In recent years, Americans have been bombarded with a barrage of events that the mainstream media and political figures have used to push a narrative: that America is irredeemably racist, oppressive, and in desperate need of radical transformation. Much of this narrative aligns with a Neo-Marxist worldview—one that divides society into oppressors and oppressed, redefines language to suit ideological aims, and seeks to tear down traditional moral, religious, and constitutional norms.
This essay lists 32 significant events since 2016 (and a few earlier that have been constantly re-used) that were misrepresented, manipulated, or outright fabricated by dominant media outlets and Democrat-aligned politicians to inflame racial tensions and rewrite America’s national identity. Most prominently involved in spreading these distortions were CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, and their digital counterparts, with social media platforms amplifying these narratives while censoring dissenting voices.
Below is a brief overview of each incident—each one an example of how truth was sacrificed to advance a divisive political agenda that supported the claims of the Neo-Marxists and their allies, particularly the Democrat party.
1. 2020 Riots in Portland, Seattle, and Other Cities
Left-wing violence rocked cities across the U.S. for months, especially in Portland, where nightly riots targeted a federal courthouse with explosives, lasers, and fire. Despite widespread destruction, CNN, MSNBC, and NPR insisted these were “mostly peaceful protests,” often filming in front of burning buildings. Federal officers under siege were labeled fascist aggressors by Democrat leaders and media talking heads. The ideological violence was reframed as morally justified outrage, in stark contrast to coverage of January 6.
2. Trayvon Martin Shooting (2012, revived post-2016)
Although the event occurred in 2012, it was re-used constantly to push the narrative of racial injustice. George Zimmerman, who was Hispanic, was portrayed as a white supremacist. NBC deceptively edited a 911 call to suggest racial profiling. CNN, The New York Times, and MSNBC ignored evidence that Martin assaulted Zimmerman, focusing instead on racial division.
3. Michael Brown and “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” (2014)
This false narrative was reignited during BLM protests. Despite Obama’s DOJ confirming that Brown attacked the officer, the media—particularly CNN, MSNBC, and The Washington Post—spread the lie that Brown was executed while surrendering. “Hands up, don’t shoot” became a national slogan rooted in deception.
4. Trump’s “Very Fine People” Misquote (2017)
Trump’s comments on Charlottesville were selectively edited to suggest he praised white supremacists. In fact, he condemned them explicitly. CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times refused to correct the record, cementing a lie that persists to this day.
5. George Floyd’s Death (2020)
Floyd’s death under Derek Chauvin’s knee sparked international outrage. The media—CBS, ABC, NBC, and CNN—ignored key context like Floyd’s drug overdose and resisted discussing the broader data showing no racial bias in police shootings. The event became a launchpad for defunding police and critical race training in government.
6. Breonna Taylor Shooting (2020)
The media narrative claimed Taylor was shot in her sleep during a no-knock raid. In fact, her boyfriend shot first, striking a police officer. The media, especially MSNBC and NPR, continued the falsehood to stoke unrest.
7. Jacob Blake Shooting (2020)
Blake was portrayed as an unarmed man shot in the back while breaking up a fight. In truth, he resisted arrest, had a knife, and had an active warrant. CNN and CBS helped spread the initial misinformation, fueling violent protests.
8. Kyle Rittenhouse (2020)
Rittenhouse was slandered as a white supremacist and vigilante by MSNBC, CNN, and The View. Video evidence showed he acted in self-defense, and all those he shot were white. Still, the narrative remained entrenched in leftist media.
9. January 6 Capitol Riot (2021)
Though the riot was unlawful, media like CNN and The Washington Post treated it as an attempted coup driven by white supremacy. By contrast, BLM riots that caused more destruction were downplayed or excused. No racial motive was ever proven.
10. Atlanta Spa Shootings (2021)
Before facts emerged, MSNBC and NPR insisted the shooter targeted Asians due to racism. Investigations showed the motive was related to sex addiction. Still, the media refused to retract the racial narrative.
11. Jussie Smollett Hoax (2019)
Smollett claimed Trump-supporting racists attacked him in Chicago. CNN and major outlets amplified the claim before evidence showed it was staged. Despite conviction, many media outlets offered him sympathy and framed critics as insensitive.
12. Bubba Wallace “Noose” Hoax (2020)
CNN and ESPN reported that a noose was left in Wallace’s NASCAR garage, implying a hate crime. The FBI later revealed it was a garage door pull that had been there for months. The false claim received far more coverage than the correction.
13. Covington Catholic Students (2019)
A brief video seemed to show MAGA-hat-wearing teens mocking a Native American elder. Full footage revealed they were being harassed. CNN, The Washington Post, and others rushed to judgment and were later forced to settle defamation lawsuits.
14. Tyre Nichols (2023)
Nichols was beaten by five black officers in Memphis and died. Nonetheless, MSNBC and other commentators blamed “white supremacy.” This absurd stretch revealed a commitment to the racial narrative regardless of the facts.
15. The 1619 Project (2019-Present)
The New York Times launched this historical rewrite claiming America’s true founding was based on slavery. Despite serious factual errors acknowledged by historians, it was promoted in public schools and by NPR and PBS as gospel truth.
16. Ahmed Mohamed “Clock Boy” (2015)
CNN and MSNBC painted Mohamed as a Muslim victim of racism for bringing a clock to school. It looked like a briefcase bomb, and staff acted reasonably. The truth didn’t matter—Islamophobia was the takeaway.
