QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing of credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and/or fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.
- Overall, we rate America First Legal (AFL) as far-right biased and questionable based on the promotion of right-wing propaganda, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, a lack of transparency, the use of poor sources, and numerous false claims.
Detailed Report
Questionable Reasoning: Propaganda, Conspiracy Theories, Pseudoscience, Poor Sourcing, Failed Fact Checks, Lack of Transparency
Bias Rating: EXTREME RIGHT
Factual Reporting: LOW
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY
History
Founded in 2021 by Stephen Miller, a former Senior Advisor to President Trump, America First Legal (AFL) is a conservative legal organization headquartered in Washington, DC. It’s known for its litigation against policies perceived as liberal or harmful to traditional values.
Associated with former Trump administration officials, AFL operates as a nonprofit and engages in advocacy and public messaging through its website and social media. However, AFL has faced criticism for potential bias, lack of transparency, and concerns about the factual accuracy of their claims.
Criticism includes accusations of promoting unfounded claims and conspiracy theories. For instance, AFL filed a civil rights complaint against Starbucks, alleging “maintaining the “racist” programs created in 2020 and earlier this year” based on Starbucks’ diversity initiatives. Additionally, they have contested educational and federal agency programs, arguing these exclude or discriminate against white men. AFL is also active in lawsuits related to critical race theory, seeking to stop such training in federal agencies.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
America First Legal (AFL) is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit funded by donations. Stephen Miller is President and co-founder, and Gene Hamilton is Vice President and General Counsel, previously serving in the Trump administration. Additionally, ProPublica reports that lawyers Reed Rubinstein, Ian Prior, and Andrew Block are associated with AFL. Directors include figures with ties to the Trump administration: Matt Whitaker, Russ Vought, Ed Corrigan, and Blake Masters.
Funders are undisclosed, but opensecrets.org reports contributions: $1 million from the Conservative Partnership Institute, $470,000 raised by Trump-linked Bluebonnet Fundraising LLC, and $4.3 million in individual contributions in 2022.
Analysis / Bias
America First Legal (AFL) positions itself as a counterforce against what it perceives as the “radical left,” focusing on issues like transgender rights, diversity hiring, immigration, and supporting Trump in legal battles.
In their investigation page titled “Biden Family Corruption Exposed,” AFL focuses on allegations of corruption involving President Joe Biden and his family. The language used on this page is highly emotive, with a strong emphasis on terms such as “corruption,” “scandal,” and “cover-up.” This framing suggests a pre-determined conclusion rather than a neutral presentation of facts. This page primarily targets Hunter Biden’s business activities and Joe Biden’s supposed involvement, often excluding counterarguments or contradictory evidence. Particularly, it mentions Hunter Biden’s connection with Burisma Holdings without adequately considering the absence of direct evidence implicating Joe Biden in any wrongdoing. This approach indicates a presentation of selective information lacking in comprehensive context or critical analysis.
Regarding sourcing, America First Legal typically uses press releases, news articles from outlets like the Daily Mail and the Washington Examiner, and their own legal filings (e.g., “NARA-2022-0121-F”). It frequently cites conservative media, including the Washington Free Beacon and Fox Business. Additionally, America First Legal has been linked to promoting conspiracy theories. This includes their stance on COVID-19 treatments, advocating for the effectiveness of Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine against the virus. However, mainstream scientific consensus and health authorities do not support these claims and often label them unfounded or misinterpreted. Additionally, the organization is associated with promoting theories like the great replacement theory, although this is more directly related to the site’s founder than the organization itself.
In general, AFL holds strong right biases and sometimes relies on conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, and misinformation to advance pro-MAGA conservative propaganda.
Failed Fact Checks
- “Joe Biden and the New Left even promote surgery on teens and young adults, removing breasts and genitals.” – False
- “Kamala Harris said disaster aid should go to non-white citizens first.” – False
- The Biden White House was involved with the Mar-a-Lago raid. – False
- Founder Stephen Miller has a poor track record with fact-checkers.
Overall, we rate America First Legal (AFL) as far-right biased and questionable based on the promotion of right-wing propaganda, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, a lack of transparency, the use of poor sources, and numerous false claims. (M. Huitsing 01/12/2024)
Source: aflegal.org
Last Updated on January 12, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check
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