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{{short description|American right-wing commentator, lawyer, and conspiracy theorist}} | |||
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{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| name = Mike Cernovich | | name = Mike Cernovich | ||
| image = File:Mike Cernovich (42451724670) (cropped)1.jpg | |||
| image = | |||
| alt = | | alt = | ||
| caption = | | caption = Cernovich in August 2018 | ||
| birth_name = Michael Cernovich | |||
| birth_name = Michael Cernovich<ref>{{cite web |last=Sang |first=Lucia Suarez |title=Conservative speakers Michael Cernovich, Tommy Robinson to address Columbia University students |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/09/14/conservative-speakers-michael-cernovich-tommy-robinson-to-address-columbia-university-students.html |website=Fox News |accessdate=22 January 2018 |date=14 September 2017}}</ref> | |||
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|11|17}} | | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1977|11|17}} | ||
| birth_place = | | birth_place = ], U.S. | ||
| death_date = | | death_date = | ||
| death_place = | | death_place = | ||
| resting_place = | | resting_place = | ||
| education = {{ubl|] (])|] (])}} | |||
| residence = ]<ref name="TWTR">{{Twitter | id= Cernovich | name= Mike Cernovich }}</ref> | |||
| occupation = | |||
| alma_mater = ]<br>] | |||
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| years_active = | ||
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| known_for = | ||
| movement = ] | |||
| known_for = | |||
| awards = | |||
| movement = ]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cernovich |first1=Mike |title=Book Recommendations, Copywriting, and Nationalism |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33B6Rn6QW50 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410211008/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33B6Rn6QW50 |archivedate=April 10, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><br>]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cernovich |first1=Mike |title=Danger & Play: Essays on Masculinity}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Cernovich |first1=Mike |title=Gorilla Mindset: How to Control Your Thoughts and Emotions and Live Life on Your Terms |date=2015}}</ref> | |||
| website = {{URL|Cernovich.com/}} | |||
| awards = | |||
| notable works = | |||
| website = {{url|Cernovich.com/}} | |||
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}} | }} | ||
'''Michael Cernovich''' (born November 17, 1977) is an American ] ], political commentator, and ]. Though he initially called himself ], he dissociated from the movement after ] became its public face. Cernovich describes himself as part of the ] and some have described him as part of the ]. | |||
'''Michael Cernovich''' (born November 17, 1977) is an American ]<ref> | |||
*{{cite web |last1=Kaczynski |first1=Andrew |last2=McDermott |first2=Nathan |title=Michael Flynn's son and chief of staff pushed conspiracy theories, obscene memes online |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/politics/kfile-michael-flynn-social-media/index.html |website=] |accessdate=November 19, 2016 |language=en |date=November 18, 2016}} | |||
*{{cite web |last1=Park |first1=Andrea |work=] |title=Lady Gaga's jacket draws Nazi comparisons from alt-right |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lady-gagas-jacket-draws-nazi-comparisons-from-alt-right/ |accessdate=December 6, 2016 |language=en |date=November 8, 2016}} | |||
*{{cite web |last1=Allan |first1=Smith |title=Alt-right movement descends into civil war after leading figure is booted from Trump inauguration event |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/alt-right-civil-war-twitter-cernovich-milo-alaska-2016-12 |website=] |accessdate=December 28, 2016 |language=en |date=December 27, 2016}} | |||
*{{cite web |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016/10/31/splc-analysis-small-community-extremists-twitter-responsible-majority-message |title=SPLC Analysis: Small Community of Extremists on Twitter Responsible for Majority of Message |publisher=]}} | |||
*{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2016/06/inside-donald-trumps-twitter-bot-fan-club.html |title=Inside Donald Trump's Twitter-Bot Fan Club |first=K. Thor |last=Jensen |publisher=]}} | |||
</ref> ], rape coach, convicted woman abuser<ref>https://medium.com/@Pedaphilo/stop-calling-mike-cernovich-a-rape-apologist-fa2c0aae66e4</ref>, blogger and ]. His website "Danger & Play" started in 2012 and was originally known mainly for its ] advocacy. During the ], it evolved into a largely pro-] and anti-] political blog.<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16">{{cite journal |last1=Marantz |first1=Andrew |title=Trolls for Trump |journal=The New Yorker |date=October 31, 2016 |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/31/trolls-for-trump |accessdate=November 4, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105234714/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/31/trolls-for-trump |archivedate=November 5, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/03/15/trump_s_first_believers_from_joe_scarborough_to_a_masculinity_expert.html |title=They Totally Knew: The People Who Foresaw the Rise of Donald Trump |last=Neyfakh |first=Leon |date=March 15, 2016 |work=] |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009184112/http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/03/15/trump_s_first_believers_from_joe_scarborough_to_a_masculinity_expert.html |archivedate=October 9, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Cernovich has denied being part of the alt-right movement<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dangerandplay.com/2016/08/31/is-mike-cernovich-part-of-the-alt-right/ |title=Is Mike Cernovich Part of the Alt-Right? |last=Cernovich |first=Mike |date=August 31, 2016}}</ref> and has described himself instead as "new right"<ref name="pm" /> and an "American nationalist".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/us/politics/mike-cernovich-bio-who.html |title=Who Is Mike Cernovich? A Guide |last=Stack |first=Liam |date=April 5, 2017 |work=The New York Times|access-date=April 5, 2017 |issn=0362-4331 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406025234/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/us/politics/mike-cernovich-bio-who.html |archivedate=April 6, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
Cernovich became a blogger in the 2000s, focusing on anti-feminist themes. He gained notice within the ], and made a number of inflammatory comments about dating and sexual assault, including the claim that ] is "liberal fiction".<ref name="Stack" /> He created a website, ''Danger and Play'', in 2011; it was first known for his postings about men's rights and mindset techniques. In 2014, Cernovich became a prominent figure in the ] harassment campaign against several women in the video game industry, and through this built a following among the ]. During the ], he adapted his website to a political blog. He was an early supporter of Republican candidate ], and promoted conspiracy theories about Democratic candidate ].<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> Since 2018, he has become increasingly critical of Trump, and in 2022 voiced support for ] instead for the 2024 election.<ref name="SCHRECKINGER-2018" /><ref name="desantis2024" /> | |||
Cernovich periodically promotes ] and conspiracy theories,<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/us/politics/conservative-media-trump-clintons.html |title=Alternative Narrative Emerges in Conservative Media as Russia Inquiry Widens |last=Peters |first=Jeremy W. |date=November 3, 2017 |work=The New York Times|access-date=November 4, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> including ], the false theory that high-ranking ] officials were involved in a child-sex ring.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/327144-trump-jr-praises-writer-who-pushed-pizzagate-conspiracy-theory |title=Trump Jr. praises writer who pushed 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory |last=Seipel |first=Brooke |date=April 4, 2017 |work=TheHill|access-date=April 6, 2017 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405002553/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/327144-trump-jr-praises-writer-who-pushed-pizzagate-conspiracy-theory |archivedate=April 5, 2017 |df=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/04/04/its-mike-cernovichs-world-and-you-may-not-be-living-in-it-but-his-followers-sure-are/ |title=It's Mike Cernovich's world, and you may not be living in it, but his followers sure are |last=Ohlheiser |first=Abby |date=April 4, 2017 |work=The Washington Post|access-date=April 6, 2017 |last2=Ohlheiser |first2=Abby |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406051848/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/04/04/its-mike-cernovichs-world-and-you-may-not-be-living-in-it-but-his-followers-sure-are/ |archivedate=April 6, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Cernovich currently serves as a regular host of '']'' on ], a show that promotes fake news and conspiracy theories.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/03/media/mike-cernovich-infowars-alex-jones/index.html |title=Right-wing troll Mike Cernovich goes professional with new hosting gig at InfoWars |first=Oliver |last=Darcy |date=May 3, 2017 |website=CNNMoney |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507021733/http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/03/media/mike-cernovich-infowars-alex-jones/index.html |archivedate=May 7, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
Cernovich has promoted ], conspiracy theories, and smear campaigns.<ref name="Schreckinger" /><ref name="nymag" /> He helped spread the ] conspiracy theory, which falsely claimed that ] and other high-ranking ] officials were involved in a child-sex ring.<ref name="nymag" /> Cernovich has frequently made unsubstantiated accusations about political opponents of being pedophiles.<ref name="Stack" /> He unearthed old tweets by ] and ] joking about pedophilia, and initially succeeded in pressuring to get them fired, but both were reinstated after public outcry. | |||
==Early life and career== | |||
Cernovich was born on November 17, 1977.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pscp.tv/w/1rmxPbeZLXZGN |title=AMA Birthday Periscope |last=Cernovich |first=Mike |date=November 18, 2016 |website=] |location=San Clemente, California|access-date=November 9, 2017}}</ref> He grew up in a devout Christian family<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> in the farming town of ]. The family was poor, and his mother suffered from mental illness.<ref name="M" /> He graduated from the ] and later from the ].<ref name="M">{{cite web |publisher=Mimeis Law |date=February 24, 2016 |last=Greenfield |first=Scott |title=Cross: Mike Cernovich, The 800 lb. Gorilla Lawyer |url=http://mimesislaw.com/fault-lines/cross-mike-cernovich-the-800-lb-gorilla-lawyer/7034 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014221036/http://mimesislaw.com/fault-lines/cross-mike-cernovich-the-800-lb-gorilla-lawyer/7034 |archivedate=October 14, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
==Early life== | |||
In 2004, Cernovich started a legal weblog entitled Crime & Federalism, and his blog was selected for syndication by ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cernovich |first1=Michael |title=Reflections on 2004 |url=http://www.crimeandfederalism.com/2005/01/relections_on_2.html |website=Crime & Federalism |accessdate=July 7, 2017 |date=January 1, 2005 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206031041/http://www.crimeandfederalism.com/2005/01/relections_on_2.html |archivedate=December 6, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Blawg Directory: Crime & Federalism |url=http://www.abajournal.com/blawg/crime-federalism |website=ABA Journal |publisher=American Bar Association |accessdate=July 7, 2017 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912073535/http://www.abajournal.com/blawg/crime-federalism |archivedate=September 12, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Keeping Current: Staying Abreast of Legal Topics Plus a Sneak Peek at Emerging Technologies |url=http://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=speeches |website=Digital Commons @ Georgia Law |publisher=University of Georgia Law School |accessdate=July 8, 2017 |date=May 13, 2005 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527184925/http://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=speeches |archivedate=May 27, 2016 |df=mdy-all}} (Listing Crime & Federalism among ALM's Legal Blog Watch on Law.com.)</ref> | |||
Cernovich was born on November 17, 1977, in the farming town of ].<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16">{{cite magazine |last1=Marantz |first1=Andrew |date=October 31, 2016 |title=Trolls for Trump |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/31/trolls-for-trump |url-status=live |magazine=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105234714/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/31/trolls-for-trump |archive-date=November 5, 2016 |access-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref> His family was poor, and his parents were both devout Christians.<ref name="M">{{cite web |last=Greenfield |first=Scott |date=February 24, 2016 |title=Cross: Mike Cernovich, The 800 lb. Gorilla Lawyer |url=http://mimesislaw.com/fault-lines/cross-mike-cernovich-the-800-lb-gorilla-lawyer/7034 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014221036/http://mimesislaw.com/fault-lines/cross-mike-cernovich-the-800-lb-gorilla-lawyer/7034 |archive-date=October 14, 2016 |publisher=Mimeis Law}}</ref> | |||
Cernovich graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the ] in 2001.<ref name="UIS">{{cite web |date=April 1, 2013 |title=Philosophy BA |url=https://www.uis.edu/insideuis/wp-content/uploads/sites/105/2013/04/Philosophy-BA-fs.pdf |access-date=December 19, 2019 |publisher=] |archive-date=December 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219130734/https://www.uis.edu/insideuis/wp-content/uploads/sites/105/2013/04/Philosophy-BA-fs.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> He graduated with a ] from ] in 2004.<ref name="M" /> | |||
In his early writings Cernovich focused on ], men's empowerment, and how to meet women.<ref name=":0" /> The title of Danger and Play came from a quote by ], "The true man wants two things: danger and play. For that reason he wants woman, as the most dangerous plaything." In 2014, Cernovich promoted ], a controversy during which several women in the ] were targeted by internet trolls, goading opponents with tweets such as "Who cares about breast cancer and rape? Not me."<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> | |||
==Writings and films== | |||
In 2015, Cernovich wrote a ] self-help book, ''Gorilla Mindset'',<ref>https://www.nationalreview.com/sites/default/files/nrdpdf/20170710.pdf#page=24</ref> in which he talked about how women should submit to "dominant ] males". He believes that ] is a "liberal fiction".<ref name=":0" /> He saw ] as a kindred spirit and began to engage in political commentary.<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> | |||
== |
=== Blogs === | ||
In 2004, Cernovich started a legal blog entitled ''Crime & Federalism'', where he wrote about law from a libertarian perspective.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last1=Ohlheiser |first1=Abby |last2=Terris |first2=Ben |date=April 7, 2017 |title=How Mike Cernovich's influence moved from the Internet fringes to the White House |language=en-US |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/04/07/how-mike-cernovichs-influence-moved-from-the-internet-fringes-to-the-white-house/ |access-date=January 5, 2021 |issn= |archive-date=January 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119023809/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/04/07/how-mike-cernovichs-influence-moved-from-the-internet-fringes-to-the-white-house/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Cernovich had previously – in early 2006 – published an article deriding Trump on Crime & Federalism. The piece referred to the billionaire as a ″media whore″ who ″casts his image to the world on demand and recasts it constantly to suit everchanging ratings and marketing schemes,″ and advised to ″never trust a man who combs his hair so as to cover his shiny dome, and then flaunts a wife young enough to be his daughter.″<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crimeandfederalism.com/2006/01/donald_chump.html |title=Donald Chump? |first=Michael |last=Cernovich |website=''Crime & Federalism''|accessdate=May 26, 2018 |language=en |date=January 29, 2006 |archive-url=https://archive.fo/rZAY2 |archive-date=2017-03-15}}</ref> | |||
Shortly after his divorce in 2011, he created the blog ''Danger & Play'', where he wrote about ], fitness, and self-help topics.<ref name=":0" /> The title of ''Danger & Play'' came from a quote by ]: "The true man wants two things: danger and play. For that reason he wants woman, as the most dangerous plaything."<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |title=Mike Cernovich |work=Southern Poverty Law Center |url=https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/mike-cernovich |access-date=September 24, 2018 |archive-date=September 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924105801/https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/mike-cernovich |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Cernovich became influential on ], initially as part of the ] movement,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kutner |first1=Max |title=Roosh V's journey from pickup artist to right-wing provocateur |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2016/10/21/roosh-v-pickup-artist-right-wing-provocateur-509319.html |accessdate=October 11, 2017 |work=Newsweek |date=October 13, 2016}}</ref> and more recently has helped to shape ] narratives in the United States.<ref name=":0" /> He falsely claimed during the ] that ] had a "seizure disorder" and ]. By September his #HillarysHealth ] had gotten 240,000 page views and had become a national ] on ]. During the month of September, Cernovich's tweets were seen more than 100 million times.<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> | |||
In an October 2016 blog post, Cernovich wrote that ] is "liberal fiction" that is "harmful ... for men and women" and leads to false rape accusations, claiming that: "Lying about being in love to sleep with someone isn't rape Getting played isn't rape. Regret isn't rape. Thinking, 'I might have been date raped,' means you weren't raped." His comments received sustained criticism.<ref name="Stack">{{Cite news |last=Stack |first=Liam |date=April 5, 2017 |title=Who Is Mike Cernovich? A Guide |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/us/politics/mike-cernovich-bio-who.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406025234/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/us/politics/mike-cernovich-bio-who.html |archive-date=April 6, 2017 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> | |||
Cernovich frequently calls his adversaries "cucks", a variant of the alt-right slang word ], a pejorative term for conservatives who supposedly betray conservative social values. In reference to this he has written, "To beat a person, you lower his or her social status. ] is pointless."<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> Cernovich admits to sometimes using ], which he says he uses to build his brand rather than for his own amusement.<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> | |||
===Books=== | |||
Cernovich helped popularize the false ]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dissecting the #PizzaGate Conspiracy Theories |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/10/business/media/pizzagate.html |work=The New York Times |date=December 10, 2016 |last=Huang |first=Gregor Aisch, Jon|access-date=April 6, 2017 |last2=Kang |first2=Cecilia |issn=0362-4331 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210112745/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/10/business/media/pizzagate.html |archivedate=December 10, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> through his blog posts and believes that child sex rings run rampant in ] He has accused his opponents of being ] on multiple occasions,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2016/12/how-mike-cernovich-is-pizzagating-his-latest-victim.html |title=How Mike Cernovich Is Pizzagating His Latest Victim |first=Jesse |last=Singal |publisher= |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222042112/http://nymag.com/selectall/2016/12/how-mike-cernovich-is-pizzagating-his-latest-victim.html |archivedate=December 22, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and in a ] video maintained that most people employed by the news media and "every ] actor" in ] were also pedophiles.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
In 2015, Cernovich self-published ''Gorilla Mindset: How to Control Your Thoughts and Emotions, Improve Your Health and Fitness, Make More Money and Live Life on Your Terms'', which became a bestseller in the motivational self-help category on ].<ref name=":2" /> | |||
In 2016, Cernovich published ''Danger & Play: Essays on Embracing Masculinity''.<ref name="Second book">{{cite news |last1=Tuttle |first1=Ian |date=April 5, 2017 |title=The White House Should Not Be Promoting Mike Cernovich |work=National Review |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/04/mike-cernovich-conspiracy-theories-fake-masculinity-donald-trump/ |access-date=October 2, 2020 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111201530/https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/04/mike-cernovich-conspiracy-theories-fake-masculinity-donald-trump/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2016, he published ''MAGA Mindset: Making YOU and America Great Again'' through Castalia House, a Finnish publishing house founded by ] which primarily publishes science fiction and fantasy.<ref name="Second book" /> | |||
In October 2016 Cernovich said: | |||
=== Films === | |||
<blockquote href="YouTube">"The left likes to talk about power structures, right? Well, the media still thinks of itself as speaking truth to power. What they don't realize is that someone like me is perceived as the new ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/07/business/media/medias-next-challenge-overcoming-the-threat-of-fake-news.html |title=Media's Next Challenge: Overcoming the Threat of Fake News |last1=Rutenberg |first1=Jim |date=November 6, 2016 |work=] |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302211127/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/07/business/media/medias-next-challenge-overcoming-the-threat-of-fake-news.html |archivedate=March 2, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Maybe they should check their structural privilege." The "paternalistic" media, he said, was giving way to a more democratic one. "It makes journalists crazy, because they used to be in control. They can't control people anymore. Everyone has a voice now."<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /></blockquote> | |||
