Adam H Johnson
@ahjohnson.bsky.social
citationspod.bsky.social podcast, write @ The Nation, Real News, In These Times, things of that nature
columnblog.com
columnblog.com
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
We will continue to repost this evergreen piece from @ahjohnson.bsky.social
BariWeiss is doing exactly what she was chosen by the Ellisons to do.
BariWeiss is doing exactly what she was chosen by the Ellisons to do.
Excellent by @theintercept.com @ahjohnson.bsky.social
This is the CBS / 60minutes context: Ellison's emissary Bari Weiss is doing exactly what she was chosen to do.
"about consolidating top-down oligarchical control over legacy media brands that will endure"
theintercept.com/2025/12/22/b...
This is the CBS / 60minutes context: Ellison's emissary Bari Weiss is doing exactly what she was chosen to do.
"about consolidating top-down oligarchical control over legacy media brands that will endure"
theintercept.com/2025/12/22/b...
Bari Weiss Is Doing Exactly What She Was Installed at CBS to Do
Cutting one “60 Minutes” segment is a small price to be paid to keep Trump happy and shape the future of American media.
theintercept.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:47 AM
We will continue to repost this evergreen piece from @ahjohnson.bsky.social
BariWeiss is doing exactly what she was chosen by the Ellisons to do.
BariWeiss is doing exactly what she was chosen by the Ellisons to do.
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
Strike against ICE: Baltimore joins national day of protest
YouTube video by The Real News Network
youtu.be
January 30, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
In this News Brief, "ICE, Senate Dems' Counterinsurgency PR, and the Limits of Body Cam Liberalism," we detail the fundamental problems with Senate Democrats' cosmetic reforms, the strategy of letting outrage blow over and the conspicuous absence of any proposal that touches ICE's obscene budget.
News Brief: ICE, Senate Dems' Counterinsurgency PR, and the Limits of Body Cam Liberalism
In this News Brief, we detail the fundamental problems with Senate Democrats' cosmetic reforms, the strategy of letting outrage blow over and the conspicuous absence of any proposal that touches ICE's
soundcloud.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:44 PM
In this News Brief, "ICE, Senate Dems' Counterinsurgency PR, and the Limits of Body Cam Liberalism," we detail the fundamental problems with Senate Democrats' cosmetic reforms, the strategy of letting outrage blow over and the conspicuous absence of any proposal that touches ICE's obscene budget.
I wrote about Senate Dems’ proposed “reforms,” which range from superficial to likely unenforceable to actively harmful; the grip billionaire-backed anti-“abolish” Groups have over Washington and the conspicuous absence of any attempt to touch DHS’s obscene budget.
Senate Democrats’ DHS "Reforms" Shaping Up To Be Another Kneeling Kente Cloth Moment
“Body cams,” vague demands of “accountability,” but no attempt to cut DHS's obscene budget is a recipe for status quo maintenance.
www.columnblog.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:06 PM
I wrote about Senate Dems’ proposed “reforms,” which range from superficial to likely unenforceable to actively harmful; the grip billionaire-backed anti-“abolish” Groups have over Washington and the conspicuous absence of any attempt to touch DHS’s obscene budget.
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
NEW: If ICE was a national military it would be the 13th biggest in the world, IPS @nationalpriorities.bsky.social researchers found.
To make ICE less deadly, Democratic leadership must focus less on weak reforms and more on cutting its colossal funding. @ahjohnson.bsky.social in @therealnews.com:
To make ICE less deadly, Democratic leadership must focus less on weak reforms and more on cutting its colossal funding. @ahjohnson.bsky.social in @therealnews.com:
In response to the Renee Good killing, Dems propose ICE reforms that would have done nothing to prevent the Renee Good killing
Good’s killer was a 10-year ICE veteran, himself a trainer, and recorded the killing. What good would more training and more cameras have done?
therealnews.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:49 PM
NEW: If ICE was a national military it would be the 13th biggest in the world, IPS @nationalpriorities.bsky.social researchers found.
