Where Are the Fact-Checkers?

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


One year after the Abu Ghraib scandal first broke, the Wall Street Journal has come out with a disturbing op-ed on the subject. Reading through it, I was struck by how much information was incorrect. My personal favorite is, “No evidence has been produced to support allegations that the abuses were ‘systematic’ or that they were inspired or condoned by superiors up the chain of command.” Umm, what rock has the Wall Street Journal been under? Rather than rant on and provide a counterpoint to their every point, I’ll take a tip from the Journal’s article: “Unpacking so many falsehoods takes more space than we have.” Indeed. So, I refer you to the Human Rights Watch report released today, since they’re not as concerned with how much space it takes them to unpack falsehoods. And, if you’re so inclined, send a copy of Mark Danner’s Torture and the Truth to the Wall Street Journal; they could use the background information, apparently.

PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

payment methods

PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate