Cabot Phillips

Sure. So the Obama administration originally launched the GEC as part of a counterterrorism initiative. But then after Trump took office in 2017, its purview expanded into combating ostensible disinformation. That was part of that now debunked Russia collusion narrative.

Sure. So the Obama administration originally launched the GEC as part of a counterterrorism initiative. But then after Trump took office in 2017, its purview expanded into combating ostensible disinformation. That was part of that now debunked Russia collusion narrative.

Well, the argument was that this was necessary to prevent foreign governments from targeting Americans with propaganda campaigns. But critics say the federal government essentially started using the GEC to engage in censorship against voices that might threaten the power of the entrenched political establishment.

Well, the argument was that this was necessary to prevent foreign governments from targeting Americans with propaganda campaigns. But critics say the federal government essentially started using the GEC to engage in censorship against voices that might threaten the power of the entrenched political establishment.

Mike Benz, a former State Department official, discussed last week with Joe Rogan the government push for widespread censorship in the name of so-called misinformation.

Mike Benz, a former State Department official, discussed last week with Joe Rogan the government push for widespread censorship in the name of so-called misinformation.

So critics say that the GEC is yet another arm of this censorship apparatus.

So critics say that the GEC is yet another arm of this censorship apparatus.

Well, the GEC became involved in policing social media content from American citizens. To give you just one example, before Elon Musk bought the platform, it gave Twitter a list of 5,500 users it had pinpointed for suppression because it said they were suspected Chinese accounts engaged in state-backed coordinated manipulation.

Well, the GEC became involved in policing social media content from American citizens. To give you just one example, before Elon Musk bought the platform, it gave Twitter a list of 5,500 users it had pinpointed for suppression because it said they were suspected Chinese accounts engaged in state-backed coordinated manipulation.

But it actually turned out that most of those accounts belonged to ordinary Americans. In fact, a few were CNN journalists. The GEC also funded initiatives that asked Twitter and other platforms to consider suspending tens of thousands of accounts suspected of spreading foreign disinformation. But again, it turned out that many were just ordinary citizens sharing ordinary domestic policy views.

But it actually turned out that most of those accounts belonged to ordinary Americans. In fact, a few were CNN journalists. The GEC also funded initiatives that asked Twitter and other platforms to consider suspending tens of thousands of accounts suspected of spreading foreign disinformation. But again, it turned out that many were just ordinary citizens sharing ordinary domestic policy views.

And then some of its activities sought to suppress conservative media specifically. For example, the GEC directed funds to third-party watchdog groups that created advertising blacklists of mostly conservative news organizations. And that included The Federalist, The New York Post, and The Daily Wire, which, of course, produces this program.

And then some of its activities sought to suppress conservative media specifically. For example, the GEC directed funds to third-party watchdog groups that created advertising blacklists of mostly conservative news organizations. And that included The Federalist, The New York Post, and The Daily Wire, which, of course, produces this program.

And it's for that that the Daily Wire, the Federalist, and the state of Texas are suing the GEC for violating freedom of speech and of the press.

And it's for that that the Daily Wire, the Federalist, and the state of Texas are suing the GEC for violating freedom of speech and of the press.

Yes, though right now there is a bipartisan effort to save it. So the GEC was not included in the latest draft of the defense authorization bill. That means right now it is set to expire in less than two weeks.

Yes, though right now there is a bipartisan effort to save it. So the GEC was not included in the latest draft of the defense authorization bill. That means right now it is set to expire in less than two weeks.

And then on top of that, on Monday, as part of that Daily Wire lawsuit, the State Department notified a federal court that the center is substantially likely to be terminated on December 23rd and its employees reassigned. But Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas have been actually pushing to extend the GEC's authorization.

And then on top of that, on Monday, as part of that Daily Wire lawsuit, the State Department notified a federal court that the center is substantially likely to be terminated on December 23rd and its employees reassigned. But Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas have been actually pushing to extend the GEC's authorization.