Devin Nunes Retires From Congress To Spend More Time Banning Satirical Cows From Trump's New Social Network

from the we-have-to-do-content-moderation? dept

In a bit of a Monday afternoon surprise, Rep. Devin Nunes has announced that he's retiring from Congress this month to become the CEO of Trump's new media company, Trump Media & Technology Group -- a company which apparently now has tons of money in the bank (even if from sketchy sources) but also is facing a newly revealed SEC investigation that might require someone who actually understands this stuff, rather than a very thin-skinned politician who sues people who criticize him.

Note to Devin: you can't sue the SEC for defamation.

There's all sorts of speculation about why Nunes would do this now. He's actually a pretty powerful Congressional representative, and in line to be in charge of some very powerful committees if, as is widely expected, the Republicans retake control over the House next year. But, he might also see the writing on the wall. Earlier in his career he was winning elections by a pretty wide margin, but the last two elections have actually been pretty tight. And, with California going through its redistricting process, he may have realized there was a high likelihood he'd lose next time around. Also, we know that watchdog groups have asked for an investigation into some of Nunes' activities.

And, then, of course, there are all the many, many frivolous lawsuits he's filed over the last few years, with the first one remaining the most notable and the most ridiculous: suing a satirical cow that made fun of Devin Nunes online. The fact that he'd sue a satirist for making fun of him does not suggest someone who believes very strongly in free speech.

So it should be extra interesting to see just how Devin Nunes handles content moderation questions for Truth Social now that he's in charge. Will he allow @DevinCow to have an account there? Or will he prove himself to be a hypocrite -- complaining about "censorship" on other sites, but actively engaging in the same (or more selective and biased) moderation on his own site? The press release from TMTG with quotes from Nunes reads as quite laughable when you realize he's suing satirical accounts on Twitter that made fun of him:

Congressman Devin Nunes added, “The time has come to reopen the Internet and allow for the free flow of ideas and expression without censorship. The United States of America made the dream of the Internet a reality and it will be an American company that restores the dream. I’m humbled and honored President Trump has asked me to lead the mission and the world class team that will deliver on this promise.”

For someone who is literally suing a bunch of reporters and critics, the claim of allowing for "the free flow of ideas and expression without censorship" doesn't just ring hollow, it rings of being a total hypocrite.

Either way, as we've seen with every wannabe Trumpist social media site promising to "bring back" free speech, it doesn't take long for them to realize that content moderation is not about "censorship," it is simply necessary to run a modern website.

How long will it take Nunes to recognize this simple fact? And will it happen before or after Trump fires him and stabs him in the back?

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Filed Under: 1st amendment, congress, content moderation, defamation, devin nunes, donald trump, free speech, nune's cow, retirement, social media
Companies: tmtg, truth social


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  1. identicon
    Baron von Robber, 6 Dec 2021 @ 3:37pm

    Nunes will run the Ministry of Rumination & Silly Lolsuits for Trump.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. icon
    Khym Chanur (profile), 6 Dec 2021 @ 3:40pm

    Note to Devin: you can't sue the SEC for defamation.

    Like that's going to stop him.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 6 Dec 2021 @ 3:45pm

    Nunes was given "an offer he couldn't refuse", which I would guess means that he literally could not refuse to take the offer otherwise Trump would unleash whatever kompromat he has on Nunes to basically ruin his life.

    And Trump likes to keep his lackeys on a short list.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. icon
    Derek Kerton (profile), 6 Dec 2021 @ 3:54pm

    HONEYPOT ALERT

    Nah, he's just going to Truth Social to lure @DevinCow into opening an account...so he can finally get the IPs, etc, and see who TF it is!!

    Beware, cow. That grass isn't greener!

    OTOH, this allows the rest of us to create a Spartacus moment over at Truth:
    I'm Devincow.
    No, I'm Devincow.
    I'm DevinsCows.
    No, I'm DevinsCow.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Rocky, 6 Dec 2021 @ 3:54pm

    The chance of Nunes getting paid by Trump should be equal to him finding a cow.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. icon
    Samuel Abram (profile), 6 Dec 2021 @ 4:09pm

    Re: HONEYPOT ALERT

    I'm Devin Nunes' Cow and so's my wife!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. icon
    Samuel Abram (profile), 6 Dec 2021 @ 4:10pm

    Re:

    So "Don't have a cow" should be taken literally, I presume?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 6 Dec 2021 @ 4:47pm

    Doesn’t he realize that it’s all just a grift?

    Does he seriously believe that he’s going to make any money from this? From Trump of all people? I hope he’s not an investor too. Not to mention the investigations. As CEO, they’re his problem to deal with? Even for Nunes, this is an extremely strange move.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    Smartassicus the Roman, 6 Dec 2021 @ 5:09pm

    Re: Re: HONEYPOT ALERT

    Did you really just call your wife a cow?