In 2016, Cernovich was an associate producer<ref name=":10" /> for ]'s documentary '']'', which discusses the men's rights movement, and issues like male suicide, child custody, and educational inequality. | |||
In 2018, Cernovich produced a documentary called ''Hoaxed: Everything They Told You Is a Lie'', with associate producers Scooter Downey and Jon Du Toit. ''The Hollywood Reporter'' described it as "a right-wing take on corporate malfeasance and media bias".<ref name=":12">{{Cite magazine|title=Are Streamers Muzzling Controversial Documentaries?|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/are-streamers-muzzling-controversial-docs-1299790|access-date=January 6, 2021|magazine=]|archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223235943/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/are-streamers-muzzling-controversial-docs-1299790|url-status=live}}</ref> The movie interviewed a wide range of conservative figures, including ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{Citation |last1=Downey |first1=Scooter |title=Hoaxed |date=2019-01-24 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8991264/?ref_=nm_knf_i3 |type=Documentary |publisher=El Ride Productions |access-date=2022-11-14 |last2=du Toit |first2=Jon |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114160632/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8991264/?ref_=nm_knf_i3 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Hoaxed'' was also made into a book of the same name. The documentary was listed on the Amazon platform before being removed without comment in 2020.<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |title=Are Streamers Muzzling Controversial Documentaries? |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/are-streamers-muzzling-controversial-docs-1299790 |access-date=January 6, 2021 |magazine=] |archive-date=December 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223235943/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/are-streamers-muzzling-controversial-docs-1299790 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Following an August 2016 appearance on ]'s '']'', the show's producers felt compelled afterwards to say that they had made a mistake in booking him when later learning of Cernovich's history of online disputes.<ref name="The Daily Beast">{{cite web |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/09/why-did-fox-news-welcome-date-rape-apologist-mike-cernovich.html |title=Why Did Fox News Welcome Date Rape Apologist Mike Cernovich? |date=August 9, 2016 |work=] |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013173006/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/09/why-did-fox-news-welcome-date-rape-apologist-mike-cernovich.html |archivedate=October 13, 2016 |df=mdy-all |authorlink=Lloyd Grove |last=Grove |first=Lloyd}}</ref> | |||
== Political activities == | |||
Cernovich has accused the ] of attempting to assassinate him.<ref>{{cite web |title=From fringe to mainstream: Conspiracies, baseless accusations and lunacy is the new normal for Republicans |url=http://www.salon.com/2016/08/10/from-fringe-to-mainstream-conspiracies-baseless-accusations-and-lunacy-is-the-new-normal-for-republicans/ |date=August 10, 2016 |last=Legum |first=Gary |work=] |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014220309/http://www.salon.com/2016/08/10/from-fringe-to-mainstream-conspiracies-baseless-accusations-and-lunacy-is-the-new-normal-for-republicans/ |archivedate=October 14, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> {{Dubious |Accusation regarding assassination attempts|reason=weak reference|date=December 2017}} In 2016, Cernovich criticized Canadian Prime Minister ] for speaking at a gender-segregated mosque.<ref name="USA Today">{{cite web |title=Facebook millionaire Luckey aligns himself with alt-right, but only if you squint |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/09/26/facebook-millionaire-luckey-aligns-himself-alt-right-but-only-if-you-squint/91132042/ |date=September 27, 2016 |work=] |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007172533/http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/09/26/facebook-millionaire-luckey-aligns-himself-alt-right-but-only-if-you-squint/91132042/ |archivedate=October 7, 2016 |df=mdy-all |last1=della Cava |first1=Marco |last2=Molina |first2=Brett}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/cernovich/status/775842061329104896 |title=Mike Cernovich |date=September 13, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117043848/https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/775842061329104896 |archivedate=November 17, 2016 |df=mdy-all |publisher=Twitter |accessdate=November 4, 2016}}</ref> In August 2012 Cernovich wrote that ] "does not exist".<ref name="The Daily Beast" /> In October 2016 he wrote, "Lying about being in love to sleep with someone isn't rape. Getting played isn't rape. Regret isn't rape. Thinking, 'I might have been date raped,' means you weren't raped."<ref name=":0" /> | |||
=== Identification with, and later disavowal of the alt-right === | |||
In August 2017, the ] accused Cernovich of commissioning and publishing a ″blatantly anti-Semitic cartoon″ by ] as part of a campaign against President Donald Trump's national security adviser.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.adl.org/blog/anti-semitism-used-in-attack-against-national-security-adviser-h-r-mcmaster |title=Anti-Semitism Used in Attack Against National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster |website=''ADL Blog'' |accessdate=May 26, 2018 |language=en |date=August 3, 2017}}</ref> | |||
Cernovich's writings turned political after Trump announced his candidacy for the ]. He became notable for his ]; his maxims were "conflict is attention", and "attention is influence". He identified himself as ], and joined forces with provocateurs like ].<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
* {{Cite magazine |last=Schreckinger |first=Ben |date=January 2017 |title=The Alt-Right Comes to Washington |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/alt-right-trump-washington-dc-power-milo-214629/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |magazine=] |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116104947/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/alt-right-trump-washington-dc-power-milo-214629/ |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last1=Marantz |first1=Andrew |title=Trolls for Trump |magazine=] |date=October 31, 2016 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/31/trolls-for-trump |access-date=November 4, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105234714/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/31/trolls-for-trump |archive-date=November 5, 2016 }}</ref> Early on, the alt-right was a "big-tent" that included "any conservative or reactionary who was too belligerently antiestablishment to feel at home in the ]".{{Sfn|Marantz|2019|p=41-43}} In November 2016, white nationalist ], who also self-identified as alt-right, became its "indelible face" after a video of him giving a Nazi salute provoked universal outrage.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
* {{harvnb|Marantz|2019|pp=44–45|loc=“On cable news and across social media, Spencer became the indelible face of the alt-right, became indelibly linked to neo-Nazism.”}} | |||
* {{Cite magazine |last1=Appelbaum |first1=Daniel |last2=Lombroso |first2=Yoni |date=2016-11-21 |title='Hail Trump!': Video of White Nationalists Cheering the President-Elect |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/11/richard-spencer-speech-npi/508379/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |magazine=] |language=en |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521211612/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/11/richard-spencer-speech-npi/508379/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This led to a rift in the alt-right movement between white nationalists and ], with the former branding the latter "]s" and "alt-lite".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fowlie |first=Craig |date=2022-05-13 |title=American Anti-Fascism Comes of Age |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/fasc/11/1/article-p139_6.xml |journal=Fascism |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=139–144 |doi=10.1163/22116257-bja10033 |s2cid=248926436 |issn=2211-6257 |quote=Burley is an acute observer of the range of far-right ideological positions, organising strategies and symbolism, and carefully delineates the splits within the movement between the white supremacist factions, the civic nationalist so-called ‘alt-lite’, and the patriot movement of militias and paramilitary groups |access-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114135750/https://brill.com/view/journals/fasc/11/1/article-p139_6.xml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>''More citations:'' | |||
* {{harvnb|Hawley|2017|p=143|loc=" forced everyone associated with the alt-right to make a choice: stand with Richard Spencer, or disavow him and the term he’d invented."}} | |||
* {{Cite magazine |last=Schreckinger |first=Ben |date=January 2017 |title=The Alt-Right Comes to Washington |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/alt-right-trump-washington-dc-power-milo-214629/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |magazine=] |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116104947/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/alt-right-trump-washington-dc-power-milo-214629/ |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Allan |title=Prominent pro-Trump Twitter troll admits that he deserved to be called the worst alt-right insult |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mike-cernovich-called-a-cuck-2017-1 |access-date=2022-11-16 |work=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116104952/https://www.businessinsider.com/mike-cernovich-called-a-cuck-2017-1 |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{Cite magazine |last=Marantz |first=Andrew |date=2017-07-06 |title=The Alt-Right Branding War Has Torn the Movement in Two |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-alt-right-branding-war-has-torn-the-movement-in-two |access-date=2022-11-16 |magazine=] |language=en-US |archive-date=August 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831003601/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-alt-right-branding-war-has-torn-the-movement-in-two |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{Cite magazine |last=Berger |first=J. M. |date=2017-08-14 |title=What the Next Round of Alt-Right Rallies Will Reveal |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/the-alt-right-stands-at-a-crossroads/536748/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |magazine=] |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116104949/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/the-alt-right-stands-at-a-crossroads/536748/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the schism, Cernovich disassociated himself from alt-right, saying: "The first order of business is getting that Nazi shit way the fuck away from me". He adopted the label "new right", and has also described himself as an ].<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
* {{harvnb|Marantz|2019|p=45|loc=“I knew something like this would happen eventually,” Cernovich said a few days after Hailgate. “We’ll figure out a new name. The first order of business is getting that Nazi shit way the fuck away from me."}} | |||
* {{Cite magazine |last=Schreckinger |first=Ben |date=January 2017 |title=The Alt-Right Comes to Washington |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/alt-right-trump-washington-dc-power-milo-214629/ |magazine=] |language=en |access-date=2022-11-16 |quote=Cernovich now uses the label “new right” to describe himself. describes himself as an economic nationalist primarily concerned with the welfare of average Americans. |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116104947/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/alt-right-trump-washington-dc-power-milo-214629/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Cernovich was one of the organizers of the January 2017 ] inaugural ball to celebrate Trump's victory;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Homans |first=Charles |date=January 20, 2017 |title=Trumpism's Twitter Wing Celebrates With a 'DeploraBall' |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/magazine/trumpisms-twitter-wing-celebrates-with-a-deploraball.html |access-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121151306/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/magazine/trumpisms-twitter-wing-celebrates-with-a-deploraball.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the name was a reference to Hillary Clinton's earlier "]" comment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gross |first=Terry |date=November 12, 2019 |title=How Internet Trolls And Online Extremists Are 'Hijacking' American Politics |language=en |work=] |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/11/12/778502116/how-internet-trolls-and-online-extremists-are-hijacking-american-politics |access-date=2022-11-16 |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116113233/https://www.npr.org/2019/11/12/778502116/how-internet-trolls-and-online-extremists-are-hijacking-american-politics |url-status=live }}</ref> He banned fellow organizer ] after the latter made an antisemitic tweet, and banned Spencer after he discovered the latter had bought a ticket.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
In November 2017, Cernovich spread misinformation linking the ] to ].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/talalansari/fake-news-about-the-texas-church-shooting |title=Here Is The Misinformation Going Around About The Texas Church Shooting |work=BuzzFeed|access-date=November 6, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> In mid-November 2017, Cernovich offered $10,000 for information about congressional sexual harassment settlements. The next week, he sent documents concerning a case settled by ] to ], which vetted them and reported on them.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/why-buzzfeed-teamed-with-a-far-right-figure-to-break-the-john-conyers-scandal/2017/11/21/64688b2a-ceca-11e7-9d3a-bcbe2af58c3a_story.html |title=Why BuzzFeed teamed with a far-right figure to break the John Conyers scandal |work=The Washington Post |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=November 21, 2017 |accessdate=November 23, 2017}}</ref> Cernovich encouraged all victims of sexual assault by congressmen to speak up and offered to cover their legal expenses.<ref>{{cite web |last=Basu |first=Ayushman |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/conspiracy-theorist-mike-cernovich-wants-sexual-assault-victims-congressmen-speak-2617798 |title=Conspiracy Theorist Mike Cernovich Wants Sexual Assault Victims Of Congressmen To Speak |work=International Business Times |date=November 22, 2017 |accessdate=November 23, 2017}}</ref> | |||
* {{harvnb|Marantz|2019|p=45}} | |||
* {{Cite magazine |last=Gray |first=Rosie |date=2017-01-12 |title=An Alt-Right Leader Sets Up Shop in Northern Virginia |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/a-one-stop-shop-for-the-alt-right/512921/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |magazine=] |language=en |archive-date=January 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117103841/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/a-one-stop-shop-for-the-alt-right/512921/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Notable attendees of the DeploraBall include ], ], and ]; ] also briefly appeared.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
* {{Cite magazine |last=Lapowsky |first=Issie |title=At the DeploraBall, Trump's Online Army Wonders: What Now? |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2017/01/deploraball-trumps-online-army-wonders-now/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116104952/https://www.wired.com/2017/01/deploraball-trumps-online-army-wonders-now/ |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{Cite magazine |last=Marantz |first=Andrew |date=2017-01-30 |title=Trump Supporters at the DeploraBall |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/06/trump-supporters-at-the-deploraball |access-date=2022-11-16 |magazine=] |language=en-US |archive-date=July 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718190300/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/06/trump-supporters-at-the-deploraball |url-status=live }}</ref> Outside the ball, there were clashes between Trump supporters and protesters.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gambino |first=Lauren |date=2017-01-20 |title=DeploraBall: Trump lovers and haters clash at Washington DC event |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/20/deploraball-trump-lovers-and-haters-clash-at-washington-dc-event |access-date=2022-11-16 |work=] |language=en}}</ref> | |||
=== Ideology === | |||
In December 2017, Cernovich hosted an ″Ask Me Anything″ on ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/7liww8/im_mike_cernovich_journalist_author_and_filmmaker/drmka91/ |title=I'm Mike Cernovich - Journalist, Author, and Filmmaker. Ask Me Anything |website=''Reddit'' |accessdate=May 26, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> The ''AMA'', regarded as a failure by several media outlets, was dominated users mocking him and asking questions about the rape allegations against him, his advice to masturbate in front of women who are unwilling to engage in sexual acts, and a supposed sexual encounter with a ] in ] (which Cernovich denied).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/mike-cernovich-hounded-on-rape-allegation-in-reddit-ama |title=Mike Cernovich Hounded on Rape Allegation in Reddit AMA |first=Ben |last=Collins |publisher=''The Daily Beast'' |accessdate=May 26, 2018 |language=en |date=December 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/12/mike-cernovichs-ama-went-about-as-well-as-youd-expect.html |title=Mike Cernovich's Reddit Ask Me Anything Is Going About As Well As You'd Expect |first=Jake |last=Swearingen |publisher=] |accessdate=May 26, 2018 |language=en |date=December 22, 2017}}</ref> A few days later, he announced his intention to retire from social media, but reversed the decision within hours.<ref name="Martin">{{cite web |url=https://www.metro.us/news/politics/mike-cernovich-alt-right |title=Who Is Mike Cernovich? |first=Michael |last=Martin |publisher=''Metro.us'' |accessdate=May 26, 2018 |language=en |date=January 24, 2018}}</ref> | |||
In 2015 and 2016, Cernovich repeatedly made false claims that white South Africans were being genocided,<ref name=":2" /> which were debunked by '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2016 |title=Claims about 'white genocide' in South Africa unsupported |url=http://africacheck.org/fact-checks/spotchecks/claims-about-white-genocide-south-africa-unsupported |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=Africa Check |language=en |quote=the organisation has {{as written|publ|ically }} stated that “white genocide is not underway in South Africa |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116115435/https://africacheck.org/fact-checks/spotchecks/claims-about-white-genocide-south-africa-unsupported |url-status=live }}</ref> He later deleted the tweets.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Kaczynski |first1=Andrew |last2=McDermott |first2=Nathan |date=2017-03-24 |title=Virginia gubernatorial candidate laughed about GOP 'cucks' on controversial conspiracy theorist's show |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/24/politics/kfile-virginia-governor-livestream-appearance/index.html |access-date=2022-11-16 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116115432/https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/24/politics/kfile-virginia-governor-livestream-appearance/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
'']'' described him in 2016 as wanting an IQ test requirement for immigrants and to end federal funding for universities.<ref name="Schreckinger">{{Cite magazine |last=Schreckinger |first=Ben |date=January 2017 |title=The Alt-Right Comes to Washington |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/alt-right-trump-washington-dc-power-milo-214629/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116104947/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/alt-right-trump-washington-dc-power-milo-214629/ |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |access-date=2022-11-16 |magazine=] |language=en}} "Cernovich is also an avid consumer and progenitor of conspiracy theories"</ref> Interviewed on '']'' in March 2017, Cernovich supported ].<ref name=":9">{{cite news |last=Matthews |first=Dylan |date=April 4, 2017 |title=Why the alt-right loves single-payer health care |work=] |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/4/4/15164598/alt-right-single-payer-health-care-trump |access-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-date=January 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105133724/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/4/4/15164598/alt-right-single-payer-health-care-trump |url-status=live }}</ref> Cernovich has supported "some sort of ]",<ref name="Schreckinger" /><ref name=":7">{{cite magazine |last=Galupo |first=Scott |date=April 5, 2017 |title=Donald Trump, swamp thing |url=https://theweek.com/articles/689970/donald-trump-swamp-thing |magazine=] |access-date=February 21, 2020 |archive-date=December 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209180352/https://theweek.com/articles/689970/donald-trump-swamp-thing |url-status=live }}</ref> and suggested in 2018 that the "new right" was "more of a populist movement than a conservative or liberal movement", and that "conservatism is on the way out".<ref name=":8">{{cite magazine |last1=Gray |first1=Rosie |date=January 20, 2017 |title=The 'New Right' and the 'Alt-Right' Party on a Fractious Night |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/the-new-right-and-the-alt-right-party-on-a-fractious-night/514001/ |magazine=] |access-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-date=October 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004044846/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/the-new-right-and-the-alt-right-party-on-a-fractious-night/514001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Following the ] – which were criticized by Cernovich and split Trump's political base<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/media/383147-conservatives-trump-supporters-slam-trump-over-syria-missile-strike |title=Trump supporters slam decision to launch strikes against Syria |first=Jacqueline |last=Thomsen |publisher='']'' |accessdate=May 26, 2018 |language=en |date=April 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metro.us/news/the-big-stories/syria-fake-false-flag-conspiracy-theory-trump-loses-support |title=Syria fake false flag conspiracy theory: Trump loses support |first=Matt |last=Burke |publisher=''Metro.us'' |accessdate=May 26, 2018 |language=en |date=April 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/13/trump-supporters-syria-strikes-523061 |title=Trump supporters rip decision to strike Syria |first=Henry C. |last=Jackson |publisher=''Politico'' |accessdate=May 26, 2018 |language=en |date=April 13, 2018}}</ref> – he announced that he would pivot to ″philosophy″ and more esoteric content. Cernovich claimed that he had felt a ″cosmic″ ″shift in energy″ which only ″high-consciousness people″ were able to experience. He also elaborated on his past use of mind-altering drugs and referred to reality as a ″simulation″ several times.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2018/04/23/the-mysticism-of-the-alt-right/ |title=The mysticism of the alt-right |first=James |last=Poulos |publisher=''The Orange County Register'' |accessdate=May 26, 2018 |language=en |date=April 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/mike-cernovich-promises-less-politics-more-philosophy/ |title=Mike Cernovich promises 'less politics, more philosophy' |first=David |last=Gilmour |publisher=''The Daily Dot'' |accessdate=May 26, 2018 |language=en |date=April 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/people/mike-cernovich |title=Know Your Meme: Mike Cernovich |website=''Know Your Meme'' |accessdate=May 26, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
