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Musk’s “Thermonuclear Lawsuit” – Game-Changer for Conservatives?

Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2023
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by Shane Harris
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AMAC Exclusive – By Shane Harris

elon musk and media matters

Despite the mainstream media’s outright dismissal of Elon Musk’s “thermonuclear lawsuit” against notorious left-wing group Media Matters for America, the legal action could pose a serious threat to a key part of the left’s smear machine. In addition, the lawsuit lays the groundwork for how other individuals and organizations targeted by the left can strike back.

Elon Musk has remained one of the left’s top targets since he purchased Twitter (renamed “X” earlier this year) back in April 2022 and promised to end the rampant censorship of conservatives and other voices that dissent from establishment orthodoxy. He has largely followed through on that pledge, restoring many banned accounts, most notably former President Donald Trump.

In response, the left has launched an endless stream of attacks on both X and Musk himself. The media has variously claimed that Musk is promoting “hate speech” and allowing “bullying” of certain groups online. The Securities and Exchange Commission – run by Biden appointees – has also launched a series of investigations into Musk’s purchase of Twitter, and is attempting to force the world’s richest man to personally testify in what increasingly looks like a politically motivated effort to harass and intimidate him.

In the latest coordinated attack on X and Musk, Media Matters for America, an organization that bills itself as a nonpartisan “media watchdog” but is in actuality a well-funded liberal dark money group dedicated to attacking conservatives, published a report claiming that X “has been placing ads for Apple, Bravo, IBM, Oracle, and Xfinity next to pro-Nazi content.” The report included screenshots that appeared to show ads for the well-known brands next to clearly objectionable posts.

In response, Apple and IBM quickly announced that they were immediately suspending all advertising on X – a major hit for the platform, as IBM had pledged to spend $1 million in advertising over just the last three months of 2023, while Apple spent an eye-watering $180 million in ads on X in 2022.

Apple and IBM joined more than a half dozen other major brands who have recently pulled their ads off X, including Comcast/NBC Universal, Disney, Lionsgate Entertainment, and Paramount Global. Musk has reportedly revealed that ad revenue has plummeted by 60 percent overall since he closed the deal to purchase X.

Following the failure of personal attacks to bully him into submission, pressuring advertisers into leaving the platform and bleeding the company dry appears to be the left’s new strategy for bringing Musk to heel.

But Musk has made clear that he will not go quietly. Just a few days after the Media Matters report dropped, Musk posted a statement saying, “The split second court opens on Monday, X Corp will be filing a thermonuclear lawsuit against Media Matters and ALL those who colluded in this fraudulent attack on our company” – a pledge he made good on late last month.

The statement alleges that Media Matters effectively gamed X’s algorithm in order to have ads appear next to objectionable content.

“To manipulate the public and advertisers, Media Matters created an alternate account and curated the posts and advertising appearing on the account’s timeline to misinform advertisers about the placement of their posts. These contrived experiences could be applied to any platform,” Musk says. In one case, an ad shown in the Media Matters report “was only seen in that setting by one user, the author of the Media Matters article.”

In fact, as a subsequent report from The Wall Street Journal revealed, ads from many of the same brands who have pulled money from X appear with far more frequency next to overtly sexual adult content and risqué footage of children on Instagram.

While the mainstream media has largely dismissed Musk’s lawsuit as unwinnable, there is reason to believe that Musk could indeed prevail – and that, even if he doesn’t, it could prove disastrous for Media Matters.

Musk filed his lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, a reliably conservative court where X can expect to get a fair hearing. Following Musk’s lawsuit, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also launched an investigation into Media Matters for “potential fraudulent activity.” That could mean that Media Matters is forced to fight a two-front legal war that would require substantial financial resources.

As Charles Gasparino wrote for The New York Post late last month, even if Musk doesn’t win the case, “Media Matters during discovery could be forced to make significant disclosures on its reporting process and the sources of its funding.” That could open the organization up to scrutiny that it’s donor network definitely does not want.

“And if Musk wins,” Gasparino says, “you can certainly see him seeking a Hulk Hogan/Gawker-type settlement to put Media Matters out of business once and for all.”

The Gawker precedent could be important in Musk’s case against Media Matters. In 2016, a jury ordered Gawker Media, a sleazy gossip site, to pay $140 million to professional wrestler Hulk Hogan for invasion of privacy after Gawker released portions of a sex tape involving Hogan. Soon after, Gawker filed for bankruptcy.

It was later revealed that Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, an early Facebook investor, financed the lawsuit that put Gawker out of business. The case showed what can be accomplished when a wealthy individual decides to take on an organization like Gawker or Media Matters.

While Musk’s case undoubtedly has some high legal hurdles to clear, his willingness to stand and fight is itself admirable. And should he prevail – or even lose but cause serious damage to Media Matters in the process – it would be a major victory for everyone who has been targeted by the left’s cancel culture machine.

Shane Harris is a writer and political consultant from Southwest Ohio. You can follow him on Twitter @ShaneHarris513.

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John Bass
John Bass
9 months ago

The more I read and see what Musk does as the worlds richest man, a US citizen, and more importantly a human being. The more I admire him for his courage and conviction, standing up for what is right.
I believe should he ever decide to run for President…and I know some of you will tell me that he can’t because he not a natural born citizen, but that didn’t stop Obama. But if he could or should, I would vote for the man just because of what he’s done in terms of helping America stay free.

