That Project Veritas Video About CNN’s Van Jones? It is a “Nothing Burger” (Videos)

CNN – also not-so-affectionately known as the “Clinton News Network” – has been caught peddling half-truths and outright lies (like many other mainstream media outlets) for sure, but it is important to remember that as much as the “fake news!” label has been thrown around, MSM sources don’t always get it wrong.

Two undercover videos that were released this week that appear to expose the network for lying and hypocrisy surrounding the Russia-Gate narrative demonstrate this point.

The videos in question were produced by Project Veritas. They did some undercover sleuthing, and published two videos showing CNN employees discussing the mainstream media Russia-Gate narrative.

Yesterday, we reported:

In a new undercover video, a CNN producer is caught on camera saying the infamous “Russian hacking” narrative was a lie and pushed for ratings. Still don’t believe the media is using propaganda on the weakest leaks? Here’s the video by Project Veritas, and the “Russian hacking” lie is not the only admission John Bonifield, CNN’s supervising producer speaks of.

And…

Three CNN journalists were also just forced to resign after the network apologized for pushing another fake news story about Trump advisor Anthony Scaramucci being linked to a Russian investment fund.

Yesterday’s video is quite damning.

But today, CNN reporter Van Jones is the target of “fake news!” accusations, and the case being made against him is flimsy.

Here’s the much-hyped undercover Project Veritas video that was released today:

“The Russia thing is a big nothing burger,” Van Jones says.

That’s it. That’s all Jones says.

In the video commentary, James O’Keefe seems to be hinting that this comment from Jones is a shocking revelation, one that proves CNN is intentionally pushing a false narrative about alleged Trump-Russia ties.

But the video provides no context for the quote.

Not only that, this wasn’t the first time Jones has said the Russia-Gate investigation isn’t worth focusing on too much.

On June 23 – 5 days before Project Veritas released their video – Van Jones answered questions from Twitter users, and he brought up Russia…

.@cprjr #AskVan pic.twitter.com/TLHHSkQquo

— Van Jones (@VanJones68) June 23, 2017

When directly asked about the Russia investigation, here’s what Jones had to say…

.@Anthony10736212 #AskVan pic.twitter.com/YCckegaRQW

— Van Jones (@VanJones68) June 23, 2017

If you view both of these clips with an open, unbiased, non-partisan mind…doesn’t it appear that Jones thinks the focus on Russia is a waste of time?

It seems that his comment to Project Veritas is completely in line with what he said in the two clips above.

That isn’t stopping conservative pundits and Twitter users from jumping on the “Van Jones is busted! Fire him!” bandwagon. Some of the people who have accused CNN of going on an anti-Trump witch-hunt based on nothing are now doing the very same to Van Jones.

And it isn’t only conservatives who are going after Jones – Democrats are quite upset with him too, as evidenced by some of the replies on these Twitter videos.

So very wrong. Talking about #Russians didn't lose Dems the White House, or any special elections in deplora-districts. Got to unfollow ☹️

— (((OhSweetPickles))) (@OhSweetPickles) June 27, 2017

I understand what ur sayin but being buddies w/Putin & kings if Saudi etc.. Is extremely difficult to undrstand why noine is doing anything

— imaocgirl (@imaocgirl) June 23, 2017

Not to mention all the money put into the GOP look at Ryan and McConnell and you're saying it's not the Russians

— Joe blow (@Joeblow32295610) June 23, 2017

I don't get U,just move on?what this administration has done and continues to do really hurts people ! Not on my watch! #notmypresident!

— Jennifer Hensley (@jennihens1) June 23, 2017

@Project_Veritas new video might be a nothing burger. This is not too surprising. @VanJones68 has made this statement in the past.

— Covfefe the Frog (@theseeker51) June 28, 2017

Of course, how one views the video is likely to be skewed by cognitive dissonance, confirmation bias, and political bias.

When evaluating a news story, it is important to keep in mind that – now, more than ever – simply trusting a source because they usually align with your views is dangerous. While criticizing a source is sometimes justified, beware of falling into the genetic fallacy trap:

As it’s name suggests, the genetic fallacy results from attacking the source or origin of information, rather than the information itself. If you think about that for a second, the reason for the confusion becomes clear. On the one hand, the reason that genetic fallacies don’t work is obvious: the truth of a claim is not dependent on the one who is making the claim. Even someone who is wrong 99.9% of the time will occasionally be right.

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It’s important to note, however, that you can only use attacks against a source to show that the information cannot be trusted. You cannot use them to say that the information is false.

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Even an extremely unreliable source may be right every once in a while.

In other words, the genetic fallacy is committed when an idea is either accepted or rejected because of its source, rather than its merit.

Yesterday’s Project Veritas video featuring John Bonifield may be legitimately concerning, but today’s Van Jones “nothing burger” video is a nothing burger itself.