Citations Needed Ep 225: How US Media Frames Democracy that Actually Helps People as 'Buying Votes'
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Jul 23, 2025 Janine Jackson, Program Director at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting and host of Counterspin, dives into the media's portrayal of populist policies as mere vote-buying tactics. She critiques how initiatives like student loan forgiveness are unfairly labeled as manipulative schemes. The conversation explores the historical context of these accusations, revealing underlying racial and economic biases. Jackson emphasizes the need for media to acknowledge the genuine benefits of populism instead of framing it as a threat to democracy and governance.
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Populism Seen as Vote-Buying
- Media routinely frames popular populist policies as mere vote-buying schemes rather than genuine efforts to improve lives.
- This reveals media's cynical view of government responsibility and democracy itself.
Redistribution Branded as Cheating
- Government efforts to redistribute wealth are seen as cheating or gimmicks by elite media, unlike corporate or military spending.
- This frames democracy as a restrictive game where helping the public is suspect.
FDR's Relief Called Vote-Buying
- In 1934, FDR's New Deal relief programs were accused by Republicans of "buying votes" during the Great Depression.
- The debate was whether relief aiding voters was literal vote-buying or just political influence.