=== |
=== Donald Trump === | ||
During the ], Cernovich saw ] as a kindred spirit<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> and, according to ''Politico'', during the 2016 campaign and early period of the Trump administration, Cernovich was an "indefatigable Trump cheerleader" and was among a group of ] celebrities who believed they could become a major influence on the Republican Party.<ref name="SCHRECKINGER-2018">{{cite news |last1=Schreckinger |first1=Ben |date=October 29, 2018 |title=Trump's Culture Warriors Go Home |agency=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/10/29/trump-cernovich-milo-yiannopoulos-richard-spencer-alt-right-2018-221916 |access-date=November 1, 2018 |archive-date=October 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031232147/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/10/29/trump-cernovich-milo-yiannopoulos-richard-spencer-alt-right-2018-221916 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
{{undue weight section|date=December 2017}} | |||
In 2018, Cernovich became "increasingly critical" of Trump, and less politically active.<ref name="SCHRECKINGER-2018" /> In September 2018, he tweeted his disappointment, "There's no ]. She's not ]. But ] got fired and sent to wolves. And Saudi Arabia sold weapons of murder. I give zero f-cks about Republicans losing the House."<ref name="SCHRECKINGER-2018" /> Also in 2018, Cernovich criticized the Trump administration's ], which divided the president's political base.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Henry C. |date=April 13, 2018 |title=Trump supporters rip decision to strike Syria |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/13/trump-supporters-syria-strikes-523061 |access-date=May 26, 2018 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=May 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527023522/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/13/trump-supporters-syria-strikes-523061 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
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| quote = I believe this tweet was posted when Polanski was seeking to return to the US. I wrote that tweet out of disgust with those who were excusing or were seeking to advocate forgiveness for Polanski's actions which caused him to flee the US. I was appalled that anyone would diminish the seriousness of rape, particularly of a child by citing the perpetrator's artistic contributions. Obviously, I would not wish any harm of my daughter or any other person. <br><br>I am confident that other tweets from that time will reflect my disgust in a less satirical tone. | |||
| source = — Sam Seder in an email to MSNBC Senior VP of Communications Errol Cockfield Jr., defending the tweet.<ref name=WaPoIThinkTheyreafraid>{{Cite news |last=Wemple |first=Erik |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2017/12/05/msnbc-is-cutting-ties-with-sam-seder-i-think-theyre-afraid-of-mike-cernovich-co-he-says/ |title=MSNBC is cutting ties with Sam Seder. 'I think they're afraid' of Mike Cernovich & Co., he says. |date=2017-12-05 |work=] |publisher=] |accessdate=2017-12-10 |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
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On November 28, 2017, Cernovich published a post on ]<ref name="CernovichSmearMedium">{{cite web |last=Cernovich |first=Mike |url=https://medium.com/@Cernovich/msnbc-contributor-sam-seder-endorses-polankis-sex-crimes-in-now-deleted-tweet-22284b43abfb |title=MSNBC Contributor Sam Seder Endorses Polanki's Sex Crimes in Now Deleted Tweet |work=] |publisher=A Medium Corporation |date=2017-11-28 |accessdate=2017-12-10}}</ref> which resurfaced a deleted 2009 tweet made by ] ] host and ] ] ], in which he joked about convicted ] and fugitive film director ].<ref name="CNNHowAJoke">{{cite web |last=Kludt |first=Tom |last2=Darcy |first2=Oliver |url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/05/media/sam-seder-msnbc-mike-cernovich/index.html?iid=EL |title=How a joke, and Mike Cernovich, got Sam Seder booted from MSNBC |work=] |publisher=] |date=2017-12-05 |accessdate=2017-12-10}}</ref><ref name="MSNBCdupedbysmearcampaignofSederbyDateRapistMikeCernovich">{{cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Lydia |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sam-seder-msnbc-fired_us_5a25c064e4b086e4e503ce2f |title=MSNBC Gives In To Disingenuous Right-Wing Smear, Fires Sam Seder |work=] |publisher=] |date=2017-12-05 |accessdate=2017-12-10}}</ref><ref name="TheWrapMSNBCCutTies">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thewrap.com/msnbc-will-not-renew-contract-with-contributor-after-roman-polanski-rape-joke/ |title=MSNBC to Cut Ties With Sam Seder After Roman Polanski Rape Joke (Exclusive) |date=2017-12-04 |work=TheWrap|access-date=2017-12-05 |language=en-US}}</ref> The tweet read, "Don't care re Polanski, but I hope if my daughter is ever raped it is by an older truly talented man w/ a great sense of ]."<ref name="CernovichSmearMedium" /><ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /><ref name="TheWrapMSNBCCutTies" /> Cernovich insisted the tweet proved Seder tacitly endorsed Polanski's pedophilia.<ref name="WaPoIThinkTheyreafraid" /><ref name="CernovichSmearMedium" /><ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /> He then approached multiple journalists and news outlets, including MSNBC, to break the story.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /><ref name="NYTMSNBCRehiresSamSeder">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/business/media/msnbc-sam-seder.html |title=MSNBC Rehires Contributor Sam Seder: 'Sometimes You Just Get One Wrong' |date=2017-12-07 |work=] |language=en-US |last=Bromwich |first=Jonah Engel |publisher=] |accessdate=2017-12-10}}</ref> | |||
Following the ], Cernovich said the losses meant that "at least no one has to suck up to Trump anymore", and that "Trump has zero shot at 2024". He voiced his support for ] for the 2024 election.<ref name="desantis2024">''Multiple citations:'' | |||
Despite explaining the tweet to MSNBC Senior VP of Communications ] via email, on December 4, 2017, ] announced that MSNBC had elected to sever ties with Seder by not renewing his contract (due to expire in February 2018) due to the controversial tweet.<ref name="WaPoIThinkTheyreafraid" /><ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /><ref name="MSNBCdupedbysmearcampaignofSederbyDateRapistMikeCernovich" /> Seder defended the tweet by pointing out that, taken in context of the current events around the time he posted it, it was a satiric response to a petition urging Polanski's release from detention in Switzerland.<ref name="MSNBCdupedbysmearcampaignofSederbyDateRapistMikeCernovich" /><ref name="NYTMSNBCRehiresSamSeder" /><ref name="CNNMSNBCRehiresSamSeder">{{Cite news |last=Kludt |first=Tom |url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/07/media/sam-seder-msnbc-rehired/index.html |title=MSNBC decides to bring back Sam Seder after controversy |date=2017-12-07 |work=CNNMoney |publisher=Time Warner |accessdate=2017-12-10 |language=en-US}}</ref> That he was, in fact, mocking Polanski's apologists.<ref name="WaPoIThinkTheyreafraid" /><ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /><ref name="TheInterceptMSNBCrehiresSeder">{{cite web |last=Grim |first=Ryan |url=https://theintercept.com/2017/12/07/sam-seder-msnbc-reverses-decision-to-fire-contributor-sam-seder/?comments=1#comments/ |title=MSNBC Reverses Decision to Fire Contributor Sam Seder |date=2017-12-07 |work=] |publisher=] |accessdate=2017-12-10}}</ref> After news of the termination broke, Cernovich released a ] video celebrating his triumph.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" />{{#tag:ref|"Thank you to everybody who emailed MSNBC," Cernovich said in a video he posted on Twitter. "Thank you to all of you. You're heroes. You're heroes because you emailed MSNBC and you let them know about the tweet. You let them know the people will be heard."<ref name=CNNHowAJoke/>|group=N}} | |||
* {{Cite news |last=Wilkie |first=Christina |title=Trump lashes out at DeSantis and Virginia Gov. Youngkin as he readies 2024 launch in the week ahead |language=en |work=] |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/12/trump-2024-campaign-trump-lashes-out-at-desantis-and-youngkin-.html |access-date=2022-11-14 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114151829/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/12/trump-2024-campaign-trump-lashes-out-at-desantis-and-youngkin-.html |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{Cite news |date=2022-11-09 |title=Donald Trump and US midterms: How bad was his night? |language=en-GB |work=] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63569844 |access-date=2022-11-14 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114151718/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63569844 |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{Cite news |last=Samuels |first=Brett |date=2022-11-09 |title=DeSantis's big night fuels prospect of 2024 face-off with Trump |language=en-US |work=] |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3726685-desantiss-big-night-fuels-prospect-of-2024-face-off-with-trump/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114205305/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3726685-desantiss-big-night-fuels-prospect-of-2024-face-off-with-trump/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
=== Attempts to influence the news cycle === | |||
By then, Seder noted that advertisers on '']'' podcast were also being contacted and pressured by Cernovich and his team to cut ties with the show over the tweet.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /> In response, Seder launched a ] campaign to ensure the show is funded if the advertisers decided to bail.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /> In an episode of the podcast titled, "I'm Under Attack By the Nazi Alt-Right", Seder said, "this smear involves the willful misinterpretation of a tweet that I posted in 2009" and that he will "never be ashamed of criticizing those who would excuse the predation of women or girls."<ref name="WaPoIThinkTheyreafraid" /><ref name="MSNBCdupedbysmearcampaignofSederbyDateRapistMikeCernovich" /> Seder also revealed plans to use a portion of the ] proceeds to produce a three-minute video educating people on Cernovich's tactics.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /> He surmised this was retribution for his frequent criticism of ] ] as well as ] ] ] ].<ref name="MSNBCdupedbysmearcampaignofSederbyDateRapistMikeCernovich" /><ref name="NYTMSNBCRehiresSamSeder" />{{#tag:ref|Seder explained Cernovich's ploy thusly: "If they succeed in getting me fired or scaring my advertisers away, they will continue until they have silenced anyone who'd criticize Roy Moore, criticize President Trump or criticize the conservative movement."<ref name=MSNBCdupedbysmearcampaignofSederbyDateRapistMikeCernovich/>|group=N}} Further, Seder chided MSNBC's decision to terminate his employment concluding, "I think they're afraid of those people."<ref name="WaPoIThinkTheyreafraid" />{{#tag:ref|"According to Seder, he and MSNBC management never had a serious discussion about the tweet, what it meant and whether it posed a problem for MSNBC social-media standards. "If there was any conversation about the tweet," says Seder, "it had nothing to do with substance. It was, 'This is blowing up.'" And from what Seder can tell, his position with the network didn't much concern the company's top managers. "I only spoke to the PR guy and they only fired me after there was an imminent story," says Seder. An MSNBC spokesman responds that the company requested Seder's written defense of his tweet, and then considered that defense in reaching its decision on the contract renewal. Seder's conclusion: "I think they're afraid of those people."<ref name=WaPoIThinkTheyreafraid/>|group=N}} | |||
{{Expand section|date=November 2022}} | |||
During the 2016 campaign, Cernovich told journalist Andrew Marantz: "if there's a story that can hurt Hillary, I want it in the news cycle".{{Sfn|Marantz|2019|p=191}} He set out to coin and promote hashtags that would promote these stories, and aimed to get the stories covered by conservative news aggregator ''The Drudge Report,'' saying: "If it's on Drudge, then it's on Hannity. If it's on Hannity, then Brian Stelter's talking about it on CNN".{{Sfn|Marantz|2019|p=191}} Researchers from Oxford said in a 2020 book that it exemplifies a propaganda pipeline that " advantage of the media ecosystem architecture", in which "destructive memes" that emerge from the media's periphery (social media and sites like Infowars) can spread to its core, as mainstream media covers the controversies.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Benkler |first1=Yochai |chapter-url=https://academic.oup.com/book/26406/chapter/194773842 |chapter=The Propaganda Pipeline: Hacking the Core from the Periphery |last2=Faris |first2=Robert |last3=Roberts |first3=Hal |title=Network Propaganda |date=2018-10-18 |pages=225–234 |language=en |doi=10.1093/oso/9780190923624.003.0007 |isbn=978-0190923624 |access-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117065653/https://academic.oup.com/book/26406/chapter/194773842 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
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| quote = This was mind-bogglingly stupid, a real textbook case of how not to handle 'controversy' Seder was taking the side of abuse victims. | |||
| source = — ] reporter ] on MSNBC's decision to fire Seder.<ref name=CNNHowAJoke/> | |||
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The news of Seder's dismissal received immediate backlash.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /><ref name="MSNBCdupedbysmearcampaignofSederbyDateRapistMikeCernovich" /><ref name="SPINMSNBCRehiresSamSeder">{{Cite news |last=Salisbury |first=Drew |url=https://www.spin.com/2017/12/msnbc-rehires-sam-seder-mike-cernovich-tweet/ |title=MSNBC Rehires Sam Seder After Stupidly Firing Him for Satirical Tweet |date=2017-12-07 |work=] |publisher=] |accessdate=2017-12-10 |language=en-US}}</ref> Over 12,000 people signed a petition protesting Seder's termination, arguing that Cernovich had acted in malice and was deliberately mischaracterizing the tweet.<ref name="NYTMSNBCRehiresSamSeder" /><ref name="PoliticoMSNBCrehiresSeder">{{cite web |last=Lima |first=Christiano |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/07/msnbc-rehires-sam-seder-285332 |title=MSNBC reverses course on firing contributor Seder after backlash |work=] |publisher=] |date=2017-12-07 |accessdate=2017-12-10}}</ref> Multiple news publications pilloried MSNBC.{{#tag:ref|] wrote: "thanks to the demands of a lunatic conservative, they cut off Sam Seder for a single lame joke made on Twitter in 2009."<ref name=MJLameJoke/>|group=N}}{{#tag:ref|] chided that Cernovich was now MSNBC's new "De Facto Ombudsman."<ref name=HuffPoDeFactoOmbudsman>{{cite web |last=Feinberg |first=Ashley |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cernovich-sam-seder-msnbc-twitter-rape_us_5a26bb8fe4b06d807b4f6557 |title=This Is MSNBC's De Facto Ombudsman |work=Huffington Post |publisher=Oath Inc. |date=2017-12-06 |accessdate=2017-12-10}}</ref>|group=N}} MSNBC primetime anchor ] tweeted, "The entire culture and our politics are now dominated by people who have weaponized bad faith and shamelessness."<ref name="MJLameJoke">{{Cite news |url=https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/12/msnbc-cuts-off-sam-seder-over-a-single-lame-from-joke-eight-years-ago/ |title=MSNBC cuts off Sam Seder over a single lame joke from eight years ago |work=] |publisher=Foundation For National Progress|access-date=2017-12-05 |language=en-US}}</ref> Hayes tweeted several times against the decision by his own network, including: "Also, I reiterate my longstanding position that people shouldn't be fired for a tweet, *particularly* one that is obviously being read in manifestly bad faith."<ref name="NYTMSNBCRehiresSamSeder" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/chrislhayes/status/937792135205703687 |title=Also, I reiterate my longstanding position that people shouldn't be fired for a tweet, *particularly* one that is obviously being read in manifestly bad faith. |last=Hayes |first=Chris |date=2017-12-04 |language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-12-05}}</ref> Actress ] also tweeted in support of Seder.{{#tag:ref|Sarah Silverman's tweet: "Yo @msnbc ur gonna let Mr Pizzagate be ur moral compass?"<ref name=CNNHowAJoke/>|group=N}} | |||
=== Conspiracy theories === | |||
There was considerable dissent within MSNBC over the termination.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /><ref name="CNNMSNBCRehiresSamSeder" /> Employees worried firing Seder incentivized other far-right personalities to launch similar campaigns.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /><ref name="CNNMSNBCRehiresSamSeder" /> MSNBC's management itself was unsettled by the celebratory reaction from the far-right.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /><ref name="CNNMSNBCRehiresSamSeder" /> On December 7, 2017, MSNBC decided to reverse their decision to terminate Seder's employment. MSNBC President ] said in a statement, "Sometimes you just get one wrong, and that's what happened here. We made our initial decision for the right reasons—because we don't consider rape to be a funny topic to be joked about. But we've heard the feedback, and we understand the point Sam was trying to make in that tweet was actually in line with our values, even though the language was not. Sam will be welcome on our air going forward."<ref name="PoliticoMSNBCrehiresSeder" /><ref name="Variety">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/msnbc-reverses-course-contributor-sam-seder-1202632936/ |title=MSNBC Reverses Course on Contributor Sam Seder |work=] |publisher=] |date=2017-12-07 |accessdate=2017-12-10}}</ref> In response, Seder issued a statement while accepting his job back: | |||
'']'' has described Cernovich as an "avid consumer and progenitor of conspiracy theories".<ref name="Schreckinger" /> | |||
During the 2016 campaign, Cernovich was "among the first" to spread rumors about ]'s health.<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> Clinton had previously experienced a brain concussion and blood clots, but testing found "complete resolution", and her doctors attested to her good health.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Altman |first=Lawrence K. |date=2015-07-31 |title=No Serious Health Issues for Hillary Clinton, Her Doctor Reports |url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/07/31/doctor-says-hillary-clinton-is-fit-to-serve/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=] |language=en |archive-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227060434/https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/07/31/doctor-says-hillary-clinton-is-fit-to-serve/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2016, he claimed that a photo of Hillary Clinton winking showed she had experienced a "mild stroke".{{Sfn|Marantz|2019|p=180}} In August, he promoted the hashtags: ''#CoughingHillary'' and ''#SickHillary'' on Twitter, and spread rumors that Clinton had ] and ].<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
{{quote|I appreciate MSNBC's thoughtful reconsideration and willingness to understand the cynical motives of those who intentionally misrepresented my tweet for their own toxic, political purposes We are experiencing an important and long overdue moment of empowerment for the victims of sexual assault and of reckoning for their perpetrators. I'm proud that MSNBC and its staff have set a clear example of the need to get it right.<ref name=TheInterceptMSNBCrehiresSeder/><ref name=Variety/>}} | |||
* {{Cite news |date=2016-09-11 |title=Le "malaise" de Hillary Clinton relance les folles rumeurs sur sa santé |language=fr |work=] |url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/monde/elections-americaines/20160911.OBS7836/le-malaise-de-hillary-clinton-relance-les-folles-rumeurs-sur-sa-sante.html |access-date=2022-11-14 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114153801/https://www.nouvelobs.com/monde/elections-americaines/20160911.OBS7836/le-malaise-de-hillary-clinton-relance-les-folles-rumeurs-sur-sa-sante.html |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{harvnb|Marantz|2019|p=180|loc=“In March 2016, during a Democratic debate, he tweeted, “Hillary’s face looks like melting candle wax. Imagine what her brain looks like.” By August, it was “obvious” to him that Clinton was suffering from both a seizure disorder and Parkinson’s disease"}}</ref> These rumors were amplified by the '']'' website, ],{{Sfn|Marantz|2019|p=180|loc="Go online and put down 'Hillary Clinton illness,' take a look at the videos for yourself," Rudy Giuliani said on Fox News."}} and Donald Trump.{{Sfn|Marantz|2019|p="In early September, Donald Trump tweeted, "Mainstream media never covered Hillary's massive 'hacking' or coughing attack, yet it is #1 trending. What's up?"}} In September 2016, Clinton was filmed collapsing from pneumonia after a memorial service, and Cernovich started the #HillarysHealth hashtag,{{Sfn|Marantz|2019|pp=180-181}} which trended nationwide; that month, Cernovich's tweets were seen more than 100{{Nbsp}}million times.<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> | |||
