When you frequently challenge the status quo, it’s only natural to invite some criticism along the way. This has certainly been the case for the tenacious, independent thinkers at the Daily Caller, who recently found themselves the subjects of a critical article.
Recently, Mark Levin shared a Substack piece by Eitan Fischberger titled “The Daily Caller’s ‘Jewish Influence’ Problem.”
Fischberger analyzes the Daily Caller’s reporting on Israel since 2022, claiming to have reviewed a total of 2,617 articles. Interestingly, one article he flagged was actually an obituary for Sidney Poitier that merely included the word “influence.” He even mentions that AI assisted in crafting his criticism. So, thanks, ChatGPT!
Fischberger narrows down his focus to 41 articles, asserting they prove the Daily Caller has shifted its stance over the past year and a half. He suggests that the publication promotes a distorted view of Israel, implying that it exploits the U.S. and that its supporters jeopardize American interests.
I find it difficult to pinpoint any specific event from the last year that would justify increased scrutiny of Israel. Can you? Yet, that’s quite an accusation, and one would expect solid evidence to back it up. Does he provide that? Let’s take a closer look.
First off, the author confuses the opinion section of the Caller with its news reporting. My own contributions made three appearances in his critique. In one instance, Fischberger criticizes me for suggesting that divided loyalty between two nations isn’t feasible. Do I win some kind of award for being dubbed “the most corrosive” in his view?
He references articles by various opinion writers along with pieces that, at most, lightly critiqued Israel.
He merged these pieces with straight news articles that simply reported on, well, uncomfortable topics.
Fischberger claims that the Daily Caller’s news content isn’t distinct from its opinion pieces. He cites only two examples: the term “Israel Firsters” in a headline and a news report about a classified CIA file suggesting Israel might face “civil war.”
So, are we not allowed to report on Israel when the coverage could be seen unfavorably? Understood.
According to Fischberger, 34 of the 41 articles he deems objectionable were published after the Iran war started. He sees this increased criticism amid a significant conflict as evidence of a deliberate editorial agenda, rather than a newsroom responding to a major foreign policy issue.
He also seems to imply that Tucker Carlson is compromised because he’s interacted with FARA-registered agents, which is fairly standard and often necessary for interviews with prominent figures.
Similarly, Fischberger, like many in the pro-Israel camp, raises eyebrows about Qatar, a long-standing U.S. ally and home to a major American military base.
In his article, he links FARA-registered lobbying and spending to political manipulation. While he notes Qatar outspends Israel in lobbying, he conveniently overlooks the substantial domestic influence Israel and AIPAC exert within U.S. politics. The expenditures on foreign lobbying don’t equate to tangible influence on U.S. policy—such as when a secretary of state acknowledges that Israeli strategies directly impact American military strategies.
Fischberger’s background sheds light on his perspective. He holds dual citizenship in Israel and the U.S., resides in Israel, and has served in the IDF.
Identifying himself as a “writer and OSINT (open-source intelligence) investigator,” Fischberger’s Substack, Fisch Files, exemplifies how journalism can sometimes blur into propaganda. He’s skilled at drawing connections and inferring guilt based on supposed associations. Yet, his conclusions often seem to align closely with a pro-Israel bias.
It’s almost ironic—pursuing foreign influence in American politics, yet ignoring a significant blind spot regarding Israel.
I’ll concede that conservative media has traditionally been less critical of Israel. However, a growing number of people from across the political spectrum are becoming aware of the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, which, in my opinion, could be characterized as genocide. They share some responsibility for the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East that could threaten our quality of life, making this examination exceedingly relevant.
Here at the Daily Caller, we strive for honesty, and we won’t shy away from the truth simply because it contradicts the interests of the powerful.
The views presented in this commentary reflect the perspective of the writer and do not represent the official stance of the Daily Caller.
