Don’t threaten me with a good time, CNN!
In lieu of a total pharma ad ban that may or may not be feasible through executive action, the Trump administration is reportedly mulling two policy changes to limit pharma’s propaganda capacity through the legacy corporate state media, heavily dependent on ad cash to finance its lavish and increasingly unpopular programming.
Via Bloomberg (emphasis added):
“The Trump administration is discussing policies that would make it harder and more expensive for pharmaceutical companies to advertise directly to patients, in a move that could disrupt more than $10 billion in annual ad spending…
The two policies the administration has focused in on would be to require greater disclosures of side effects of a drug within each ad — likely making broadcast ads much longer and prohibitively expensive — or removing the industry’s ability to deduct direct-to-consumer advertising as a business expense for tax purposes, these people said.”
Related: In 2025, WebMD Claims COVID Vax ‘Still Crucial for Children’
While failing to disclose its own interests in keeping the gravy train rolling, CNN cites concerns among generic “broadcasters” that would stand to lose out on a critical source of revenue.
Via CNN (emphasis added):
“For decades, pharmaceutical companies have shelled out big bucks to broadcasters to place ads between TV segments. But a pair of policies being considered by US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could change that and leave broadcasters in financial straits.
While not an outright ban*, the two policies would make it significantly more difficult and expensive for drug companies to push their products across broadcasters’ airwaves… The policies look to either mandate that advertisers elaborate on the risks posed by their drugs — forcing ads to be longer and, therefore, more expensive — or bar drugmakers from writing off direct-to-consumer ads as business expenses on their taxes, also padding the bill.”
Of course, if the American Congress were worth a damn, it would have long ago rendered these proposed executive actions moot by outright banning the ads — but it won’t, because both parties are nearly entirely comprised of bought and paid for prostitutes.
Related: MAHA: Top FDA Vax-Monger’s Firing Sends Pharma Stocks Plummeting
Without pharma ads — and captive audiences in airports and bars and waiting rooms to artificially inflate its audience stats and the preferential access granted by the political class — CNN would be totally fucked.
As you might recall, human-potato hybrid Brian Stelter humiliated himself at the National Press Club in 2018 when he attempted to assert that his network doesn’t actually care about ratings and is instead devoted purely to news reporting.
Derisive laughter right in his overfed face ensued, followed later by his unceremonial firing.
Benjamin Bartee, author of Broken English Teacher: Notes From Exile (now available in paperback), is an independent Bangkok-based American journalist with opposable thumbs.
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So, a ban on PhRMA propaganda might "threaten" some media outlets? GOOD!....DO IT, RFKjr!
I haven't watched live TV (except for some football) in a few decades. It is rife with endless marketing dominating the mostly putrid shows. Now, more than ever the alternative ...video on demand ...is being infiltrated with ads. I tried free Amazon Prime for a month and they still want $2.99/month to go ad free. Not continuing it. I won't pay netflix $16/month to go ad free either. Thankfully, I have a decent DVD collection to revert to...no wokie nonsense or ads.