In November 2016, Cernovich and other conspiracists promoted the baseless ], which misinterpreted the leaked ] to imply that high-ranking Democrats were involved in a child sex-trafficking ring.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
{{Quote box | |||
*{{Cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Gregor Aisch, Jon |last2=Kang |first2=Cecilia |date=December 10, 2016 |title=Dissecting the #PizzaGate Conspiracy Theories |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/10/business/media/pizzagate.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210112745/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/10/business/media/pizzagate.html |archive-date=December 10, 2016 |issn= }} | |||
| quote = If you decide to let this guy be the arbiter of what is and is not appropriate, understand who he is. | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Shelbourne |first=Mallory |date=April 25, 2017 |title=Writer who pushed 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory says he'll attend WH briefing |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/330510-writer-who-pushed-pizzagate-conspiracy-theory-says-he-has-white-house-press |access-date=January 6, 2021 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112005238/http://thehill.com/homenews/media/330510-writer-who-pushed-pizzagate-conspiracy-theory-says-he-has-white-house-press |url-status=live }}</ref> He also claimed that a 1997 video of Marina Abramovic's "]" performance art constituted "occult symbolism" to "openly taunt the public", and that it proved that Clinton's inner circle was part of a sex cult.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Levitz |first=Eric |title=Report: Clinton Linked to Satanic Ritual Involving Children and Marina Abramovic |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/11/spirit-cooking-explained-satanic-ritual-or-fun-dinner.html |access-date=2022-11-17 |magazine=] |language=en-us |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117064527/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/11/spirit-cooking-explained-satanic-ritual-or-fun-dinner.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He helped ''#Pizzagate'' become one of the biggest trending hashtags on Twitter;<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
| source = — Sam Seder, on the three-minute video he plans to produce on Cernovich.<ref name=CNNHowAJoke/> | |||
* {{Cite news |last1=Mak |first1=Tim |last2=Collins |first2=Ben |date=2016-11-04 |title=Hannity and Drudge Cite WikiLeaks to Claim Clinton Campaign Worships Satan |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/11/04/drudge-and-the-alt-right-cite-wikileaks-to-claim-clinton-campaign-worships-satan |access-date=2022-11-17}} | |||
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* {{harvnb|Wendling|2018|loc=Pages 143: "The biggest hashtags on in late 2016 and beyond were #MAGA and #Pizzagate"}}</ref> the hashtag drew conspiracy theorists from across the political spectrum, whose common link was their "profound distrust of the mainstream media".{{Sfn|Wendling|2018|p=160-162|loc="And so "pizzagate" broke out of 4chan and alt-right Reddit and drew in people from the left, or formerly from the left common link was a profound distrust of the mainstream media"}} The rumors later inspired a gun-wielding man to visit ].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hsu |first=Spencer S. |date=2017-03-24 |title=Comet Pizza gunman pleads guilty to federal and local charges |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/comet-pizza-gunman-to-appear-at-plea-deal-hearing-friday-morning/2017/03/23/e12c91ba-0986-11e7-b77c-0047d15a24e0_story.html |access-date=2022-11-16 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=March 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324182045/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/comet-pizza-gunman-to-appear-at-plea-deal-hearing-friday-morning/2017/03/23/e12c91ba-0986-11e7-b77c-0047d15a24e0_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Cernovich, who had used the hashtag 60 times, later deleted the tweets, and downplayed his involvement in propagating the theory.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 9, 2018 |title=Mike Cernovich, right-wing conspiracy theorist, considers congressional campaign in California |website=] |url=https://apnews.com/article/938436baa8a6c16f00c0c671c82f14e0 |access-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213102030/https://apnews.com/article/938436baa8a6c16f00c0c671c82f14e0 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
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] cited the incident as an example of a broader pattern of far-right media personalities using online smear campaigns to get mainstream journalists fired.<ref name="CJR">{{Cite news |last=Vernon |first=Pete |url=https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/trump-fake-news-global-impact-libya-royhingya.php |title=The media today: Trump's 'fake news' attacks have global impact |date=2017-12-05 |work=] |publisher=] |accessdate=2017-12-10 |language=en-US}}</ref> Cernovich, for his part, acknowledged that "some are saying Seder was making a joke or being sarcastic."<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /><ref name="MSNBCdupedbysmearcampaignofSederbyDateRapistMikeCernovich" /> However, he still insisted he didn't misrepresent the tweet.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /> He later admitted that the whole incident was a stunt{{#tag:ref|"The left isn't going to stop going through our tweets so we aren't going to stop going through theirs," Cernovich said. "I wish we would get over people trying to find someone saying a naughty thing. I've been saying that for years. And nobody wants to listen. So fine, we will play by the same rules."<ref name=CNNHowAJoke/>|group=N}} while claiming victory explaining, retroactively, it was meant to bring attention to what he perceived was a double standard and a lack of "diversity of viewpoint" in the media,<ref name="PoliticoMSNBCrehiresSeder" /> He also tweeted that he was "thrilled" MSNBC offered Seder his job back while threatening to "bring Sam Seder's Tweet out every time the media goes after someone else for a Tweet."{{#tag:ref|"I'm thrilled MSNBC has made the decision that people shouldn't be fired over satirical tweets," Cernovich said on Twitter. "This rule will surely be applied equally to all sides, and if it's not, we will bring Sam Seder's Tweet out every time the media goes after someone else for a Tweet."<ref name=CNNMSNBCRehiresSamSeder/>|group=N}} On December 9, 2017, having failed to get Seder fired, Cernovich claimed that his wife was being stalked at the behest of the media.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/939209035949076480 |title=My wife is being stalked, and the media is encouraging this campaign of terror |date=2017-12-09 |work=] |accessdate=2017-12-10 |archiveurl=https://archive.org/details/Cernovichstatus939209035949076480 |archivedate=2017-12-10 |deadurl=no}}</ref> | |||
Cernovich regularly asserts, without evidence, that there are active ]s in ] and in Hollywood.<ref name="nymag">{{cite magazine |last=Singal |first=Jesse |title=How Mike Cernovich Is Pizzagating His Latest Victim |url=https://nymag.com/selectall/2016/12/how-mike-cernovich-is-pizzagating-his-latest-victim.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222042112/http://nymag.com/selectall/2016/12/how-mike-cernovich-is-pizzagating-his-latest-victim.html |archive-date=December 22, 2016 |magazine=]}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine |last=McKew |first=Molly |date=October 3, 2018 |title=Brett Kavanaugh and the Information Terrorists Trying to Reshape America |url=https://www.wired.com/story/information-terrorists-trying-to-reshape-america/ |language=en-US |access-date=2022-11-16 |magazine=] |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224123118/https://www.wired.com/story/information-terrorists-trying-to-reshape-america/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He has accused his opponents of being ] on many occasions.<ref name="nymag" /> A visit to Haiti by the Clintons, he saw as evidence the couple were involved in child trafficking.<ref name="MMA20180821">{{cite news |last1=López G. |first1=Cristina |last2=Karet |first2=Brendan |last3=Kerr |first3=John |date=August 21, 2018 |title=Cernovich has pushed conspiracy theories about pedophilia, Satanism, 'spirit cooking,' and more |work=Media Matters for America |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/maga-trolls/mike-cernovichs-far-right-conspiracy-theories-bigotry-and-association-white |access-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222051919/https://www.mediamatters.org/maga-trolls/mike-cernovichs-far-right-conspiracy-theories-bigotry-and-association-white |url-status=live }}</ref> In another YouTube video, he said that most people employed by the news media and "every ] actor" in ] were also pedophiles.<ref name="Stack" /> | |||
== Views == | |||
Although describing himself as on the ], he supports ] and "some form of universal ]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/@Cernovich/here-is-the-full-60-minutes-interview-transcript-with-mike-cernovich-a0cb58a80ba0 |title=Here is the full 60 Minutes Interview Transcript with Mike Cernovich |date=April 1, 2017 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425220439/https://medium.com/%40Cernovich/here-is-the-full-60-minutes-interview-transcript-with-mike-cernovich-a0cb58a80ba0 |archivedate=April 25, 2017 |df=mdy-all |first=Mike |last=Cernovich |work=Medium.com}}</ref> | |||
In April 2017 Cernovich promoted |
Cernovich has also supported the unevidenced theory that there were multiple shooters at the ], which he claims the government is covering up.<ref name="Schreckinger" /> In 2016, Cernovich worked with ] and ] to offer a bounty for information supporting the conspiracy theory that ] had been behind a ].<ref name=":4" /> In April 2017, Cernovich promoted a conspiracy theory that the ] in ] was a hoax funded by an American financier.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 14, 2017 |title=How a pair of self-publicists wound up as apologists for Assad |newspaper=] |url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21720627-trail-damascus-alex-jones-and-mike-cernovich-how-pair-self-publicists |url-status=live |access-date=April 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413184021/http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21720627-trail-damascus-alex-jones-and-mike-cernovich-how-pair-self-publicists |archive-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref> | ||
Cernovich commissioned artist ] to draw an ] cartoon portraying Generals ] and ] being controlled by ]- specifically ] and the ]. Garrison was disinvited from an event at the ] in 2019 following complaints about the cartoon from the ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Oster|first=Marcy|date=July 8, 2019|title=Artist who drew anti-Semitic cartoon invited to White House|newspaper=]|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/artist-who-drew-anti-semitic-cartoon-invited-to-white-house/|access-date=April 8, 2024|archive-date=April 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409012717/https://www.timesofisrael.com/artist-who-drew-anti-semitic-cartoon-invited-to-white-house/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dolsten|first=Josefin|date=July 10, 2019|title=Cartoonist disinvited from White House defends image widely labeled as anti-Semitic|newspaper=]|url=https://www.jta.org/2019/07/10/united-states/cartoonist-disinvited-from-white-house-defends-image-widely-labeled-as-anti-semitic|access-date=April 8, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712134732/https://www.jta.org/2019/07/10/united-states/cartoonist-disinvited-from-white-house-defends-image-widely-labeled-as-anti-semitic|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Cernovich believes in the ],<ref>{{cite news|title=Peter Dutton’s offer to white South African farmers started on the far right |url=https://nypost.com/2017/09/07/columbia-welcoming-alt-right-speakers-to-campus/ |publisher='']'' |date=September 7, 2017}}</ref> saying that "white genocide is real" in relation to South Africa.<ref>{{cite news|title=South African group under fire for lobbying US for white rights |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/south-african-group-fire-lobbying-white-rights-180514054424008.html |publisher=] |date=May 15, 2018}}</ref> He has said he joined the alt-right after realizing that "tolerance only went one way and diversity is code for white genocide".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lange |first1=Jeva |title=The president's son thinks PizzaGate conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich should win the Pulitzer |url=http://theweek.com/speedreads/690167/presidents-son-thinks-pizzagate-conspiracy-theorist-mike-cernovich-should-win-pulitzer |accessdate=November 22, 2017 |work=The Week |date=April 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaczynski |first1=Andrew |title=Virginia gubernatorial candidate laughed about GOP 'cucks' on controversial conspiracy theorist's show |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/24/politics/kfile-virginia-governor-livestream-appearance/index.html |accessdate=November 22, 2017 |work=CNN |date=March 24, 2017 |last2=McDermott |first2=Nathan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Trump Jr. Wants 'Alt-right' Personality Mike Cernovich to Win Pulitzer |url=http://www.haaretz.com/us-news/1.781665 |work=Haaretz |date=April 5, 2017 |last=Haaretz|access-date=May 15, 2017 |language=en |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514114210/http://www.haaretz.com/us-news/1.781665 |archivedate=May 14, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
Cernovich began hosting the fourth hour once a week on conspiracy theorist ]' '']'' show in May 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/03/media/mike-cernovich-infowars-alex-jones/index.html|title=Right-wing troll Mike Cernovich goes professional with new hosting gig at InfoWars|first=Oliver|last=Darcy|work=CNN|date=May 3, 2017|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=May 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507021733/http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/03/media/mike-cernovich-infowars-alex-jones/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Cernovich advocates ]-testing for all immigrants and ending federal funding of universities.<ref name="pm">Schreckinger, Ben (January/February 2017). {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222185541/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/alt-right-trump-washington-dc-power-milo-214629|date=February 22, 2017}} ''Politico Magazine.'' Retrieved: February 21, 2017.</ref> | |||
=== Other activities === | |||
Cernovich opposes the ] and his support for Trump is not based on ]. "What are Trump's policies? I don't particularly care". In another post on his website he stated, "If Trump offends you, it's because you live in a cucked world where no one speaks their minds".<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> | |||
During the 2021 effort to ] incumbent California governor ], Cernovich floated a potential run.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
* {{Cite news |last=Hubler |first=Shawn |date=September 14, 2021 |title=A Recall for Newsom in California? Talk Grows as Governors Come Under Attack |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/24/us/newsom-recall.html |access-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116055011/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/24/us/newsom-recall.html |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{Cite news |last=Ramrayka |first=Liza |title=California governor, slammed for COVID performance, faces recall |language=en |website=] |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/16/california-governor-slammed-for-covid-performance-faces-recall |access-date=2022-11-16 |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116055007/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/16/california-governor-slammed-for-covid-performance-faces-recall |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{Cite news |date=February 9, 2018 |title=Mike Cernovich, right-wing conspiracy theorist, considers congressional campaign in California |url=https://apnews.com/article/938436baa8a6c16f00c0c671c82f14e0 |access-date=January 6, 2021 |website=] |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213102030/https://apnews.com/article/938436baa8a6c16f00c0c671c82f14e0 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
== Gonzo journalism == | |||
Cernovich's high prominence in pro-Trump social media circles led him to build a network of sympathetic sources, and break several stories on his blog, which he promoted on Twitter and video streaming sites like ].<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
* {{Cite magazine |last=Marantz |first=Andrew |date=2017-04-06 |title=Can a Pro-Trump Meme Maker Get a Real News Scoop? |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-mike-cernovich-a-pro-trump-meme-maker-get-a-real-news-scoop |access-date=2022-11-14 |magazine=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120516/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-mike-cernovich-a-pro-trump-meme-maker-get-a-real-news-scoop |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{Cite news |last=Stack |first=Liam |date=2017-04-05 |title=Who Is Mike Cernovich? A Guide |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/us/politics/mike-cernovich-bio-who.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406025234/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/us/politics/mike-cernovich-bio-who.html |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Ohlheiser |first=Abby |date=April 4, 2017 |title=It's Mike Cernovich's world, and you may not be living in it, but his followers sure are |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/04/04/its-mike-cernovichs-world-and-you-may-not-be-living-in-it-but-his-followers-sure-are/ |access-date=November 15, 2022 |newspaper=] |archive-date=April 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406051848/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/04/04/its-mike-cernovichs-world-and-you-may-not-be-living-in-it-but-his-followers-sure-are/ |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |date=April 6, 2017 |title=Who Is Mike Cernovich? |url=https://www.tampabay.com/incoming/who-is-mike-cernovich/2319320/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120819/https://www.tampabay.com/incoming/who-is-mike-cernovich/2319320/ |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Darcy |first=Tom Kludt and Oliver |date=2017-12-05 |title=How a joke, and Mike Cernovich, got Sam Seder booted from MSNBC |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/12/05/media/sam-seder-msnbc-mike-cernovich/index.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |quote= also gained prominence in the Trump-era for legitimate national security related scoops |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517193848/https://money.cnn.com/2017/12/05/media/sam-seder-msnbc-mike-cernovich/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The New Yorker's'' ] described it as "hardly journalism in its highest form. But it's not exactly fake news, either", comparing it to the ''Huffington Post's'' ] tactics.<ref name=":122">{{Cite magazine |last=Marantz |first=Andrew |date=2017-04-06 |title=Can a Pro-Trump Meme Maker Get a Real News Scoop? |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-mike-cernovich-a-pro-trump-meme-maker-get-a-real-news-scoop |access-date=2022-11-14 |magazine=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120516/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-mike-cernovich-a-pro-trump-meme-maker-get-a-real-news-scoop |url-status=live }}</ref> ''New York Magazine's'' ] deemed it ],<ref name=":13" /> while ''CNN's'' Tom Kludt said Cernovich "gained prominence in the Trump-era for legitimate national security related scoops".<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /> | |||
=== Intelligence unmasking by Susan Rice === | |||
On April 2, 2017, Cernovich broke the news that ], ]'s national security advisor, had requested the unmasking of several Trump transition officials who appeared in intelligence reports.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Singal |first=Jesse |title=Why the White House Is Boosting Mike Cernovich |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/04/why-the-white-house-is-boosting-mike-cernovich.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=] |language=en-us |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120522/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/04/why-the-white-house-is-boosting-mike-cernovich.html |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite magazine |last=Marantz |first=Andrew |date=2017-04-06 |title=Can a Pro-Trump Meme Maker Get a Real News Scoop? |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-mike-cernovich-a-pro-trump-meme-maker-get-a-real-news-scoop |access-date=2022-11-14 |magazine=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120516/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-mike-cernovich-a-pro-trump-meme-maker-get-a-real-news-scoop |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Dilanian |first=Ken |date=April 4, 2017 |title=What is unmasking, and did Susan Rice do anything wrong? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-unmasking-did-susan-rice-do-anything-wrong-n742476 |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120517/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-unmasking-did-susan-rice-do-anything-wrong-n742476 |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Stack |first=Liam |date=2017-04-05 |title=Who Is Mike Cernovich? A Guide |language=en-US |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/us/politics/mike-cernovich-bio-who.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406025234/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/us/politics/mike-cernovich-bio-who.html |url-status=live }}</ref> When electronic eavesdropping of foreign officials incidentally capture American citizens' names, those names are redacted in intelligence reports, but can be "unmasked" through a legal process.<ref name=":14">{{Cite news |last=Lake |first=Eli |date=April 3, 2017 |title=Top Obama Adviser Sought Names of Trump Associates in Intel |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2017-04-03/top-obama-adviser-sought-names-of-trump-associates-in-intel#xj4y7vzkg |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |archive-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212173510/https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2017-04-03/top-obama-adviser-sought-names-of-trump-associates-in-intel#xj4y7vzkg |url-status=live }}</ref> Cernovich publicized his claims in a ''Medium.com'' article, in tweets, and on Periscope live streams. The hashtag ''#SusanRice'' became a trending topic on Twitter; he later posted a screenshot showing the tweets received 400,000 impressions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cernovich |first=Mike |date=April 3, 2017 |title=Fake News Alert! — Eli Lake and Bloomberg Plagiarized Mike Cernovich |url=https://medium.com/@Cernovich/fake-news-eli-lake-and-bloomberg-plagiarized-mike-cernovich-susanrice-7809d337be8b |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404024832/https://medium.com/@Cernovich/fake-news-eli-lake-and-bloomberg-plagiarized-mike-cernovich-susanrice-7809d337be8b |archive-date=April 4, 2017 |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=Medium.com}}</ref> Cernovich claimed that his sources were sympathetic employees of mainstream media outlets, whose outlets were "sitting on this story".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Pearce |first1=Matt |last2=Finnegan |first2=Michael |date=April 10, 2017 |title=The mainstream and conservative media are living in different worlds. So are those who read them |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-us-two-worlds-20170410-story.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |newspaper=] |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120516/https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-us-two-worlds-20170410-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
