Elon Musk Ignores FLINT Water Crisis Reporting Censorship and PUNISHMENT, Repeatedly
Do Musk-appointed #TwitterFiles journalists care?
Elon Musk came in like a wrecking ball (or rather, like a wrecked kitchen sink) when he bought Twitter recently. One of his purported missions? To pull back the curtain on the malfeasance of ‘former Twitter’ that existed before his leadership. Okay. Good. Except…
I have been reporting on the horrific, devastating Flint water crisis for six years now. Through this time, my friends and sources have died, and children I’ve watched grow up are struggling, childhoods lost. Some of the strongest activists and warriors on the front lines are no longer able to fight back for health reasons.
My reporting on this – the ONGOING Flint Water Crisis has been suppressed on Twitter for YEARS. I remain FURIOUS about it. My many, many attempts to get Elon Musk to care? He doesn’t.
Shouldn’t Elon Musk care about Twitter wrongly suppressing content, as he says he does as his literal MISSION?
Soon after bringing his sink(?) into the office, Elon decided to release TwitterFiles (internal communications) showcasing where Twitter and other entities purportedly suppressed content and individuals. The files were released through journalists via their Twitter accounts (with poor transparency throughout the process), with some revelations more shocking than others. The way in which the files have been released and shared and which journalists had access to what is actually very alarming. Even Musk-Twitter-files-journalist-du-jour Bari Weiss got her hand slapped (read: unfollowed by Elon on Twitter) for daring to dare go against master. Good for her.
Back to Flint.
I’m going to share information with you that sheds some light on the carefully-curated game Elon is playing here. My reporting as a leftist has been suppressed and punished. It matters what is paid attention to and what is ignored.
On December 8, 2022, Elon Musk stated, “the rules were enforced against the right, but not against the left.” I replied to this to demonstrate this was provably untrue.
Way, way before Elon Musk took over Twitter and people were talking this in-depth about suppression in the way they are now, I was screaming from the rooftops about my Flint reporting being suppressed (as just ONE example). With my former company and reporting partner, we saw this constantly. We fought against this CONSTANTLY.
This tweet thread will take you through just one such instance (a lot more where that comes from - for future release):
If the Twitter files reporting warriors would like to take a minute and examine how important stories like the FLINT WATER CRISIS were suppressed – and in fact, their journalists PUNISHED – well, that sure sounds like news to me. The ball is in your court, Bari, Matt, Elon, and friends. I’m here, waiting.
*** I’m completely uncorrupted, completely independent. Seen in VICE, Rolling Stone, The Intercept – when I want and on my terms – you can help take Courage News to the next level by subbing free or as a sustaining member for bonuses.
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Jenn Dize
I'm sure everyone can see the insane and abusive replies from an Elon stan in the comments! Just some of what happens when you actually do adversarial reporting against the wealthy and powerful.
Expand the reporting network. Flint is not the only city with a population being denied human rights in the USA, the harmful abuse of being exposed to unsafe (poisoned) drinking water. I commend you on your tweet, but I would not waste any time trying to appeal to people who are self-centered and value only their own enrichment. I hope a nationally organized group of reporters and activists make "good trouble."