To make ICE less deadly, Democratic leadership must focus less on weak reforms and more on cutting its colossal funding. @ahjohnson.bsky.social in @therealnews.com:
To make ICE less deadly, Democratic leadership must focus less on weak reforms and more on cutting its colossal funding. @ahjohnson.bsky.social in @therealnews.com:
I broke down the ICE “reforms” being proposed by Dem leadership. tl;dr: They totally avoid touching ICE’s funding, in key ways actually increase ICE funding and instead focus on meaningless busywork like “body cams” and “more training”.
Good’s killer was a 10-year ICE veteran, himself a trainer, and recorded the killing. What good would more training and more cameras have done? By @ahjohnson.bsky.social
In response to the Renee Good killing, Dems propose ICE reforms that would have done nothing to prevent the Renee Good killing
Good’s killer was a 10-year ICE veteran, himself a trainer, and recorded the killing. What good would more training and more cameras have done?
therealnews.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:28 PM
I broke down the ICE “reforms” being proposed by Dem leadership. tl;dr: They totally avoid touching ICE’s funding, in key ways actually increase ICE funding and instead focus on meaningless busywork like “body cams” and “more training”.
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
In this News Brief, "As Dem Leadership Waffles—Labor, Organizers, Immigrants Fight Back in Minneapolis," we break down Dem leadership's fatuous "body cam" and "training" response to ICE brutality, and how organizers in the Twin Cities are not settling for cosmetic reform.
w/ guest Janette Corcelius
w/ guest Janette Corcelius
News Brief: As Dem Leadership Waffles—Labor, Organizers, Immigrants Fight Back in Minneapolis
In this News Brief, we break down Democratic leadership's fatuous
soundcloud.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:15 AM
In this News Brief, "As Dem Leadership Waffles—Labor, Organizers, Immigrants Fight Back in Minneapolis," we break down Dem leadership's fatuous "body cam" and "training" response to ICE brutality, and how organizers in the Twin Cities are not settling for cosmetic reform.
w/ guest Janette Corcelius
w/ guest Janette Corcelius
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
In this News Brief, we discuss corporate media uncritically framing a potential military attack on Iran by Trump as being motivated by concern for human rights—a premise that, while laughable on its face, has quickly morphed into elite media consensus.
News Brief: For Media Reporting on Iran, Trump Suddenly Morphs into Pro-Democracy Humanitarian
In this News Brief, we discuss corporate media uncritically framing a potential military attack on Iran by Trump as being motivated by concern for human rights—a premise that, while laughable on its f
soundcloud.com
January 18, 2026 at 12:59 AM
In this News Brief, we discuss corporate media uncritically framing a potential military attack on Iran by Trump as being motivated by concern for human rights—a premise that, while laughable on its face, has quickly morphed into elite media consensus.
Trump claims to want to bomb Iran over human rights concerns. This excuse is obviously pretextual, fake and not something Trump has ever expressed interest in until 12 days ago. Nevertheless, as I write, corporate media is uncritically reporting on it as if it’s a sincere and genuine conviction.
As the US president moves from bombing one country to another, liberal-washing of Trump continues apace: by @ahjohnson.bsky.social
While he openly shakes down Venezuela for oil, US media acts like Trump cares about human rights in Iran
As the US president moves from bombing one country to another, liberal-washing of Trump continues apace.
therealnews.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Trump claims to want to bomb Iran over human rights concerns. This excuse is obviously pretextual, fake and not something Trump has ever expressed interest in until 12 days ago. Nevertheless, as I write, corporate media is uncritically reporting on it as if it’s a sincere and genuine conviction.
