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| caption = Fang on ''[[RT America#Programming|The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann]]'' in 2012 |
| caption = Fang on ''[[RT America#Programming|The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann]]'' in 2012 |
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| birth_name = Lee Hu Fang |
| birth_name = Lee Hu Fang |
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|10|31 |
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|10|31}} |
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| birth_place = [[Prince George's County, Maryland |
| birth_place = [[Prince George's County, Maryland]], U.S. |
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| alma_mater = [[University of Maryland–College Park]] |
| alma_mater = [[University of Maryland–College Park]] |
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| occupation = {{hlist|Journalist| |
| occupation = {{hlist|Journalist|author}} |
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| spouse = {{marriage|Maytak Chin|2018}} |
| spouse = {{marriage|Maytak Chin|2018}} |
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| employer = ''[[The Intercept]]'' (since 2015) |
| employer = ''[[The Intercept]]'' (since 2015) |
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'''Lee Fang''' (born October 31, 1986) is an American journalist. He is currently an investigative reporter at ''[[The Intercept]]''. Previously, he was a reporting fellow at [[The Nation Institute]] and a contributing writer at ''[[The Nation]]''.<ref name=intercept/> Fang was also a writer at progressive outlet the ''Republic Report''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lee Fang|url=http://www.republicreport.org/author/lee-fang/|publisher=The Republic Report|accessdate= |
'''Lee Fang''' (born October 31, 1986) is an American journalist. He is currently an investigative reporter at ''[[The Intercept]]''. Previously, he was a reporting fellow at [[The Nation Institute]] and a contributing writer at ''[[The Nation]]''.<ref name=intercept /> Fang was also a writer at progressive outlet the ''Republic Report''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lee Fang|url=http://www.republicreport.org/author/lee-fang/|publisher=The Republic Report|accessdate=August 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lee Fang|url=https://firstlook.org/theintercept/staff/leefang|website=The Intercept|accessdate=August 10, 2015}}</ref> He began his career as an investigative blogger for [[ThinkProgress]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Shakir|first=Faiz|title=Farewell to our Friends and Colleagues Matt Yglesias and Lee Fang|url=http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/11/19/372856/farewell-to-our-friends-and-colleagues-matt-yglesias-and-lee-fang/|website=ThinkProgress|accessdate=December 10, 2013}}</ref> In 2018, the ''Izzy Award'' of the [[Park Center for Independent Media]] was awarded to Fang and fellow Intercept reporter Sharon Lerner, and was also shared by investigative reporter [[Dahr Jamail]], and author [[Todd Miller (journalist)|Todd Miller]].<ref>[https://www.ithaca.edu/ic-news/releases/izzy-award-to-be-shared-by-investigative-journalists-lee-fang,-sharon-lerner,-dahr-jamail-and-todd-miller-49708/ Izzy Award to be Shared by Investigative Journalists Lee Fang, Sharon Lerner, Dahr Jamail and Todd Miller], ''[[Ithaca College]]'', David Maley, March 13, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref> |
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==Early life and career== |
== Early life and career == |
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Fang's hometown is in [[Prince George's County |
Fang's hometown is in [[Prince George's County, Maryland]].<ref name=bio>{{cite web|title=Lee Fang|url=http://thinkprogress.org/person/lee-fang/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110093257/http://thinkprogress.org/person/lee-fang/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 10, 2014|website=ThinkProgress|accessdate=August 10, 2015}}</ref> He attended the [[University of Maryland, College Park]], graduating with a B.A. in government and politics in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kredo|first1=Adam|title=High Times at the Nation|url=http://freebeacon.com/politics/high-times-at-the-nation/|accessdate=August 10, 2015|publisher=Washington Free Beacon|date=July 31, 2012}}</ref> In college, Fang served as President of the Federation of Maryland College Democrats, editor of the Maryland College Democrat blog, and on the [[Campus Progress]] Advisory Board.<ref>{{cite web|title=Student Advisory Board (2006–2007)|url=http://genprogress.org/voices/2006/09/14/13624/student-advisory-board-20062007/|website=Generation Progress|publisher=Generation Progress|accessdate=August 10, 2015}}</ref> Fang interned with [[ThinkProgress]] and served as a researcher for Progressive Accountability.