On Wednesday, the powerful House Judiciary Committee announced its findings regarding the World Advertising Council's initiative, the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM).
The committee, led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), claims that GARM's practices effectively silence and defund conservative voices in the public sphere without oversight and the public's knowledge.
Systematically Targeting Conservative Media
GARM's strategy appears to target both well-known and emerging conservative and libertarian-leaning media outlets, including:
- Hot Air
- Townhall Media
- The Daily Wire
- RealClearPolitics
- The Joe Rogan Experience
Ben Shapiro's Testimony
During his appearance before the Judiciary Committee, Ben Shapiro, editor emeritus of The Daily Wire, detailed GARM's operations and the key players involved:
There is in fact an informal pressure system created by Democratic legislators, this White House, legacy media, advertisers, and pseudo-objective brand safety organizations.
Extensive Efforts Uncovered
The scope of GARM's influence is broader than previously thought. As explained by David Strom of Hot Air, the Judiciary Committee's report, though concise at 39 pages by government standards, contains crucial information for conservative activists to understand the opposition's tactics:
The bottom line is this: GARM is a politically motivated effort by Leftists who control hundreds of billions of advertising dollars. They use their power to bully platforms to silence opinions that break their Narrative™, campaigned to destroy Twitter after Elon Musk bought it (at one point successfully getting 80% of the ad revenue to leave), and strip media outlets like ours of the opportunity to monetize our content through advertisements from major corporations.
That is their mission, and they execute it will.
Jim Jordan, the Chair of the Judiciary Committee, is pursuing an antitrust action against GARM and the World Advertising Council, charging them with collusion. This seems like a pretty obvious case, to the extent that any legal case can be obvious (which is hardly at all!). I assume a Trump Justice Department would pursue it vigorously, as they should.
Other Findings and Implications
The report reveals that the brand cartel, including GARM members, actively monitors outlets like The Daily Wire, with email threads discussing their actions “very carefully,” a concerning sign ahead of Election Day.
Background on GARM
Founded in 2019, GARM includes members from major companies such as Unilever, Procter & Gamble and Facebook. It was established to ensure responsible media practices but has faced criticism for its perceived bias against conservative media.
Conclusion
The House Judiciary Committee's findings raise significant questions about the impartiality of advertising practices and the broader implications for free speech in the media landscape. The report serves as a critical resource for those seeking to understand the dynamics at play.
Read the report in its entirety below:
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