What’s With AT&T’s DirecTV Kicking Out Conservative Newsmax And OAN?

Soon, when you flip on AT&T’s DirectTV, you’ll be able to find tens of liberal news networks, but only two conservative-leaning channels — Fox News and The First.

These are the only two news outlets that offer conservative information? No. In fact, there’s an even more popular channel than The First that DirectTV has elected not to carry: Newsmax.

DirectTV just fired Newsmax, fourth-ranked cable news network. Despite its popularity and success, it was a popular choice. OAN, another Right-leaning network was also kicked out of DirecTV last Spring.

The decision to cut ties with Newsmax, according to the company’s founder & CEO Chris Ruddy, is a “blatant act of political discrimination and censorship.”

Ruddy is correct indeed.

AT&T’s decision to nix both OAN and Newsmax came after Representatives Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) sent a letter The company will be requesting information regarding what in 2021 “action” it was taking to counter the usual allegations of misinformation and disinformation on conservative channels — Fox News, Newsmax, and OAN.

Both claimed that this trio of channels was what they used to communicate with each other. “hotbeds that produce content that leads to real harm.”

McNerney, Eshoo and others cited a variety of Left-wing outlets that promote Democratic propaganda all day.

Absent in the two’s concerns was anything about the Russia collusion hoax narrative, global warming falsehoods, myths about police violence, or any other leftist narrative that is based on lies. Even more alarming was the fact that no other cable channel seemed to be concerned about the government’s incessant pressure on a private media company to silence it.

Eshoo insists that she did not commit any direct violations to the First Amendment, claiming that the letter was justified “asking questions” It is not necessary to ask for the network’s removal.

Of course, there’s the old saying: Never write if speaking is possible.

Maybe AT&T was given a silent signal to go along with the leftist line.

Per Newsmax, the idea that it was a financial decision doesn’t make any sense.

“DirecTV pays cable license fees to all top 75 cable channels and to all 22 liberal news and information channels it carries,” Newsmax said In an editorial “Almost all of these channels are paid hefty license fees significantly more than Newsmax was seeking — and despite the fact that most of the channels have much lower ratings than Newsmax.”

Republicans on Capitol Hill have promised to investigate the matter. Newsmax spoke with James Comer (Republican from Kentucky), who is the chair of House Oversight and Reform Committee. “very concerned” by it and will use all his power to investigate.

“I’ve had several people from AT&T reach out to me,” He added. “We’re going to have a meeting with them and, hopefully, we can get this resolved.”

To send a loud and clear message, politicians like Senator Rand Paul (R.KY), former president Donald J. Trump, as well as others, are encouraging millions to abandon AT&T.

AT&T’s decision comes amidst the backdrop of various corporations pushing the woke agenda. There is ample evidence that Big Tech has conspired with the FBI and other actors in order to silence Right-leaning media outlets and speech that opposes the government-media complex agenda. Conservatives seem to be outnumbered in all sectors of society, it seems.

Newsmax reels in “25 million Americans on cable alone” According to the company. All of them are being sent to Fox News and the new First TV. But, for those who think it’s no big deal that liberal networks outnumber conservative channels 22:2 on AT&T, they should remember that the censorship might not end there.

As Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ) explained, “First @OANN, now @NEWSMAX… This is an unacceptable attack on free speech, and every American should be outraged.”

First @OANNNow! @NEWSMAX…

This is a serious attack on freedom of speech and should be condemned by every American. https://t.co/6tAgzBNl8n

— Eli Crane for Congress (@EliCraneAZ) January 25, 2023

Given DirecTV’s alleged political bias, it seems that conservative media is being blocked out on cable, thus allowing legacy media and the liberal TV industry to control the narrative even tighter. That stranglehold isn’t enough for anti-free speech actors. To dictate the direction and flow of information, leftists want complete control of news media.

The antidote to that propaganda is the truth, which is why conservative outlets — such as Newsmax and others — are silenced by their opponents.

Author’s Note: Tim Meads is a former Newsmax.com opinion editor.

The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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