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Shakir|first1=Faiz|title=Farewell To Our Friends And Colleagues Matt Yglesias And Lee Fang|url=http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/11/19/372856/farewell-to-our-friends-and-colleagues-matt-yglesias-and-lee-fang/|accessdate=August 10, 2015|website=ThinkProgress|date=November 19, 2011}}</ref> As an undergraduate, Fang also interned for Congresswoman [[Stephanie Tubbs Jones]] (D-OH), Congressman [[Steny Hoyer]] (D-MD), for progressive media watchdog group [[Media Matters for America]], and for the lobbying firm Westin Rinehart.<ref name=bio /> |
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==''ThinkProgress''== |
== ''ThinkProgress'' == |
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In 2011, Fang published several articles where he alleged that special interests manipulated the media reaction to the [[Occupy Wall Street]] protests.<ref name=businessinsider>{{cite web|author=Julia La Roche |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-singer-occupy-wall-street-2011-10 |title=Blogger Tries To Smear Occupy Wall Street Critics By Tying Them To A Hedge Funder |website=Business Insider |date= |
In 2011, Fang published several articles where he alleged that special interests manipulated the media reaction to the [[Occupy Wall Street]] protests.<ref name=businessinsider>{{cite web|author=Julia La Roche |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-singer-occupy-wall-street-2011-10 |title=Blogger Tries To Smear Occupy Wall Street Critics By Tying Them To A Hedge Funder |website=Business Insider |date=October 10, 2011 |accessdate=October 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name=fastcompany>{{cite magazine|last=Ungerleider |first=Neal |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1781840/occupy-wall-street-tahrir-over-here |title=Occupy Wall Street: Tahrir Over Here? |magazine=Fast Company |date=September 21, 2011 |accessdate=October 14, 2013}}</ref> |
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===United States Chamber of Commerce article=== |
=== United States Chamber of Commerce article === |
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An article posted on ThinkProgress on October 5, 2010, authored by Fang, attracted attention and controversy. Fang wrote a story in which he alleged that the [[United States Chamber of Commerce]] funded political attack campaigns from its general fund, which solicits funds from foreign sources. Fang stated that the Chamber was "likely skirting longstanding campaign finance law that bans the involvement of foreign corporations in American elections."<ref name=Fang>{{cite web|last=Fang|first=Lee|title=Exclusive: Foreign-Funded 'U.S.' Chamber of Commerce Running Partisan Attack Ads|url=http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/10/05/121701/foreign-chamber-commerce/|work=ThinkProgress.Org}}</ref> |
An article posted on ThinkProgress on October 5, 2010, authored by Fang, attracted attention and controversy. Fang wrote a story in which he alleged that the [[United States Chamber of Commerce]] funded political attack campaigns from its general fund, which solicits funds from foreign sources. Fang stated that the Chamber was "likely skirting longstanding campaign finance law that bans the involvement of foreign corporations in American elections."<ref name=Fang>{{cite web|last=Fang|first=Lee|title=Exclusive: Foreign-Funded 'U.S.' Chamber of Commerce Running Partisan Attack Ads|url=http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/10/05/121701/foreign-chamber-commerce/|work=ThinkProgress.Org}}</ref> |
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The story was repeated by ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' and the progressive activist group [[MoveOn.org]] asked the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] to launch a criminal investigation of the Chamber's funding.<ref>{{cite news|title=MoveOn Asks DoJ To Launch Criminal Investigation Of Chamber's Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/05/moveon-asks-doj-to-launch_n_751534.html|work=Huffington Post|accessdate= |
The story was repeated by ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' and the progressive activist group [[MoveOn.org]] asked the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] to launch a criminal investigation of the Chamber's funding.<ref>{{cite news|title=MoveOn Asks DoJ To Launch Criminal Investigation Of Chamber's Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/05/moveon-asks-doj-to-launch_n_751534.html|work=Huffington Post|accessdate=August 30, 2012|first=Sam|last=Stein|date=October 5, 2010}}</ref> |