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
In this News Brief, "How Corporate Media Laid the Groundwork for a Rightwing Incitement Campaign in Minnesota," we detail how CBS, WSJ, NYT promoted an overblown narrative on the "Somali Minnesota fraud" story, teeing up a full blown rightwing incitement campaign.
w/ @matthewccook5.bsky.social
w/ @matthewccook5.bsky.social
News Brief: How Corporate Media Laid the Groundwork for a Rightwing Incitement Campaign in Minnesota
In this News Brief, we detail how CBS, Fox, WSJ, and NYT promoted an essentialized, overblown narrative on the
soundcloud.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:23 PM
In this News Brief, "How Corporate Media Laid the Groundwork for a Rightwing Incitement Campaign in Minnesota," we detail how CBS, WSJ, NYT promoted an overblown narrative on the "Somali Minnesota fraud" story, teeing up a full blown rightwing incitement campaign.
w/ @matthewccook5.bsky.social
w/ @matthewccook5.bsky.social
I wrote about reporters’ refusal to use “act of war,” “invasion” or “coup” when covering Trump’s brazen attacks on Venezuela, instead echoing WH-approved euphemisms, and the broader trend of our press dutifully giving Trump’s lawlessness the vague whiff of international legitimacy when it has none.
By framing this brazen act of aggression in euphemistic terms, the media is falling in line with Trump.
The Media Refuses to Call Trump’s Venezuela Attack an Act of War
By framing the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro in euphemistic terms, the media is falling in line with Trump.
interc.pt
January 4, 2026 at 11:17 PM
I wrote about reporters’ refusal to use “act of war,” “invasion” or “coup” when covering Trump’s brazen attacks on Venezuela, instead echoing WH-approved euphemisms, and the broader trend of our press dutifully giving Trump’s lawlessness the vague whiff of international legitimacy when it has none.
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
Excellent by @theintercept.com @ahjohnson.bsky.social
This is the CBS / 60minutes context: Ellison's emissary Bari Weiss is doing exactly what she was chosen to do.
"about consolidating top-down oligarchical control over legacy media brands that will endure"
theintercept.com/2025/12/22/b...
This is the CBS / 60minutes context: Ellison's emissary Bari Weiss is doing exactly what she was chosen to do.
"about consolidating top-down oligarchical control over legacy media brands that will endure"
theintercept.com/2025/12/22/b...
Bari Weiss Is Doing Exactly What She Was Installed at CBS to Do
Cutting one “60 Minutes” segment is a small price to be paid to keep Trump happy and shape the future of American media.
theintercept.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Excellent by @theintercept.com @ahjohnson.bsky.social
This is the CBS / 60minutes context: Ellison's emissary Bari Weiss is doing exactly what she was chosen to do.
"about consolidating top-down oligarchical control over legacy media brands that will endure"
theintercept.com/2025/12/22/b...
This is the CBS / 60minutes context: Ellison's emissary Bari Weiss is doing exactly what she was chosen to do.
"about consolidating top-down oligarchical control over legacy media brands that will endure"
theintercept.com/2025/12/22/b...
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
"Weiss and Ellison’s interference into “60 Minutes” creates a de facto state media, but their burgeoning empire is about consolidating oligarchical control over legacy media that will endure long after Trump fades into irrelevance," writes @ahjohnson.bsky.social. theintercept.com/2025/12/22/b...
Bari Weiss Is Doing Exactly What She Was Installed at CBS to Do
Cutting one “60 Minutes” segment is a small price to be paid to keep Trump happy and shape the future of American media.
theintercept.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
"Weiss and Ellison’s interference into “60 Minutes” creates a de facto state media, but their burgeoning empire is about consolidating oligarchical control over legacy media that will endure long after Trump fades into irrelevance," writes @ahjohnson.bsky.social. theintercept.com/2025/12/22/b...
I wrote about NYT, CNN, and ABC’s casual acceptance that US dictates and Trump’s arbitrary use of American violence against Venezuela is somehow a form of “international” law. It’s not, and US media should stop implying and/or outright lying that it is.
US Media Rushes to Manufacture Legal Legitimacy for Trump’s Venezuela Oil Tanker Piracy
Venezuela oil exports are not “black market” and US sanctions are not “international sanctions.” Why does our media keep saying otherwise?
www.columnblog.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I wrote about NYT, CNN, and ABC’s casual acceptance that US dictates and Trump’s arbitrary use of American violence against Venezuela is somehow a form of “international” law. It’s not, and US media should stop implying and/or outright lying that it is.