    Brave man.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. icon
    Norahc (profile), 6 Dec 2021 @ 5:21pm

    Re:

    My popcorn futures would be grateful if he tried.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. icon
    sumgai (profile), 6 Dec 2021 @ 5:24pm

    Re:

    And Trump likes to keep his lackeys on a short list.

    More like he likes to keep them grabbed by the short hairs. If he's not in total control, then he's outta control. Oh, wait, I repeat myself....

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. icon
    sumgai (profile), 6 Dec 2021 @ 5:42pm

    Re: Doesn’t he realize that it’s all just a grift?

    Does he seriously believe that he’s going to make any money from this? From Trump of all people? I hope he’s not an investor too.

    As a farmer alongside of "his" people, he knows that he'll be sitting pretty with this move. And I do hope that he's invested heavily, as that'll be just so much money less he'll have for a defense.

    Not to mention the investigations. As CEO, they’re his problem to deal with? Even for Nunes, this is an extremely strange move.

    It would be for anyone who isn't addle-pated, you're correct. But obviously you are not of the medical persuasion, or you'd have noted long that this man is second only to #45 in obvious clinical-grade self-delusions.

    Who's making book on how long he lasts? I've got a portrait of Ben Franklin that says he'll be gone before Easter. An extra C-note that says he'll take whining to a whole new level, trying to get back into his old seat in the House.

    Popcorn futures, indeed!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 6 Dec 2021 @ 5:54pm

    So he's leaving a high-paying no-show government job to run a non-profit that he won't be paid for (ask Rudy)? SMART!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    Pixelation, 6 Dec 2021 @ 5:58pm

    "Note to Devin: you can't sue the SEC for defamation."

    Shh!! Don't tell him, we need all of the entertainment we can get.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    Pixelation, 6 Dec 2021 @ 6:00pm

    "Devin Nunes Retires From Congress"

    And nothing of value was lost.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 6 Dec 2021 @ 6:24pm

    Re:

    I think that note needs to point out that he can't win a suit against the SEC.

    Not that even that fact has ever stopped him.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. icon
    That Anonymous Coward (profile), 6 Dec 2021 @ 6:26pm

    Or will he prove himself to be a hypocrite
    Well DUH.

    How long will it take Nunes to recognize this simple fact?
    About 4 days before the heat death of the universe.

    And will it happen before or after Trump fires him and stabs him in the back?
    He is a bootlicker, he will thank him for stabbing him in the back and ask for another. He knows that Trump commands the Q and no one wants Q focused on them, so he will just slide away with a whimper to avoid that fate. (I mean Meadows is now claiming that his book has lies in it to save himself).

    Devin thinks he is the smartest person in the room, STOP LAUGHING ITS SAD!!, and that unlike all of the others Trumps fucked over he will avoid that fate... perhaps Biss has already drafted the lolsuit.

    OMG imagine the comedy Biss vs Trumps legal team... comedy gold.

    One also wonders if the Jan 6 committee is gonna ask Lev what he knows about what Devin was doing in the lead up to trying to overthrow the government.

    This sad little cowpoke is being put out to pasture, can't wait to see the lawsuit after he ruins his shoes by not looking where hes stepping.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    MightyMetricBatman, 6 Dec 2021 @ 6:49pm

    Re:

    Nunes: YOLO!
    SEC: Please dismiss.
    DC Circuit: Dismissed
    Nunes: Cert please!
    SCOTUS: Sure, go ahead buddy. Suing the government for defamation is now a thing and we'll give no guidance on what is a meritorious lawsuit.
    Giant wave of frivolous lawsuits
    SCOTUS: What, me worry?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 6 Dec 2021 @ 9:05pm

    Will the real devin nunes please stand up?

    I suspect this will mean we lose Koby as a commenter, as Trump expects his lapdogs to shill for him full time.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. icon
    Bloof (profile), 6 Dec 2021 @ 11:56pm

    Re:

    By 'Offer he can't refuse', he means that since his district will be harder to win next time, he needed a new gig and lobbying firms expect a certain level of competence and knowhow he never demonstrated, Fox are keeping Trump lackeys at arms length just in case, Newsmax, OAN and Infowars don't pay the big bucks, nobody wants books by the guy who sued a pretend cow so his options for keeping the grift going were limited.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  21. icon
    Tanner Andrews (profile), 7 Dec 2021 @ 12:51am

    Re: [getting paid]

    run a non-profit that he won't be paid for

    It is true that Trump does not have the best record of paying his minions, flunkies, and materialmen for his golf course. However, it is likely that the SPAC which is ``merging'' with the web site company will have money.

    After all, getting money is the purpose of these funky SPAC mergers.

