Yet Another FedJudge Slaps Donny Upside The Head

[jaF0]

The chief executive over the Voice of America and its sister networks has acted unconstitutionally in investigating what he claimed was a deep-seated bias against President Trump by his own journalists, a federal judge has ruled.

Citing the journalists' First Amendment protections, U.S Judge Beryl Howell on Friday evening ordered U.S. Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack to stop interfering in the news service's news coverage and editorial personnel matters. She struck a deep blow at Pack's authority to continue to force the news agency to cover the president more sympathetically.

Actions by Pack and his aides have likely "violated and continue to violate [journalists'] First Amendment rights because, among other unconstitutional effects, they result in self-censorship and the chilling of First Amendment expression," Howell wrote in her opinion. "These current and unanticipated harms are sufficient to demonstrate irreparable harm."

Trump nominated Pack to be chief executive of the U.S. Agency for Global Media more than two years ago and the U.S. Senate finally confirmed him in June. Pack has since turned the agency upside down, firing and suspending top executives, reassigning Voice of America's top standards executive and initiating investigations of journalists for individual stories about the political campaign pitting Trump against Joe Biden, now the president-elect. Several contractors were dismissed; an editor was suspended.


https://www.npr.org/2020/11/21/9374...nally-in-pursuing-bias-claims-u-s-judge-rules

 

[Dingobaby]

Another huge failure and loss for trump. Lol

Shit like this just makes my day a little better.

 

[ShagTimes]

He'll regret it when "peaceful protesters" of ANTIFA and BLM burn his courthouse down.

 

[KeithD]

I'm not sure I understand this. The mandate of the Voice of America is to provide the official U.S. perception (ergo the current administration's propaganda) on issues. That's its entire function and reason for being. No I don't like the Trump administration's propaganda, but that's the purpose of having a government media broadcaster. Those listening to VOA broadcasts should understand its purpose.

 

[jaF0]

I'm not sure where you get the notion that VOA is a propaganda outlet (like Brietbart, Fox, et al.)

"Voice of America has been a part of several agencies. From its founding in 1942 to 1945, it was part of the Office of War Information, and then from 1945 to 1953 as a function of the State Department. VOA was placed under the U.S. Information Agency in 1953. When the USIA was abolished in 1999, VOA was placed under the Broadcasting Board of Governors, or BBG, which is an autonomous U.S. government agency, with bipartisan membership. The Secretary of State has a seat on the BBG.[52] The BBG was established as a buffer to protect VOA and other U.S.-sponsored, non-military, international broadcasters from political interference. "


"Smith–Mundt Act
From 1948 until its amendment in 2013, Voice of America was forbidden to broadcast directly to American citizens under § 501 of the Smith–Mundt Act.[6] The act was amended as a result of the passing of the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2013.[7] The intent of the legislation in 1948 was to protect the American public from propaganda actions by their own government and to have no competition with private American companies.[53] The amendment had the intent of adapting to the Internet and allow American citizens to request access to VOA content."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_America


My understanding is that it was to counter propaganda of other governments and provide the world with unbiased information about what was happening in their area.

 

[phrodeau]

All talk radio must be right-wing. It’s a requirement.

 

[wheres_the_beef]

I'm not sure I understand this. The mandate of the Voice of America is to provide the official U.S. perception (ergo the current administration's propaganda) on issues.

That used to be VOA's mandate. That has not been the case since 1994 when a "firewall" was put in place in federal law. That change provided editorial independence from government officials. VOA now effectively has a mandate to provide independent journalism to areas outside the US that may lack independent news sources.

 

[Sean]

Just listen to the BBC World Service.

 

[KeithD]

I'm not sure where you get the notion that VOA is a propaganda outlet (like Brietbart, Fox, et al.)

Well, because I was in the mirror business to this--the government news agency collecting other country's propaganda--for decades--and my translators flipped back and forth between collecting (for my office) and broadcasting (for VOA). I know exactly what VOA was for--promoting the U.S. perspective abroad. In any given administration, that would be the administration's perspective.

Now, I'll grant the change in the VOA might subsequently have happened, because I retired in 1997, in a different position. But I can't see why there would need to be a VOA at all in the government if it's not broadcasting the government line.