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The fact-checking website [[FactCheck.org]] analyzed the claim that "foreign corporations are 'stealing our democracy' with secret, illegal contributions funneled through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," noting that ThinkProgress made the initial allegations.<ref name=factcheck>{{cite web|title=Foreign Money? Really?|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2010/10/foreign-money-really/|publisher=FactCheck.org|date=October 11, 2010|accessdate= |
The fact-checking website [[FactCheck.org]] analyzed the claim that "foreign corporations are 'stealing our democracy' with secret, illegal contributions funneled through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," noting that ThinkProgress made the initial allegations.<ref name=factcheck>{{cite web|title=Foreign Money? Really?|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2010/10/foreign-money-really/|publisher=FactCheck.org|date=October 11, 2010|accessdate=August 30, 2012}}</ref> FactCheck concluded that "It's a claim with little basis in fact."<ref name=factcheck /> [[Eric Lichtblau]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that the article "provided no evidence that the money generated overseas had been used in United States campaigns."<ref>{{cite news|title=Topic of Foreign Money in U.S. Races Hits Hustings|first=Eric|last=Lichtblau|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/us/politics/09donate.html |newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=August 30, 2012|date=October 8, 2010}}</ref> |
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===Reporting on Koch Industries=== |
=== Reporting on Koch Industries === |
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In April 2011, Fang wrote an article titled "The Contango Game: How [[Koch Industries]] Manipulates The Oil Market For Profit," in which he said "Koch Industries occupies a unique role in manipulating the oil market."<ref>{{cite web|last=Fang |first=Lee |url=https://thinkprogress.org/the-contango-game-how-koch-industries-manipulates-the-oil-market-for-profit-949c246924bd/|title=The Contango Game: How Koch Industries Manipulates The Oil Market For Profit |website=ThinkProgress |date= |
In April 2011, Fang wrote an article titled "The Contango Game: How [[Koch Industries]] Manipulates The Oil Market For Profit," in which he said "Koch Industries occupies a unique role in manipulating the oil market."<ref>{{cite web|last=Fang |first=Lee |url=https://thinkprogress.org/the-contango-game-how-koch-industries-manipulates-the-oil-market-for-profit-949c246924bd/|title=The Contango Game: How Koch Industries Manipulates The Oil Market For Profit |website=ThinkProgress |date=April 13, 2011 |accessdate=October 2, 2012}}</ref> The story was picked up by CBS.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sherter|first=Alain|title=Contango Lesson: How Koch Industries Raises Gas Prices|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-43552793/contango-lesson-how-koch-industries-raises-gas-prices/|accessdate=October 2, 2012|newspaper=CBS|date=April 15, 2011}}</ref> |
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Fang had previously written about [[Charles Koch|Charles]] and [[David H. Koch|David Koch]],<ref name=capecodonline>{{cite web|author=Cynthia Stead |url=http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110421/OPINION/104210324/-1/NEWSMAP |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131015072951/http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110421/OPINION/104210324/-1/NEWSMAP |url-status=dead |archive-date= |
Fang had previously written about [[Charles Koch|Charles]] and [[David H. Koch|David Koch]],<ref name=capecodonline>{{cite web|author=Cynthia Stead |url=http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110421/OPINION/104210324/-1/NEWSMAP |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131015072951/http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110421/OPINION/104210324/-1/NEWSMAP |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |title=Revealing insights in media reform |publisher=CapeCodOnline.com |date=April 21, 2011 |accessdate=October 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name=aljazeera>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/10/2011102683719370179.html |title=The Koch Brothers – People & Power |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=March 29, 2012 |accessdate=October 14, 2013}}</ref> and he was involved with a [[Robert Greenwald]] documentary titled ''[[Koch Brothers Exposed]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lee Fang|url=http://www.bravenewfilms.org/slate_052314#_=_|publisher=Koch Brothers Exposed|accessdate=January 4, 2014}}</ref> In March 2011, he reported that [[New Media Strategies]], a firm employed by the Kochs, had been caught manipulating Wikipedia content and were banned from the website for [[Sockpuppet (Internet)|sockpuppetry]].