The next day, ''Bloomberg News'' published its story on the intelligence unmasking.<ref name=":14" /> The White House falsely claimed it was a "smoking gun" that supported its past allegations that Obama had "illegally wiretapped" Trump Tower, though the Susan Rice story was tangential to those claims.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Lake |first=Eli |date=April 3, 2017 |title=Top Obama Adviser Sought Names of Trump Associates in Intel |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2017-04-03/top-obama-adviser-sought-names-of-trump-associates-in-intel#xj4y7vzkg |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |archive-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212173510/https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2017-04-03/top-obama-adviser-sought-names-of-trump-associates-in-intel#xj4y7vzkg |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Kirkland |first=Allegra |date=2017-04-03 |title=Experts Say Susan Rice Had Every Right To Request 'Unmasking' In Intel Reports |url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/surveillance-experts-swat-down-susan-rice-unmasking-hysteria |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120520/https://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/surveillance-experts-swat-down-susan-rice-unmasking-hysteria |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump himself, conservative commentators ] and ], White House conselor ], and congressmen ] and ] all promoted the story.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Beauchamp |first=Zack |date=2017-04-04 |title=President Trump's wild charge that Susan Rice committed a crime, explained |url=https://www.vox.com/world/2017/4/4/15177640/susan-rice-unmasking |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=] |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120518/https://www.vox.com/world/2017/4/4/15177640/susan-rice-unmasking |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Dilanian |first=Ken |date=April 4, 2017 |title=What is unmasking, and did Susan Rice do anything wrong? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-unmasking-did-susan-rice-do-anything-wrong-n742476 |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120517/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-unmasking-did-susan-rice-do-anything-wrong-n742476 |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last=French |first=David |date=2017-09-14 |title=Did Susan Rice Lie, Again? |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/09/susan-rice-devin-nunes-unmasking-controversy-did-rice-lie/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120516/https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/09/susan-rice-devin-nunes-unmasking-controversy-did-rice-lie/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ] claimed Cernovich deserved a ].<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Christopher |date=April 4, 2017 |title=Donald Trump Jr. proposes conspiracy theorist for Pulitzer for breaking Susan Rice story |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-jr-proposes-conspiracy-theorist-for-pulitzer-for-breaking-susan-rice-story-162928866.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120516/https://www.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-jr-proposes-conspiracy-theorist-for-pulitzer-for-breaking-susan-rice-story-162928866.html |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Moffitt |first=Mike |date=2017-04-04 |title=Trump Jr.: Pizzagate blogger deserves Pulitzer for Susan Rice story |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Trump-Jr-Pizzagate-blogger-deserves-Pulitzer-11049765.php |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120517/https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Trump-Jr-Pizzagate-blogger-deserves-Pulitzer-11049765.php |url-status=live }}</ref> The story was criticized as a distraction from the ] investigating Trump.<ref name=":18">{{Cite news |last1=Dilanian |first1=Ken |last2=Siemaszko |first2=Corky |date=April 4, 2017 |title=Susan Rice speaks out on 'unmasking' accusations: 'I leaked nothing to nobody' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/susan-rice-speaks-out-unmasking-accusations-i-leaked-nothing-nobody-n742486 |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120518/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/susan-rice-speaks-out-unmasking-accusations-i-leaked-nothing-nobody-n742486 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
''The New Yorker''<nowiki/>'s Ryan Lizza said there were "valid reasons" for concerns about unmasking, but that it was constrained by a legal process and independent review, and noted there was no evidence of misconduct.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lizza |first=Ryan |date=2017-04-04 |title=Susan Rice and the Latest Bogus Attempt to Justify Trump's Wiretapping Tweet |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/ryan-lizza/susan-rice-and-the-latest-bogus-attempt-to-justify-trumps-wiretapping-tweet |access-date=2022-11-15 |magazine=] |language=en-US |archive-date=August 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819051144/https://www.newyorker.com/news/ryan-lizza/susan-rice-and-the-latest-bogus-attempt-to-justify-trumps-wiretapping-tweet |url-status=live }}</ref> Experts and bipartisan congresspeople concluded Susan Rice was "doing her job", that there was "absolutely" no smoking gun in the unmasked reports, and that the unmaskings were "neither unusual nor against the law".<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Kirkland |first=Allegra |date=2017-04-03 |title=Experts Say Susan Rice Had Every Right To Request 'Unmasking' In Intel Reports |url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/surveillance-experts-swat-down-susan-rice-unmasking-hysteria |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120520/https://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/surveillance-experts-swat-down-susan-rice-unmasking-hysteria |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Bertrand |first=Natasha |title=We now have a better idea who's behind 'unmasking' Trump officials' contact with foreign agents — and why |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/susan-rice-trump-unmask-intelligence-wiretap-2017-4 |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120516/https://www.businessinsider.com/susan-rice-trump-unmask-intelligence-wiretap-2017-4 |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Dilanian |first=Ken |date=April 17, 2017 |title=Susan Rice did nothing wrong, say Dem and GOP congressional aides |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/susan-rice-did-nothing-wrong-say-both-dems-republicans-n747406 |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613133700/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/susan-rice-did-nothing-wrong-say-both-dems-republicans-n747406 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
=== H.R. McMaster === | |||
In 2017, Cernovich launched a sustained campaign to influence Trump to fire his national security advisor, ], claiming that McMaster was undermining the president's ] agenda.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Rosie |date=2017-08-04 |title=The War Against H.R. McMaster |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/the-war-against-hr-mcmaster/536046/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |archive-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323051726/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/the-war-against-hr-mcmaster/536046/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cleary |first=Tom |date=2017-08-02 |title=HR McMaster Under Fire From Mike Cernovich & the Alt-Right |url=https://heavy.com/news/2017/08/hr-mcmaster-mike-cernovich-nsc-purge-obama-democrat-rice-rhodes/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=Heavy.com |language=en-US |archive-date=May 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522144905/https://heavy.com/news/2017/08/hr-mcmaster-mike-cernovich-nsc-purge-obama-democrat-rice-rhodes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He started the McMasterLeaks.com website to document his and others' criticisms of McMaster.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liptak |first=Kevin |date=2017-08-04 |title=H.R. McMaster faces attacks from conservatives {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/04/politics/hr-mcmaster-john-kelly/index.html |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116174658/https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/04/politics/hr-mcmaster-john-kelly/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
On May 8, 2017, Cernovich reported that McMaster had called White House director of strategic communications ] a "high schooler".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brannen |first=Kate |title=The Knives Are Out for Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/09/the-knives-are-out-for-hr-mcmaster-trump-bannon-nsc/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=Foreign Policy |date=May 9, 2017 |language=en-US |archive-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715114421/https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/09/the-knives-are-out-for-hr-mcmaster-trump-bannon-nsc/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cernovich |first=Mike |date=May 8, 2022 |title=McMaster's Meltdown — Tells Staff he will not deal with "that high schooler" Hope Hicks |url=https://medium.com/@Cernovich/hr-mcmaster-hope-hick-high-schooler-white-house-drama-c2ac7ae6816e |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512021838/https://medium.com/@Cernovich/hr-mcmaster-hope-hick-high-schooler-white-house-drama-c2ac7ae6816e |archive-date=May 12, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2022 |website=Medium.com}}</ref> ''New York Magazine's'' Olivia Nuzzi later corroborated the quote.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nuzzi |first=Olivia |date=2018-03-18 |title=What Hope Hicks Learned in Washington |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/03/what-hope-hicks-learned-in-washington.html |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=Intelligencer |language=en-us |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116174658/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/03/what-hope-hicks-learned-in-washington.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Cernovich was interviewed on ''Foreign Policy's'' podcast in relation to his anti-McMaster campaign, and discussed the tension between journalism and activism.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Weinberger |first=Sharon |title=The Object of McMaster's Obsession |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/08/15/the-object-of-mcmasters-obsession/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130032957/https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/08/15/the-object-of-mcmasters-obsession/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
=== Shitty Media Men list === | |||
{{Main|Shitty Media Men}} | |||
On October 12, 2017, Buzzfeed revealed the existence of the "Shitty Media Men" spreadsheet, which had been created a day earlier in the aftermath of the ], and was used by female journalists to crowdsource allegations ranging from "weird lunch dates" to rape and stalking committed by their male coworkers.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Shafrir |first=Doree |title=What To Do With "Shitty Media Men"? |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/doree/what-to-do-with-shitty-media-men |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120526/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/doree/what-to-do-with-shitty-media-men |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite magazine |last=Bugbee |first=Ruth Spencer, Stella |date=2017-10-21 |title=Alt-Right Blogger Posts Names From 'Shitty Men in Media' List |url=https://www.thecut.com/2017/10/mike-cernovich-shitty-men-in-media-list.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=] |language=en-us |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120526/https://www.thecut.com/2017/10/mike-cernovich-shitty-men-in-media-list.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The list included reporters from ''The'' ''New York Times'', ''The Wall Street Journal'', ''The New Yorker'', and ''Buzzfeed.''<ref name="smmlist" /> | |||
On October 16, Cernovich offered to pay $10,000 for a copy of the list. He obtained it on October 21, claiming the source "was insistent on not accepting anything", and announced his intent to release it; he published two of the names, but held back the rest after consulting his lawyer.<ref name="smmlist">''Multiple citations:'' | |||
*{{Cite news |last1=Calderone |first1=Michael |last2=Schwartz |first2=Jason |date=October 25, 2017 |title=Blogger amends vow to publish list of 'Shitty Media Men' |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/25/cernovich-media-harass-list-244180 |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120518/https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/25/cernovich-media-harass-list-244180 |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite magazine |last=Bugbee |first=Ruth Spencer, Stella |date=2017-10-21 |title=Alt-Right Blogger Posts Names From 'Shitty Men in Media' List |url=https://www.thecut.com/2017/10/mike-cernovich-shitty-men-in-media-list.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=] |language=en-us |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120526/https://www.thecut.com/2017/10/mike-cernovich-shitty-men-in-media-list.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''New York Magazine'' denounced Cernovich's actions as a weaponization of the allegations in order to "attack the hated liberal media".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kircher |first=Madison Malone |date=2017-10-27 |title=The 'Sh*tty Men in Media' List Has Officially Been Weaponized |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/10/shitty-men-in-media-list-published-on-reddit-and-twitter.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |magazine=] |language=en-us |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120527/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/10/shitty-men-in-media-list-published-on-reddit-and-twitter.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The list itself later led to a string of investigations, resignations and firings.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Donegan |first=Moira |date=2018-01-10 |title=I Started the Media Men List |url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/moira-donegan-i-started-the-media-men-list.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=] |language=en-us |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120520/https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/moira-donegan-i-started-the-media-men-list.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
=== Sexual harassment allegations against John Conyers === | |||
In November 2017, Cernovich uncovered sworn affidavits in which former staffers accused Democratic congressman ] of ]. The documents also revealed that the accusers were paid a settlement by Congress's ] in exchange for a confidentiality agreement. Cernovich then gave the documents to ], saying he did not publish them on his own because he thought Democrats would attempt to discredit him. BuzzFeed verified that the documents were real, and published their article on November 20, 2017.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
*{{Cite news |title=She Said That A Powerful Congressman Harassed Her. Here's Why You Didn't Hear Her Story. |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmcleod/she-complained-that-a-powerful-congressman-harassed-her |access-date=2021-08-20 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=August 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822123415/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmcleod/she-complained-that-a-powerful-congressman-harassed-her |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=2017-11-21 |title=Why BuzzFeed teamed with a far-right figure to break the John Conyers scandal |language=en-US |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/why-buzzfeed-teamed-with-a-far-right-figure-to-break-the-john-conyers-scandal/2017/11/21/64688b2a-ceca-11e7-9d3a-bcbe2af58c3a_story.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=November 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123233808/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/why-buzzfeed-teamed-with-a-far-right-figure-to-break-the-john-conyers-scandal/2017/11/21/64688b2a-ceca-11e7-9d3a-bcbe2af58c3a_story.html |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Susan |date=November 21, 2017 |title=Democratic Congressman Acknowledges Settlement, But Denies Sexual Harassment Claim |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/11/21/565681045/rep-john-conyers-acknowledges-settlement-but-denies-sexual-harassment-claim |work=] |access-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115124113/https://www.npr.org/2017/11/21/565681045/rep-john-conyers-acknowledges-settlement-but-denies-sexual-harassment-claim |url-status=live }}</ref> The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Diaz |first=Daniella |date=2017-11-21 |title=House Ethics Committee investigating Conyers allegations |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/21/politics/michigan-rep-john-conyers-democrat-sexual-harassment-settlement/index.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115125010/https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/21/politics/michigan-rep-john-conyers-democrat-sexual-harassment-settlement/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> other allegations followed, and Conyers resigned in December 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kindy |first=Kimberly |date=2017-12-05 |title=Conyers faced mounting sexual misconduct allegations as he weighed his future |language=en-US |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/conyers-faced-mounting-sexual-misconduct-allegations-as-he-weighed-his-future/2017/12/05/5616e5f0-d602-11e7-a986-d0a9770d9a3e_story.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |issn= |archive-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913182146/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/conyers-faced-mounting-sexual-misconduct-allegations-as-he-weighed-his-future/2017/12/05/5616e5f0-d602-11e7-a986-d0a9770d9a3e_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
=== Role in the media ecosystem === | |||
''New York Magazine's'' Jesse Singal said Cernovich benefited from common conservative sentiments that mainstream journalism is "]" and "utterly corrupt", sentiments which blur the line between established news organizations and activists, and lead conservatives to downplay or excuse fake news published by "their side".<ref name=":13">{{Cite news |last=Singal |first=Jesse |title=Why the White House Is Boosting Mike Cernovich |language=en-us |work=] |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/04/why-the-white-house-is-boosting-mike-cernovich.html |access-date=2022-11-15 |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120522/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/04/why-the-white-house-is-boosting-mike-cernovich.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Singal described conservatives as believing " are on ''the right side'', and they're set to overtake those corrupt ''dinosaurs'' who have controlled the flow of information for far too long".<ref name=":13" /> | |||
In an interview with '']'', Cernovich claimed he was filling a "vacuum" created by conservative distrust of mainstream media. | |||
{{Blockquote|text=The people who are going to watch on ''VICE'', or on HBO, are not my people. So you guys could create this caricature of a madman and a monster, and maybe two or three people who follow me on Twitter would even watch it. So we live now in parallel structures. Right now there's no shared set of facts in the country.<ref name="vicehbo" />|author=Mike Cernovich|title="Post-Truth" News with Mike Cernovich|source=VICE on HBO}} | |||
In the same segment, ''VICE'' noted that only 32% of Americans trusted the press, and interviewed Eugene Yi of the ], who showed that mainstream journalists had practically no reach among conservative Twitter users.<ref name="vicehbo">{{cite interview |title="Post-Truth" News with Mike Cernovich |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7bkyWV_PU8 |access-date=2022-11-15 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115120518/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7bkyWV_PU8 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
== Legal activities == | |||
=== Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit === | |||
In 2015, ] sued ], alleging that Maxwell sexually trafficked her for ] while she was a minor. Maxwell settled the suit<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Julie K. |date=November 28, 2018 |title=For years, Jeffrey Epstein abused teen girls, police say. A timeline of his case |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article221404845.html |work=] |access-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815165036/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article221404845.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