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
@ahjohnson.bsky.social explains how the media, including (surprise surprise!) the New York Times, is covering for Trump and lying to us about the Venezuelan oil tanker
www.columnblog.com/p/us-media-r...
www.columnblog.com/p/us-media-r...
US Media Rushes to Manufacture Legal Legitimacy for Trump’s Venezuela Oil Tanker Piracy
Venezuela oil exports are not “black market” and US sanctions are not “international sanctions.” Why does our media keep saying otherwise?
www.columnblog.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:10 PM
@ahjohnson.bsky.social explains how the media, including (surprise surprise!) the New York Times, is covering for Trump and lying to us about the Venezuelan oil tanker
www.columnblog.com/p/us-media-r...
www.columnblog.com/p/us-media-r...
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
In this News Brief, "CNN Partners with Gambling App That Lets You Wager on Starvation in Gaza," we break down CNN's partnership with Kalshi, the moral hazards of news gambling markets and the broader media-assisted financialization of every aspect of our lives.
News Brief: CNN Partners with Gambling App That Lets You Wager on Starvation in Gaza | Citations Needed
Get more from Citations Needed on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:44 PM
In this News Brief, "CNN Partners with Gambling App That Lets You Wager on Starvation in Gaza," we break down CNN's partnership with Kalshi, the moral hazards of news gambling markets and the broader media-assisted financialization of every aspect of our lives.
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
Coming May 19, 2026 from Amistad Books and HarperCollins
THE OVERSEER CLASS:
A Manifesto
by Steven W. Thrasher
cover art by Jamaal Barber
Available for pre-order now www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
THE OVERSEER CLASS:
A Manifesto
by Steven W. Thrasher
cover art by Jamaal Barber
Available for pre-order now www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
December 8, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Coming May 19, 2026 from Amistad Books and HarperCollins
THE OVERSEER CLASS:
A Manifesto
by Steven W. Thrasher
cover art by Jamaal Barber
Available for pre-order now www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
THE OVERSEER CLASS:
A Manifesto
by Steven W. Thrasher
cover art by Jamaal Barber
Available for pre-order now www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
I wrote about CNN partnering with a gambling app that lets you wager on famine in Gaza, what this shift portends in our media, the obvious moral hazards of this arrangement, and “news” as politically impotent, disempowering spectator sport
The network will integrate betting odds for life-and-death issues into its coverage. What could possibly go wrong?
By @ahjohnson.bsky.social
By @ahjohnson.bsky.social
CNN partners with Kalshi, a gambling app that lets you wager on starvation in Gaza
The network will integrate betting odds for life-and-death issues into its coverage. What could possibly go wrong?
therealnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I wrote about CNN partnering with a gambling app that lets you wager on famine in Gaza, what this shift portends in our media, the obvious moral hazards of this arrangement, and “news” as politically impotent, disempowering spectator sport
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
In this News Brief, "BBC's Gaza Double Standard and Western Liberalism's Crisis of Legitimacy," we interview journalist Daniel Trilling and discuss his investigation into the BBC's systemic anti-Palestinian bias.
News Brief: BBC's Gaza Double Standard and Western Liberalism's Crisis of Legitimacy
In this public News Brief, we interview journalist Daniel Trilling and discuss his investigation into the BBC's systemic anti-Palestinian bias.
soundcloud.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
In this News Brief, "BBC's Gaza Double Standard and Western Liberalism's Crisis of Legitimacy," we interview journalist Daniel Trilling and discuss his investigation into the BBC's systemic anti-Palestinian bias.
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
Preordered this so fast
I wrote a book about US media’s complicity in the Gaza genocide. It's available for pre-order. It’s a data-driven and, I hope, thorough account of how center-left media sold the American public on mass death in Gaza.
Out 4/21. 100% of royalties go to @mecaforpeace.bsky.social.
Out 4/21. 100% of royalties go to @mecaforpeace.bsky.social.