<ref>[https://archive.thinkprogress.org/koch-industries-employs-pr-firm-to-airbrush-wikipedia-gets-banned-for-unethical-sock-puppets-6570bbd615bd/ Koch Industries Employs PR Firm To Airbrush Wikipedia, Gets Banned For Unethical 'Sock Puppets'], ''[[Think Progress]]'', Lee Fang, March 9, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2016.</ref> ''[[Politico]]'' wrote that "Fang's relentless chronicling of the Koch brothers have made him something of a star on the left."<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith |first=Ben |title=Center for American Progress news team takes aim at GOP |url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=8B8E1D74-C6A7-4CA7-A9C4-60103E217BA7 |accessdate=January 5, 2014 |newspaper=Politico |date=April 12, 2011 |author2=Vogel, Kenneth |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021195049/http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=8B8E1D74-C6A7-4CA7-A9C4-60103E217BA7 |archivedate=October 21, 2013 }}</ref> |
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==''The Intercept''== |
== ''The Intercept'' == |
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Fang started working with ''[[The Intercept]]'' as an investigative reporter in February 2015.<ref name=intercept>{{cite web|last1=Reed|first1=Betsy|title=Welcome to The Intercept, Lee Fang|url=https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/02/04/welcome-intercept-lee-fang/|accessdate= |
Fang started working with ''[[The Intercept]]'' as an investigative reporter in February 2015.<ref name=intercept>{{cite web|last1=Reed|first1=Betsy|title=Welcome to The Intercept, Lee Fang|url=https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/02/04/welcome-intercept-lee-fang/|accessdate=August 10, 2015|website=The Intercept|date=February 4, 2015}}</ref> |
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In June 2020, Fang was accused of racism by Akela Lacy, a colleague at ''The Intercept''. This occurred after Fang shared a [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] quote about remaining non-violent and tweeted out an interview in which a black man at a [[George Floyd]] [[George Floyd protests|protest]] expressed concern about [[black-on-black crime]]. Fang's tweets set off a "firestorm" on Twitter and he issued a lengthy apology.<ref name=chait>{{cite news |last1=Chait |first1=Jonathan |title=The Still-Vital Case for Liberalism in a Radical Age |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/06/case-for-liberalism-tom-cotton-new-york-times-james-bennet.html |accessdate= |
In June 2020, Fang was accused of racism by Akela Lacy, a colleague at ''The Intercept''. This occurred after Fang shared a [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] quote about remaining non-violent and tweeted out an interview in which a black man at a [[George Floyd]] [[George Floyd protests|protest]] expressed concern about [[black-on-black crime]]. Fang's tweets set off a "firestorm" on Twitter and he issued a lengthy apology.<ref name=chait>{{cite news |last1=Chait |first1=Jonathan |title=The Still-Vital Case for Liberalism in a Radical Age |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/06/case-for-liberalism-tom-cotton-new-york-times-james-bennet.html |accessdate=June 15, 2020 |publisher=New York Magazine |date=June 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Zachary |last2=Loftus |first2=John |title=The Cancel Counter|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/news/the-cancel-counter/ |accessdate=June 15, 2020 |publisher=The National Review |date=June 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rutz |first1=David |title=NYT Reporter Cheers Denunciation of Left-Wing Writer as 'Racist' for Protest Coverage |url=https://freebeacon.com/media/nyt-reporter-praises-criticism-of-intercept-writer-for-racial-insensitivity/ |accessdate=June 15, 2020 |publisher=Washington Free Beacon |date=June 4, 2020}}</ref> |
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=== Twitter Files === |
=== Twitter Files === |
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In December 2022, Fang reported in ''The Intercept'' that Twitter "provided direct approval and internal protection to the U.S. |
