Adam H Johnson

Join us this Wed Oct 21 at 8pmET/7pmCT for our annual livestream beg-a-thon! We'll be joined by @josholson.bsky.social to discuss the rise of Ben Shapiro's rightwing movie empire, it's lurid demonization of Muslims and leftists, and we'll parse just how organic the demand for his schlock really is

Unlike the raid on John Bolton, the targeting of Omar has elicited zero condemnation from NYT, WSJ, and Washington Post.

Essential @ahjohnson.bsky.social here; I totally forgot how all the media lost their shit when Trump raided John Bolton which stands in severe contrast to their silence regarding Ilhan Omar theintercept.com/2026/10/15/i...

Register for free here: learning.umn.edu/search/publi...

Low wages, high prices, and corporate monopolies: Come hear @sarahlazare.bsky.social, @annlarson.bsky.social, and grocery workers talk about how supermarkets put some of society's biggest problems on full display. Hosted by @inthesetimes.com and @workdaymagazine.bsky.social.

Come to this -- it's going to be great! A talk with @annlarson.bsky.social, the author of Cleanup on Aisle Five, and two grocery workers featured in the book, plus some labor journalists. Grocery stores aren’t just places to shop. They are sites of class struggle. You can RSVP here. It's online!

from @ahjohnson.bsky.social www.columnblog.com/p/how-safety...

In this News Brief, we discuss the Drop The Genocide 20 campaign, efforts to water down progressive demands around Israel and whether or not progressive electeds are following through on the implications and obligations inherent in their use of the word "genocide" to describe the destruction of Gaza

On “cutting off aid to Israel,” as with everything, read the fine print: by @ahjohnson.bsky.social

In Part 2 of our 3-part series on the uses and misuses of "authenticity," we examine the media obsession with "political mavericks" who "buck party orthodoxy"—almost aways with either trivial interventions or, as is most often the case, throwing vulnerable populations and causes under the bus.

ICE agents invaded a quiet suburban neighborhood in Frederick, MD, drove unmarked cars onto private property & hit/beat protestors exercising their Constitutional rights—all while local cops sat & watched. I spoke w/ an eyewitness who saw/filmed everything @therealnews.com: youtu.be/Iae_UZ1oQw0?...

In Part 1 of our 3-part series on the uses and misuses of "authenticity," we examine the Real America "listening tour," its propaganda utility and how it uses the superficial aesthetics of rural simplicity to sell class-flattening, power-serving narratives. With guest John Patrick Leary.

Why is this so concerning? Common Ground is a dark-money group backed by billionaire hedge fund manager Michael Sacks. Known as the "Rahm whisperer," Sacks was a behind-the-scenes advisor during the former mayor's school closings and privatization spree. chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...

Now, Lenhof is benefiting from Common Ground spending some $37K—and counting—on ads backing her and spreading the same kind of misinformation about her opponent, former Chicago Public Schools bilingual teacher Debby Pope. Lenhof has also accepted money directly from Common Ground's PAC.

🧵The billionaire-backed Common Ground Collective was just caught electioneering at a back-to-school event for its endorsed candidates—including fundraising consultant Kyna Lenhof. NB: 6 months ago, Lenhof had this to say about another race where CGC was spending big to spread misinformation. 🤔

~NEW EPISODE~ How the Media Sold Us a Genocide 🎙️: bit.ly/3UQxw0F In our latest we talk w/ @ahjohnson.bsky.social about how the liberal media downplayed, obscured, and repackaged the Israeli campaign of extermination in Gaza to benefit the Biden Administration.

~NEW EPISODE~ How the Media Sold Us a Genocide 🎙️: bit.ly/3UQxw0F In our latest we talk w/ @ahjohnson.bsky.social about how the liberal media downplayed, obscured, and repackaged the Israeli campaign of extermination in Gaza to benefit the Biden Administration.

The Ellisons openly fund and support Israel’s military. Pointing this out is not a form of hatred, and it’s getting more and more absurd to suggest it is: by @ahjohnson.bsky.social

@ahjohnson.bsky.social's book was banned from the Waverley library in Australia. Here's his response to false and libelous claims about his work, and his analysis of how press coverage of these claims has trafficked in tropes that dehumanize Palestinians.

The Independent and Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of my book being banned at a public library in Australia engaged in at least three of the tropes detailed in the book itself. I thought, as an object lesson, it would be useful to document them.

In this Patreon-only News Brief, we discuss the recent banning of Adam's book at an Australian public library, and how the coverage of the ban in The Independent and Sydney Morning Herald engaged in many of the cynical tropes detailed in the book itself.

In Ep 242, "The Disempowering Politics of 'Inevitability' Part 2: US Empire as Mysterious, Teleological Force," we discuss how circular "inevitability" arguments have long been used to justify expansionism, war and perpetual hostility—most recently against China. With guest @tobitac.bsky.social

boy am I excited to piss myself off!

Yet another example of the nonsense infecting our state. Is the idea that nothing critical of Israel can ever stand? Because the lobby groups keep telling us there’s a difference between prejudice and criticism but they keep acting like there’s not. www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...

