Newsmax: Still Clinging to the Titanic, or Plotting a Comeback?
So, Newsmax is going to some fancy RBC Capital Markets conference? Big deal. Another chance for CEO Christopher Ruddy to schmooze with the suits and spin some BS about "reaching 40 million Americans." Yeah, reaching them with what? Fear-mongering headlines and Grandpa Simpson-level takes on current events? Let's be real.
And what's with this "news powerhouse" label Forbes slapped on them? A news powerhouse is supposed to, you know, break news, not just amplify whatever drivel Trump tweets out at 3 AM. But offcourse, these days, "news" is whatever confirms your pre-existing biases, right?
The Santorum Sanction
Then you got Rick Santorum, bless his heart, trying to play referee in the Tucker Carlson/Nick Fuentes debacle. He's basically saying Kevin Roberts at the Heritage Foundation "missed it a little bit" by defending Carlson's right to platform a known antisemite. Here's the thing: it ain't about "canceling" Fuentes, Rick. It's about not giving him a microphone in the first damn place. Santorum's trying to split hairs, but the stench of the whole situation is still overpowering.
Like, are we really supposed to pretend that Newsmax isn't complicit in this culture war garbage? They're happy to stoke the flames as long as it keeps the ratings up. And let's not forget Greg Kelly's gem about hijabs not being "congruent with American culture." Seriously? Is this the America we want? A place where people are judged based on their religious garb? Give me a break. Newsmax's Greg Kelly says the hijab is “not exactly something that is congruent with American culture”
Fighting the Pentagon (and Losing?)
And then there's the standoff with the Pentagon. Newsmax, along with the New York Times and AP, refusing to sign some ridiculous document that essentially gags reporters. Pete Hegseth, that paragon of journalistic integrity, is all smug about it, saying reporters are just "crying victim online."
But wait a minute... Isn't Newsmax usually all about "supporting the troops" and "national security"? So why are they suddenly siding with the "liberal media" against the Pentagon? Oh, right, because even they can see that this is a blatant attempt to control the narrative. It's like they want to have their cake and eat it too – be the staunch defender of the military while simultaneously railing against government overreach... except when it suits them.
I mean, what's next? Are they going to start demanding loyalty oaths from their own reporters? Will they start fact-checking opinions? Okay, that's a low blow, even for me. Still, it's hard not to see this as a sign of desperation. They're trying to stay relevant in a media landscape that's rapidly changing, and they're flailing.
So, What's the Real Story Here?
Newsmax is a sinking ship desperately trying to convince everyone it's a luxury yacht. They can attend all the conferences they want, trot out their talking heads, and virtue signal about "free speech." But at the end of the day, they're just peddling a brand of divisive, fear-based propaganda that's poisoning the well of American discourse. And honestly, I'm not sure they even care.
