"Whore!" The Post-Truth Era of the Online Left - And a Callout of Abuse From the RFK Jr. Post
It's not okay - what happened to everyone?
“Whore!”
In 2016, many of us felt a sense of hope and camaraderie on the left. Maybe I remember it with Pollyanna-tinted glasses, but people of all economic statuses, backgrounds, and races united in the Bernieverse. We knew things had to change, and finally, we felt like they could change.
The DNC and other powers-that-be swiftly and smugly showed us how silly we were to think we could come out ahead in this corporate and Military Industrial Complex-focused land. Medicare for All? They openly acted like we were children for demanding what other nations have and can't conceive of not having. People in those nations think our country is cruel, and it is.
I felt like leftist people were good and kind – our bleeding hearts – and could commiserate about and lament that so many on the right in Trump's MAGA world seemed to exist in a post-truth era.
We'd shake our heads and wonder how on earth they could fall prey to such obvious lies. In some ways, that kept us sane.
I have traveled the country reporting on politics since 2016. I've been in people's homes, reported from all the different rallies, interviewed politicians, and listened to all the political positions. I have been yelled at, called slurs, and have been physically beaten as a journalist (multiple times) trying to help shine a light on what's happening in this country.
Not to get rich – I can't even pay my rent.
I've been doxed and chased online and threatened offline by people who full-on believe everything the likes of Rudy Guiliani – who has called me "a very discourteous person" as a journalist, tells them.
By people who truly believe Democrats are eating babies in the basement.
Part of my hope had been that I could help to pull people back to reality from the lies of Trump and the right. Qanon shows us just how much some no longer exist in the same world we do.
As an independent journalist, I believe strongly in the mission of truth and justice. I've railed against a corporate media that cared more about showing Trump's empty podiums because their advertisers liked it than they did about giving everyday people a voice and reporting on issues like the Flint Water crisis.
I was encouraged back then that other independent journalists had the same commitment – to expose lies and corruption and ultimately help give power to the people of this country. I made friends, collaborated, and did incredible work with many powerful independent voices.
A few years ago, that all started to slip away. Billionaires began to figure out that independent media could be bought. It could be gamed. It could give them a significant power boost at a time when even the most die-hard Fox News watchers were now disavowing the network because even it didn't fall at the feet of Trump's disinfo enough.
In an unfortunate number of cases, independent journalism turned into a way for corrupt dollars to find their way into the conversation (Sacks, Thiel, friends.), causing many "progressives" to do a complete 180.
Those other voices I trusted? Became friends with? Many have unapologetically leaned into whatever it is accelerationist right-leaning libertarians want them to be, pretending their previous stances don't exist. Pretending they are still on the left. Smearing and slamming anyone who calls them out.
There are still great independent journalists and commentators. All is not lost. But it's important and helpful, I think, to understand what's happened.
MAGA folks aren't the only ones living in a fact-free world; many on the left have joined them there.
Case in point, my liveblogging of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s appearance on Joe Rogan the other day. I approached it with a bit of humor and sarcasm because the things he said are just so, so, so far away from reality that it begs the question of how anyone on earth can believe the things he says.
The things he earns millions of dollars for saying.
The "old" left – the one that thought critically - has been sucked into this vortex of disinformation, and the billionaires funding it are all laughing their way to the bank as they shape this country into the hell hole they want it to be for personal gain.
They have learned how to game independent media. They have learned how to use the tactics of the right to disrupt the fabric of reality on the left.
And many of you have fallen prey to it.
I have never had to retract a story. Through all my years of reporting, I have proven myself as a truth-teller and someone willing to give up everything, which I all but have, to bring the truth to people. To help people. To do what I believe independent media was always meant to do.
Why, then, have I been subject to the abuse I have been subjected to following my take on RFK Jr.'s fact-free appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast?
It's interesting to me as part of this story that, as people yell at me for "not having read" the things I "should be reading," – that I, someone known for her depth of research, am stupid and incompetent because I call out fraudulent sources and statements and say,
"I'm sorry, I know we all want to rail against the powers-that-be, but RFK Jr. is lying to you."
In my early 20s, after I had my first child, I fell into an anti-vax rabbit hole.
I wanted to do everything I could to be the perfect mom and ensure my babies were as healthy as possible. I was on all the "natural mom" forums A LOT – where the main advice was to either not get your child vaccinated at all or to do it on a modified schedule.
I have read the things people are yelling at me to read regarding vaccines. I have studied this for years. And I am horrified regularly that I almost fell prey to the lies in those “readings,” in those opinions. I could have endangered my children if I hadn't gotten them vaccinated and listened to randos on web forums.