In January 2017, Cernovich filed a motion to unseal evidence and depositions from Giuffre's lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shamsian |first=Jacob |date=November 18, 2021 |title=This one lawsuit unleashed a flood of stories unraveling Jeffrey Epstein mysteries and led to Ghislaine Maxwell's arrest on sex-trafficking charges |url=https://www.insider.com/virginia-giuffre-lawsuit-led-to-criminal-case-ghislaine-maxwell-epstein-2021-11 |access-date=2022-11-14 |work=] |language=en-US |archive-date=May 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522145405/https://www.businessinsider.com/virginia-giuffre-lawsuit-led-to-criminal-case-ghislaine-maxwell-epstein-2021-11 |url-status=live }}</ref> He told ''Politico'' he was "astonished" by the amount of redactions the judge allowed, with some documents "largely or entirely redacted".<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
*{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/03/media/mike-cernovich-infowars-alex-jones/index.html |title=Right-wing troll Mike Cernovich goes professional with new hosting gig at InfoWars |first=Oliver |last=Darcy |date=May 3, 2017 |work=] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507021733/http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/03/media/mike-cernovich-infowars-alex-jones/index.html |archive-date=May 7, 2017 }} | |||
* {{Cite web |last=Cernovich |first=Mike |date=2018-04-18 |title=Miami Herald Sues for Court Records Involving Jeffrey Epstein's Alleged Sex Trafficking Ring |url=https://www.cernovich.com/miami-herald-sues-for-court-records-involving-jeffrey-epsteins-alleged-sex-trafficking-ring/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Mike Cernovich |language=en-US |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114195911/https://www.cernovich.com/miami-herald-sues-for-court-records-involving-jeffrey-epsteins-alleged-sex-trafficking-ring/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ] later filed a similar motion,<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Darcy |first=Oliver |date=May 3, 2017 |title=Right-wing troll Mike Cernovich goes professional with new hosting gig at InfoWars |work=] |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/03/media/mike-cernovich-infowars-alex-jones/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507021733/http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/03/media/mike-cernovich-infowars-alex-jones/index.html |archive-date=May 7, 2017}}</ref> and the '']'' filed a third in April 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2019 |title=Brown v. Maxwell (No. 18-2868-cv) |url=https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/18-2868_16-3945_complete_opn.pdf |publisher=United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit |access-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601071105/https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/18-2868_16-3945_complete_opn.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The motions were denied by the trial court, and Cernovich and the ''Herald'' appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.<ref name=":11">{{Cite news |last=Leonard |first=Mike |date=July 3, 2019 |title=Dershowitz Wins Unsealing of Epstein-Related Defamation Case |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/dershowitz-wins-unsealing-of-epstein-related-defamation-case |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=] |language=en |archive-date=November 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105060516/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/dershowitz-wins-unsealing-of-epstein-related-defamation-case |url-status=live }}</ref> The ] (which includes the ''Associated Press'') filed an amicus brief to support the appeal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Giuffre v. Maxwell |url=https://www.rcfp.org/briefs-comments/giuffre-v-maxwell/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114195914/https://www.rcfp.org/briefs-comments/giuffre-v-maxwell/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2019, the Court of Appeals ordered the documents unsealed.<ref name=":11" /> | |||
=== Other lawsuits === | |||
In February 2020, Cernovich filed a third-party motion in Roger Stone's criminal case, calling for the release of the jury foreperson's questionnaire answers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-29 |title=Mike Cernovich Files to Intervene in Roger Stone Case |url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/right-wing-blogger-mike-cernovich-files-motion-to-access-questionnaire-from-roger-stone-jury-foreperson/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=] |language=en |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114195910/https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/right-wing-blogger-mike-cernovich-files-motion-to-access-questionnaire-from-roger-stone-jury-foreperson/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This motion too was supported by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RCFP amicus brief: In re: Juror Questionnaires in United States v. Stone |url=https://www.rcfp.org/briefs-comments/united-states-v-stone/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US |archive-date=January 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120065531/https://www.rcfp.org/briefs-comments/united-states-v-stone/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was later backed by Roger Stone,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roger Stone Backs Public Release Of Jury Questionnaires - Law360 |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1267037/roger-stone-backs-public-release-of-jury-questionnaires |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=Law360 |language=en |archive-date=January 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120065531/https://www.law360.com/articles/1267037/roger-stone-backs-public-release-of-jury-questionnaires |url-status=live }}</ref> who filed a motion for a new trial, which was denied.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mangan |first=Dan |title=Trump friend Roger Stone denied new trial by judge |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/16/roger-stone-judge-denies-rules-on-new-trial-request-by-trump-friend.html |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=CNBC |date=April 16, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=January 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120065530/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/16/roger-stone-judge-denies-rules-on-new-trial-request-by-trump-friend.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
==Social media== | |||
Cernovich became influential on social media, initially as part of the ] movement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kutner |first1=Max |title=Roosh V's journey from pickup artist to right-wing provocateur |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2016/10/21/roosh-v-pickup-artist-right-wing-provocateur-509319.html |access-date=October 11, 2017 |work=Newsweek |date=October 13, 2016 |archive-date=November 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114125708/http://www.newsweek.com/2016/10/21/roosh-v-pickup-artist-right-wing-provocateur-509319.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Cernovich calls his adversaries "beta males", losers, or "]", saying: "to beat a person, you lower his or her social status".<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> Cernovich uses ] tactics, which he says he uses to build his brand rather than for his own amusement.<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" />{{r|Stack}} In December 2017, Cernovich hosted an "Ask Me Anything" on ], regarded as a failure by several media outlets.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
*{{Cite web |last=Swearingen |first=Jake |date=2017-12-22 |title=Mike Cernovich's Reddit Ask Me Anything Went About As Well As You'd Expect |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/12/mike-cernovichs-ama-went-about-as-well-as-youd-expect.html |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=Intelligencer |language=en-us |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116122152/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/12/mike-cernovichs-ama-went-about-as-well-as-youd-expect.html |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=William |date=2017-12-22 |title=Mike Cernovich's AMA did not go well |url=https://www.avclub.com/mike-cernovichs-ama-did-not-go-well-1821539564 |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=] |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116122146/https://www.avclub.com/mike-cernovichs-ama-did-not-go-well-1821539564 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
=== Gamergate === | |||
{{See also|Gamergate (harassment campaign)}} | |||
In 2014, Cernovich became a prominent figure of ], which targeted feminists as part of a nascent ] in the aftermath of the ].<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
*{{cite magazine |last1=Marantz |first1=Andrew |title=Trolls for Trump |magazine=] |date=October 31, 2016 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/31/trolls-for-trump |access-date=November 4, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105234714/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/31/trolls-for-trump |archive-date=November 5, 2016 }} | |||
*{{Cite news |last1=Ohlheiser |first1=Abby |last2=Terris |first2=Ben |date=April 7, 2017 |title=How Mike Cernovich's influence moved from the Internet fringes to the White House |language=en-US |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/04/07/how-mike-cernovichs-influence-moved-from-the-internet-fringes-to-the-white-house/ |access-date=January 5, 2021 |issn= |archive-date=January 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119023809/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/04/07/how-mike-cernovichs-influence-moved-from-the-internet-fringes-to-the-white-house/ |url-status=live }} | |||
*{{Cite magazine |last=McKew |first=Molly |date=October 3, 2018 |title=Brett Kavanaugh and the Information Terrorists Trying to Reshape America |language=en-US |magazine=] |url=https://www.wired.com/story/information-terrorists-trying-to-reshape-america/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224123118/https://www.wired.com/story/information-terrorists-trying-to-reshape-america/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He encouraged the ] of opponents, and wrote about women attacking men with false rape allegations.<ref name=":4" /> ''Wired Magazine'' wrote that Cernovich "gained a kind of leadership over the unruly mob", and that the movement had more to do with identity than with gaming or women.<ref name=":4" /> | |||
Cernovich hired private investigators to hound ], a central target of Gamergate, and worked with Eron Gjoni, Quinn's former boyfriend who had written the disparaging blog post about Quinn which incited the harassment campaign.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":4" /> According to O'Toole et al. writing in ''Gender Violence'', "Cernovich's ongoing strategy, even after Gamergate itself died down, has been to promote conspiracy theories, provide dubious legal advice, and offer a constantly rotating platter of targets."<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|last1=O'Toole|first1=Laura|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1114271401|title=Gender violence: interdisciplinary perspectives|last2=Schiffman|first2=Jessica R.|last3=Sullivan|first3=Rosemary|publisher=]|year=2020|isbn=978-1-4798-4392-3|edition=3rd|location=New York|oclc=1114271401|access-date=January 6, 2021|archive-date=May 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522145355/https://search.worldcat.org/title/1114271401|url-status=live}}</ref> Writer and activist Soraya Chemaly called Gamergate a "breeding ground and practice ground" for the 2016 campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sherr |first=Ian |title=GamerGate to Trump: How video game culture blew everything up |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/gamergate-donald-trump-american-nazis-how-video-game-culture-blew-everything-up/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=CNET |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116155920/https://www.cnet.com/culture/gamergate-donald-trump-american-nazis-how-video-game-culture-blew-everything-up/ |url-status=live }}</ref><!-- scholarly sources would be better --> | |||
=== Involvement in firings of other individuals === | |||
==== Sam Seder ==== | |||
In December 2017, Cernovich published a ] post and contacted several journalists and news outlets about a joke tweet that comedian and MSNBC contributor ] had written in 2009. Cernovich claimed that the tweet, which read "Don't care re Polanski, but I hope if my daughter is ever raped it is by an older truly talented man w/a great sense of mise en scene," proved Seder tacitly endorsed ].<ref name="WaPoIThinkTheyreafraid">{{Cite news|last=Wemple|first=Erik|date=December 5, 2017|title=MSNBC is cutting ties with Sam Seder. 'I think they're afraid' of Mike Cernovich & Co., he says.|language=en-US|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2017/12/05/msnbc-is-cutting-ties-with-sam-seder-i-think-theyre-afraid-of-mike-cernovich-co-he-says/|access-date=December 10, 2017|archive-date=December 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219215249/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2017/12/05/msnbc-is-cutting-ties-with-sam-seder-i-think-theyre-afraid-of-mike-cernovich-co-he-says/|url-status=live}}</ref> MSNBC elected to sever ties with Seder by not renewing his contract (due to expire in February 2018) due to the controversial tweet.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke">{{cite news|last1=Kludt|first1=Tom|last2=Darcy|first2=Oliver|date=December 5, 2017|title=How a joke, and Mike Cernovich, got Sam Seder booted from MSNBC|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/12/05/media/sam-seder-msnbc-mike-cernovich/index.html?iid=EL|access-date=December 10, 2017|work=]|archive-date=December 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210020148/http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/05/media/sam-seder-msnbc-mike-cernovich/index.html?iid=EL|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WaPoIThinkTheyreafraid" /> Seder defended the tweet by pointing out that, taken in context of the current events around the time he posted it, it was a satiric response to a petition urging Polanski's release from detention in Switzerland because of his stature as an artist, and that he had been mocking Polanski's apologists.<ref name="WaPoIThinkTheyreafraid" /><ref name="NYTMSNBCRehiresSamSeder">{{Cite news|last=Bromwich|first=Jonah Engel|date=December 7, 2017|title=MSNBC Rehires Contributor Sam Seder: 'Sometimes You Just Get One Wrong'|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/business/media/msnbc-sam-seder.html|access-date=December 10, 2017|archive-date=July 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706001309/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/business/media/msnbc-sam-seder.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CNNMSNBCRehiresSamSeder">{{Cite news|last=Kludt|first=Tom|date=December 7, 2017|title=MSNBC decides to bring back Sam Seder after controversy|language=en-US|work=CNNMoney|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/12/07/media/sam-seder-msnbc-rehired/index.html|access-date=December 10, 2017|archive-date=June 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622193304/https://money.cnn.com/2017/12/07/media/sam-seder-msnbc-rehired/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After news of the termination broke, Cernovich released a video on Twitter video celebrating his triumph.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /> By then, Seder noted that advertisers on ''The Majority Report with Sam Seder'' podcast were also being contacted and pressured by Cernovich and his followers to cut ties with the show over the tweet.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /> In response, Seder launched a ] campaign to help maintain funding for the show in the face of potential loss of advertising revenue, and also to produce a three-minute video educating people on Cernovich's tactics.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /> According to Seder, Cernovich's ploy had been retribution for Seder's frequent criticism of then-President ] as well as ] Alabama ] ].<ref name="NYTMSNBCRehiresSamSeder" /> Cernovich retorted to CNN that "the left isn't going to stop going through our tweets so we aren't going to stop going through theirs."<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /> | |||
The news of Seder's dismissal prompted an almost immediate backlash. Over 12,000 people signed a petition protesting Seder's termination, arguing that Cernovich had acted in malice and was deliberately mischaracterizing the tweet.<ref name="NYTMSNBCRehiresSamSeder" /><ref name="PoliticoMSNBCrehiresSeder">{{cite news|last=Lima|first=Christiano|date=December 7, 2017|title=MSNBC reverses course on firing contributor Seder after backlash|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/07/msnbc-rehires-sam-seder-285332|access-date=December 10, 2017|work=]|publisher=]|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211012018/https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/07/msnbc-rehires-sam-seder-285332|url-status=live}}</ref> '']'' wrote that "MSNBC has now fully bought into that smear campaign ... whose openly stated goal is the destruction of news outlets just like it through the use of blatantly manipulative trolling techniques."<ref name="AVClub">{{Cite news|last=O'Neal|first=Sean|title=MSNBC cuts ties with Sam Seder after giving in to "alt-right" smear campaign|work=The A.V. Club|publisher=Onion Inc.|url=https://www.avclub.com/msnbc-cuts-ties-with-sam-seder-after-giving-in-to-alt-1820993790|access-date=December 5, 2017|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303000948/https://www.avclub.com/msnbc-cuts-ties-with-sam-seder-after-giving-in-to-alt-1820993790|url-status=live}}</ref> '']'' rebuked MSNBC for capitulating "to the demands of a lunatic conservative."<ref name="MJLameJoke">{{Cite news|title=MSNBC cuts off Sam Seder over a single lame joke from eight years ago|work=]|publisher=Foundation For National Progress|url=https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/12/msnbc-cuts-off-sam-seder-over-a-single-lame-from-joke-eight-years-ago/|access-date=December 5, 2017|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308102424/https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/12/msnbc-cuts-off-sam-seder-over-a-single-lame-from-joke-eight-years-ago/|url-status=live}}</ref> '']'' chided that Cernovich was now MSNBC's new "De Facto Ombudsman".<ref name="HuffPoDeFactoOmbudsman">{{cite web|last=Feinberg|first=Ashley|date=December 6, 2017|title=This Is MSNBC's De Facto Ombudsman|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cernovich-sam-seder-msnbc-twitter-rape_us_5a26bb8fe4b06d807b4f6557|access-date=December 10, 2017|work=]|archive-date=February 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213230929/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cernovich-sam-seder-msnbc-twitter-rape_us_5a26bb8fe4b06d807b4f6557|url-status=live}}</ref> MSNBC primetime anchor ] tweeted, "The entire culture and our politics are now dominated by people who have weaponized bad faith and shamelessness."<ref name="MJLameJoke" /> There was considerable dissent within MSNBC over Seder's termination. Some employees expressed concerns that his firing would encourage other far-right personalities to launch similar campaigns.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /><ref name="CNNMSNBCRehiresSamSeder" /> A senior MSNBC employee characterized the capitulation as "really weak" and "pathetic".<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /><ref name="CNNMSNBCRehiresSamSeder" /> MSNBC's management itself was unsettled by the celebratory reaction from the far-right.<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /><ref name="CNNMSNBCRehiresSamSeder" /> On December 7, 2017, MSNBC decided to reverse their decision to terminate Seder's employment.<ref name="PoliticoMSNBCrehiresSeder" /><ref name="Variety">{{cite magazine|date=December 7, 2017|title=MSNBC Reverses Course on Contributor Sam Seder|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/msnbc-reverses-course-contributor-sam-seder-1202632936|access-date=December 10, 2017|magazine=]|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410213712/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/msnbc-reverses-course-contributor-sam-seder-1202632936/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Cernovich acknowledged that "some are saying Seder was making a joke or being sarcastic."<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Garber|first=Megan|date=December 5, 2017|title=Ye of 'Bad Faith'|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/12/ye-of-bad-faith/547562/|access-date=January 5, 2021|magazine=]|language=en-US|archive-date=December 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206081512/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/12/ye-of-bad-faith/547562/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, he maintained that he didn't misrepresent the tweet and that he had simply "reported on what said."<ref name="CNNHowAJoke" /> | |||
'']'' cited the incident as an example of a broader pattern of far-right media personalities using online smear campaigns to get mainstream journalists fired.<ref name="CJR">{{Cite news|last=Vernon|first=Pete|date=December 5, 2017|title=The media today: Trump's 'fake news' attacks have global impact|language=en-US|work=]|publisher=]|url=https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/trump-fake-news-global-impact-libya-royhingya.php|access-date=December 10, 2017|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308124723/https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/trump-fake-news-global-impact-libya-royhingya.php|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==== James Gunn ==== | |||
On July 18, 2018, filmmaker ] faced swift backlash on Twitter for recommending his "fellow liberals the aisle" and follow conservative commentator ] on Twitter; filmmaker ] came to Duplass's defense, and Duplass publicly retracted his endorsement, calling it "a disaster on many levels".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Audra |date=2018-07-19 |title=Mark Duplass apologizes for tweet praising Ben Shapiro |url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/mark-duplass-tweet-ben-shapiro/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116070342/https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/mark-duplass-tweet-ben-shapiro/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A day later, Cernovich and conspiracy theorist ] unearthed tweets by Gunn in which he joked about pedophilia and rape; Gunn had been a vocal critic of Donald Trump,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |last2=Couch |first2=Aaron |date=2018-07-20 |title=James Gunn Fired as Director of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/james-gunn-exits-guardians-galaxy-vol-3-1128786/ |magazine=] |language=en-US |access-date=2022-11-16 |archive-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011030601/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/james-gunn-exits-guardians-galaxy-vol-3-1128786/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the tweets were widely shared among conservatives, and trended nationwide on Twitter.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
