Radio Free never accepts money from corporations, governments or billionaires – keeping the focus on supporting independent media for people, not profits. Since 2010, Radio Free has supported the work of thousands of independent journalists, learn more about how your donation helps improve journalism for everyone.

Make a monthly donation of any amount to support independent media.





Adam Johnson on Media in War Mode

US corporate media in war mode are a force to reckon with. We do some reckoning with media analyst Adam Johnson.

Column: Lawmakers and Pundits Speed Run Iraq WMDs-Level Lies About Iran

Column (6/22/25)

This week on CounterSpin: Prosecutors at the 1946 International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg declared:

War is essentially an evil thing. Its consequences are not confined to the belligerent states alone, but affect the whole world. To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.

After the Trump administration dropped bombs on Iran last weekend, without congressional approval, the media debate wasn’t about legality, much less humanity. The Wall Street Journal offered a video series on The Massive Ordnance Penetrator, “The 30,000-Pound US Bomb That Could Destroy Iran’s Nuclear Bunkers.” But it’s not just boys excited by toys; the very important Wall Street Journal is “examining military innovation and tactics emerging around the world, breaking down the tech behind the weaponry and its potential impact.”

Most big media are consumed right now with whether those bunker busters did their bunker busting or maybe the US needs to buy bigger, better bombs to…do what, exactly? Well, now you’re asking too many questions.

Things you should not question? Statements like that of Sen. John Fetterman that Iran is the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terror.

US corporate media in war mode are a force to reckon with. We do some reckoning with media analyst Adam Johnson, co-host of the podcast Citations Needed, Substack author at the Column, and co-author, with In These Times contributing editor Sarah Lazare, of some relevant pieces at InTheseTimes.com.


This content originally appeared on FAIR and was authored by CounterSpin.


Print Share Comment Cite Upload Translate Updates

Leave a Reply

APA

CounterSpin | Radio Free (2025-06-27T15:28:39+00:00) Adam Johnson on Media in War Mode. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2025/06/27/adam-johnson-on-media-in-war-mode/

MLA
" » Adam Johnson on Media in War Mode." CounterSpin | Radio Free - Friday June 27, 2025, https://www.radiofree.org/2025/06/27/adam-johnson-on-media-in-war-mode/
HARVARD
CounterSpin | Radio Free Friday June 27, 2025 » Adam Johnson on Media in War Mode., viewed ,<https://www.radiofree.org/2025/06/27/adam-johnson-on-media-in-war-mode/>
VANCOUVER
CounterSpin | Radio Free - » Adam Johnson on Media in War Mode. [Internet]. [Accessed ]. Available from: https://www.radiofree.org/2025/06/27/adam-johnson-on-media-in-war-mode/
CHICAGO
" » Adam Johnson on Media in War Mode." CounterSpin | Radio Free - Accessed . https://www.radiofree.org/2025/06/27/adam-johnson-on-media-in-war-mode/
IEEE
" » Adam Johnson on Media in War Mode." CounterSpin | Radio Free [Online]. Available: https://www.radiofree.org/2025/06/27/adam-johnson-on-media-in-war-mode/. [Accessed: ]
rf:citation
» Adam Johnson on Media in War Mode | CounterSpin | Radio Free | https://www.radiofree.org/2025/06/27/adam-johnson-on-media-in-war-mode/ |

Please log in to upload a file.




There are no updates yet.
Click the Upload button above to add an update.

You must be logged in to translate posts. Please log in or register.