Conservatives have long accused the mainstream media of having a liberal bias.
But even the most cynical of media critics wouldn’t have predicted this.
A group the White House recently identified as key in selling the Iran nuclear deal to the public gave National Public Radio $100,000 last year to help it report on the pact and related issues, according to the group’s annual report.
The group also funded reporters and partnerships with other news outlets.
And if that weren’t fuel enough for the conspiracy theorists, the whole thing is being financed by controversial liberal philanthropist George Soros.
The Ploughshares Fund’s mission is to “build a safe, secure world by developing and investing in initiatives to reduce and ultimately eliminate the world’s nuclear stockpiles,” one that dovetails with President Barack Obama’s arms control efforts. But its behind-the-scenes role advocating for the Iran agreement got more attention this month after a candid profile of Ben Rhodes, one of the president’s top foreign policy aides.
In The New York Times article, Rhodes explained how the Obama administration worked with nongovernmental organizations, proliferation experts and even friendly reporters to build support for the seven-nation accord that curtailed Iran’s nuclear activity and softened international financial penalties on Tehran.
“We created an echo chamber,” said Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser, adding that “outside groups like Ploughshares” helped carry out the administration’s message effectively.
The magazine piece revived Republican criticism of the Iran agreement as they suggested it was evidence of a White House spin machine misleading the American people.
Outside groups of all stripes are increasingly giving money to news organizations for special projects or general news coverage. Most news organizations, including The Associated Press, have strict rules governing whom they can accept money from and how to protect journalistic independence.
Ploughshares’ backing is more unusual, given its prominent role in the rancorous, partisan debate over the Iran deal.
The Ploughshares grant to NPR supported “national security reporting that emphasizes the themes of U.S. nuclear weapons policy and budgets, Iran’s nuclear program, international nuclear security topics and U.S. policy toward nuclear security,” according to Ploughshares’ 2015 annual report, recently published online.
Ploughshares has funded NPR’s coverage of national security since 2005, the radio network said. Ploughshares reports show at least $700,000 in funding over that time. All grant descriptions since 2010 specifically mention Iran.
Especially concerning for Republican lawmakers is that taxpayers supply NPR with a significant portion of its funding. Just this week, the GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee tried to summon Rhodes to a hearing entitled “White House Narratives on the Iran Nuclear Deal,” but he refused.
Ploughshares’ links to media are “tremendously troubling,” said Rep. Mike Pompeo of Kansas, an Iran-deal critic.
Pompeo told The Associated Press he repeatedly asked NPR to be interviewed last year as a counterweight to a Democratic supporter of the agreement, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, who he said regularly appeared on the network. But NPR refused to put Pompeo on the air, he said. The network said it had no record of Pompeo’s requests, and listed several prominent Republicans who were featured speaking about the deal or economic sanctions on Iran.
Another who appeared on NPR is Joseph Cirincione, Ploughshares’ president. He spoke about the negotiations on air at least twice last year. NPR identified Ploughshares as an NPR funder one of those times; the other time, it didn’t.
Ploughshares boasts of helping to secure the deal. While success was “driven by the fearless leadership of the Obama administration and supporters in Congress,” board chairwoman Mary Lloyd Estrin wrote in the annual report, “less known is the absolutely critical role that civil society played in tipping the scales towards this extraordinary policy victory.”
Ploughshares has set its sights on other media organizations, too.
In a “Cultural Strategy Report” on its website, the group outlined a broader objective of “ensuring regular and accurate coverage of nuclear issues in reputable and strategic media outlets” such as The Guardian, Salon, The Huffington Post or Pro Publica.
Previous efforts failed to generate enough coverage, it noted. These included “funding of reporters at The Nation and Mother Jones and a partnership with The Center for Public Integrity to create a national security desk.” It suggested using “web videos, podcasts, photo-based stories” and other “attention-grabbing formats” for “creatively reframing the issue.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
After having watched 60 minutes last night featuring Valarie Jarred being born in Iran and Soros originally from Europe I wouldn’t doubt for a minute they were both involved.