Every "moderate" group is backed by billionaires, corps & Gulf countries. How do they get the label "moderates?" "Status quo" with heavy irony might be appropriate: the powers who rule under current system who want to stay Usual good piece by @ahjohnson.bsky.social therealnews.com/media-electa...

In this News Brief, "The Emerging Centrist Uncommitted Movement," we breakdown the recent wave of centrist Dems––from James Carville to Pro-Israel donors to anonymous Dems in Congress––threatening to leave the party and/or not endorse Dem nominees over the recent wave of "DSA" wins.

Hi all! Please join us at 7:30ET/6:30CT on Wed Aug 5 for a Patreon-only live stream reaction to the Michigan Senate primaries. It's the biggest AIPAC expenditure ever, and some of the worst people in media are primed for all-time meltdowns. Link below!

In this News Brief, "Very Serious New Yorker Article Launders Biden Officials' Responsibility for Gaza Genocide," we are joined by Kaleem Hawa to discuss David K Kirkpatrick's 10,000 word PR job that feigns criticism of Biden officials, but ultimately serves to distance them from the horrors of Gaza

Centrists in Congress (anonymously) threatening to leave this Democratic Party. James Carville calling for a schism. Top Dems refusing to endorse Dem primary winners. Pouty (also anonymous) pro-Israel donors in MI calling for a donor strike—I wrote about the emerging centrist Uncommitted Movement.

There's a whole book about this that I can't recommend highly enough.

The indispensable @ahjohnson.bsky.social 👏 www.columnblog.com/p/abc-nbc-cb...

The broadcast networks are effectively colluding with the fossil fuel industry. By @ahjohnson.bsky.social. www.columnblog.com/p/abc-nbc-cb...

NEW: I spoke to @ahjohnson.bsky.social to discuss his new book 'How to Sell a Genocide' (which was part of my Substack's book club). The evidence presented in this book is overwhelming. I can think of no better source to understand the media's complicity. lthomas.substack.com/p/how-to-sel...

In this News Brief, "Why US Media Has Evoked Israel's "Right to Exist" 1,001 Times vs Only 6 For Palestine," we examine the Orwellian phrase "right to exist," why it only applies to Israel, what role it serves, and why Palestinians are never said to have such a right.

In Ep 240, "How the Media's 'Burden,' 'Straining Resources' Framing Manufactures the Expendable Other," we discuss the ideological work done by our media's default frame of immigrants, poor seniors, those with disabilities etc as "burdens" on the all mighty Taxpayer

In this News Brief, "Despite 9-Figure Infusion from Silicon Valley, Abundance Still Seeks Popular Support," we talk to @dylangyauchl.bsky.social about her recent report on the obscene amounts of money going into pushing Abundance and the PR hurdles the latest neoliberalism rebrand is facing.

Je n'ai pas lu «How to sell a genocide», mais je lis @ahjohnson.bsky.social depuis longtemps et c'est un très bon critique des médias des É-U. Je suis convaincu que son livre est excellent. Entrevue d'une heure ici: Liberal Media Helped Destroy Gaza (avril 2026) www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA-y...

No mention of pro-Israel and corporate funding, no mention of capitalist ideology—just ‘good-faith’ worry over what will play in Purple America. - by @ahjohnson.bsky.social

In this News Brief, we talk with Emmaia Gelman, author of the new book The Anti-Defamation League and the Racial State, about how––despite posing as a civil rights organization––the ADL functions as defender of colonialism and enforcer for reactionary western ideologies.

New @therealnews.com: I sit down with Dr. @thrasherxy.bsky.social to talk about Black cops, Latino ICE agents, and the Overseer Class. youtu.be/AYnVXyG9I-A?...

Please join me in supporting this Legal Defense Fund for MN Anti-ICE Organizers! Just like in Chicago, the DOJ is trying to make examples of people who LEGALLY resisted this administration’s reign of terror. (See their story.) Let’s fight back!! chuffed.org/project/1865...

In Ep 239, "The Vague, Capital-Serving Co-Optation of 'Affordability' Politics," we detail the history of generic "affordability" discourse and how, post-Mamdani, it's become the go-to buzzword justifying deregulation, tax breaks for developers and minor tweaks to our for profit healthcare system.

Now that I'm posting regularly I want to give a shout out to @ahjohnson.bsky.social & his excellent book "How to Sell a Genocide". Its infuriating to think about all those early episodes of bullshit again but its so important and his methodology is top notch. www.plutobooks.com/product/how-...

I’ll be at the Pluto Press booth from 930-1130 this AM if you’re at Labor Notes! It’s at the very end of the vendor hall

In this Patreon-only News Brief, we break down the popular media trope that Democrats are "divided" over Israel when, in reality, its now a 80-20 issue in favor of Palestine, and—to the extent there are divisions—it's almost entirely between rank and file Dem voters and pro-Israel Dem leadership.

From the New York Times to Jake Tapper, legacy media played a critical role in manufacturing the conditions for Israel’s genocide in Gaza. @ahjohnson.bsky.social has the receipts to prove it. Now, we need accountability.

How the mainstream media supported the Gaza genocide by sanitizing Israeli war crimes, obscuring the US’s role, and systematically dehumanizing Palestinians. w/ @ahjohnson.bsky.social: turbulencepod.substack.com/p/episode-27...