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Part 1: Mike Benz on Speechwriting for Trump, Trump Calling MAGA: Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon
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Following the 2016 U.S. presidential election, major social media and search platforms like Google and Facebook underwent significant shifts in how search results and content were ranked. Mike Benz explained that in late 2017, Google launched a project that prioritized authoritative mainstream media sources over independent or lesser-known outlets. This move represented a departure from the earlier “neutral” search system, where well-cited independent blogs could rank highly.
According to Benz, this shift was driven by pressure from entrenched political and corporate interests inside Washington, dubbed “the blob,” who felt threatened by grassroots voices rising on internet platforms. These stakeholders allegedly compelled tech companies to adopt stricter content moderation policies and algorithm changes to curb populist movements that challenged traditional gatekeepers. Benz points to internal conflicts within companies like Facebook and Twitter, where leaders were torn between free speech ideals and business interests tied to government relationships. The result was a system that now features whitelists and blacklists of permissible news sources, influencing which political perspectives gain visibility online.