In December 2022, Fang reported in ''The Intercept'' that Twitter "provided direct approval and internal protection to the U.S. military's network of social media accounts and online personas."<ref name=flt>{{Cite web |date=December 20, 2022 |first=Lee |last=Fang|title=Twitter Aided the Pentagon in Its Covert Online Propaganda Campaign |url=https://theintercept.com/2022/12/20/twitter-dod-us-military-accounts/ |access-date=January 8, 2023 |website=The Intercept |language=en}}</ref> The [[Department of Defence|Department of Defense]] utilized a network of Twitter accounts to shape opinion on American interventions in the Middle East as part of a "government-backed covert propaganda campaign."<ref name=flt /> Many of the accounts operated without disclosure of their US government affiliation. The piece was a part of a broader journalistic effort by [[Matt Taibbi]] called the ''[[Twitter Files]]'', initiated after [[Elon Musk]]'s purchase of the platform, an investigation into Twitter's content moderation practices and their effect on American political events. |
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==Political views== |
== Political views == |
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Fang has been described as a "liberal" by ''[[The New York Times]]'', and as both "liberal" and "progressive" by ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]''.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|last1=Rutenberg|first1=Jim|title=A Conservative Provocateur, Using a Blowtorch as His Pen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/us/politics/michael-goldfarb-gleeful-provocateur-at-intersection-of-many-worlds.html?_r=2&|accessdate= |
Fang has been described as a "liberal" by ''[[The New York Times]]'', and as both "liberal" and "progressive" by ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]''.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|last1=Rutenberg|first1=Jim|title=A Conservative Provocateur, Using a Blowtorch as His Pen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/us/politics/michael-goldfarb-gleeful-provocateur-at-intersection-of-many-worlds.html?_r=2&|accessdate=August 10, 2015|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 23, 2013}}</ref><ref name=salon>{{cite news|last1=Greenwald|first1=Glenn|authorlink=Glenn Greenwald|title=Free speech and donations|url=http://www.salon.com/2012/07/30/free_speech_and_donations/|accessdate=August 10, 2015|work=Salon|date=July 30, 2012}}</ref> Liberal commentator [[Jonathan Chait]] described Fang as "left-wing" and wrote "Like many Bernie Sanders supporters, Fang often lacerates mainstream liberals both for insufficient populist zeal and, on occasion, for excessive focus on identity at the expense of class. His views on economics put him well to the left of the Democratic Party, while his views on race and gender would sit comfortably in the middle of it, and often put him at odds with fellow leftists."<ref name=chait /> |
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According to Fang, "I like hanging out with fully grassroots [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]] activists because, for the most part, whatever their motivations are, they're just upset about society and they want to do something about it which, at the core, I respect even though I pretty much disagree with their worldview."<ref>{{cite news|title=Lee Fang talks about his book "The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right" & corporatist influence in the U.S.|url=http://www.eclectablog.com/2013/04/interview-lee-fang-talks-about-his-book-the-machine-a-field-guide-to-the-resurgent-right-corporatist-influence-in-the-u-s.html|accessdate= |
According to Fang, "I like hanging out with fully grassroots [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]] activists because, for the most part, whatever their motivations are, they're just upset about society and they want to do something about it which, at the core, I respect even though I pretty much disagree with their worldview."<ref>{{cite news|title=Lee Fang talks about his book "The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right" & corporatist influence in the U.S.|url=http://www.eclectablog.com/2013/04/interview-lee-fang-talks-about-his-book-the-machine-a-field-guide-to-the-resurgent-right-corporatist-influence-in-the-u-s.html|accessdate=January 5, 2014|newspaper=Eclectablog|date=April 30, 2013}}</ref> |
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==Personal life== |
== Personal life == |
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== Bibliography == |
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== References == |
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==References== |
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*[http://www.thenation.com/authors/lee-fang Articles by Fang at ''The Nation''] |
*[http://www.thenation.com/authors/lee-fang Articles by Fang at ''The Nation''] |
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*[https://theintercept.com/staff/leefang/ Lee Fang at ''The Intercept''] |
*[https://theintercept.com/staff/leefang/ Lee Fang at ''The Intercept''] |
Revision as of 03:11, 5 April 2023
Lee Fang | |
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Born | Lee Hu Fang October 31, 1986 |