    The likely intended use of money would be to pay employees, buy equipment, and rent space in hosting facilities. Employees, equipment vendors, and colo operators all expect to be paid. The employees can be strung along for a little while, but equipment vendors typically expect payment before the goods ship, and the facilities can pull the plug in a hurry if the checks do not clear.

    If some grifting politician diverts the SPAC money, chances are pretty good that the financial wizards behind the SPAC will be all over him, like tax collectors on a newly-minted widow.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  22. icon
    PaulT (profile), 7 Dec 2021 @ 12:59am

    "The time has come to reopen the Internet and allow for the free flow of ideas and expression without censorship"

    ...unless someone's mean to me, in which case they need to be censored immediately! I assume he's using the definition of "censorship" set by the current breed of thin-skinned cowards that populate the right wing - they need to have the rights to say anything they want to say, but you should not have the right to say what you want to say.

    "I’m humbled and honored President Trump has asked me to lead the mission and the world class team that will deliver on this promise"

    I'm... actually quite happy about this as well. Congress loses one of its more useless bullies in order to go into a business he's already demonstrated incompetence in, thus ensuring that this new venture is likely to join the long list of Trump failures that were torpedoed by placing ideology above competence. I'm OK with this, especially if his former district use the vacancy to make a positive move (which remains to be seen since IIRC there was some gerrymandering involved in Nunes becoming such a regular incumbent.)

    link to this | view in thread ]

  23. identicon
    Nunes' Cow Herd, 7 Dec 2021 @ 2:57am

    A Professional Manure Superspreader

    Mr Nunes is off to milk political mushrooms!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  24. icon
    wshuff (profile), 7 Dec 2021 @ 4:44am

    "Note to Devin: you can't sue the SEC for defamation."

    Sure you can, when you have deep pockets backing you to file as many ridiculous lawsuits as you can churn out.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  25. icon
    Bt Garner (profile), 7 Dec 2021 @ 5:10am

    This will leave a void a congress

    Who is going to rename our Post Offices now?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  26. identicon
    David, 7 Dec 2021 @ 5:43am

    Re: Doesn’t he realize that it’s all just a grift?

    A grift has winners and losers. The IPO already established a large set of losers, so what's wrong with trying to get a share on the winning action? I mean, Trump cannot blow it all through himself, can he?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  27. icon
    PaulT (profile), 7 Dec 2021 @ 6:13am

    Re: Re: Doesn’t he realize that it’s all just a grift?

    "what's wrong with trying to get a share on the winning action?"

    That should be a good litmus test - if you can't think of a reason why exploiting vulnerable people for profit has any downsides, you probably shouldn't be in public office.

    "I mean, Trump cannot blow it all through himself, can he?"

    His history suggests that he'll give it a damn good try, and is unlikely to pay his minions if they fail to perform miracles against his best efforts at destruction.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  28. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Dec 2021 @ 6:25am

    Re:

    If only he'd take Josh Hawley with him...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  29. icon
    DannyB (profile), 7 Dec 2021 @ 6:46am

    which way is it

    I thought the Republicans were against, uh, no, in favor of, no, against, uh ... no, in favor of, um, errrr.... against censorship?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  30. icon
    Scary Devil Monastery (profile), 7 Dec 2021 @ 6:54am

    Re: A Professional Manure Superspreader

    I think Mr. Nunes's cow left something other than milk on top of those mushrooms. Just saying.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  31. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Dec 2021 @ 6:59am

    Resignation shows lack of commitment to the people. Prime Trump management candidate.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  32. identicon
    Bodger, 7 Dec 2021 @ 7:21am

    "There's all sorts of speculation about why Nunes would do this now."

    Hmmm. He's looking for somewhere he can do the maximum damage, having exhausted most of his possibilities as a mere congress-critter? Just speculating, you understand, so don't have a cow.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  33. identicon
    Pixelation, 7 Dec 2021 @ 7:49am

    I'm surprised Nunes is going to work for Pravda Social, instead of making his own...Ruminant Social.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  34. icon
    David G (profile), 7 Dec 2021 @ 11:47am

    Re:

    I have zero evidence or facts or anything, but I imagine that this is what the lawsuits about @DevinsCow are about. Here's Devin Nunes, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and someone in an Intelligence agency released a hint of the kompromat to the @DevinsCow author. (Whomever) publishes, and now Devin, with the wrath of a woman scorned, is on a mission to find out who dared try to blackmail him. Devin! The single most powerful congressman with the power of budget over ALL USA Intelligence Agencies and a stalwart champion of all things snooping, and they have the gall to threaten him?

    Oooh. Someone's gonna pay.

    Besides, it's a national security problem if some intelligence agents are just running around leaking people's kompromat.

