Brian Andersson, former New York City commissioner of records, said Monday that the left can't argue on the merits of their positions so it cuts off conservatives' ability to speak — which explains DirecTV's censoring of Newsmax.
"The left wing have always been pointing the finger, calling the right wing 'Nazis,' but who were acting like the Nazis by silencing millions of voices out there who tend to be right of center or maybe center?" Andersson said during an appearance on Newsmax's "National Report." "They don't like to be disagreed with; they are not capable of having an argument with anyone, so the best thing they can do is just to silence you and cut you off."
AT&T's DirecTV cut Newsmax's signal on Jan. 24, blocking the network from more than 13 million subscribers of the satellite service, DirecTV Stream and U-Verse.
DirecTV customers call toll free at 877-763-9762 to complain, demand Newsmax is returned! Oppose censorship – sign The Petition – Click Here
Newsmax is America's fourth highest-rated news network in the cable landscape and a top-20 overall channel that reaches 25 million Americans weekly, according to the Nielsen ratings.
While DirecTV said it dropped the popular network due to "cost-cutting" measures, it also carries 22 left-leaning news channels, many of which draw considerably lower ratings than Newsmax, and all of which get paid license fees.
DirecTV has claimed Newsmax was demanding "excessive fees" that would amount to "tens of millions" of dollars. Newsmax has denied that, saying it is seeking an approximate fee of $1 per cable subscriber per year, which is among the lowest requested fees in cable.
"This was never about the fees being excessive," Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax, said. "DirecTV's position has always been that Newsmax of all cable news channels should never get any cable fee whatsoever, not one penny."
Gigi Sohn, President Joe Biden's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) nominee, told a Senate Committee last week that the agency should investigate Newsmax's deplatforming, which she described as "very troubling."
During hearings for her nomination before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Sohn, a liberal, openly questioned the deplatforming of conservative networks Newsmax and OAN by DirecTV.
Andersson said he was "surprised" that Sohn called for an investigation by the FCC.
"I was almost encouraged until I realized she just might be saying things that they want to hear," he said. "We do have a Congress, at least the House, where she has to speak to that issue, and I don't know that I would trust her when she is appointed."
The CEOs of Newsmax and OAN have praised Sohn as supportive of independent networks and said that she was willing to challenge the large media companies that stifle competition.
Actions to Take Now
1. DirecTV customers call toll free at 877-763-9762 to complain, demand Newsmax is back on air!
2. Call your congressman or senator at 202-224-3121 and demand they stop AT&T/DirecTV's censorship of NEWSMAX — ask them to give you a date on the hearings!
3. Go to our online petition and get more info: iWantNewsmax.com.
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