178 Comments
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Writer Of Romance's avatar

Thank you Ron for stating exactly what most of us who subscribe to independent media are thinking. I get all of my new sources from Media Touch Network and Bryan Tyler Cohen. Y’all have kept me from shutting down and keep fighting. The corporate media turned on us for ratings instead of reporting the facts.

Anna B's avatar

Yes, that's exactly why I'm here. And Joy is right as well, that profit can't be the goal of these core functions any more that a gov't can successfully be run 'like a business'.

Minnie's avatar

I do also, but add Michael Popok with LegalAF, Luke Beasley, ChasingOz, Under the Desk News, Tennessee Brando, Texas Paul, The Bulwark, Malcolm Nance Black Man Spy, Political News Network, Coach D, Heather Cox Richardson, Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow, George Conway, and more…

Joy's avatar

The United States still hasn't learned that monetary profit cannot be the goal of certain core functions.

Rick's avatar

That’s a fact! It’s all about profit, with our so-called so wonderful healthcare industry, and now the glaring elephant in the room so-called unbiased media industry! Last I checked, “greed” is still one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Thornton Prayer's avatar

Maybe I'm old or naive, but I learned a long time ago that being a citizen is more than just being a cog in the profit-making machine. For me, honor, ethics, and integrity are much more vital than simply making money. This is especially true when it comes to living up to the principles that supposedly define what America is.

Looks to future's avatar

Thornton, I'm old and have never been moneyminded. I believe in living simply so others can simply live. I'm amazed at the greed and selfishness of so many people, some in my own family.

I haven't watched so called media since the last week before the election. I was dumbstruck watching the same rally live and then watching the cleaned up version on CNN, MSNBC,FOX. Yes, I attempted to be open minded and even watched Fox... as long as I could stomach their lies without being sick to death. The lies were so blatant I can't believe how many people "believed" them!!!! It seems our education system is lacking in critical thinking development 🤔

SNaomi19's avatar

Well unfortunately, the way we use capitalism, all that matters is profit. We have some businesses run by how it would matter to shareholders and not customers. I don't have a way for us to change our views on business, but I think open dialogue that is not monitored by an egotistical billionaire is a great start.

Robertp123's avatar

Like truthful, balanced news.

Hannah B's avatar

It's learning now. The hard way, as always.

SeekingReason's avatar

Joy, Isn’t that stunning. The left is pushing BlueSky and doesn’t seem to look into the ownership! A foreign individual (China) previously started by the people who sold out Twitter to Musk

Joy's avatar

The code running Blue Sky is open source, meaning that anyone with the skill set can launch their own version of it

In addition,

Jay Graber is the primary owner and CEO of Bluesky, a social media app that's been described as a Twitter alternative:

Ownership

Graber is the primary owner of Bluesky, along with the rest of the Bluesky team.

Board

Other members of the Bluesky board include:

Jeremie Miller, the inventor of Jabber/XMPP

Mike Masnick, the founder of Techdirt

Kinjal Shah, a general partner at Blockchain Capital

Linda C Johnson's avatar

Yes!!! I rely on Meidas, Scott Dworkin, Heather Cox Richardson and Chuck Hobbs for factual news. No more MSM for me!

WJB Motown's avatar

No matter how many books they burn....how many propaganda radio stations they own....how many corporate whore tv stations they run...........the Orange racist nazi cult will NEVER defeat the Truth.

Jessie S.'s avatar

Also: Tim Snyder, Andrea Watkins, Greg Olear, and the ever fantastic Dan Rather!

Rhonda J's avatar

Ron is my man💪💪 Thank You👏. Keep it up MeidasTouch WE Want and Need facts in our news updates. We don't want "sane washing " it's insane and its cruel to purposely mislead ppl by not giving them the whole story and pretending that this crap going on is Normal, because it isn't and news media companies are making it easier to be accepted.

SptdFilly's avatar

News should always be truthful and state the facts! No one should twist what is happening to benefit them and brainwash others!

Christine's avatar

While I appreciate Meidas and am a paid subscriber, I believe we still need a platform with ongoing original reporting. Heather Cox Richardson and other writers/historians/journalists writing daily columns is not the same as independent investigative reporters digging into sources, events, and following a trail where it leads. ProPublica is a good source of investigative reporting. But opinions, interpretations of issues based on a specific political lens, or repeating the day's highlights are not substitutes for hard-hitting original reporting and writing. If following our favorite commentator is the Fourth Estate, we are in trouble.

Jessica Rath's avatar

I rely on The Guardian for that. Yes, they're British but cover world news excellently. And truly independent.

Christine's avatar

Yes I have a subscription to The Guardian as well. Thank you for adding this resource.

Robertp123's avatar

how does the Guardian stay independent?

Jessica Rath's avatar

They're owned by a Trust, and rely on subscriptions, although all articles are free. https://www.theguardian.com/about

Robertp123's avatar

Why can't our major news media be owned in trust??

Sandra Nicht's avatar

Reveal/Center for Investigative Reporting is also excellent and their programs get aired on NPR stations. They work with Mother Jones, which I subscribe to.

Judith Hays's avatar

I love Reveal! Informative reporting and sometimes shocking but that’s what journalism should be. Fact based information. Not click bait.

JustTanNotOrange's avatar

I agree. I’m sure they’re not perfect, but I also check out Vox for news. And though Meidas doesn’t have an investigative journalism model, they have unearthed and publicized information (part of investigative journalism, right?) - I believe it was Ron who found the clip of JD Vance criticizing childless cat ladies, for example. I would guess as they get more financial support, they might add staff who can focus on digging into a story over time.

