Doocy mocks ‘pause’ on program: ‘disinformation board is being shut down because of disinformation’

Newly minted White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tangled with Fox News’ Peter Doocy over the Biden administration’s decision to “pause” its proposed Disinformation Governance Board.

At Wednesday’s press briefing, Jean-Pierre addressed the reported suspension of plans to launch what many have referred to as the “Ministry of Truth” and was pressed by Doocy to explain the irony of a disinformation board being reviewed because of disinformation.

“A follow up to the disinformation board. Last week you guys said that you needed this disinformation governance board at DHS to make sure that freedom of speech is protected across the country and that these platforms are not used for forms of disinformation. So what changed?” Doocy asked.

“Look the Department of Homeland Security, they began their statement report repeating that the board had been intentionally mischaracterized, which is a little bit of what you were asking me. And they were explicit about what it does and doesn’t — it does not do. It was never about censorship, policing speech, or removing content from anywhere,” the press secretary replied, reading from notes.


(Video: Forbes)

“Its function was to keep Homeland Security officials aware of how bad actors including human smugglers, transnational criminal organization, and foreign adversaries could use disinformation to advance their goals,” she continued, adding that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has called for “a thorough review.”

“This is the pause that I was talking about, an assessment as members of the bipartisan Homeland Security Council — Advisory Council. The board will not convene during that period, but the department’s work across several administrations to address disinformation that threatens the security for our country is critical and will continue,” Jean-Pierre elaborated.

“So that work is going to continue,” she concluded.

“So if it’s pausing because you think the board was mischaracterized, then the disinformation board is being shut down because of disinformation. Is that what’s happening here?” Doocy asked, summarizing her rambling response.

“Look, I mean the board was put forth for a purpose, right? To make sure that we really did — really did address what was happening across the country when it came to disinformation,” Jea-Pierre responded, effectively evading the question.

“It’s just going — it’s — it’s going to pause,” she added, claiming there had been “mischaracterizations” from “outside forces.”

The fact that the administration’s disinformation board had been paused and that Nina Jankowicz, who was named as the head of the new effort, had resigned was reported by The Washington Post on Wednesday.

Frieda Powers

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