Thursday, November 2, 2017
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Politico Hides Fusion GPS Employment Of Key Source
It’s not enough that the vast majority of mainstream media operate as the communications arm of the Democratic Party. Any deviation from this approach results in strong criticism by other journalists. One media writer even criticized Fox News for mentioning the conclusion of a corruption and bribery trial of sitting U.S. Senator Bob Menendez this week. Apparently they were supposed to spend the entire day spreading hysteria about Trump’s criminal collusion with Russia to steal an election that was Hillary Clinton’s birthright — nevermind the lack of evidence — to the exclusion of all other news.
So Politico runs “Murdoch-owned outlets bash Mueller, seemingly in unison.” As stupid as the headline is, the subhed gets stupider: “After resisting opportunities to take Trump’s line on Russia, the Wall Street Journal editorial page goes all in.”
Yes, the entire Democratic media complex bashes Trump, seemingly in unison, going all in on the Hillary Clinton campaign narrative of collusion with Russia, and the problem is that some media outlets #resist. Politico “media reporter” Jason Schwartz is upset that the Wall Street Journal doesn’t follow the media herd.
The Wall Street Journal editorial page has in the past been a stern critic of Donald Trump, but in recent days has come under fire for pieces that critics say shift attention away from the president — with many people, including former staffers, left to wonder why.
After having generally avoided Trump’s efforts to de-legitimize democratic institutions, the Journal last week wrote an editorial calling for special counsel Robert Mueller to resign and featured a contributor op-ed Sunday afternoon that said Trump should issue a blanket pardon in the Russian scandal, including of himself.
The Journal has also called for an investigation into Democratic Party collusion with Russia, a conservative talking point in the wake of a Washington Post report that Hillary Clinton’s campaign paid for some of the opposition research that led to the infamous “dossier” of anti-Trump information – but which made no suggestion of any collusion with Russia.
It’s almost funny how much this question-begging reads like Democratic media talking points. See, it’s not that anyone might legitimately view Robert Mueller’s handling of the Russia probe as inappropriate or heavy-handed. It’s not that anyone might have a problem with the criminalization of political differences. It’s not that anyone might not trust Mueller’s ability to investigate an issue directly related to his longtime buddy and protege James Comey.
No, there’s just one approach you have to take if you’re a member of the media: undying fealty to Robert Mueller, no questions asked. Democracy dies in darkness, as we all know. But did you know journalism dies if you in any way question powerful government officials with unlimited prosecutorial power?
Maybe Jason Schwartz Should Read Some Russia Reporting
Schwartz’s understanding of the dossier appears limited. The outfit that ran the dossier operation is Fusion GPS. Critics are accusing it of being an unregistered agent of Russia. It worked on behalf of Russian interests to fight Magnitsky Act sanctions. The dossier’s sources were, according to the dossier itself, Russians at high levels of the government. And the foreign spy contracted to run the dossier operation allegedly paid middlemen in Russia to secure this information. Let’s just say that if Team Trump had run this operation, there would be widespread heart failure at CNN.
But note that Schwarz appeals to “former staffers” of the Wall Street Journal to bash the page. In addition to people who now work for competing outlets, Schwarz ends his piece with “former Journal editor Neil King” saying “I don’t know a single WSJ alum who’s not agog at where that edit page is heading.”
Politico’s media reporter didn’t mention that King works for … Fusion GPS. In fact, Fusion GPS has several former Wall Street Journal staffers. And Fusion GPS is known for...
Podesta Group’s Ties to Manafort Case Loom Larger in Mueller Probe
The Podesta Group has been identified in news reports as “Company B,” one of two firms that has lobbied for pro-Russian Ukrainian government officials, in the indictment of Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign manager, and Manafort associate Rick Gates.
The Podesta Group was founded in 1988 by John Podesta, Clinton’s former campaign chairman, who hasn’t been part of the company’s operations since leaving in 1993 to work for President Bill Clinton’s White House, and eventually became chief of staff. His brother, Tony Podesta, stepped down Monday as chairman because the company has reportedly been losing clients as a result of the Mueller probe.
“Company A” was identified as Mercury Public Affairs, a Republican-leaning firm that includes former Rep. Vin Weber of Minnesota and former Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana as partners. Neither the Podesta Group, nor Mercury Public Affairs was accused of any illegality.“There is much more to come in this investigation, and the conventional wisdom seems to be shifting that this will only target the right side of the aisle,” Ron Hosko, a former assistant director of the FBI, told The Daily Signal.
“Bob Mueller knows what’s expected of him, and I don’t see him doing anything differently, based on Republicans or Democrats. … If the Podesta Group simultaneously worked with the campaign, or there was a relationship with the brothers that is relevant to the investigation, it may tie the....
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