Alma mater | University of Maryland–College Park |
Occupations |
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Employer | The Intercept (since 2015) |
Spouse |
Maytak Chin (m. 2018) |
Lee Fang (born October 31, 1986) is an American journalist. He is currently an investigative reporter at The Intercept. Previously, he was a reporting fellow at The Nation Institute and a contributing writer at The Nation.[1] Fang was also a writer at progressive outlet the Republic Report.[2][3] He began his career as an investigative blogger for ThinkProgress.[4] In 2018, the Izzy Award of the Park Center for Independent Media was awarded to Fang and fellow Intercept reporter Sharon Lerner, and was also shared by investigative reporter Dahr Jamail, and author Todd Miller.[5]
Early life and career
Fang's hometown is in Prince George's County, Maryland.[6] He attended the University of Maryland, College Park, graduating with a B.A. in government and politics in 2009.[7] In college, Fang served as President of the Federation of Maryland College Democrats, editor of the Maryland College Democrat blog, and on the Campus Progress Advisory Board.[8] Fang interned with ThinkProgress and served as a researcher for Progressive Accountability.[9] As an undergraduate, Fang also interned for Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD), for progressive media watchdog group Media Matters for America, and for the lobbying firm Westin Rinehart.[6]
ThinkProgress
In 2011, Fang published several articles where he alleged that special interests manipulated the media reaction to the Occupy Wall Street protests.[10][11]
United States Chamber of Commerce article
An article posted on ThinkProgress on October 5, 2010, authored by Fang, attracted attention and controversy. Fang wrote a story in which he alleged that the United States Chamber of Commerce funded political attack campaigns from its general fund, which solicits funds from foreign sources. Fang stated that the Chamber was "likely skirting longstanding campaign finance law that bans the involvement of foreign corporations in American elections."[12]
The story was repeated by The Huffington Post and the progressive activist group MoveOn.org asked the Department of Justice to launch a criminal investigation of the Chamber's funding.[13]
The fact-checking website FactCheck.org analyzed the claim that "foreign corporations are 'stealing our democracy' with secret, illegal contributions funneled through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," noting that ThinkProgress made the initial allegations.[14] FactCheck concluded that "It's a claim with little basis in fact."[14] Eric Lichtblau of The New York Times wrote that the article "provided no evidence that the money generated overseas had been used in United States campaigns."[15]
Reporting on Koch Industries
In April 2011, Fang wrote an article titled "The Contango Game: How Koch Industries Manipulates The Oil Market For Profit," in which he said "Koch Industries occupies a unique role in manipulating the oil market."[16] The story was picked up by CBS.[17]
Fang had previously written about Charles and David Koch,[18][19] and he was involved with a Robert Greenwald documentary titled Koch Brothers Exposed.[20] In March 2011, he reported that New Media Strategies, a firm employed by the Kochs, had been caught manipulating Wikipedia content and were banned from the website for sockpuppetry.[21] Politico wrote that "Fang's relentless chronicling of the Koch brothers have made him something of a star on the left."[22]
The Intercept
Fang started working with The Intercept as an investigative reporter in February 2015.[1]
In June 2020, Fang was accused of racism by Akela Lacy, a colleague at The Intercept. This occurred after Fang shared a Martin Luther King Jr. quote about remaining non-violent and tweeted out an interview in which a black man at a George Floyd protest expressed concern about black-on-black crime. Fang's tweets set off a "firestorm" on Twitter and he issued a lengthy apology.[23][24][25]
Twitter Files
In December 2022, Fang reported in The Intercept that Twitter "provided direct approval and internal protection to the U.S. military's network of social media accounts and online personas."[26] The Department of Defense utilized a network of Twitter accounts to shape opinion on American interventions in the Middle East as part of a "government-backed covert propaganda campaign."[26] Many of the accounts operated without disclosure of their US government affiliation. The piece was a part of a broader journalistic effort by Matt Taibbi called the Twitter Files, initiated after Elon Musk's purchase of the platform, an investigation into Twitter's content moderation practices and their effect on American political events.
