by Brock, David
First published 2004
David Brock presents a systematic examination of conservative media misinformation during the early 2000s. He argues that objective measures show the Clinton presidency outperformed the Bush administration, yet conservative pundits actively distorted both records. Brock dissects specific false claims from prominent figures like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Ann Coulter. He challenges Limbaugh's assertion that federal education spending exceeds defense spending by threefold, revealing the opposite is true by a factor of five. The book addresses Hannity's dismissal of air quality issues and Coulter's attacks on elderly Americans. Brock employs logic, facts, charts, and graphs to counter what he identifies as dangerous right-wing falsehoods. This work represents the first publication from Media Matters Action Network, connected to Media Matters for America, a Washington-based nonprofit that monitors conservative media bias. The book offers readers concrete tools to identify and counter political misinformation during a critical election year.
Genres: american, political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, academic, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fact-checking, myth-busting
Period: Early 2000s
150 pages · Paperback · Akashic Books, Ltd.