* {{Cite news |last=Abad-Santos |first=Alex |date=2018-07-20 |title=Disney has fired Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn over old, gross tweets |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/7/20/17596506/disney-fired-james-gunn-guardians |access-date=2022-11-16 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116070341/https://www.vox.com/2018/7/20/17596506/disney-fired-james-gunn-guardians |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{Cite news |last1=Izadi |first1=Elahe |last2=Ohlheiser |first2=Abby |date=July 20, 2018 |title='Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' director James Gunn fired by Disney over old, offensive tweets |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/07/20/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-director-james-gunn-fired-by-disney-over-old-offensive-tweets/ |access-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-date=December 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217072008/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/07/20/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-director-james-gunn-fired-by-disney-over-old-offensive-tweets/ |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Luke |date=2018-07-21 |title=How Pizzagate Pusher Mike Cernovich Keeps Getting People Fired |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mike-cernovich-james-gunn-fired_n_5b5265cce4b0fd5c73c570ac |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=] |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115151105/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mike-cernovich-james-gunn-fired_n_5b5265cce4b0fd5c73c570ac |url-status=live }}</ref> The next day, Gunn issued an apology for the tweets.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Geier |first=Thom |date=2018-07-20 |title=Director James Gunn Apologizes for 'Offensive' Old Tweets Joking About Rape, Pedophilia |url=https://www.thewrap.com/james-gunn-apologizes-offensive-old-tweets-rape-pedophilia/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=The Wrap |language=en-US |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116155029/https://www.thewrap.com/james-gunn-apologizes-offensive-old-tweets-rape-pedophilia/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Disney called the tweets "indefensible", and fired Gunn from ''].''<ref name=":15">{{Cite news |last=Abad-Santos |first=Alex |date=2018-07-20 |title=Disney has fired Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn over old, gross tweets |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/7/20/17596506/disney-fired-james-gunn-guardians |access-date=2022-11-16 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116070341/https://www.vox.com/2018/7/20/17596506/disney-fired-james-gunn-guardians |url-status=live }}</ref> After Gunn's firing, Cernovich also unearthed similar tweets by comedians ] and ].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kenneally |first=Tim |date=2018-07-21 |title=After James Gunn Ouster, Mike Cernovich Turns Toward Comedians Patton Oswalt, Michael Ian Black |url=https://www.thewrap.com/james-gunn-mike-cernovich-turns-toward-patton-oswalt-michael-ian-black/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |magazine=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116065126/https://www.thewrap.com/james-gunn-mike-cernovich-turns-toward-patton-oswalt-michael-ian-black/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Disney's decision to fire Gunn was criticized by fans of the series, Hollywood stars, and several media outlets.<ref>''Multiple citations'': | |||
*{{cite news|last=Mancuso|first=Vinnie|date=July 23, 2018|title=With James Gunn's Firing, Disney Destroyed the Message of 'Guardians of the Galaxy'|work=]|url=https://collider.com/james-gunns-firing-guardians-of-the-galaxy/|url-status=live|access-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724011504/http://collider.com/james-gunns-firing-guardians-of-the-galaxy/|archive-date=July 24, 2018}} | |||
*{{Cite news|last=French|first=David|date=July 23, 2018|title=The Difference between James Gunn and Roseanne Barr|language=en-US|work=National Review {{!}} The Corner|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/james-gunn-roseanne-barr-difference/|access-date=July 30, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109040233/https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/james-gunn-roseanne-barr-difference/|url-status=live}} | |||
*{{cite news|last=Stolworthy|first=Jacob|date=July 23, 2018|title=Disney executives have let Twitter trolls do their jobs for them by firing James Gunn – and that sets a terrible precedent|work=]|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/james-gunn-guardians-of-the-galaxy-3-director-twitter-fired-disney-petition-selma-blair-a8459891.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724121724/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/james-gunn-guardians-of-the-galaxy-3-director-twitter-fired-disney-petition-selma-blair-a8459891.html|archive-date=July 24, 2018}} | |||
*{{cite news|last=Harris|first=Mark|date=July 23, 2018|title=Disney Should Know the Difference Between James Gunn and Roseanne|work=]|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/07/james-gunn-is-not-roseanne-and-disney-should-know-it.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723164649/http://www.vulture.com/2018/07/james-gunn-is-not-roseanne-and-disney-should-know-it.html|archive-date=July 23, 2018}} | |||
*{{cite web|last=Todd|first=Andrew|date=July 23, 2018|title=James Gunn's Firing Sets A Worrying Precedent|url=https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2018/07/23/james-gunns-firing-sets-a-worrying-precedent|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724183640/https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2018/07/23/james-gunns-firing-sets-a-worrying-precedent|archive-date=July 24, 2018|access-date=July 24, 2018|publisher=Birth.Movies.Death.}}</ref> An ] urging Disney to re-hire Gunn received over 400,000 signatures.<ref name="WashingtonWeAreGroot">{{cite news|last=Cavna|first=Michael|date=July 23, 2018|title=#WeAreGroot: How Hollywood is reacting to James Gunn's Disney firing|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/07/23/wearegroot-how-hollywood-is-reacting-to-james-gunns-disney-firing/?noredirect=on|url-status=live|access-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223030319/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/07/23/wearegroot-how-hollywood-is-reacting-to-james-gunns-disney-firing/?noredirect=on|archive-date=December 23, 2018}}</ref> Fellow ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' cast members released a statement expressing their " support" for Gunn.<ref>''Multiple citations:'' | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Parker |first=Ryan |title='Guardians of the Galaxy' Stars Respond to James Gunn Firing |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/guardians-galaxy-stars-respond-james-gunn-firing-1129215 |url-status=live |magazine=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723184844/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/guardians-galaxy-stars-respond-james-gunn-firing-1129215 |archive-date=July 23, 2018 |access-date=July 23, 2018}} | |||
* {{Cite news|last1=Lopez|first1=Alex|last2=Stedman|first2=Ricardo|date=July 30, 2018|title='Guardians of the Galaxy' Cast Says It 'Fully Supports' James Gunn|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/guardians-of-the-galaxy-cast-james-gunn-support-1202889736/|url-status=live|access-date=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730234506/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/guardians-of-the-galaxy-cast-james-gunn-support-1202889736/|archive-date=July 30, 2018}}</ref> | |||
In March 2019, Gunn was reinstated by Disney as director of the third film.<ref name="GunnRehired">{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=March 15, 2019|title=Disney Reinstates Director James Gunn For 'Guardians Of The Galaxy 3'|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/james-gunn-reinstated-guardians-of-the-galaxy-3-disney-suicide-squad-2-indefensible-social-media-messages-1202576444/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315235747/https://deadline.com/2019/03/james-gunn-reinstated-guardians-of-the-galaxy-3-disney-suicide-squad-2-indefensible-social-media-messages-1202576444/|archive-date=March 15, 2019|access-date=March 15, 2019|magazine=]}}</ref> Prior to his rehiring, he had also signed on with Warner Bros. to write and later direct what would eventually become the ] film ].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr. |date=2018-10-09 |title=James Gunn Boards 'Suicide Squad 2' To Write And Possibly Direct |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/james-gunn-boards-suicide-squad-2-to-write-and-possibly-direct-1202479455/ |access-date=2022-11-13 |magazine=] |language=en-US |archive-date=October 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009185105/https://deadline.com/2018/10/james-gunn-boards-suicide-squad-2-to-write-and-possibly-direct-1202479455/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, Gunn was chosen to lead ], the retooled film division of ].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2022-10-25 |title=DC Shocker: James Gunn, Peter Safran to Lead Film, TV and Animation Division (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/dc-movies-james-gunn-peter-safran-to-lead-film-tv-division-1235248438/ |access-date=2022-11-13 |magazine=] |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025235450/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/dc-movies-james-gunn-peter-safran-to-lead-film-tv-division-1235248438/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
== Personal life == | == Personal life == | ||
Cernovich was arrested and charged with rape in 2003. The rape charges were dismissed, but he was ordered to perform community service for misdemeanor ]. His record was later expunged.<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> | |||
Cernovich married his first wife as a law student in 2003. Cernovich has said the marriage was "ruined by feminist indoctrination". His wife became an attorney in ] and earned millions of dollars from an initial public offering of stock. She filed for divorce in 2011, and Cernovich received what he has described as a "seven-figure sum" in the settlement. Cernovich met his second wife shortly thereafter, and lives outside of ], ].<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> | |||
Cernovich married his first wife when he was a law student in 2003. He later said the marriage was "ruined by feminist indoctrination".<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> An attorney for a ] firm, his first wife earned millions of dollars from an ] (IPO). She filed for divorce in 2011, and Cernovich received what he has described as a "seven-figure sum" in the settlement.<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /><ref name=":0" /> He later married his second wife, Shauna.<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> The couple has three children together.<!-- last citation (blog post) said two; correct number is now three, but I don't want to cite the Instagram post to prevent harassment --> | |||
Cernovich was charged with rape in 2003, but he denied the allegations.<ref name="The Daily Beast" /> The charge was reduced to misdemeanor ], for which he performed community service.<ref name="Marantz-31-10-16" /> | |||
== |
== Works == | ||
=== Books === | |||
{{reflist|group=N}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Cernovich |first=Mike |title=Gorilla Mindset: How to Control Your Thoughts and Emotions, Improve Your Health and Fitness, Make More Money and Live Life on Your Terms |publisher=] |year=2015 |isbn=9781514672112 |oclc=927343429}} | |||
* {{Cite book|last=Cernovich|first=Mike|title=Danger & Play: Essays on Embracing Masculinity|publisher=]|year=2016|isbn=9781519652928|oclc=974812153}} | |||
* {{Cite book|last=Cernovich|first=Mike|title=MAGA Mindset: Making YOU and America Great Again|publisher=]|year=2016|isbn=978-952-7065-92-1|editor-last=Vox Day|editor-link=Vox Day|location=Kouvola, Finland|oclc=964446485}} | |||
* {{Cite book|last1=Downey|first1=Scooter|title=Hoaxed: Everything They Told You Is a Lie|last2=Du Toit|first2=Jon|last3=Cernovich|first3=Mike|publisher=Jonathan Hom|year=2018|isbn=9780998490113|oclc=1080581048}} | |||
=== Films === | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|+ | |||
!Year | |||
!Title | |||
!Role | |||
|- | |||
|2016 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|Associate producer<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|title=Male Supremacy|url=https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/male-supremacy|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=Southern Poverty Law Center|language=en|archive-date=June 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607230856/https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/male-supremacy|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
|2016 | |||
|''Silenced, Our War for Free Speech'' | |||
|Producer<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 7, 2018|title=About Mike Cernovich|url=https://www.cernovich.com/about-mike-cernovich/|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=Mike Cernovich|language=en-US|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211100136/https://www.cernovich.com/about-mike-cernovich/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
|2019 | |||
|''Hoaxed: The Media's War on Truth'' | |||
|Producer and as self<ref name=":1" /> | |||
|- | |||
|2020 | |||
|''The Plot Against the President'' | |||
|Self<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Pro-Trump Russiagate Doc in the Works From Daughter of Hollywood Legend (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pro-trump-russiagate-doc-in-the-works-from-daughter-of-hollywood-legend-exclusive|access-date=January 6, 2021|magazine=]|archive-date=January 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106230121/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pro-trump-russiagate-doc-in-the-works-from-daughter-of-hollywood-legend-exclusive|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
|2020 | |||
|''] '' | |||
|Self<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilkinson |first=Alyssa |date=October 23, 2020 |title=Why the alt-right's real power is in the narrative it sells |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/21530505/white-noise-interview-alt-right-cernovich-spencer-southern |work=] |location=] |access-date=October 24, 2023 |archive-date=April 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428053222/https://www.vox.com/culture/21530505/white-noise-interview-alt-right-cernovich-spencer-southern |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
|} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist| |
{{reflist|30em}} | ||
=== Bibliography === | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Wendling |first=Mike |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cQB0EAAAQBAJ |title=Alt-Right: From 4Chan to the White House |date=2018-04-03 |publisher=Fernwood Publishing |isbn=978-1-77363-067-0 |language=en}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Marantz |first=Andrew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=smSIDwAAQBAJ |title=Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation |date=2019-10-08 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-525-52227-0 |language=en}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Nagle |first=Angela |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y-MlDwAAQBAJ |title=Kill All Normies: Online Culture Wars From 4Chan And Tumblr To Trump And The Alt-Right |date=2017-06-07 |publisher=John Hunt Publishing |isbn=978-1-78535-544-8 |language=en}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Hawley |first=George |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7312/hawl18512-004/html |title=Making Sense of the Alt-Right |date=2017 |publisher=] |language=en |doi=10.7312/hawl18512-004|isbn=9780231546003 }} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{wikiquote}} | {{wikiquote}} | ||
*{{official website| |
*{{official website|cernovich.com}} | ||
*{{IMDb name|833734}} | |||
{{ |
{{Alt-right footer}} | ||
{{Manosphere}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cernovich, Mike}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Cernovich, Mike}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 03:52, 30 December 2024
American right-wing commentator, lawyer, and conspiracy theorist
Mike Cernovich | |
---|---|
Cernovich in August 2018 | |
Born | Michael Cernovich (1977-11-17) November 17, 1977 (age 47) Kewanee, Illinois, U.S. |
Education | |
Movement | Manosphere |
Website | cernovich |
Michael Cernovich (born November 17, 1977) is an American right-wing social media personality, political commentator, and conspiracy theorist. Though he initially called himself alt-right, he dissociated from the movement after Richard Spencer became its public face. Cernovich describes himself as part of the new right and some have described him as part of the alt-lite.
Cernovich became a blogger in the 2000s, focusing on anti-feminist themes. He gained notice within the manosphere, and made a number of inflammatory comments about dating and sexual assault, including the claim that date rape is "liberal fiction". He created a website, Danger and Play, in 2011; it was first known for his postings about men's rights and mindset techniques. In 2014, Cernovich became a prominent figure in the Gamergate harassment campaign against several women in the video game industry, and through this built a following among the alt-right. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he adapted his website to a political blog. He was an early supporter of Republican candidate Donald Trump, and promoted conspiracy theories about Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Since 2018, he has become increasingly critical of Trump, and in 2022 voiced support for Ron DeSantis instead for the 2024 election.
Cernovich has promoted fake news, conspiracy theories, and smear campaigns. He helped spread the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, which falsely claimed that John Podesta and other high-ranking Democratic Party officials were involved in a child-sex ring. Cernovich has frequently made unsubstantiated accusations about political opponents of being pedophiles. He unearthed old tweets by Sam Seder and James Gunn joking about pedophilia, and initially succeeded in pressuring to get them fired, but both were reinstated after public outcry.
Early life
Cernovich was born on November 17, 1977, in the farming town of Kewanee, Illinois. His family was poor, and his parents were both devout Christians.
Cernovich graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of Illinois at Springfield in 2001. He graduated with a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2004.
Writings and films
Blogs
In 2004, Cernovich started a legal blog entitled Crime & Federalism, where he wrote about law from a libertarian perspective.
Shortly after his divorce in 2011, he created the blog Danger & Play, where he wrote about men's rights, fitness, and self-help topics. The title of Danger & Play came from a quote by Friedrich Nietzsche: "The true man wants two things: danger and play. For that reason he wants woman, as the most dangerous plaything."
In an October 2016 blog post, Cernovich wrote that date rape is "liberal fiction" that is "harmful ... for men and women" and leads to false rape accusations, claiming that: "Lying about being in love to sleep with someone isn't rape Getting played isn't rape. Regret isn't rape. Thinking, 'I might have been date raped,' means you weren't raped." His comments received sustained criticism.
Books
In 2015, Cernovich self-published Gorilla Mindset: How to Control Your Thoughts and Emotions, Improve Your Health and Fitness, Make More Money and Live Life on Your Terms, which became a bestseller in the motivational self-help category on Amazon.
In 2016, Cernovich published Danger & Play: Essays on Embracing Masculinity. In October 2016, he published MAGA Mindset: Making YOU and America Great Again through Castalia House, a Finnish publishing house founded by Vox Day which primarily publishes science fiction and fantasy.
Films
In 2016, Cernovich was an associate producer for Cassie Jaye's documentary The Red Pill, which discusses the men's rights movement, and issues like male suicide, child custody, and educational inequality.
In 2018, Cernovich produced a documentary called Hoaxed: Everything They Told You Is a Lie, with associate producers Scooter Downey and Jon Du Toit. The Hollywood Reporter described it as "a right-wing take on corporate malfeasance and media bias". The movie interviewed a wide range of conservative figures, including Anthony Scaramucci, Jordan Peterson, Scott Adams, James O'Keefe, and Alex Jones. Hoaxed was also made into a book of the same name. The documentary was listed on the Amazon platform before being removed without comment in 2020.
Political activities
Identification with, and later disavowal of the alt-right
Cernovich's writings turned political after Trump announced his candidacy for the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He became notable for his trolling; his maxims were "conflict is attention", and "attention is influence". He identified himself as alt-right, and joined forces with provocateurs like Milo Yiannopoulos. Early on, the alt-right was a "big-tent" that included "any conservative or reactionary who was too belligerently antiestablishment to feel at home in the Republican Party". In November 2016, white nationalist Richard B. Spencer, who also self-identified as alt-right, became its "indelible face" after a video of him giving a Nazi salute provoked universal outrage. This led to a rift in the alt-right movement between white nationalists and civic nationalists, with the former branding the latter "cuckservatives" and "alt-lite". Following the schism, Cernovich disassociated himself from alt-right, saying: "The first order of business is getting that Nazi shit way the fuck away from me". He adopted the label "new right", and has also described himself as an economic nationalist.
Cernovich was one of the organizers of the January 2017 DeploraBall inaugural ball to celebrate Trump's victory; the name was a reference to Hillary Clinton's earlier "basket of deplorables" comment. He banned fellow organizer Baked Alaska after the latter made an antisemitic tweet, and banned Spencer after he discovered the latter had bought a ticket. Notable attendees of the DeploraBall include Martin Shkreli, James O'Keefe, and Cassandra Fairbanks; Peter Thiel also briefly appeared. Outside the ball, there were clashes between Trump supporters and protesters.
