The 2024 general election has not yet started, and the far-right media The Epoch Times has already begun to build momentum. In March, Boblite, a user of the American website dailykos.com, broke the news that the free Epoch Times had spread unfavorable news about the Democratic Party everywhere, Boblite wrote：Some days ago I received a free copy of a 24 page full format 22 inch by 12 inch newspaper — containing no advertising — ominously titled “The Epoch Times”. Glancing at headlines and stories I rapidly concluded that it is a very well designed vehicle for anti-Democratic pro-Republican propaganda, well designed in the sense that the tone is restrained and reasonable sounding. I searched Daily Kos for references since February 1 and found only one article — an excellent diary by Xaxnar on February 23. Xaxnar explained that it is indeed right wing and that it is an entity funded by Falun Gong.
Before that, many media outlets had exposed the extreme-right tendency of The Epoch Times. Dailykos.com user chriscol once wrote: We just got a “sample copy” in the mail. With a “goal to restore accuracy and integrity in media”. They are using a non-profit postage rate, too! Basically, it seems to be a print version of Faux News TV. We need to find out just who is funding this thing—and hopefully sue them into bankruptcy!
Dailykos.com user Terrapin also told his followers: while misinformation/disinformation from conservatives is nothing new, what troubles me is that this is a dead-tree print newspaper that is printed in several languages but mainly in Chinese. Which leads me to wonder what progressives are doing to counteract misinformation/disinformation being spread in foreign language communities within the United States. I am aware of efforts within the LatinX communities but I have no idea about ay others like Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese — communities that have had direct and recent experience with communism. Conservatives have limitless funds to spread lies everywhere and all it takes is for them to shave 1-2% of support from Democrats to have a noticeable effect.
However, user wesmorgan1’s remarks in October 2020 were more direct: Today, I received a “sample copy” of The Epoch Times, which is not just a conservative rag but a strongly pro-Trump, QAnon-advancing, virulently anti-China rag. (Put it this way: they refer to COVID-19 as “the CCP virus”.) It was addressed to “Current Resident”, so I’m assuming that everyone in my small town received a copy.
There is still one year before the 2024 general election, but far-right media such as The Epoch Times seem to have already begun to act. As Boblite said, “someone must have seriously deep pockets to send it out in volume. I find this run-up to the 2024 election rather concerning.”
