MAGA runs wild with random poster's "ABC whistleblower" claims

[Nevilledog]

https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-business/maga-runs-wild-random-posters-abc-whistleblower-claims

A wildly flimsy internet rumor launched by a random pro-Trump X poster about an “ABC whistleblower” who purportedly claims that the network rigged the September 10 presidential debate went viral in MAGA spaces over the last several days, with Donald Trump and his allies floating congressional investigations and potential regulatory retribution against ABC News in response.

The right-wing pundits and Republican politicians pushing the story don’t actually know who the “ABC whistleblower” is, if their claims are credible, or even if the person actually exists — but the purported document supposedly supports their preferred narrative that ABC News’ moderators were biased, so they’re running with it.

The saga, while laughable, shows the right's ongoing tendency to embrace and elevate anything that confirms their worldview. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) laid out that strategy in a Sunday interview on CNN, admitting that he pushed a debunked, racist, and demagogic claim about Haitian immigrants eating pets because he wants to “create stories” that drive news coverage of immigration.

In the instance of the absurd “whistleblower” claim, Trump's allies trotted it out as they tried to cover for his flailing September 10 debate performance. Right-wing media figures lashed out at ABC News and its moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis with deranged invective and absurd conspiracy theories. And Trump himself said in an interview the following morning that “they ought to take away their license,” reiterating his support for government retribution against news outlets that displease him.

*snip*

[wryter2000]

1. How do you rig a debate?

Do you write scripts for the debaters?

I guess you could give one side the questions in advance, but is it hard to guess what the moderators will ask?

[Docreed2003]

2. All the MAGAs are eating this crap up

I had to diffuse this nonsense at work today when several nurses were discussing this as if it were fact and how "it's an affidavit" as if putting frills on bullshit makes it any less bullshit.

[Trenzalore]

3. Facebook this week has told me

Roseanne Barr has a show on Fox that has a billion viewers

Taylor Swift is banned from KC Chiefs games

Tim Allen, Mark Wahlberger, and Mel Gibson are starting a new film studio with 5 billion dollars

David Muir got fired from ABC

So......