Ideology
In 2015 and 2016, Cernovich repeatedly made false claims that white South Africans were being genocided, which were debunked by Genocide Watch. He later deleted the tweets.
Politico described him in 2016 as wanting an IQ test requirement for immigrants and to end federal funding for universities. Interviewed on 60 Minutes in March 2017, Cernovich supported single-payer healthcare. Cernovich has supported "some sort of universal basic income", and suggested in 2018 that the "new right" was "more of a populist movement than a conservative or liberal movement", and that "conservatism is on the way out".
Donald Trump
During the 2016 United States presidential campaign, Cernovich saw Donald Trump as a kindred spirit and, according to Politico, during the 2016 campaign and early period of the Trump administration, Cernovich was an "indefatigable Trump cheerleader" and was among a group of alt-right celebrities who believed they could become a major influence on the Republican Party.
In 2018, Cernovich became "increasingly critical" of Trump, and less politically active. In September 2018, he tweeted his disappointment, "There's no Wall. She's not locked up. But Flynn got fired and sent to wolves. And Saudi Arabia sold weapons of murder. I give zero f-cks about Republicans losing the House." Also in 2018, Cernovich criticized the Trump administration's missile strikes against Syria, which divided the president's political base.
Following the 2022 midterm elections, Cernovich said the losses meant that "at least no one has to suck up to Trump anymore", and that "Trump has zero shot at 2024". He voiced his support for Ron DeSantis for the 2024 election.
Attempts to influence the news cycle
This section needs expansion. You can help by making an edit requestadding to it . (November 2022) |
During the 2016 campaign, Cernovich told journalist Andrew Marantz: "if there's a story that can hurt Hillary, I want it in the news cycle". He set out to coin and promote hashtags that would promote these stories, and aimed to get the stories covered by conservative news aggregator The Drudge Report, saying: "If it's on Drudge, then it's on Hannity. If it's on Hannity, then Brian Stelter's talking about it on CNN". Researchers from Oxford said in a 2020 book that it exemplifies a propaganda pipeline that " advantage of the media ecosystem architecture", in which "destructive memes" that emerge from the media's periphery (social media and sites like Infowars) can spread to its core, as mainstream media covers the controversies.
Conspiracy theories
Politico has described Cernovich as an "avid consumer and progenitor of conspiracy theories".
During the 2016 campaign, Cernovich was "among the first" to spread rumors about Hillary Clinton's health. Clinton had previously experienced a brain concussion and blood clots, but testing found "complete resolution", and her doctors attested to her good health. In March 2016, he claimed that a photo of Hillary Clinton winking showed she had experienced a "mild stroke". In August, he promoted the hashtags: #CoughingHillary and #SickHillary on Twitter, and spread rumors that Clinton had epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. These rumors were amplified by the Drudge Report website, Rudy Giuliani, and Donald Trump. In September 2016, Clinton was filmed collapsing from pneumonia after a memorial service, and Cernovich started the #HillarysHealth hashtag, which trended nationwide; that month, Cernovich's tweets were seen more than 100 million times.
In November 2016, Cernovich and other conspiracists promoted the baseless Pizzagate conspiracy theory, which misinterpreted the leaked Podesta emails to imply that high-ranking Democrats were involved in a child sex-trafficking ring. He also claimed that a 1997 video of Marina Abramovic's "spirit cooking" performance art constituted "occult symbolism" to "openly taunt the public", and that it proved that Clinton's inner circle was part of a sex cult. He helped #Pizzagate become one of the biggest trending hashtags on Twitter; the hashtag drew conspiracy theorists from across the political spectrum, whose common link was their "profound distrust of the mainstream media". The rumors later inspired a gun-wielding man to visit Comet Ping Pong. Cernovich, who had used the hashtag 60 times, later deleted the tweets, and downplayed his involvement in propagating the theory.
Cernovich regularly asserts, without evidence, that there are active child sex rings in Washington, D.C. and in Hollywood. He has accused his opponents of being pedophiles on many occasions. A visit to Haiti by the Clintons, he saw as evidence the couple were involved in child trafficking. In another YouTube video, he said that most people employed by the news media and "every A-list actor" in Hollywood were also pedophiles.
Cernovich has also supported the unevidenced theory that there were multiple shooters at the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, which he claims the government is covering up. In 2016, Cernovich worked with Chuck Johnson and Wikileaks to offer a bounty for information supporting the conspiracy theory that murdered DNC staffer Seth Rich had been behind a leak of emails from the Democratic National Committee. In April 2017, Cernovich promoted a conspiracy theory that the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack in Syria was a hoax funded by an American financier.
Cernovich commissioned artist Ben Garrison to draw an antisemitic cartoon portraying Generals H.R. McMaster and David Petraeus being controlled by Jewish puppetmasters- specifically George Soros and the Rothschild Family. Garrison was disinvited from an event at the White House in 2019 following complaints about the cartoon from the Anti-Defamation League.
Cernovich began hosting the fourth hour once a week on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' InfoWars show in May 2017.
Other activities
During the 2021 effort to recall incumbent California governor Gavin Newsom, Cernovich floated a potential run.
Gonzo journalism
Cernovich's high prominence in pro-Trump social media circles led him to build a network of sympathetic sources, and break several stories on his blog, which he promoted on Twitter and video streaming sites like Periscope. The New Yorker's Andrew Marantz described it as "hardly journalism in its highest form. But it's not exactly fake news, either", comparing it to the Huffington Post's citizen journalism tactics. New York Magazine's Jesse Singal deemed it gonzo journalism, while CNN's Tom Kludt said Cernovich "gained prominence in the Trump-era for legitimate national security related scoops".
Intelligence unmasking by Susan Rice
On April 2, 2017, Cernovich broke the news that Susan Rice, Obama's national security advisor, had requested the unmasking of several Trump transition officials who appeared in intelligence reports. When electronic eavesdropping of foreign officials incidentally capture American citizens' names, those names are redacted in intelligence reports, but can be "unmasked" through a legal process. Cernovich publicized his claims in a Medium.com article, in tweets, and on Periscope live streams. The hashtag #SusanRice became a trending topic on Twitter; he later posted a screenshot showing the tweets received 400,000 impressions. Cernovich claimed that his sources were sympathetic employees of mainstream media outlets, whose outlets were "sitting on this story".
The next day, Bloomberg News published its story on the intelligence unmasking. The White House falsely claimed it was a "smoking gun" that supported its past allegations that Obama had "illegally wiretapped" Trump Tower, though the Susan Rice story was tangential to those claims. Trump himself, conservative commentators Tucker Carlson and David French, White House conselor Kellyanne Conway, and congressmen Rand Paul and Devin Nunes all promoted the story. Donald Trump Jr. claimed Cernovich deserved a Pulitzer Prize. The story was criticized as a distraction from the Russia probe investigating Trump.
The New Yorker's Ryan Lizza said there were "valid reasons" for concerns about unmasking, but that it was constrained by a legal process and independent review, and noted there was no evidence of misconduct. Experts and bipartisan congresspeople concluded Susan Rice was "doing her job", that there was "absolutely" no smoking gun in the unmasked reports, and that the unmaskings were "neither unusual nor against the law".
H.R. McMaster
In 2017, Cernovich launched a sustained campaign to influence Trump to fire his national security advisor, H. R. McMaster, claiming that McMaster was undermining the president's America First agenda. He started the McMasterLeaks.com website to document his and others' criticisms of McMaster.
On May 8, 2017, Cernovich reported that McMaster had called White House director of strategic communications Hope Hicks a "high schooler". New York Magazine's Olivia Nuzzi later corroborated the quote.
Cernovich was interviewed on Foreign Policy's podcast in relation to his anti-McMaster campaign, and discussed the tension between journalism and activism.
Shitty Media Men list
Main article: Shitty Media MenOn October 12, 2017, Buzzfeed revealed the existence of the "Shitty Media Men" spreadsheet, which had been created a day earlier in the aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, and was used by female journalists to crowdsource allegations ranging from "weird lunch dates" to rape and stalking committed by their male coworkers. The list included reporters from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and Buzzfeed.
On October 16, Cernovich offered to pay $10,000 for a copy of the list. He obtained it on October 21, claiming the source "was insistent on not accepting anything", and announced his intent to release it; he published two of the names, but held back the rest after consulting his lawyer. New York Magazine denounced Cernovich's actions as a weaponization of the allegations in order to "attack the hated liberal media". The list itself later led to a string of investigations, resignations and firings.
Sexual harassment allegations against John Conyers
In November 2017, Cernovich uncovered sworn affidavits in which former staffers accused Democratic congressman John Conyers of sexual harassment. The documents also revealed that the accusers were paid a settlement by Congress's Office of Compliance in exchange for a confidentiality agreement. Cernovich then gave the documents to BuzzFeed, saying he did not publish them on his own because he thought Democrats would attempt to discredit him. BuzzFeed verified that the documents were real, and published their article on November 20, 2017. The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation; other allegations followed, and Conyers resigned in December 2017.
Role in the media ecosystem
New York Magazine's Jesse Singal said Cernovich benefited from common conservative sentiments that mainstream journalism is "fake news" and "utterly corrupt", sentiments which blur the line between established news organizations and activists, and lead conservatives to downplay or excuse fake news published by "their side". Singal described conservatives as believing " are on the right side, and they're set to overtake those corrupt dinosaurs who have controlled the flow of information for far too long".
In an interview with Vice News, Cernovich claimed he was filling a "vacuum" created by conservative distrust of mainstream media.
The people who are going to watch on VICE, or on HBO, are not my people. So you guys could create this caricature of a madman and a monster, and maybe two or three people who follow me on Twitter would even watch it. So we live now in parallel structures. Right now there's no shared set of facts in the country.
— Mike Cernovich, "Post-Truth" News with Mike Cernovich, VICE on HBO
In the same segment, VICE noted that only 32% of Americans trusted the press, and interviewed Eugene Yi of the MIT Media Lab, who showed that mainstream journalists had practically no reach among conservative Twitter users.
Legal activities
Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit
In 2015, Virginia Giuffre sued Ghislaine Maxwell, alleging that Maxwell sexually trafficked her for Jeffrey Epstein while she was a minor. Maxwell settled the suit
In January 2017, Cernovich filed a motion to unseal evidence and depositions from Giuffre's lawsuit. He told Politico he was "astonished" by the amount of redactions the judge allowed, with some documents "largely or entirely redacted". Alan Dershowitz later filed a similar motion, and the Miami Herald filed a third in April 2018. The motions were denied by the trial court, and Cernovich and the Herald appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (which includes the Associated Press) filed an amicus brief to support the appeal. In July 2019, the Court of Appeals ordered the documents unsealed.
Other lawsuits
In February 2020, Cernovich filed a third-party motion in Roger Stone's criminal case, calling for the release of the jury foreperson's questionnaire answers. This motion too was supported by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. It was later backed by Roger Stone, who filed a motion for a new trial, which was denied.
Social media
Cernovich became influential on social media, initially as part of the manosphere movement. Cernovich calls his adversaries "beta males", losers, or "cucks", saying: "to beat a person, you lower his or her social status". Cernovich uses trolling tactics, which he says he uses to build his brand rather than for his own amusement. In December 2017, Cernovich hosted an "Ask Me Anything" on Reddit, regarded as a failure by several media outlets.
Gamergate
See also: Gamergate (harassment campaign)In 2014, Cernovich became a prominent figure of Gamergate, which targeted feminists as part of a nascent culture war in the aftermath of the MeToo movement. He encouraged the doxing of opponents, and wrote about women attacking men with false rape allegations. Wired Magazine wrote that Cernovich "gained a kind of leadership over the unruly mob", and that the movement had more to do with identity than with gaming or women.
Cernovich hired private investigators to hound Zoë Quinn, a central target of Gamergate, and worked with Eron Gjoni, Quinn's former boyfriend who had written the disparaging blog post about Quinn which incited the harassment campaign. According to O'Toole et al. writing in Gender Violence, "Cernovich's ongoing strategy, even after Gamergate itself died down, has been to promote conspiracy theories, provide dubious legal advice, and offer a constantly rotating platter of targets." Writer and activist Soraya Chemaly called Gamergate a "breeding ground and practice ground" for the 2016 campaign.
Involvement in firings of other individuals
Sam Seder
In December 2017, Cernovich published a Medium post and contacted several journalists and news outlets about a joke tweet that comedian and MSNBC contributor Sam Seder had written in 2009. Cernovich claimed that the tweet, which read "Don't care re Polanski, but I hope if my daughter is ever raped it is by an older truly talented man w/a great sense of mise en scene," proved Seder tacitly endorsed Roman Polanski's sexual abuse crime. MSNBC elected to sever ties with Seder by not renewing his contract (due to expire in February 2018) due to the controversial tweet. Seder defended the tweet by pointing out that, taken in context of the current events around the time he posted it, it was a satiric response to a petition urging Polanski's release from detention in Switzerland because of his stature as an artist, and that he had been mocking Polanski's apologists. After news of the termination broke, Cernovich released a video on Twitter video celebrating his triumph. By then, Seder noted that advertisers on The Majority Report with Sam Seder podcast were also being contacted and pressured by Cernovich and his followers to cut ties with the show over the tweet. In response, Seder launched a GoFundMe campaign to help maintain funding for the show in the face of potential loss of advertising revenue, and also to produce a three-minute video educating people on Cernovich's tactics. According to Seder, Cernovich's ploy had been retribution for Seder's frequent criticism of then-President Donald Trump as well as Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. Cernovich retorted to CNN that "the left isn't going to stop going through our tweets so we aren't going to stop going through theirs."
The news of Seder's dismissal prompted an almost immediate backlash. Over 12,000 people signed a petition protesting Seder's termination, arguing that Cernovich had acted in malice and was deliberately mischaracterizing the tweet. AV Club wrote that "MSNBC has now fully bought into that smear campaign ... whose openly stated goal is the destruction of news outlets just like it through the use of blatantly manipulative trolling techniques." Mother Jones rebuked MSNBC for capitulating "to the demands of a lunatic conservative." HuffPost chided that Cernovich was now MSNBC's new "De Facto Ombudsman". MSNBC primetime anchor Chris Hayes tweeted, "The entire culture and our politics are now dominated by people who have weaponized bad faith and shamelessness." There was considerable dissent within MSNBC over Seder's termination. Some employees expressed concerns that his firing would encourage other far-right personalities to launch similar campaigns. A senior MSNBC employee characterized the capitulation as "really weak" and "pathetic". MSNBC's management itself was unsettled by the celebratory reaction from the far-right. On December 7, 2017, MSNBC decided to reverse their decision to terminate Seder's employment.
Cernovich acknowledged that "some are saying Seder was making a joke or being sarcastic." However, he maintained that he didn't misrepresent the tweet and that he had simply "reported on what said."
Columbia Journalism Review cited the incident as an example of a broader pattern of far-right media personalities using online smear campaigns to get mainstream journalists fired.
James Gunn
On July 18, 2018, filmmaker Mark Duplass faced swift backlash on Twitter for recommending his "fellow liberals the aisle" and follow conservative commentator Ben Shapiro on Twitter; filmmaker James Gunn came to Duplass's defense, and Duplass publicly retracted his endorsement, calling it "a disaster on many levels". A day later, Cernovich and conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec unearthed tweets by Gunn in which he joked about pedophilia and rape; Gunn had been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, and the tweets were widely shared among conservatives, and trended nationwide on Twitter. The next day, Gunn issued an apology for the tweets. Disney called the tweets "indefensible", and fired Gunn from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. After Gunn's firing, Cernovich also unearthed similar tweets by comedians Michael Ian Black and Patton Oswalt.
Disney's decision to fire Gunn was criticized by fans of the series, Hollywood stars, and several media outlets. An online petition urging Disney to re-hire Gunn received over 400,000 signatures. Fellow Guardians of the Galaxy cast members released a statement expressing their " support" for Gunn.
In March 2019, Gunn was reinstated by Disney as director of the third film. Prior to his rehiring, he had also signed on with Warner Bros. to write and later direct what would eventually become the DC Extended Universe film The Suicide Squad. In 2022, Gunn was chosen to lead DC Studios, the retooled film division of DC Comics.
Personal life
Cernovich was arrested and charged with rape in 2003. The rape charges were dismissed, but he was ordered to perform community service for misdemeanor battery. His record was later expunged.
Cernovich married his first wife when he was a law student in 2003. He later said the marriage was "ruined by feminist indoctrination". An attorney for a Silicon Valley firm, his first wife earned millions of dollars from an initial public offering (IPO). She filed for divorce in 2011, and Cernovich received what he has described as a "seven-figure sum" in the settlement. He later married his second wife, Shauna. The couple has three children together.
Works
Books
- Cernovich, Mike (2015). Gorilla Mindset: How to Control Your Thoughts and Emotions, Improve Your Health and Fitness, Make More Money and Live Life on Your Terms. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781514672112. OCLC 927343429.
- Cernovich, Mike (2016). Danger & Play: Essays on Embracing Masculinity. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781519652928. OCLC 974812153.
- Cernovich, Mike (2016). Vox Day (ed.). MAGA Mindset: Making YOU and America Great Again. Kouvola, Finland: Castalia House. ISBN 978-952-7065-92-1. OCLC 964446485.
- Downey, Scooter; Du Toit, Jon; Cernovich, Mike (2018). Hoaxed: Everything They Told You Is a Lie. Jonathan Hom. ISBN 9780998490113. OCLC 1080581048.
Films
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2016 | The Red Pill | Associate producer |
2016 | Silenced, Our War for Free Speech | Producer |
2019 | Hoaxed: The Media's War on Truth | Producer and as self |
2020 | The Plot Against the President | Self |
2020 | White Noise | Self |
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{{cite news}}
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also gained prominence in the Trump-era for legitimate national security related scoops
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{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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Bibliography
- Wendling, Mike (April 3, 2018). Alt-Right: From 4Chan to the White House. Fernwood Publishing. ISBN 978-1-77363-067-0.
- Marantz, Andrew (October 8, 2019). Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-525-52227-0.
- Nagle, Angela (June 7, 2017). Kill All Normies: Online Culture Wars From 4Chan And Tumblr To Trump And The Alt-Right. John Hunt Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78535-544-8.
- Hawley, George (2017). Making Sense of the Alt-Right. Columbia University Press. doi:10.7312/hawl18512-004. ISBN 9780231546003.
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