Massive Overhaul of Pacifica Network, the last publicly owned network in the country
April 2025 (Yes, this time for real)
WHAT? (You may feel you’ve heard this before, but the final court case is now in the works — control of the network is consolidated and complete for the first time in years and, like Trump, they aim to make giant changes very soon from long-held plans.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? You don’t even listen to “radio”. 1) Technocrat-owned private platforms are becoming a problem, as many predicted. And 2) KPFA/Pacifica really is getting internet-savvy – and if listeners had more oversight as this is all about, it would have happened a long time ago.
WHY DOES IT MATTER THIS TIME – (for those who do listen, (or use Pacifica’s websites) many of us have heard this one BEFORE, and come on, they seem to know what they’re doing, right?)
The final court case is now in the works — they control the network for the first time in years and, like Trump, they aim to make giant changes very soon from long-held plans.
DISHONESTY, DISHONEST ELECTIONS, DISHONEST COMMUNICATING ABOUT WHETHER ELECTIONS MATTER AT ALL
and, BTW, HYPOCRISY...
While Trump is eliminating oversight in numerous ways – grabbing control for a few greedbuckets with no concern for the earth, worker safety, social security, healthcare and more –
The very most radical media network still on public airwaves, Pacifica Network, is in danger of an authoritarian take-over — eliminating local control and oversight by members.
This power grab is an inside job by a group of KPFA & Pacifica board members.Their group has several names, including: “New Day,” “KPFA Protectors,” and “Safety Net.” While many (not all — some are open Trumpsters) seem to believe they are progressives, their actions have already demonstrated:
Curtailing of honest reporting on world and local events — such that many listeners have been confused at their own financial woes were being so misreported; many people elsewhere in the world feel horrified ,even endangered by by the level of state-department/corporate propaganda parroted by some “news” headlines and headlined shows (strategically mixed with truthful reporting to keep many folks from questioning select planted talking points, Why is this? Stands to reason more money comes from “connected” sources. While KPFA (& much else in Pacifica) can “honestly” say they don’t accept corporate funds – grants and large donations are hard to ignore – and with the largest paid and well-benefited staff of many stations (all in Pacifica by far) it’s hard to want to give up this security). Insiders have negotiated this tightrope for years, and some of us even feel Trump would not have been elected had Dem Party insiders not had such a consolidated line of bull, often parroted even by well-meaning reporters. Would more oversight and honest reporting have meant fewer jobs for them? Maybe not – maybe more in these times would have stepped up to support it as they have some online sources where many seeking meaningful explanations of the world have fled.
Election grabbing: These “progressives” have justified their vote-stealing. At KPFA they eliminated votes by filing assault and battery charges when a board member accidentally brushed against a harassing staff member for a split second only visible by slowing a video frame by frame. The alleged assaulter was not even named in the “police report” (dropped). Yet this dishonest faction managed to remove 2 voting members related to this – one for “lying” (telling what actually happened) about it. In other words, engaging in free speech. The court case now in the works to overhaul the whole system is at least the 3rd (the others were thrown out). Loud public claims that staff members’ votes didn’t matter is not what Pacifica’s system allows. Like Trump, what this group THINKS should be has been the basis for their behavior. They have never wanted listener oversight and have, over the years, learned very effectively how to belittle the very idea of it and otherwise simply ignore the very idea of it – except to flood their well-funded insider political groups with disinformation promoting their views. Again, while many are known as “progressives” their sense of ends-justified-means demonstrate an arrogance and sense of entitlement that is the antithesis of the Pacifica mission of understanding:
“to engage in any activity that shall contribute to a lasting understanding between nations and between the individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors; to gather and disseminate information on the causes of conflict between any and all such groups…to promote the study of political and economic problems and of the causes of religious, philosophical and racial antagonisms.”
Does a radio station/network need oversight by those who pay its
bills, or should we leave it up to a very few, even some who seem
well-meaning?
A few have convinced many that they should just not bother their little
heads about this, but leave it to “the experts.” What’s wrong with this
picture?
In the same way that Trump was easily able to convince some fed-up
Democrats that he will finally listen to their concerns and provide
relief, Pacifica management does authentically include many whose values
sound and sometimes truly are in line with values of health, equity,
diversity and inclusion.
A long court fight between those how have sought to consolidate and
greatly dimminish the voices of the listeners by changing the bylaws
with a top-down structure is nearing its conclusion. On April 3rd in Los
Angeles Alahambra court (you can find it on Zoom) – a bylaws changes
case which has continued for 4 years will be decided
Just as many are now finding that threatening social security and
healthcare coverage is a Trumpian value they didn’t vote for, Pacificans
need to stop this small self-appointed group — some who undoubtedly
believe in their cause– others who overtly support Trump in his values
— from eliminating local oversight completely.
Pacifica is probably the very last media on public airwaves NOT owned by
Bezos, Musk and other technocrats.
Pacifica was mentioned by name in Trump’s Project 2025 plan.
The small authoritarian group is calling for a technocratic board. A
hearing is coming up in April — SOON.
What can you do?
— Listen to KPFA — many programs challenge the national takeover in
progress. Archives are available at KPFA.org. Hardknock Radio, Project
Censored, Flashpoints, Letters and Politics, Economic Update are a few
often good programs. (There are also a few we would like to see tanked
but not to get into that here…).
–See and consider joining with the Rescue Pacifica group, read their website here at: https://RescuePacifica.net
also see https://DanielBorgstrom.blogspot.com
and https://PacificainExile.org (may not be current but has excellent
background).
–Help us protect Pacifica and KPFA by donating for a lawyer to
challenge what may be the final and successful attempt to wrest Pacifica
from its members. See how at RescuePacifica.net.