You can tell we’re at the tail end of another election cycle where the GOP is doing well with Hispanics, because as a recent report from CBS Mornings shows, the media have gone back to their favorite trope: “Spanish-language disinformation”.
OK, maybe “interesting” isn’t exactly the right word. “Weird”, perhaps, is a more accurate descriptor for correspondent Enrique Acevedo’s report that aired on CBS Mornings and throughout the rest of CBS’ footprint.
Watch the hosts’ exchange at the end of this strange report on the sale of Radio Mambí and 17 other stations owned by Univision to the Soros-backed Latino Media Network, and feel their sheer panic at the idea that Hispanics would dare obtain information beyond designated approved sources (Click "Expand" to view transcript):
ACEVEDO: And Gayle, when asked about allegations of disinformation, Radio Mambí declined to comment on that or on the Latino Media Network's purchase of the station. And after canceling our on-camera interview, the new owners of Radio Mambí sent a statement instead and I’ll read that- quote: “We believe in freedom of expression and a free press which values verifiable facts and balance. All points of view will be welcomed and encouraged." You can read the statement on cbsnews.com and more on our reporting on how Latinos are being bombarded with this information not just in traditional media but online and through instant messaging apps. Vlad?
VLADIMIR DOUTHIERS: Enrique- uh, thank you very much. I mean, this is a fascinating report.
GAYLE KING: This is a scary report to me.
DOUTHIERS: Well- one of the things that Enrique said, in the last two elections more Latinos voted Democrat but Republicans are closing that gap, so what does that tell you? That tells you it's not enough to just win the demographic that you're going after. You've actually got to wi-- it's about how much you win them by.
TONY DOKOUPIL: Yeah.
DOUTHIERS: And so that's why they’re-- that's why they're being targeted.
DOKOUPIL: And a lot of people say Florida's not really a swing state anymore, it's trending red. And a big reason for that is because the Republican party has made advances with the Latino population, particularly Cubans in South Florida, right where Enrique was. Listening to those stations.
KING: In his report he pointed out you can get your information from many sources, you should compare. But most people don't compare.
DOKOUPIL: That’s right.
KING: They rely on whatever that source is. And that's what they go with. That's why it's troubling when you're relying on people that are deliberately putting out misleading and misinformation.
DOKOUPIL: And you hope the new owners mean it when they say we're committed to a balanced set of viewpoints and to the facts.
DOUTHIERS: Indeed.
KING: Yeah but we don't want to talk to you, CBS.
DOKOUPIL: Yeah, but…that’s true.
DOUTHIERS: All right
Although the report is odd and the subject matter is kind of stale, the report itself is to be expected at the end of an election cycle where Democrats are expected to continue their trend of underperformance with Hispanics- a demographic once thought to be firmly within their camp.
As we noted when the “Radio Soros” transaction was first announced, the deal was a panic move aimed at shoring up lost narrative control over Hispanics. We’ve reported on the decreasing trust in Spanish-language media, and on data that shows that corporate Spanish-language media are the biggest disseminators of Spanish-language disinformation.
In its one-sidedness, the report makes no note of the reasons why Hispanics are abandoning their designated media gatekeepers- only that they must be doing so due to "disinformation".
Acevedo positions Radio Mambí as a boogeyman, but fails to mention that the station's top talent left the station rather than work for a Soros-backed outlet, and landed at conservative Americano Media. So Radio Mambí as we knew it is essentially dead.
The report depicts the transfer of the Univision stations as a "fight" but that fight is essentially over. The time to stop this deal was not now but in 2017 when the GOP Congress had the power, pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, to reverse the FCC rule waiver granting foreign interests permission to acquire a larger stake in Univision- Radio Mambí's parent company. But that didn't happen. The precedent that this set led directly to Univision becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Mexico's Televisa, which then begat the Radio Soros deal.
Furthermore, the other stations involved in the deal don't even do talk radio. As you can see, this is an awful lot of information that has been omitted from viewers in a report on "Spanish-language disinformation".
In a way, the report is its own bit of "Spanish-language disinformation", aimed instead at CBS' unsuspecting viewers.
Click “Expand” for the full transcript of the aforementioned report as aired on CBS Mornings on Thursday, November 3rd, 2022:
GAYLE KING: Since the last midterm elections, Latinos have become the fastest-growing racial and ethnic group in this country. The latest CBS News Battleground Tracker shows Democrats hold a 48% to 40% lead over Republicans among Hispanic voters when it comes to the House. So with Election Day fast approaching, five days and counting, we're looking into allegations of false and misleading information that's spreading on some Spanish-language media platforms. CBS News correspondent Enrique Acevedo takes us to South Florida, where a radio station is at the heart of this battle.
U.S. REP. MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR (R-FL): This is the promised land for the Hispanics, the largest minority in the country. We know the merits of the American system.
ENRIQUE ACEVEDO: Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar represents more than 700,000 residents of Miami-Dade County in Congress.
SALAZAR: And unfortunately the Democrats are trying to destroy that platform.