17. “Muslim Ban” Lie (2017)
Trump’s travel restrictions were framed by MSNBC and The New York Times as a “Muslim Ban,” despite being based on Obama-era terror watchlists and including non-Muslim-majority nations. The lie fueled protests and legal battles.
18. Sarah Jeong’s Anti-White Tweets (2018)
The New York Times defended its hire of Jeong, who had posted numerous anti-white tweets, claiming she was satirizing racism. The media’s double standard was obvious—reverse the races, and the outcome would be career-ending.
19. Lafayette Park “Bible Photo Op” Hoax (2020)
Media claimed Trump tear-gassed peaceful protesters for a photo-op. Later investigations showed police had planned to clear the area for days due to ongoing violence. CNN and MSNBC never corrected the story.
20. Border Patrol “Whipping” Hoax (2021)
Photos of Border Patrol on horseback managing Haitian migrants were misrepresented by CNN, CBS, and MSNBC as “whipping” black migrants. The photographer denied it happened. Biden administration officials still condemned the officers without apology.
21. Ma’Khia Bryant Shooting (2021)
Media said Bryant was shot for being black. Video showed she was actively trying to stab another girl. LeBron James and MSNBC stoked outrage anyway, refusing to acknowledge the officer saved a black life.
22. Highland Park Shooting Misattribution (2022)
Following a mass shooting, outlets like CNN immediately assumed the suspect was a white supremacist. He turned out to be mentally disturbed with no political motive. The race narrative quietly disappeared.
23. Anti-Asian Violence Narrative (2021–Present)
CNN and The New York Times pushed the claim that white conservatives were attacking Asians, blaming Trump’s “China virus” rhetoric. Most violent incidents were committed by black perpetrators in urban areas, a fact widely ignored.
24. Florida Book Ban Myth (2022-Present)
MSNBC and The Washington Post claimed Florida was banning black and LGBT books. In reality, explicit content was removed from school libraries under transparency laws. The media stoked censorship panic for political effect.
25. Nashville Covenant School Shooting (2023)
A transgender-identifying individual targeted a Christian school. Media quickly moved on and focused on protecting trans ideology rather than mourning Christian victims. Compare this to how other shooters are profiled extensively when they fit the preferred narrative.
26. Target and Bud Light Backlash (2023)
When conservatives opposed LGBT-themed products aimed at children, media labeled them “bigots” and “Christian nationalists.” The public’s moral objections were dismissed by CNN and NPR as irrational hatred.
27. Gas Stove “Conspiracy Theory” (2023)
When a Biden official suggested gas stoves should be regulated, conservatives objected. The media then claimed the controversy was “made up” by the right—even though the proposal was documented.
28. Air Force Academy Hate Crime Hoax (2017)
A black cadet scrawled racial slurs on message boards. CNN and MSNBC blamed systemic racism—until the truth emerged. The narrative was never retracted with the same intensity.
29. Rochester, MN Playground Incident (2025)
A white woman yelled a slur at a black child and later raised $700K in donations. Media coverage polarized the public and exaggerated racial conflict. Social media helped escalate a personal dispute into a national incident.
30. Boulder, CO Shooting Misidentification (2021)
After a mass shooting, CNN and social media commentators assumed the shooter was a white supremacist. He turned out to be of Syrian descent with no political motive.
31. Fox News Altered CHAZ Images (2020)
In a rare conservative media misstep, Fox News digitally altered protest images. They admitted the error and removed the images—unlike CNN and MSNBC, which rarely retract narratives even when proven false.
32. Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill Misrepresented as the “Don’t Say Gay” Law (2022)
When Florida passed legislation to prevent classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K–3, media outlets like CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and The New York Times quickly dubbed it the “Don’t Say Gay” law—despite the bill never using the word “gay.” The legislation focused on preserving childhood innocence and reinforcing parental rights, not banning words or marginalizing individuals. Democrat politicians and Hollywood figures repeated the false framing, with Disney executives even intervening publicly against the bill.
The law’s actual text was limited and precise, but the media deliberately characterized it as hateful and anti-LGBT to stir public outrage and energize activist bases. Many Americans believed the lie that it banned discussions of homosexuality outright. In truth, it prohibited teachers from introducing complex sexual topics to young children without parental consent. The smear campaign revealed the left’s willingness to lie about common-sense protections in order to villainize conservative states and amplify ideological agendas in education.
Conclusion: Truth, Not Narratives
These 32 events reveal a coordinated pattern of selective outrage, distorted reporting, and ideological framing by the mainstream media. These aren’t simply isolated mistakes. They reflect a worldview that seeks to portray America as a racist, oppressive society needing revolutionary transformation. Whether through omission, manipulation, or outright falsehoods, the media and Democrat-aligned voices have pushed a Neo-Marxist framework onto American consciousness.
As a Christian, I believe that every American needs radical transformation that comes through the new birth. This new birth in Christ would transform the nation into a godly one where hatred and divisiveness would not dominate the culture.
A Neo-Marxist revolution aided by a deceitful media will not aid our nation whatsoever. In fact, it is causing a lot more problems and institutionalizing an ungodly, demonic ideology.
Future Posts in This Series
In the coming weeks, Christian News Junkie will publish detailed investigations into several of these cases—starting with the 2020 riots, the Trump “very fine people” hoax, and the George Floyd case. Each post will expose the media distortions, highlight the facts, and reclaim the truth from the propaganda.
Stay tuned.
Robert Sparkman
PS. If I have omitted an incident that you feel deserves to be on the list, please let me know. I would be glad to include it if applicable. RLS.
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