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It was quite the bombshell allegation for a Senator in high office to drop during Senate Estimates - that the ABC employs Hamas terrorists as journalists in its news coverage of Gaza. The ABC executives that Senator Sarah Henderson was monstering were polite but firm - despite her repeated claims that the ABC pushback was “outrageous” she had furnished no actual evidence that any of her incendiary claims were true. And that’s because they were not true. We look at the reckless right wing attack on the ABC this week .. disgraceful accusations which tried but failed to equate the national broadcaster with an abhorrent evil. [from 4:30] We also check out the anti semitism envoy's latest list of authoritarian demands to reshape our democracy in her preferred pro-Israel image. [from 11:50] And tensions have erupted at the hard right Murdoch media fun factory that is the old Sky News (now News 24) during a live-to-air dust-up over who has control of the Credlin show’s rundown and who called who a d******d. Gold. [from 23:35] Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s not often you see an accused war criminal on a PR blitz before his criminal trial but Ben Roberts-Smith has been telling his story to right wing news outlets while a“powerful formation” of billionaires, politicians and media line up behind him. [from 5:10] We also look at the growing calls for an end to violent political rhetoric .. Independent Monique Ryan has told the ABC it’s time for the media to stop giving hater-in-chief Pauline Hanson credence and airtime. Even as Helen Haines fights for life after being horrifically run down, the One Nation leader is defending her party’s violent cartoons which gleefully depict politicians being hit by cars or murdered. [from18:00] And the unfathomably dark arts of news priorities - look over there at the hats and the horseflesh! The Melbourne Cup gets bigger headlines than Anthropic releasing its stock market prospectus warning that its AI products may kill humanity. [from 25:30] Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look at the Murdoch media shamelessly weaponising the horrific attack on Helen Haines to bash the left - even as she fights for life in hospital - and ignoring the PMs call to lower the temperature on political hate. [from 7:20] Plus what are the electoral watchdogs doing to stop a blatantly fraudulent election ad faked up by Advance and featuring a gloating AI Dan Andrews and Ben Carroll? The far right disinformation machine is in full swing we discover. [from 18:10] And the ABC is about to broadcast its powerful docu-drama “Shake Down” - a searing look into Scott Morrisons cruel cash grab from the poor, notoriously branded “Robodebt” [from 25:40] Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BRUTALISING THE WORLD ON A LIVESTREAM The Trump administration wants to livestream the firing squad execution of a radicalised US soldier according to a gleeful US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth - triggering global disgust. The broadcast risks traumatising and brutalising countless people around the world in order to satisfy the Trump administrations lust for vengeance as a public spectacle. We contrast Hegseth's relish for unleashing “murder porn” on the public with the historic practice of asking journalists to witness and report on closed executions - the last time this happened in Australia was the hanging of Ronald Ryan. [from 4:00] We put the spotlight on the racist language (“Take Back Australia!”) woven through the Liberal National plan to slash the immigration intake - backed in by the blatant racism in One Nation’s campaign ad depicting African men as machete carriers and Middle Eastern men as suicide bombers. [from 19:00] And we are reminded that there are fine and wonderful people who have warmed our souls and enriched our lives as we farewell gentleman ABC newsreader Richard Morecroft who has died too young. [from 39:30] Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NOTE TO MEDIA: VIOLENT AUTHORITARIANISM IS NOT NORMAL Someone needs to tell Pauline Hanson this isn’t Saudi Arabia or China after One Nation threatened to jail political rivals during its Victorian election campaign launch. Vindictive politicians don’t decide who goes to jail. The courts do. It’s called the rule of law. Once news outlets would have instantly called out threats that come straight from the fascist playbook. This time they covered a flagged assault on our liberal democracy as if it were business as usual - an omission Denis Muller describes as “an epic fail” [from4:20] And we note the death of author Jeffrey Archer who scammed half a million pounds from the Star newspaper by lying in a defamation case - and then went to jail for perjury. [from 18:50] But more importantly we honour the groundbreaking journalism of a giant of the industry, the ABCs Peter Manning. The former EP of Four Corners has passed away