The most transparent government in the history of the US is now the most corrupt government in the history of the US – all should be tried for treason and then jailed for the remainder of their natural lives.
WHY THIS NAZI COLLABORATOR HAS’NT BEEN DEPORTED FOR AIDING AND ABETTING OUR ENEMY IS A CRIME IN ITSELF.
Executed
That is my thinking also instead of prison, it would save lots of dollars being paid by tax payers.
Soras is a commie pinko and should be locked up or deported.
I ask the same question ??? Why this scumbag BOZGOR ( in Europe means bad name for Hungarians) Nazi Soros have so much influence on American politics WHY his opinion matters,he should be locked up along with his millions .
i can not understand”WHAT DOING M O S A D?? this bastard,in 1943-1944, at Budapest was the BIG COLABORATOR with S.S,wich deported all jews to german concentration camps.he deserved to died long time ago,but is not to late.
Sent Gitmo
Why ” Jail ” for their Natural Lives ???? KILL ALL OF THEM BY EXECUTION AND BE DONE WITH THIS BATCH OF TREASONOUS BASTARDS.
Soros>>>CLINTINS>>>>OBAMAS>>>>RHOES>>> SUSAN RICE>>> JON EFFEN KERRY>>>>THE WHOLE WH NUNCH OF IDIOTS DESERVE FACING A FIRING SQUAD,,,,
While I agree with all of the above comments, the primary reason we have the political mess we have today is that all politicians are “Career Politicians”. The intent of the Founders was that politicians serve, then go back home to their civilian lives. Not make politics a career and then leave with huge life long retirement on the taxpayers money. If we had term limits they would not be able to build these personal empires. Career politicians only care about being reelected and building themselves power, they don’t care about the people, the country, or really evan their Party. They are ALL part of the “Washington Establishment”. Until all incumbents are voted out, and new candidates have strict term limits, nothing will change.
to Ron..Spot on, my man. If two terms are good enough for the President, it should apply to The Senate and Congress, also. Greed an duplicity, spawned in an atmosphere of ” Scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours”, can only lead to the Cess Pool we have in Washington, today. I don’t think the two Bodies, have EVER been dirtier. Never. I think, this time, more than ever, it starts at the top, the corruption, that is. And this time, much of the corruption, borders on Treason. GOD help America.
100% AGREE !!!!!!!!
I couldn’t agree more. They all need to rot in jail….Obama, Jarred, Immanuel, Holder, Clinton (and I’m sure there’s more if anyone cares to dig further). Also, somebody ought to punch that little punk Josh Earnest in the mouth…he’s an arrogant (just like his boss), smug, little know-nothing. And as long as I’m on the naming names thing, take a closer look at anyone who the state department trots out to a podium to speak to reporters. This particular group Jen Psocki in particular, but there all BAD, is dumber than a box of rocks.
Couldn’t agree more with the Josh Earnest reference – flipping A _ _ h o l e.
AMEN!
Why feed the trash? Unless you feed THEM to the vultures.
“Jailed for life”? What about an old fashioned back-yard lynching leaving the attorney class career politicians “hanging out-there”, doesn’t that seem to offer a certain degree of hope for the future of the United States of America?
Yes, this is the most corrupt to date but, be sure that if $chittlery or Burnout get in, this will look like the good old days. The corruption will be unprecedented under either of those 2!!!!
John; you can give old guys like me looking at academia over the course of the past 40 years and yawning–NO ONE WILL BELIEVE THIS SOCIALIST CRAP– Well I was dead wrong and Bernie the Socialist is giving the Liar in Chief a run for the money, except the DNC has FIXED the outcome with Super Delegates.
This used to be a Constitutional Republic that was founded by the blood of some really smart people that the Newly EDUCATED/INDOCTRINATED youth have decided they are the smartest Individuals that their amoeba ever created in a petri dish.
