Topic: Media Research Center
The Media Research Center is always eager to help a fellow right-winger play victim, and Luis Cornelio was happy to oblige in an April 4 post that suggested a conspiracy theory under the headline "INTERFERENCE":
Anti-free speech Big Tech platform YouTube slapped RSBN with a seven-day ban the day prior it was scheduled to cover former President Trump’s NYC arraignment.
The Right Side Broadcasting Network (RSBN) slammed YouTube for blocking the media outlet’s ability to live-stream its on-the-ground coverage of Trump’s Tuesday arraignment. With over 1.5 million YouTube followers, RSBN is one of the largest pro-Trump networks in the nation.
Trump appeared before a Manhattan courtroom and pleaded not guilty to 34 dubious felony charges related to alleged hush payments. The charges were filed by Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg who made prosecuting Donald Trump and his organizations a “number one issue” of his campaign in 2021.
RSBN will feature its live stream on its official website.
RSBN’s account was temporarily banned after reportedly violating YouTube’s “elections misinformation” policies, according to a statement the outlet shared on Twitter. “On Monday, RSBN said it received a notice from YouTube informing us that due to content violating their ‘elections misinformation’ policies, the platform has removed several videos. These include President Trump’s most recent rally in Waco, Texas, his remarks at CPAC, and our exclusive sit-down interview with him at Mar-a-Lago.”
Note how Cornelio hit all the corporate right-wing talking points the MRC has beenusing to defend Trump: the charges are dubious, Bragg is owned by Soros. Also note that Cornelio refused to describe RSBN as biased, stating only that it's "pro-Trump" -- if the MRC agrees with your bias, you can't possibly be biased.
Cornelio also gave space to an RSBN offical to laughably reframe what his channel does as offering "conservative opinions that counter the left’s narrative" and that it would continue to "give a voice to his millions of supporters as political persecution continues." Yes, only in the right-wing media bubble is calling out lies considered "political persecution." meanwhile, a more honest media outlet told the full story that Cornelio wouldn't:
Media watchdog group Media Matters supported YouTube’s decision but said it was a long time coming for an organization that regularly comes close to violating the platform’s misinformation policies.
“YouTube has allowed Right Side News Broadcasting to routinely violate its terms of service by broadcasting election lies as it uses the platform to build a mainstream audience,” MMFA Vice President Julie Millican told Gizmodo. “RSBN is a megaphone for insurrectionists and gleefully flaunts YouTube’s rules by airing election conspiracies while advertising its Rumble page where it promises ‘Trump Exclusives’ with ‘No Censorship.’”
Neither Cornelio nor RSBN offered an explanation of why RSBN continues to spread known lies, or why RSBN should not face any consequences for lying to its viewers or for violating reasonable YouTube policies.