 

[Comshaw]

I'm not sure I understand this. The mandate of the Voice of America is to provide the official U.S. perception (ergo the current administration's propaganda) on issues. That's its entire function and reason for being. No I don't like the Trump administration's propaganda, but that's the purpose of having a government media broadcaster. Those listening to VOA broadcasts should understand its purpose.

I think maybe you're in error. I was always given to understand that they were broadcasting unbias, fair news. Here's a blurb from the VOA website:

"Since its creation in 1942, Voice of America has been committed to providing comprehensive coverage of the news and telling audiences the truth. Through World War II, the Cold War, the fight against global terrorism, and the struggle for freedom around the globe today, VOA exemplifies the principles of a free press."

I also found this interesting tidbit:

"An essential guarantee of the journalistic credibility of Voice of America content is the “firewall” enshrined in the 1994 U.S. International Broadcasting Act. The firewall prohibits interference by any U.S. government official in the objective, independent reporting of news, thereby safeguarding the ability of our journalists to develop content that reflects the highest professional standards of journalism, free of political interference. USAGM reforms contained in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 maintained the longstanding statutory firewall language protecting the professional independence of VOA and all other USAGM journalists. The firewall ensures that VOA can make the final decisions on what stories to cover, and how they are covered."

In essense VOA by law can't be converted into a Trump propaganda network. Who'd a thunk it?
https://www.insidevoa.com/p/5831.html



Comshaw

 

[Comshaw]

I'm not sure where you get the notion that VOA is a propaganda outlet (like Brietbart, Fox, et al.)

"Voice of America has been a part of several agencies. From its founding in 1942 to 1945, it was part of the Office of War Information, and then from 1945 to 1953 as a function of the State Department. VOA was placed under the U.S. Information Agency in 1953. When the USIA was abolished in 1999, VOA was placed under the Broadcasting Board of Governors, or BBG, which is an autonomous U.S. government agency, with bipartisan membership. The Secretary of State has a seat on the BBG.[52] The BBG was established as a buffer to protect VOA and other U.S.-sponsored, non-military, international broadcasters from political interference. "


"Smith–Mundt Act
From 1948 until its amendment in 2013, Voice of America was forbidden to broadcast directly to American citizens under § 501 of the Smith–Mundt Act.[6] The act was amended as a result of the passing of the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2013.[7] The intent of the legislation in 1948 was to protect the American public from propaganda actions by their own government and to have no competition with private American companies.[53] The amendment had the intent of adapting to the Internet and allow American citizens to request access to VOA content."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_America


My understanding is that it was to counter propaganda of other governments and provide the world with unbiased information about what was happening in their area.

Sorry about duplicating what you posted. Fat fingers makes for slow typing and you got it done while I was trying to put up my post.

Comshaw

 

[jaF0]

"The firewall ensures that VOA can make the final decisions on what stories to cover, and how they are covered."

In essense VOA by law can't be converted into a Trump propaganda network. Who'd a thunk it?

The problem comes about when the Great Orange Toddler plants a stooge inside the wall.

 

[Dingobaby]

He'll regret it when "peaceful protesters" of ANTIFA and BLM burn his courthouse down.

Sorry about your brain.

 

[KeithD]

I think maybe you're in error. I was always given to understand that they were broadcasting unbias, fair news. Here's a blurb from the VOA website:

Did you work with them? I did. So, I'll go with my experience. You can believe as you wish--from the outside.

 

[YDB95]

He'll regret it when "peaceful protesters" of ANTIFA and BLM burn his courthouse down.

Just like they did in...ummm...well...where was it again? Bueller, this had better not be about your cat...

 

[jaF0]

This time, it was his own Judge! That's gotta sting a might, eh?

"“Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy. Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here,” 3rd Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas, a Trump appointee, wrote for the three-judge panel, all appointed by Republican presidents."

"“Voters, not lawyers, choose the president. Ballots, not briefs, decide elections,” Bibas said in the opinion, which also denied the campaign’s request to stop the state from certifying its results, a demand he called “breathtaking.”"

"“The activist judicial machinery in Pennsylvania continues to cover up the allegations of massive fraud,” Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis tweeted after Friday’s ruling. “On to SCOTUS!”"



https://apnews.com/article/election...philadelphia-d9c96c4593ec278f3b1d4bc564068df6


Who appointed that Judge again JenJen? Oh yeah ....

