influence American politics. According to the report, the group has disclosed a staggering “$7.2 million on TV placements, digital ads, and texts opposing Vice President Kamala Harris (D) and $246,000 on billboards, digital ads and mailers supporting Trump.”
David Armiak
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