    First though, we have to find out who that person is. Lawsuits commence!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  35. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Dec 2021 @ 2:22pm

    Re:

    The SEC is clearly a private actor in this capacity, taking orders from Twitter.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  36. identicon
    THe Baker, 7 Dec 2021 @ 3:36pm

    Re: Re:If only he'd take

    and Marjorie Taylor Green and Jim Jordan and, and Matt Gaetz and, and, and .... John Steele. OOPS .. sorry, Got excited.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  37. icon
    jvbattlewood (profile), 7 Dec 2021 @ 4:14pm

    The Congressman and the former President have a lot in common. They both have a habit of bringing frivolous lawsuits over imagined wrongs and losing on a repetitive basis.
    Should Truth Social survive it's first year; I foresee gangs of unhappy overworked and unpaid lawyers complicating both their lives.
    Devin the lapdog thinks it's a boon from a grateful master.
    Knowing Trump; it's more likely to be a boondoggle, and Nunes will get an up close and personal look at the underside of a bus.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  38. icon
    WarioBarker (profile), 7 Dec 2021 @ 8:57pm

    Re: Re: Re:If only he'd take

    You forgot Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  39. identicon
    Arijirija, 8 Dec 2021 @ 12:09am

    Re: Re: Re: Doesn’t he realize that it’s all just a grift?

    It takes real skill to drive a casino into bankruptcy. It takes real genius - of sorts - to do it to more than one. Do you think he'll stop at casinos? He had a good go at the United States, after all - so what's a mere "social media" site?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  40. identicon
    Arijirija, 8 Dec 2021 @ 12:25am

    Re: underside of a bus

    There apparently was a CIA agent who was underworked, overweight and overpaid, so his station manager threw him to the wolves, after first luring him to Yosemite. The wolves all died of massive cholesterol poisoning, much to the outrage of the park rangers. The station manager's staff didn't throw him to the park rangers, because park rangers must maintain a sane diet, and overweight, underworked, overpaid CIA station managers aren't on that diet. So his staff threw him under a bus - and the bus died of massive cholesterol poisoning.

    Nunes is likely to kill off any bus he is thrown under, for exactly the same reason. We most devoutly hope there would be no chain reaction of buses dying off from contagious cholesterol poisoning due to overweight, overpaid, underworking US congresscritters being thrown underneath them ... the future of public transport is at stake - which would be burnt the following day, no doubt ... :)

    link to this | view in thread ]

  41. This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
  42. This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    icon
    restless94110 (profile), 8 Dec 2021 @ 1:47pm

    Speech

    This article is seen in the dictionary under the definition of hate speech.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  43. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Dec 2021 @ 2:05pm

    Re: Speech

    Well at least you tried... sort of.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  44. identicon
    Rocky, 8 Dec 2021 @ 2:12pm

    He doesn't have to try, he just opens his mouth and shit pours out. That is what happens when you have had your head so far up your ass you can see daylight again.

    Just flag and move on.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  45. icon
    PaulT (profile), 11 Dec 2021 @ 2:01pm

    Re: Speech

    One day you guys should share the dictionary you refer to, because it always seems to have wildly definitions to the ones everyone else uses.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  46. icon
    PaulT (profile), 11 Dec 2021 @ 2:01pm

    Re: Re: Speech

    different definitions...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  47. icon
    PaulT (profile), 11 Dec 2021 @ 2:02pm

    Re: which way is it

    They're in favour of their own ability to censor, but wildly opposed for them to have any restrictions themselves.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  48. icon
    PaulT (profile), 11 Dec 2021 @ 2:09pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Doesn’t he realize that it’s all just a grif

    He'll bankrupt anything eventually, because he's not trying to run a sustainable long-term business, he's out for grift and profit and leaving other people liable for the costs along the way.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  49. icon
    Scary Devil Monastery (profile), 13 Dec 2021 @ 8:14am

    Re: Re: Re:If only he'd take

    John Steele is, admittedly, on par with Hawley when it comes to being an outrageous asshole leveraging the most deplorable of people's motives as his mechanism of choice for grifting...
    ...But last I checked he's still in jail.

    Damn, now I'm imagining Nunes chaining up the bars of a jail cell window to a a herd of cows trying to spring Steele...cue tumbleweeds and a sad harmocia in the background...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  50. icon
    Scary Devil Monastery (profile), 13 Dec 2021 @ 8:17am

    Re: Re: Speech

    "One day you guys should share the dictionary you refer to"

    Mein Kampf, published 1925. Not everyone's choice of dictionary but given how many concepts Restless94110, Shel10 and Koby keep quoting from it I'd say that's where these people get the idea that someone throwing you out of their property for griefing ze jews...i mean, black people...would be an assault on their personal integrity and rights.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  51. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2021 @ 11:24pm

    Re: Speech

    Wasn't discovery supposed to be fun broski?

    link to this | view in thread ]


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