after a lifetime of exposing corruption, holding power to account and inspiring generations of reporters. [from 26:20] Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we bring you a very special deep dive into the murky waters of corporate skulduggery. My guest is Paul Barry. He’ll be known to many of you as the long-time presenter of ABC TV’s Media Watch, but in fact he has a long and distinguished career as an investigative journalist specialising in uncovering bad behaviour by big business. Paul Barry’s latest book is called The Big Steal, published by Allen and Unwin. It’s about a couple of scoundrels called Sanjeev Gupta and Lex Greensill. Gupta pulled a series of scams around the world by promising to rescue rundown steelworks, power stations and smelters in places where these operations were the lifeblood of the community. Greensill was his banker. For years, the real story was comprehensively missed by the media, but Paul Barry has nailed it and is here to tell us why and how. You can find Paul's new book here: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Paul-Barry-Big-Steal-9781761473517 Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why don’t the media hound Hanson about her racist policies? Four Corners did a great expose on One Nation - but no mention in interviews with her supporters about why they are attracted by promises to persecute migrants, Muslims, foreign students and Indigenous Australians. [from 7:00] Plus we look at the chilling irony of Donald Trump entertaining President Xi and his entourage of compliant state-controlled Chinese reporters at a lavish White House dinner while simultaneously banning the free press - multiple American media outlets were denied entry. [from 17:50] And guess who’s coming to our Deep Dive Saturday Special? Denis Muller previews his chat with the legendary journalist and former Media Watch host Paul Barry. [from 39:25] Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ABC is strangled by floods of complaints from hard right attack dogs - so we look at new reports that most of those whinges are really mass generated AI bots - you know - ACTUAL FAKE NEWS. So Denis asked one of the faker complainers if their behaviour was ethical. Still waiting .. [from 3:25] Plus Donald Trump is chucking more journalists out of the White House because he doesn’t like their reporting - so they’re suing him. [from 10:20] And what does the racist Murdoch press have in common with the trusted news providers at Aunty? We unpack the dangers of “bothsidesism.” [from 18:00] Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gina Rinehart dealt herself into the One Nation “traitor” attack on Liberal Andrew Hastie. But why would The Age having published such a revealing expose on their suspect behaviours then run a headline suggesting the spiteful racists at One Nation are “good for democracy?” Also today .. Denis steps us through what it will take before the media report the Ai threats to human survival at Alert Level 1 - think no Internet, no access to your money, no way of buying food, crippled water and energy infrastructure.  https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/internet/anthropic-ceo-warns-rogue-ai-swarm-could-take-over-the-entire-internet-within-12-months/news-story/589fd549fe92ee441c179b5823d22674 And we look at the rules around reporting the private lives of politicians as we farewell acclaimed writer and the beloved second wife of Bob Hawke, Blanche D’Alpuget, whose affair with the four time PM was an open secret among journalists. Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look at the brutal fall from grace of one of Donald Trumps most toxic propagandists. Milo Yiannopoulos, who promoted hate against women and migrants, has been swiftly deported from the United States after the British national failed to renew his visa and was picked up by ICE.  He has tearfully slammed the gratuitous violence meted out by his ICE captors in an interview with podcaster Piers Morgan - describing an ecosystem of dehumanising and menacing illegals that he helped create.  But is anyone buying his road to Damascus moment - he now says he’s ashamed of his support for America’s fascist sex predator-in-chief.  Have you noticed vicious Andrew Tate style misogyny on the rise? We look at alarming new research into the manosphere that has revealed increasing numbers of boys now believe violence is the appropriate response to feminism.  What’s behind it? We check out the Sydney Morning Herald reporter who posed as a 17 year old boy online and revealed how quickly she was deluged with dangerous messaging encouraging hostility to women and aggressive sexist behaviour. Plus why is the world media silent after Israel’s far right minister Ben-Gvir posted fake video of Palestinian men on a conveyer belt being fed into a torture factory .. shockingly evoking concentration camp imagery.  