How to Sell a Genocide - Pluto Press
A gripping exposé of how the corporate media fuelled genocide in Gaza
www.plutobooks.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Preordered this so fast
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
In Ep 231, "How To Oppose Genocide Without Opposing Genocide (Part 2): AIPAC Dems' Fake Israel Criticisms," we detail the buyers' market for superficial Gaza critiques that permit ambitious Democrats to look pro-Palestine without the downside of actually being so.
With guest @tksshawa.bsky.social.
With guest @tksshawa.bsky.social.
How To Oppose Genocide Without Opposing Genocide (Part 2): AIPAC Dems' Fake Israel Criticisms
Citations Needed is a podcast about the media, power, PR, and the history of bullshit. It is hosted by Nima Shirazi and Adam Johnson, and produced by Florence Barrau-Adams.
soundcloud.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:20 PM
In Ep 231, "How To Oppose Genocide Without Opposing Genocide (Part 2): AIPAC Dems' Fake Israel Criticisms," we detail the buyers' market for superficial Gaza critiques that permit ambitious Democrats to look pro-Palestine without the downside of actually being so.
With guest @tksshawa.bsky.social.
With guest @tksshawa.bsky.social.
I wrote a book about US media’s complicity in the Gaza genocide. It's available for pre-order. It’s a data-driven and, I hope, thorough account of how center-left media sold the American public on mass death in Gaza.
Out 4/21. 100% of royalties go to @mecaforpeace.bsky.social.
Out 4/21. 100% of royalties go to @mecaforpeace.bsky.social.
How to Sell a Genocide - Pluto Press
A gripping exposé of how the corporate media fuelled genocide in Gaza
www.plutobooks.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I wrote a book about US media’s complicity in the Gaza genocide. It's available for pre-order. It’s a data-driven and, I hope, thorough account of how center-left media sold the American public on mass death in Gaza.
Out 4/21. 100% of royalties go to @mecaforpeace.bsky.social.
Out 4/21. 100% of royalties go to @mecaforpeace.bsky.social.
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
In Ep 230, "How To Oppose Genocide Without Opposing Genocide (Part 1): Biden World's Reputation Laundering PR Tour," we detail attempts by ex-Biden officials to distance themselves from the horrors of Gaza and lay out the emerging Dem-aligned media industry of vibing past Dems' support for genocide.
How To Oppose Genocide Without Opposing Genocide (Part 1): Biden World's Reputation Laundering Tour
In this episode, we detail recent attempts by former Biden officials to rewrite history and absolve themselves of responsibility for the horrors of Gaza, and lay out the emerging Dem-aligned media ind
soundcloud.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:46 PM
In Ep 230, "How To Oppose Genocide Without Opposing Genocide (Part 1): Biden World's Reputation Laundering PR Tour," we detail attempts by ex-Biden officials to distance themselves from the horrors of Gaza and lay out the emerging Dem-aligned media industry of vibing past Dems' support for genocide.
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
Leading up to NYC’s election, politicians launched a barrage of racist claims against Zohran Mamdani. Mainstream media outlets have barely covered it.
@ahjohnson.bsky.social reports on the Islamophobic vitriol, threats of deportation, & virtually no coverage.
@ahjohnson.bsky.social reports on the Islamophobic vitriol, threats of deportation, & virtually no coverage.
Why is Mainstream Media Ignoring Overtly Racist Attacks on Mamdani from Congressional Republicans?
Non-stop Islamophobic vitriol, threats of deportation, and virtually no coverage from CNN, NBC, CBS, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal or The Washington Post.
inthesetimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Leading up to NYC’s election, politicians launched a barrage of racist claims against Zohran Mamdani. Mainstream media outlets have barely covered it.
@ahjohnson.bsky.social reports on the Islamophobic vitriol, threats of deportation, & virtually no coverage.
@ahjohnson.bsky.social reports on the Islamophobic vitriol, threats of deportation, & virtually no coverage.
Reposted by Adam H Johnson
Times Union editorial board tackled this in June, and again last month:
November 15, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Times Union editorial board tackled this in June, and again last month: