Stop Fake News

Is it legal for the Bush administration to use taxpayer money to advocate for its political agenda?

No. Many of the fake news segments produced and disseminated by the Bush administration violate laws that prohibit the government from using taxpayer dollars for political lobbying activities. The GAO has concluded that a number of Bush administration television segments misused public funds and "violated the publicity or propaganda prohibitions."
Source: Government Accountability Office, 1/4/05, "Office of National Drug Control Policy--Video News Release, B-303495" (citing 31 U.S.C. 1341 and Pub. L. No. 108-199).

Is it legal for television stations to air these fake news reports?

No. If television stations air programs that are paid for by the federal government, the stations must disclose that information at the time they air the program. The GAO reports indicate that a great number of stations aired these programs did not disclose that they were produced and paid for by the government. Moreover, the FCC has already concluded that "listeners and viewers are entitled to know by whom they are being persuaded." This failure disclose the source of the programming violates federal including the Radio Act and Section 317 of the Communications Act. Source: FCC, 12/22/2000, "Enforcement Letter" (citing the Radio Act and 47 U.S.C. 317); FCC, "Payola and Sponsorship Identification" (citing 47 U.S.C. 317).

STOP FAKE NEWS