Matt Taibbi Slams Media for Role in Russiagate Narrative
Journalist criticizes press compliance and political maneuvering tied to Clinton campaign and Trump-Russia allegations
Journalist Matt Taibbi has intensified his criticism of the mainstream media and political establishment, accusing both of enabling a years-long disinformation campaign that he claims misled the public and obstructed objective journalism surrounding Donald Trump’s alleged ties to Russia.
In a recent media appearance, Taibbi argued that major news organizations failed to critically interrogate the origins of the Trump-Russia narrative, acting instead as “stenographers” for a story he believes was strategically planted to shift focus away from Hillary Clinton’s private email server controversy.
According to Taibbi, the Clinton campaign had a deliberate plan in place to connect Trump to Russia, a strategy formed even before the release of the damaging WikiLeaks disclosures during the 2016 election.
The discussion referenced former intelligence figures, backchannel communications, and what Taibbi described as coordinated efforts involving actors like Leonardo and Jeff Goldstein to manipulate the media narrative.
"They came up with the idea—change the narrative from emails to Trump in bed with Putin," Taibbi said, noting that the plan extended beyond campaign tactics and aimed to undermine Trump’s presidency from day one.
He also criticized the FBI’s handling of the Clinton investigation, highlighting that former FBI Director James Comey adjusted the timeline of the email inquiry due to the weight of the emerging information.
"It was taken seriously enough by Comey to move up his announcement," Taibbi noted.
Taibbi expressed disbelief over how many major reporters embraced the claims uncritically.
"Every single major reporter in America went along with this—this station excluded," he said, referencing the outlet hosting the interview.
Addressing recent developments, he suggested that newly surfaced documents, whistleblower accounts, and intelligence memos reinforce what he long suspected: that the media’s framing of the Russia investigation served political rather than journalistic ends.
When asked about possible legal consequences, Taibbi stated that while criminal referrals have reportedly been made and investigations are ongoing, the details of any potential charges remain unclear.
“The evidence is abundant,” he said, adding that whether or not indictments come, the myth of Russiagate, in his view, has already collapsed.
In a recent media appearance, Taibbi argued that major news organizations failed to critically interrogate the origins of the Trump-Russia narrative, acting instead as “stenographers” for a story he believes was strategically planted to shift focus away from Hillary Clinton’s private email server controversy.
According to Taibbi, the Clinton campaign had a deliberate plan in place to connect Trump to Russia, a strategy formed even before the release of the damaging WikiLeaks disclosures during the 2016 election.
The discussion referenced former intelligence figures, backchannel communications, and what Taibbi described as coordinated efforts involving actors like Leonardo and Jeff Goldstein to manipulate the media narrative.
"They came up with the idea—change the narrative from emails to Trump in bed with Putin," Taibbi said, noting that the plan extended beyond campaign tactics and aimed to undermine Trump’s presidency from day one.
He also criticized the FBI’s handling of the Clinton investigation, highlighting that former FBI Director James Comey adjusted the timeline of the email inquiry due to the weight of the emerging information.
"It was taken seriously enough by Comey to move up his announcement," Taibbi noted.
Taibbi expressed disbelief over how many major reporters embraced the claims uncritically.
"Every single major reporter in America went along with this—this station excluded," he said, referencing the outlet hosting the interview.
Addressing recent developments, he suggested that newly surfaced documents, whistleblower accounts, and intelligence memos reinforce what he long suspected: that the media’s framing of the Russia investigation served political rather than journalistic ends.
When asked about possible legal consequences, Taibbi stated that while criminal referrals have reportedly been made and investigations are ongoing, the details of any potential charges remain unclear.
“The evidence is abundant,” he said, adding that whether or not indictments come, the myth of Russiagate, in his view, has already collapsed.