ACEVEDO: The platform she's talking about is Radio Mambí -- an AM radio station based in Miami where Salazar was a frequent guest. Radio Mambí has been a popular source of news for Spanish speakers living in South Florida. According to Nielsen, 97% of all Latinos nationally use radio on a monthly basis- more than any other ethnic group measured.
SALAZAR: Radio Mambí was one of the bastions of free speech. One of the bastions of conservative values and views in this market.
ACEVEDO: You say was?
SALAZAR: Is not gonna be anymore.
ACEVEDO: In June, two former Democratic operatives formed the Latino Media Network, and paid $60 million dollars to purchase 18 Spanish-language radio stations in the largest markets in the country, including Radio Mambí in Miami.
U.S. SEN. RICK SCOTT (R-FL): This is not a business transaction --
ACEVEDO: Along with Republican senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, Salazar appealed to the FCC to halt the sale, claiming it would silence conservative voices.
SALAZAR: They want to use those 18 radio stations and start peddling socialism to the Hispanics.
JESSICA GONZALEZ: Here the thing -- the FCC has a job to determine whether people who apply for licenses would serve the public interest.
ACEVEDO: Jessica Gonzalez is an attorney and the CEO of Free Press, a media advocacy organization that supports the purchase.
GONZALEZ: There's a lack of trusted news and information sources in the Latino community across the board, whether that’s…
ACEVEDO: Gonzalez argues that platforms like Radio Mambí have spread disinformation to Latino voters.
GONZALEZ: People see Latinos as gettable votes. And so there's an effort to win over Latino votes by spreading lies and disinformation.
ACEVEDO: CBS News has reviewed audio broadcasts of Radio Mambí talking about the Capitol riots. One host claims that --
(Spanish-language audio)
Members of Black Lives Matter and Antifa participated… and that Covid…
(Spanish-language audio)
…was exaggerated by Democrats. Both claims are false.
GONZALEZ: These are lies that sow distrust in our electoral process. It could dissuade people from getting out and voting.
PROF. EDUARDO GAMARRA: Disinformation has had a very direct impact --
ACEVEDO: Florida International University professor Eduardo Gamarra addressed members of Congress on the effects of misinformation.
GAMARRA: The Republicans both study the Latinos, they target them, and at the same time they construct the message that's extraordinarily effective.
ACEVEDO: In the last two national elections, more Latinos voted Democrat. But Republicans have been closing that gap. The FCC's regulatory approval on the sale of Radio Mambí is expected to come after the midterms. Until then, the Latino Media Network can’t change what the station broadcasts.
SALAZAR: Listen, there is no misinformation. People have many sources of info. Where they can compare.
ACEVEDO: But we noticed one more false allegation on the Radio Mambí airwaves from last year.
(Spanish-language audio)
The voice you're hearing is representative Maria Salazar claiming election fraud in Pennsylvania.
We know that's not true.
SALAZAR: When you're talking about the election, the election is over.
ACEVEDO: Salazar wouldn't acknowledge the misinformation.
If the FCC approves the sale, would you continue to go on Radio Mambí and speak to your constituents?
SALAZAR: If they invite me, I will be there denouncing whatever thing they're saying.
ACEVEDO: And Gayle, when asked about allegations of disinformation, Radio Mambí declined to comment on that or on the Latino Media Network's purchase of the station. And after canceling our on-camera interview, the new owners of Radio Mambí sent a statement instead and I’ll read that- quote: “We believe in freedom of expression and a free press which values verifiable facts and balance. All points of view will be welcomed and encouraged." You can read the statement on cbsnews.com and more on our reporting on how Latinos are being bombarded with this information not just in traditional media but online and through instant messaging apps. Vlad?
VLADIMIR DOUTHIERS: Enrique- uh, thank you very much. I mean, this is a fascinating report.
GAYLE KING: This is a scary report to me.
DOUTHIERS: Well- one of the things that Enrique said, in the last two elections more Latinos voted Democrat but Republicans are closing that gap, so what does that tell you? That tells you it's not enough to just win the demographic that you're going after. You've actually got to wi-- it's about how much you win them by.
TONY DOKOUPIL: Yeah.
DOUTHIERS: And so that's why they’re-- that's why they're being targeted.
DOKOUPIL: And a lot of people say Florida's not really a swing state anymore, it's trending red. And a big reason for that is because the Republican party has made advances with the Latino population, particularly Cubans in South Florida, right where Enrique was. Listening to those stations.
KING: In his report he pointed out you can get your information from many sources, you should compare. But most people don't compare.
DOKOUPIL: That’s right.
KING: They rely on whatever that source is. And that's what they go with. That's why it's troubling when you're relying on people that are deliberately putting out misleading and misinformation.
DOKOUPIL: And you hope the new owners mean it when they say we're committed to a balanced set of viewpoints and to the facts.
DOUTHIERS: Indeed.
KING: Yeah but we don't want to talk to you, CBS.
DOKOUPIL: Yeah, but…that’s true.
DOUTHIERS: All right, what a great report Enrique, thank you very much my friend.