Trump 2024

Sharon
Sharon
9 months ago

I’m thankful to God that someone has the courage and strength to stand up to dishonest and destructive powerful organizations like this.

JimL
JimL
9 months ago

GO ELON!!!

Myrna
Myrna
9 months ago

Thank you for this article. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
9 months ago

Make suit class action for ALL

Thinking
Thinking
9 months ago

Media Matters is a front for the ultra left and the dems. Since Musk bought X and ole Joe along with the FBI cannot censor or ban people off of X they have been busy trying to eliminate X through eliminating Musk.
Ole Joe and his minions are governing like dictators. Freedom of speech is not allowed. They will do the thinking for you. We can decide for ourselves what is true and what is hate speech. But ole Joe wants to control that. That has been his way to rule since he was installed. The election was rigged, they are imprisoning any opponent and nothing is ever their fault.
They lie every time they open their mouth. They have the DOJ FBI CIA the Media all under their control. Plus all businesses. We are not a democracy but a autocracy. Where the left rules. Anyone having a different opinion is being persecuted or prosecuted.
Elon Musk is a business man who does what business men did before the communists took over. He is his own man not beholden to any one. And ole Joe and the gang can’t stand it and that is why such a concerted effort is put forth to get rid of Musk and Trump. More power to Elon and no matter what happens the plans of this regime will be exposed. The more sunshine on their lies and manipulation the better for America and it’s people.

NIcholas Elder
NIcholas Elder
9 months ago

Go getem Elon, we certainly hope that you emerge victorious, we need more individuals like you!

Rik
Rik
9 months ago

If Cheating is Allowed, then the Communists will Cheat as much as possible!

Edgar
Edgar
9 months ago

Praises to OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST for Elon , for Fighting against the Radical Left and Communist . America ???????? will not be Communist . When THE LORD JESUS CHRIST will Save America under Donald J Trump .

Steven
Steven
9 months ago

Democrat politicians comprised of 99% lawyers has drastically changed government and made life worse for the country. In this day of Social Media, it’s relatively easy to manipulate public opinion especially if you are a left wing platform that can censor anyone who doesn’t agree with your left wing ideology. I’m glad that Elon Musk has the courage and money to stand up to these left wing front organizations and expose them for what they are, frauds.

Betty
Betty
9 months ago

Love this story & am praying Mr Musk wins!

Robert Chase
Robert Chase
9 months ago

Musk by actions alone is a true patriot.

Jackie
Jackie
9 months ago

I am impressed by Elon Musk!! I admire the courage he shows when so many are against him and what he is doing!!! He shows a caring for all humans unlike any politician!! He shows a compassion that I don’t see in any other extremely wealthy people!! I would love for him to be our President but I doubt that he wants that job!

TOBS
TOBS
9 months ago

GO GET EM ELON EVERYBODY/EVERYONE IS SICK AND TIRED OF THE LEFTS BULLSHIT

Joe Blow
Joe Blow
9 months ago

It reads like Harry Readon’s treatment in Atlas Shrugged.

Singleshot
Singleshot
9 months ago

Thank you, Mr. Musk. Again.

t- pap
t- pap
9 months ago

Musk is very courageous. He’s no-one’s fool. Wonderful to watch….

Todd Hewey
Todd Hewey
9 months ago

God Bless and God Speed Elon Musk. May God use him and others, including President Trump, to break the teeth in the lying mouths of the Evil people that run these lying conniving seditious treasonous lawless companies. May their wealth be totally consumed in the fires of righteousness and their evil leaders be utterly destroyed. AMEN

MCG
MCG
8 months ago

May God’s verdict from the courts of Heaven prevail!!!

Linda
Linda
9 months ago

Very interesting and thanks for sharing ???? think I’ll pray ???? for Elon

Christopher
Christopher
9 months ago

While I applaud the many beneficial things Musk has produced and his broad take on speech the difficulty of a platform where one can post anything they want regardless of purpose or veracity caught up to him and he found himself doing the same thing he reasoned against. Imo free speech has some limitations and responsibilities and Musk has discovered this himself.

Nessie509
Nessie509
9 months ago

What happened to:”Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never harm me?” When did Democrats get hung up on what they think is the only, correct speech?

Leslie Klein
Leslie Klein
9 months ago

“Despite the mainstream media’s outright dismissal of Elon Musk’s “thermonuclear lawsuit” against notorious left-wing group Media Matters for America”
Says it all about the impartiality or lack of by the author.
Right wing media never say anything good about Biden and never even praised Obama when he took out Bin Laden. Mainstream media try to be even handed but no pretence by right wing media of fairness. This is why Musk’s lawsuit will fail.

johnh
johnh
9 months ago

Have no idea what Musk wants to do with USA with stories like this. How much does this add to the wellness of the USA in regards to the wars in Israel & Ukraine & possible outbreaks in a couple of other hotspots int the world?

5 star fight
5 star fight
9 months ago

Nice car Elon
looks like your website
ugly and expensive

Dan W.
Dan W.
9 months ago

The creation of alternate accounts had been Twitter’s stock and trade.

Now Musk is claiming that alternate accounts are a bad thing. Even if true, he is not coming to this dispute with clean hands.

Mr Harris is correct. Musk does have high hurdles to navigate to succeed in this lawsuit.

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