How has it evolved to the point that 1/10th of 1% of the population is driving the agenda and our elected intelligentsia is so PC cowered they cannot stand up for the rights of the 98%. Then the pundits cannot understand The Donald’s appeal? News Flash for the inside the beltway crowd–The 98% is PISSED !
Yes, Valerie Jarrett (raised in Iran) has been President Obama’s advisor for 2 terms. She has a vested interest in his political career! One of his other helpers is Nancy Pelosi. President Obama & Hillary Clinton are followers of Rules of Saul Alinsky ….read Saul’s book for more info! You’ll be awakened!
“… Jailed…” John? HANGED!
America is bought and paid for by soros and friends and run by Obama and puppets , check on how the government has been infiltrated by the muslim element , uk is not far behind and it seems like a religious ??? war is on the way . Hillary and co wait in the wings and trump is putting on the suit of armour , strange times are coming ,
Treason should not be punished by jail. Taxpayer would have to pay for the “maintenance” of the traitor/s. Treason should be dealt with proper punishment. I am not necessarily advocating for a firing squad for the cost of just one single bullet would be to high already. I am sure you can think of more economical ways to rid the country of this cancer. Remember, amputation, was the only solution until very few years ago. Even now days it still is one of the few solutions..
The old One-
IIRC, one of the “hidden” features of the ACA “D’OweBamacare” involved the purchase and installation of guillotines at various of the FEMA camps and etc.
Do you perchance recall the book of Esther, in which Mordecai’s enemy set him up to be hanged on a scaffold – but the tables were turned, and Mordecai’s enemy was hanged there instead?
i can think of no more fitting end for D’OweBama and much of his staff/allies, including The Liar and her predatory pedophile rapist husband than – upon lawful conviction of the Treason they all so richly deserve – that they be the first clients of that ancient French apparatus.
Globalists and their enablers are traitors, repeatedly engaging in treason upon America and every OTHER country they’re trying to betray in order to serve the OWG/NWO criminal cabal in their lust to rule and control everyone on the planet in a naked, blatantly tyrannous government of unelected and unaccountable to anyone group of banksters and international corporate allies.
Let the strange things come, just tell true Americans to take care of things, strange or otherwise.
I’m sure many of you know but there is a lot of people in America that does not know George Soros, Hungarian imminent, Gets a great deal of his money, (money he uses to support Socialism) from us, the people. He is the head person, chairman, of “Progressive Insurance”. Quite large to say the least. You’ve probably see the advertisement
with that junkie brunette in the commercial (Flo). He spends a lot of money on these commercials I’m guessing but
again, he could be taking it out in trade for some other scandalous endeavors form people in his same category.
There are many of his type behind the curtain out of sight, killing America as we know it.
TRUMP,, the only way out
So why is Obama opening weapon sales in Viet Nam? what is Soris master plan?
This not a duplicate comment!!! So why is Obama opening weapon sales in Viet Nam? what is Soris master plan?
This is what the Marxist do: they take control of the educational systems and the media to indoctrinate their propaganda. In this case, Soros has bought off the media outlets. To further facilitate their control of our thought, speech and behavior, they’ll employ political-correctness intimidation to make us tow the party line. KICK the COMMIES OUT!!!
Texan? Had enough of our corrupt federal government? Visit TexasNationalist.org Republic of Texas, sounding better each passing day!
Soros can’t die soon enough.
HE Should be in PRISON WITH obama and hillary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CROOKED POLITICIANS. AMERICA IS ON TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!!! GET OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THERE IS NO TELLING HOW MUCH DAMage ro ameruca bhozo the america hating clown , and HIS BAND OF TRAITORS, WILL DO TO THE USA BEFORE HE LEAVES.THE WHITE MOSQUE…….
NPR or the public radio stations should not be getting public funds. There are a large number of companies providing programming in a variety of formats at no expense to the taxpayers. NPR and public radio has outlived its usefulness. Their government subsidies should be phased out.
