Blacklisted News was founded in the spring of 2006 by Doug Owen, a Texas-based publisher who became disillusioned with the corporate press and their narrowing of acceptable online discourse.
Like a lot of liberty-minded folks, he was inspired by Ron Paul’s campaign to be the nominee for the Republican presidential ticket in 2008. He published Blacklisted News and recorded a regular podcast called Blacklisted Radio for approximately 18 years before calling it quits before the 2024 election.
Blacklisted News published thought-provoking pieces and, like just about everything you read online, deserved to not be taken strictly at face value. The topics for most of the pieces were out of bounds for what the corporate press would usually cover. That’s why Doug wanted to publish them, to give voice to the voiceless. Doing so would prompt his readers to think, question those in power, and hopefully do their own research.
After all, “One man’s conspiracy theory is another man’s truth.” – or so the saying goes. Which brings us to two interesting points on conspiracy theories.
First, not all conspiracies are theories. Here is a handy list of 10 nefarious conspiracy theories proven to be true. It’s one that’s useful to refer to when someone uses the shame-inducing trope to dismiss an argument they don’t like as a “conspiracy theory” without actually considering the merits of the argument itself. Remember, you can be skeptical without being cynical.
Second, one structural problem with conspiracy theories is that, on average, they are far too hopeful. Strange but true. Consider this: The underlying assumption buried in many of them is that the world is being controlled by one group or another – the Illuminati, the Jews, the Masons, the Bilderburgs, the Rothchilds – you get the idea. It manifests itself as “if only we got rid of the evil people controlling everything, then control will revert to the good people and everything will be great again.”
This is cope 101. It goes hand-in-hand with you not having agency to do anything about whatever the issue is that bothers you. It leads to what Adam Curtis calls “Oh Dearism”, if you’re not careful. Plus, it’s probably outside of your own circle of influence anyways, so ruminating on aliens at Roswell distracts you from what can actually do i.e. build a better world, despite the efforts of those in power to stop you.
It’s useful to have skepticism towards those in power, especially those who claim to have your best interest at heart. Educate yourself about what they’re up to and what they’ve done in the past. You don’t need conspiracy theories to see that power can corrupt and that people can lie. What you do need is the ability to judge what’s true vs. what isn’t, and think critically about what you’re being told.
Blacklisted News helped readers be more aware of what was going on in the world at large and gave a voice to those who challenged the prevailing narrative perpetuated by the corporate press. Thanks for doing so, Doug.
We designed, printed, and fulfilled Blacklisted News’ merchandise in an effort to help Doug pay the bills, and explained their products as follows:
Traditionally, something would be branded as “blacklisted” only if it is untrustworthy or otherwise unacceptable. But today’s news sources – the mainstream ones at least, like what you would expect to be bombarded by at airports in addition to radiation – are all universally hogwash. The flow of propaganda and misinformation is nearly ceaseless. (We say “nearly” because MSM outlets occasionally have to take pause while they replace the latest producers to get arrested for sex crimes.)
As is so often the case in current year, up is down and right is left. A “blacklisted” news source is therefore one which doesn’t abstain from telling the truth, regardless of which political party or corporate overlord would rather it not come to light. It is a perilous role, to throw mud at the world’s most influential crooks, but someone has got to do it.
How fitting then that Blacklisted News does exactly that. This fearless cadre of journalists is absolutely vicious. It doesn’t matter how much clout some bigwig wields. If they lie, renege on their promises, or otherwise launch some assault against civilization and decency, Blacklisted News will point the finger.
Naturally, Blacklisted News’s quest for truth doesn’t get them much love from the corporate world. Bounty and Carl’s Jr. and Toilet Duck are all eager to throw endless piles of cash at the MSM, which is thoroughly owned and controlled, but the journalists without masters have to go it alone.
Fortunately Blacklisted News has a secret weapon. That’s you. Your generous support means their journos can keep giving migraine headaches to the world’s evilest people, as well as keep you informed. Order a fine piece of Blacklisted News merchandise so you can spread the word and show your support for an increasingly rare and precious thing: actual news.