#NewsmaxControversy #CensorshipDebate #TechInfluenc #FreeSpeechFight
By MichaelMH Published Feb 01, 2023
Senators Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee, and Tom Cotton took action by sending a letter to DirecTV's leadership demanding an explanation for the recent removal of the conservative news channel, Newsmax, from their offerings. The senators expressed their concerns about the potential collusion between Big Tech companies and Democrat officials, leading to censorship of conservative speech.
It's important to note that these senators have a history of spreading false information and are suspects in the attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
Related: Senate Republicans flip out over DirecTV dropping Newsmax
The letter from Cruz and his colleagues questioned whether DirecTV or AT&T communicated with government officials before discontinuing the network. Newsmax reported that the senators were taking a stand and provided a toll-free number for people to call and demand that Newsmax be reinstated. President Trump was even quoted as personally urging people to cancel their DirecTV service in response to the removal of Newsmax.
However, Newsmax disputed DirecTV's claim of ongoing negotiations and stated that they have been informed they will never be part of the regular cable lineup. DirecTV replaced Newsmax with a channel that lacks news or ratings, and Newsmax's livestream will soon be discontinued on other platforms.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also weighed in on the issue, stating that big companies with the power to make or break a news network should not have an ideological litmus test. He expressed concern that only One America News and Newsmax seemed to be targeted and believed the matter deserved an investigation.
It's worth mentioning that DeSantis removed Black History, LGBTQ, and Holocaust education from Florida schools, which raises questions about his credibility on censorship. The old saying goes, "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," so perhaps the governor should be cautious about calling for investigations.
In conclusion, the letter sent by Senators Cruz, Graham, Lee, and Cotton to DirecTV regarding the removal of Newsmax from their network has generated controversy and raised questions about the role of big tech companies and government officials in censorship of conservative speech. Governor DeSantis' request for an investigation is considered comical, given his past actions. It is noteworthy that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.