The whole irony is these peace groupings are promoting a deal which is likely to destroy peace in the long run. The Iran deal is believed to give Iran the cover it needs while it is developing its nuclear weapons. Several things are certain. Once Iran gets nuclear weapons it will use them against Israel and the United States. Israel will likely respond by firing its own nuclear weapons upon Iran. If America receives a nuclear strike from another country it should respond with nuclear weaponry or something more lethal. The Iran deal could easily set into motion events which will lead to the death of a large percentage of the world’s population within the next 10-15 years.
I personally think that our country’s position should be..
1. If you want to spend your country’s resources on developing Nuclear power to better the lives of your citizens, Okay
2. If you want to waste your country’s resources on developing Nuclear weapons, we cannot stop you !
3. BUT! should you use these weapons against anyone in the world and we track it back to you, we will not destroy your cities full of innocence men. women, and children ! WE will find you and your cronies WHERE EVER you try to hide and RAM some missiles into appropriate places on your bodies, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES!
Giving Iran the “Bomb”, and that is exactly what the traitors in Washington have done..is just like giving a 4 year old, a loaded and cocked .45 to play with. Nothing may happen IMMEDIATELY but just give it a few minutes.Boom! it’s got to happen ! It certainly would with the 4 year old, and it certainly will, with Iran. The World can expect NO other result! Thank you.
Death be visted upon Georgi Soros, the Hungarian Turncoat Traitor, Hitler era NAZI Jew!
Every time I hear Obama and Hillary and the rest of those traitors speak, I think back and remember when Khrushchev the mad Russian was addressing the United Nations. He took off his shoe and pounded his desk and told America that the communists would take it over without firing one shot. It is happening as we speak, but we can undo all the evil they want to perpetrate on us by voting them out of office in 2016. The Democratic party has become the Communist party and it is time to remove this cancer from the United States of America.
The Government is totally corrupt, Hollywood is totally corrupt, the media is bought And paid for. I’m almost done watching the circus at all!
WAKE UP AMERICA, GEORGE SOROS IS AN ENEMY OF AMERICA! HE HAS OBAMA WRAPPED AROUND HIS LITTLE FINGER AND OBAMA IS STUPID ENOUGH TO FALL FOR HIS SOCIALIST PRINCIPLES. OF COURSE OBAMA HIMSELF IS A SOCIALIST BESIDES BEING A MUSLIM SUPPORTING ENEMY OF OUR COUNTRY. HOW CONGRESS AND THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA HAVE ALLOWED THIS TREASONOUS ANTI-AMERICAN, ANTI-CHRISTIAN TO REMAIN IN OFFICE AFTER ONE TERM IS HOW TOO MANY STUPID AMERICANS WERE DUPED BY THIS TRAITOR PRESIDENT! HE HAS GOT TO GO ASAP!
Soros is very dangerous traitor to the United States. He must be sent back to where he belongs.
HELL
Only socialist commie pinkos listen to NPR anyway… so why do you people give a flying FU**
SOROS HAS LONG BEEN MORE THAN A THORN IN THE SIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS UNPLEASANT AND PROBABLY EVIL IMMIGRANT DESPITE HIS GREAT WEALTH OR IS IT “ILL GOTTEN GAIN”???
I want this man kicked out of this country. Never to return or show up in this country. And if the so called gov. finds anything that is criminal , then damn it prosecute him to the fullest along with a fine. That will put him in his place. He is a disgusting piece of a human being. He has been responsible for the riots to remove Trump. He used his money to buy these riots. And people his money was also used in those voting booths. Remember they found voting in some of the counties that only voted for obama and no one else. it was rigged and obama got 2 votes instead of one. Even some of the voters said they didn’t vote for obama and that their vote was changed to obama. Does make you wonder just how much behind the scenes is he involved in . I’m sure he is in that elite group that are in a panic now.!!!!!! Because of Trump. For me I don’t even have that progressive car insurance just because who owns it. Yep you guest it.!!!