Political views
Fang has been described as a "liberal" by The New York Times, and as both "liberal" and "progressive" by Salon.[27][28] Liberal commentator Jonathan Chait described Fang as "left-wing" and wrote "Like many Bernie Sanders supporters, Fang often lacerates mainstream liberals both for insufficient populist zeal and, on occasion, for excessive focus on identity at the expense of class. His views on economics put him well to the left of the Democratic Party, while his views on race and gender would sit comfortably in the middle of it, and often put him at odds with fellow leftists."[23]
According to Fang, "I like hanging out with fully grassroots Tea Party activists because, for the most part, whatever their motivations are, they're just upset about society and they want to do something about it which, at the core, I respect even though I pretty much disagree with their worldview."[29]
Personal life
Fang's brother, Daniel, is the drummer for the band Turnstile.[30]
Bibliography
- Fang, Lee (2013). The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right. New York: The New Press. ISBN 978-1-59558-639-1.
References
- ^ a b Reed, Betsy (February 4, 2015). "Welcome to The Intercept, Lee Fang". The Intercept. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ "Lee Fang". The Republic Report. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ "Lee Fang". The Intercept. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ Shakir, Faiz. "Farewell to our Friends and Colleagues Matt Yglesias and Lee Fang". ThinkProgress. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^ Izzy Award to be Shared by Investigative Journalists Lee Fang, Sharon Lerner, Dahr Jamail and Todd Miller, Ithaca College, David Maley, March 13, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
- ^ a b "Lee Fang". ThinkProgress. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ Kredo, Adam (July 31, 2012). "High Times at the Nation". Washington Free Beacon. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ "Student Advisory Board (2006–2007)". Generation Progress. Generation Progress. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ Shakir, Faiz (November 19, 2011). "Farewell To Our Friends And Colleagues Matt Yglesias And Lee Fang". ThinkProgress. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ Julia La Roche (October 10, 2011). "Blogger Tries To Smear Occupy Wall Street Critics By Tying Them To A Hedge Funder". Business Insider. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ Ungerleider, Neal (September 21, 2011). "Occupy Wall Street: Tahrir Over Here?". Fast Company. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ Fang, Lee. "Exclusive: Foreign-Funded 'U.S.' Chamber of Commerce Running Partisan Attack Ads". ThinkProgress.Org.
- ^ Stein, Sam (October 5, 2010). "MoveOn Asks DoJ To Launch Criminal Investigation Of Chamber's Funding". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
- ^ a b "Foreign Money? Really?". FactCheck.org. October 11, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
- ^ Lichtblau, Eric (October 8, 2010). "Topic of Foreign Money in U.S. Races Hits Hustings". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
- ^ Fang, Lee (April 13, 2011). "The Contango Game: How Koch Industries Manipulates The Oil Market For Profit". ThinkProgress. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
- ^ Sherter, Alain (April 15, 2011). "Contango Lesson: How Koch Industries Raises Gas Prices". CBS. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
- ^ Cynthia Stead (April 21, 2011). "Revealing insights in media reform". CapeCodOnline.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ "The Koch Brothers – People & Power". Al Jazeera English. March 29, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ "Lee Fang". Koch Brothers Exposed. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
- ^ Koch Industries Employs PR Firm To Airbrush Wikipedia, Gets Banned For Unethical 'Sock Puppets', Think Progress, Lee Fang, March 9, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
- ^ Smith, Ben; Vogel, Kenneth (April 12, 2011). "Center for American Progress news team takes aim at GOP". Politico. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- ^ a b Chait, Jonathan (June 11, 2020). "The Still-Vital Case for Liberalism in a Radical Age". New York Magazine. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ Evans, Zachary; Loftus, John (June 11, 2020). "The Cancel Counter". The National Review. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ Rutz, David (June 4, 2020). "NYT Reporter Cheers Denunciation of Left-Wing Writer as 'Racist' for Protest Coverage". Washington Free Beacon. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ a b Fang, Lee (December 20, 2022). "Twitter Aided the Pentagon in Its Covert Online Propaganda Campaign". The Intercept. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ Rutenberg, Jim (February 23, 2013). "A Conservative Provocateur, Using a Blowtorch as His Pen". The New York Times. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ Greenwald, Glenn (July 30, 2012). "Free speech and donations". Salon. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ "Lee Fang talks about his book "The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right" & corporatist influence in the U.S." Eclectablog. April 30, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
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