Truth.Matters's avatar

It is only in places like this we can get true, unbiased factual news content that does not sugarcoat it like the big media markets did, not calling out the BS of Trump and normalizing it ,and like the freaking lies that X has done and turned into a propaganda machine. As long as we stay with facts, truth and calling out the BS that is becoming our hypocritical government, we have a path forward by making truth the norm now. And we’ve got to keep pushing back against the lies, constantly and harder than ever against the lies but if they do something right, we actually need to call that out too. There is no doubt we can use some improvement in our government, and our government has failed us for many years now but now we’re facing the most dire situation of our lives with what we have installed in the White House and question still remain whether there was some shenanigans that Suppressed some of this nations vote.

Robertp123's avatar

Corporate Media is NOT the solution. Corporate media is the PROBLEM.

A. Hofferkamp's avatar

It's time for Democrats to come together. Join ranks. Stick together and fight for the good of our democracy. GOP got behind Trump & are still behind him. Now we have to get together & stay together behind our core values. This is our fight. We can win if we are all in it together.

JustTanNotOrange's avatar

I agree! And I feel it is critical for all lower and middle income people to come together - to stop allowing ourselves to be manipulated by the wealthy’s divide-and-conquer tactics. I can’t make Trump supporters listen to me, or keep them from insulting me, but I will not insult them. We all need to wake up from this spell we’re under, that we are each others’ enemies.

We need to tell the truth, simply, repeatedly, over and over. To me that includes facts about the growing wealth gap, the needs that government can meet for those of us who are not rich, initiatives Democrats tried to pass that were blocked by Republicans, and other facts that are not discussed enough.

E.g., any time Donald Trump riding down that golden escalator is mentioned, we need to add that he really did pay actors to play his supporters. Rachel Maddow reported on it.

Also when Social Security is mentioned, we should hammer home that currently only the first $168,000 of income is taxed for Social Security, so the rich pay a much smaller percent of their incomes toward Soc Sec than the rest of us. Guess who doesn’t want to change this, but instead says we can’t afford “entitlements” and they need to be cut?

Eugene Phillips's avatar

I have not had the tv news on since November 6. I don’t want to see Trump or even hear his voice on the radio. I appreciate what Ron and Meidas are doing. I am presently bitter over the Democratic Party, that failed miserably in the election. In retrospect I blame Biden for not withdrawing from the race earlier in the year and opening up the primaries. I hope that 2026 will be a different story. I will be more frugal with my donations in the future.

Robertp123's avatar

I have not watched major TV news in about 2 years, Does wonders for one's mental health. However, you cannot stop the intake of information from the other side completely. You have to read it sometimes, and regularly.

Anna B's avatar

We do need to know our enemy or 'other side' if you prefer. So yes, check more than one source. I haven't had a TV in 20+ years, manage to keep up with news and also stay sane. At least as sane as I ever was ...

Adriana Rios's avatar

How about being upset at our "slower- than- molasses- system- of- laws" that allowed all the criminals and individual#1 to get away with crimes by running, and letting run the clocks until this point. In History, this will have a special place in the analysis of the origins of the next Holocaust. We were told to be patient about the work the DOJ were doing. Well, I said they are all in kahoots on the power buildings of this nation. This is the real depressing story. God help us all in 2025.

Lore's avatar

Thank you. Please consider supplementing this work with the formation of a committee to shadow Elon’s and Vivek’s advisory committee. A shadow committee made up of those who actually understand the government’s work and bureaucracies and who are not currently beholden to an employer or investors could translate the actual effects of the advisory committee to societal impacts and call out the gaps from the true potential of using AI on regulatory text. One historical example is https://shadowfed.org/.

Marc Klein's avatar

If Musk buys MSNBC, you can kiss it goodbye.. He will fire everyone, rename it Infowars (if he legally can) hire Alex JONES and you'll have another FOX "News" spewing hate and propoganda. And if he can, he'll take CNN too.

Jessie S.'s avatar

CNN went to the dark side a few years ago. I stopped watching when they started normalizing fascists. Infuriating. It’s all been infected by right wing scumbags. I’m done with all the networks. I will be curious what happens to Rachel and Lawrence, though. They are truth tellers.

Marc Klein's avatar

Well Rachael only airs once a week now as she's busy with her own podcast projects and Lawrence... He's a mystery. I publish here on Substack so feel free to subscribe.. I think this post gives me an idea for my next post to write about

Roseann Duchon's avatar

Rachel just took a huge salary cut and yes only one day a week which she wanted. Not sure if she sees the handwriting on the wall or trying to save MSNBC as she was the highest paid commentator, or she sees what’s coming down the pike if Musk makes a bid. Time to jump ship before that happens Rachel. I love your work!

Marc Klein's avatar

Neither. Her contract was up for renewal months ago and the new deal was once a week, when therss big news events while able to work on other projects for NBC.. This new deal is at least a year old.. Nothing to do with Trump.

Deborah Hart's avatar

Great analysis Ron! Thank you to Meidas Touch for helping me retain my sanity! 💙💙💙

Gloretta Baynes's avatar

Thank you for your forceful, excellent response!

Darlene's avatar

#WEARETHEMEIDASMIGHTY 🇺🇸💙🇺🇸💙🇺🇸💙

GingerLee's avatar

Well said...thank you...