New York Times turns McCarthyist, advances idea of Russian plot

The New York Times appears to have adopted the practice of suggesting that anyone who criticizes Ukraine is a Russian propagandist. 

This tactic is reminiscent of Joseph McCarthy, a U.S. senator who, in the 1950s, became notorious for accusing his political opponents of being spies for Soviet Russia. 

Now, the New York Times seems to have donned the mantle of McCarthyism, accusing those who stray from the mainstream narrative on the Russia-Ukraine war as accomplices of the Kremlin. 

Popular author and conservative commentator Candace Owens received an email from the New York Times on Monday regarding her criticism of Ukraine. 

“We note that you advanced the idea that Ukraine was a corrupt country, which matched comments we’ve seen from Russian state media,” the Times journalist wrote, before asking if Owens had any further comment. 

But Owen responded that she had learned about Ukraine’s internal corruption from the New York Times. She proceeded to provide links to New York Times articles that were published before defending Ukraine was in vogue. 

“I educated myself about the neo-Nazi problem in Ukraine and the unyielding corruption by reading your newspaper, not Russian state media,” she replied. “Is there something specific I said that was different from what you guys wrote in the past?” 

“Corruption has been pervasive in Ukraine since independence, fed by close-knit ties between politicians and oligarchs and a weak justice system,” said one New York Times article.   

As far as Ukraine’s neo-Nazi problem, which was detailed by Frontline News, Owens referenced a New York Times article on the neo-Nazism prevalent in Ukraine. 

She also cited Left-wing news outlet The Hill, which went so far as to blast those who call the presence of neo-Nazism in Ukraine “propaganda”. 

“There are indeed neo-Nazi formations in Ukraine,” said the article. “This has been overwhelmingly confirmed by nearly every major Western outlet. The fact that analysts are able to dismiss it as propaganda disseminated by Moscow is profoundly disturbing.” 

Owens then went on offense. 

“For clarity, are you now suggesting that what the western media covered extensively over the last few years is now just Russian propaganda?” she challenged. “Are you suggesting that all of these articles were sponsored by Russia state media?” 

This is not the first time The New York Times has embraced McCarthyism, however. 

The Times was one of the foremost news outlets who spread disinformation over several years accusing former President Donald Trump, also a political opponent of the Times, of being a Russian asset. 

The accusation was later confirmed to be a hoax.