The White House has said nothing - it’s comms team instead preoccupied with posting shrill condemnation of the satirists at South Park who have won an Emmy for an episode depicting Trump and a tiny talking penis. Seeing is believing. Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What lies hidden after the Nepal horror The world has never seen news vision quite like the footage that came out of Nepal .. stunning in its horror as violent death in ice and rock thundered through the lives of those poor souls, those villages and valleys. But what are we not hearing and seeing? China is refusing access to foreign reporters on the Tibet side of the border, airbrushing away the suffering there. And the media still won’t talk about the global threat which we blithely march towards - climate change. Also on this week’s show - the racist, sexist, climate denying journo-hating One Nation has just won a seat in WA. Did any media step up to mention those ugly traits in their coverage? Errr .. no. And sometimes those pithy internet memes nail it. Dolly Parton had only been dead 2 days when Donald Trump posted fake pictures of himself walking arm in arm with her .. prompting one meme wordsmith to observe ..”Even in death he forces himself on women who told him no.” Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If splashy headlines tell you what’s important then this week they’re telling you damage to a footy team is more important than damage to the alleged sex assault victims.  We take a look at the way the media has downplayed the alleged sexual assault of exotic dancers by Swans football players while saturating us with coverage about the “tragedy” of a premiership club now being distracted from the finals.  Plus .. the White House is enraged at the sudden media interest in Natalie Harp, a young personal assistant who follows Donald Trump everywhere printing out positive news stories for him to see on a portable printer (he can’t use his smartphone?) but also leaving what author Michael Wolff describes as “love letters” in his papers.  And only journo-haters need apply - Pauline Hanson is advertising for a press secretary promising you’ll “have fun and make history” while one assumes you terrorise the ABC, demonise migrants and fly around in Gina’s $2m plane while screeching loudly that you are the voice of the battler. Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Political Reporting As Benny Hill Skit In a world of genocide and white supremacists and climate emergency we ask why the Canberra Press Gallery thinks confecting a snickering moral outrage over Anthony Albanese saying “melons” is the story of the week. Plus we look at the folly of the ABC decision to axe its Indigenous TV Department while moving heaven and earth to placate Gina Rinehart and the Murdoch bullies. And don’t let the door hit you on the way out .. departing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will have to find some other room full of captives to abuse after venting on journalists at press conferences for 18 months. Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does the ABC really promote concepts of murder? Is it really a hotbed of bloodthirsty revolutionaries - because of ONE distasteful comedy skit? We take look at the Murdoch media frothing at the mouth to defend Gina Rinehart who featured in a tasteless ABC comedy skit … the same Murdoch empire that doesn’t give a toss about AJP MP Georgie Purcell who The Age reports is the target of death threats and sexualised abuse EVERY DAY.  Should we be taking moral advice from a propaganda machine that incites hatred against minorities and sexualises women as part of its core business model? Plus how the world’s powerful media tech owners operate - the ABC has discovered Meta the parent company of Facebook is paying rage bait creators with links to neo Nazis.  And Denis demolishes an Age headline “Uni Academics Say No to $35m Gift” as the hard right “Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation” tries to chequebook its way into the prestigious University of Melbourne. Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pauline Hanson is at it again, banning media she doesn’t like. This time it’s The Age, banned, along with Guardian Australia and the ABC, from One Nation’s press conference called to announce its candidates for November’s Victorian state election. But the shocking thing is the spineless way the media are taking this. Also, News Corporation is in full campaigning mode on behalf of the anti-Labor forces in Victoria’s forthcoming state election. Its Melbourne tabloid, the Herald Sun, has spent the week excoriating the new Labor premier Ben Carroll, with headlines like “Ben’s shirk from home” and “Stop this trainwreck. And Zoe Daniel, former ABC journalist turned politician, turns her gaze on the performance of the Canberra press gallery. Support independent journalism Become a member Or go to: buymeacoffee.com/truthliesandmedia Our Socials Facebook BlueSky X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.