On the Media: Unreal

The top story in this week's "On the Media" was about Steve Bannon's rise to power in the media world with Breitbart News. Knowing it's strong right-wing slant, it has been easy for me lately to disavow any article posted on social media from Breitbart News. However, this story about the history of Breitbart News and how it's shaped politics in this last election was eye-opening to me. 

Breitbart News, while openly an ultra-conservative news site, is not one of the websites that is known for perpetrating fake news. The podcast episode talked about how Steve Bannon started Breitbart News after being frustrated with the "mainstream media's" reluctance to cover any corruption claims with the Clinton's during Bill Clinton's presidency. There were lots of conspiracy theories and opinions about how the Clintons were corrupt and mishandling money, but through Breitbart News, Steve Bannon started a platform to investigate the stories about the Clintons. 

Eventually, according to the podcast, Breitbart News became an avenue for legitimate journalists at bigger "mainstream media" newspapers to learn and also investigate the stories about the Clintons. 

Breitbart News now touts itself as being a place to show the hypocrisy in the media and in politics. While Breitbart often uses exaggerated click-bait headlines and content to attract alt-right readers, most if not all of their stories are based on fact, which is still commendable at this time while social media is being pummelled by outright fake news right now. 

The podcasters interviewed Josh Green, who covers politics for Bloomberg News. In October 2015, Green wrote an article on Bloomberg News about Steve Bannon entitled "This Man Is the Most Dangerous Political Operative in America." Long before Bannon was a household name like it now, Green wrote about the history of Bannon and why he's so dangerous to the fabric of "mainstream" American politics and the establishment.

In his article, Green writes: 

"To succeed, Bannon will need to activate the anger and disgust with cronyism that’s as powerful among supporters of Sanders as it is among fans of Trump. In Tallahassee, as GAI’s phone keeps ringing, the vehicle for achieving this is clear. Editors and reporters at prominent magazines and newspapers, including ones that had passed when approached with Clinton Cash revelations, are calling to ask when the next salvo will arrive—and might they arrange an exclusive?For many, the answer will be yes. 
'We’re going to go to the investigative units, not the political reporters, and just give them the stuff,' says Bannon. 'We have faith they’ll take the stories and do the additional reporting.'"  

Steve Bannon has launched a war on the establishment and by investigating the "conspiracy theory" stories about the Clintons, Jeb Bush, and the other former establishment juggernauts. By giving this content to the investigative journalists, Bannon has hurt the establishment far more than any attacks from political opponents could do.

Bannon, through Breitbart News, is part of the reason Donald Trump is now the President-elect because of this slam campaign against the establishment he's achieved from harnessing the anger from working-class white America.