I also get particularly heated when the lies about vaccines and autism are spread. Autism is a VERY personal issue for me and one I have researched more than anything in my life. I cannot emphasize this enough.
You're wrong. You've been defrauded. Vaccines do not cause autism.
The thing is, you (speaking to those who are under this spell, not necessarily you) believe just as strongly in your side.
Because the media lies!
Pharma lies! (and they do, which makes it easier for anti-vaxxers to get their views to spread).
Everyone has sold out! Everyone else is dumb!
I'm used to getting yelled at by the right. It doesn't hurt much, even when a MAGA tells me I'm barren (I have two kids) and slings antisemitic slurs at me (I'm not Jewish).
It gets scary sometimes, but it doesn't hurt.
What hurts is when people who have watched, read, and listened to me for several years as a journalist – who know who I am and what I'm all about, seem to see it fit to call me names, tell me I'm stupid, tell me I'm a whore …
I earn around $200 a month through this Substack. I have zero incentive to lie to you. I have never sold out. I have never changed my tune. I am me, always.
What incentive do those telling you vaccine lies have? A lot. Money, clout. The best way to grow one's platform nowadays is to rail against truth and feed into hate and a fact-free existence.
The outrage machine is whirring, and it's dragging you in.
Here are some comments I received after my post yesterday:
Just some of the things people said to me following the above post:
"f*ck off"
"You are the problem"
"How will your family remember you?"
"You're just another apologist for Pfizer"
"Your smug tone of superiority is not a good look"
"I unsubscribed. Bye."
"Your spam emails are far more annoying than those guys's conversation was"
"Obviously, you're too stupid to comprehend"
"Democratic Party dipshit"
"Your [in] on it"
"You're so fucking useless"
"I don't know why anybody ever subscribed to your idiotic list in the first place"
"Whore”
Is this who we want to be as the left? I provided sources to back up MY claims. RFK Jr.'s claims are easily debunked and HAVE been WIDELY debunked.
Where do we go from here? I go to bed easy because I have always stayed true to my mission and always will.
Truth. Justice. People. That's what matters. You can't buy my loyalty. You can't get me to lie. No one can.
Need more information to demonstrate how and why RFK. Jr. is lying about vaccines?
Here you go:
RFK Jr. Is Our Brother and Uncle. He's Tragically Wrong About Vaccines. We love Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but he is part of a misinformation campaign that's having heartbreaking—and deadly—consequences.
How Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Distorted Vaccine Science. His anti-vaccine credentials date back to 2005
How a Kennedy built an anti-vaccine juggernaut amid Covid-19
The Anti-Vaccine Propaganda of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Or how an environmental lawyer led a crusade against vaccines and spread lies to marginalized communities
Silicon Valley tech luminaries give RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine message a boost
RFK Jr.: Green hero turned anti-vaccine activist takes on Biden
Robert Kennedy Jr's anti-vaccine group was banned from Facebook and Instagram for spreading misinformation. Here's a look at years of Kennedy's controversial claims.
How Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Became the Anti-vaxxer Icon of America's Nightmares. The political scion has deployed a race-baiting "documentary" and disinformation to advance bogus theories and seed anti-vaccine sentiment.
ABC News edits RFK Jr. interview to exclude 'false claims about the COVID-19 vaccines'
Spotify Has Stopped Even Sort of Trying to Stem Joe Rogan's Vaccine Misinformation: As a recent conversation between the podcast host and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes clear.
A vaccine scientist's discredited claims have bolstered a movement of misinformation
Anti-Vaccine Mandate Protest: RFK Jr., Proud Boys And Holocaust Imagery
The Very Strange New Respect for Authoritarian Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. The enemy of your enemy is not your friend; he's a guy who might want to throw you in jail.
Correcting our record: We've removed an explosive 2005 report by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about autism and vaccines. Here's why
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is making millions off his anti-vax crusade
We could go on, but you get the idea. The left needs to take a look in the mirror.
UPDATE, PLEASE READ:
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Jenn
Update: Please read https://couragenews.substack.com/p/im-extremely-frustrated-if-youre
Jan, I’m very sorry that you’ve received so much abuse online. People online can be so mean. It’s not Ok. However, you’re kicking a puppy (JFK Jr) and then calling yourself the victim. Your views are mainstream and reflect status quo Democratic Party values and taking points (at least this is true for the COVID vaccines). Since when did big Pharma become the darling of Left? In addition, I don’t see how you’re reaching out to those who disagree with you. Rather, it appears that you’re fomenting anger and trying to pick a fight with your approach and language.