 

[Comshaw]

Did you work with them? I did. So, I'll go with my experience. You can believe as you wish--from the outside.

FFS don't get all butt hurt. Read what was posted directly from the VOA website. Your "experience" means jack shit when it's stacked against facts.

I think maybe you're in error. I was always given to understand that they were broadcasting unbias, fair news. Here's a blurb from the VOA website:

"Since its creation in 1942, Voice of America has been committed to providing comprehensive coverage of the news and telling audiences the truth. Through World War II, the Cold War, the fight against global terrorism, and the struggle for freedom around the globe today, VOA exemplifies the principles of a free press."

I also found this interesting tidbit:

"An essential guarantee of the journalistic credibility of Voice of America content is the “firewall” enshrined in the 1994 U.S. International Broadcasting Act. The firewall prohibits interference by any U.S. government official in the objective, independent reporting of news, thereby safeguarding the ability of our journalists to develop content that reflects the highest professional standards of journalism, free of political interference. USAGM reforms contained in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 maintained the longstanding statutory firewall language protecting the professional independence of VOA and all other USAGM journalists. The firewall ensures that VOA can make the final decisions on what stories to cover, and how they are covered."

In essense VOA by law can't be converted into a Trump propaganda network. Who'd a thunk it?
https://www.insidevoa.com/p/5831.html

Comshaw

 

[phrodeau]

This time, it was his own Judge! That's gotta sting a might, eh?

"“Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy. Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here,” 3rd Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas, a Trump appointee, wrote for the three-judge panel, all appointed by Republican presidents."

"“Voters, not lawyers, choose the president. Ballots, not briefs, decide elections,” Bibas said in the opinion, which also denied the campaign’s request to stop the state from certifying its results, a demand he called “breathtaking.”"

"“The activist judicial machinery in Pennsylvania continues to cover up the allegations of massive fraud,” Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis tweeted after Friday’s ruling. “On to SCOTUS!”"



https://apnews.com/article/election...philadelphia-d9c96c4593ec278f3b1d4bc564068df6


Who appointed that Judge again JenJen? Oh yeah ....

Of course they’re corrupt activist judges. Trump appointed them.

 

[Schlank]

Another huge failure and loss for trump. Lol

Shit like this just makes my day a little better.

In other enjoyable news:

After Trump paid for a $3,000,000 recount of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, The recount resulted in Trump losing by an additional 132 votes!!!

Hmmmm..... Three Million dollars, just to see Biden's lead in Wisconsin increase. Was that money well spent?

 

[Adre]

In other enjoyable news:

After Trump paid for a $3,000,000 recount of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, The recount resulted in Trump losing by an additional 132 votes!!!

Hmmmm..... Three Million dollars, just to see Biden's lead in Wisconsin increase. Was that money well spent?

Well, he managed to lose hundreds of millions running a casino. So much for House advantage.

 

[LLCox]

He'll regret it when "peaceful protesters" of ANTIFA and BLM burn his courthouse down.

Funny how things quieted down now that trump is a has been.

 

[oggbashan]

He'll regret it when "peaceful protesters" of ANTIFA and BLM burn his courthouse down.

Last time it was the British who burned The White House.

If Trump refuses to go?

It might be the majority that voted against him.

 

[FGB]

In other enjoyable news:

After Trump paid for a $3,000,000 recount of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, The recount resulted in Trump losing by an additional 132 votes!!!

Hmmmm..... Three Million dollars, just to see Biden's lead in Wisconsin increase. Was that money well spent?

Hence the recount.

Should not have been needed...But now other people want our elections to be with doubt as accurate as we can make them.

(Given our political history I doubt that this is possible at least for very long ... but still it is owed to the American people to try.)

And voter reform is certainly needed!

 

[FGB]

Last time it was the British who burned The White House.

If Trump refuses to go?

It might be the majority that voted against him.

Stop fueling the trolls and idiots!

You don't get reelected you don't get to serve... One might have a case of the red ass about it but that is how it works.

Supporters and non supporters alike agree on this and when it comes right down to it will stand for nothing less.

So Y'all take a chill pill.

 

[KeithD]

Funny how things quieted down now that trump is a has been.

But he's still being pretty good at grabbing the news cycle, thanks to his crazy Trumpettes.