Angelo Carusone
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}{{notability|1=Biographies|date=October 2022}}
{{Short description|American author, president of Media Matters for America}}
Angelo Carusone (born May 16, 1982) is an American author and nonprofit executive. He is the president of Media Matters for America, a nonprofit media watchdog. Carusone has also led political and progressive initiatives such as Dump Trump and StopBeck campaigns.
Early life and education
Carusone was born on May 16, 1982.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} His father was a sewer and drain cleaner while his mother was a part-time lunch lady.{{Cite web |last=Malloy |first=Daniel |date=May 15, 2017 |title=The Liberal Watchdog Taking On Fake News |url=https://www.ozy.com/news-and-politics/the-liberal-watchdog-taking-on-fake-news/76196/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020123643/https://www.ozy.com/news-and-politics/the-liberal-watchdog-taking-on-fake-news/76196/ |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |access-date=June 6, 2023 |website=Ozy Media}}
Carusone completed his BA diploma in American studies at Fordham University in 2000. He finished a degree in philosophy at the same university in 2004. In 2010, he obtained his Juris Doctor diploma from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Career
Carusone gained attention in American politics for his initiatives that target right-wing personalities whom he considers "bullies".{{Cite web |last=Grindley |first=Lucas |date=December 10, 2015 |title=The Man Behind 'Dump Trump' on Why Everyone Should Fight Back |url=https://www.advocate.com/40-under-40/2015/12/10/man-behind-dump-trump-why-everyone-should-fight-back |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=The Advocate |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207192343/https://www.advocate.com/40-under-40/2015/12/10/man-behind-dump-trump-why-everyone-should-fight-back |url-status=live }} These activities, which he calls "brand safety", include similar that helped drive advertisers away from the shows of Glenn Beck, who eventually lost his Fox News show, and Rush Limbaugh. He is also said to have played a role in hastening the departure of Bill O'Reilly from Fox.
In 2012, Carusone also initiated the Dump Trump campaign. This initiative called on retailers to discontinue selling Trump-branded products. Trump threatened him with a $25 million lawsuit.
In 2016, Carusone served as the Deputy CEO of the Finance and Administration of the Democratic National Convention. In December of the same year, he was promoted president of Media Matters, having previously served as its executive vice president. He succeeded the organization’s founder David Brock.{{Cite web |last=Gold |first=Hadas |date=2016-12-06 |title=Media Matters to pivot away from focus on Fox News, as it names new president |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/12/media-matters-announces-new-president-and-new-direction-232228 |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Politico |language=en |archive-date=2023-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521015507/https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/12/media-matters-announces-new-president-and-new-direction-232228 |url-status=live }} When he assumed the position, he stated that Media Matters would shift the focus of its scrutiny from the conservative media to "alt-right" websites, alleged "fake news", and "misinformation".{{Cite web |last=Grinapol |first=Corinne |title=Media Matters Names Angelo Carusone its New President |url=https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/media-matters-names-angelo-carusone-its-new-president/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=AdWeek |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228192744/https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/media-matters-names-angelo-carusone-its-new-president/ |url-status=live }} He has unmasked, for example, US news outlets that are associated with Falun Gong, a Chinese new religious movement.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jason |date=2021-04-30 |title=Falun Gong-aligned media push fake news about Democrats and Chinese communists |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/30/falun-gong-media-epoch-times-democrats-chinese-communists |access-date=2023-06-06 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=2023-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606011022/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/30/falun-gong-media-epoch-times-democrats-chinese-communists |url-status=live }}
Carusone has been critical of Elon Musk's 2022 takeover of Twitter. Carusone alleges Musk will allow the social media platform to become a source of hate speech, instead of reasonable controls on information. Carusone has called on major advertisers to pull funding from Twitter if Musk continues with his supposed planned "radicalization".{{Cite web |last1=Klar |first1=Rebecca |last2=Kagubare |first2=Ines |date=2022-10-27 |title=Hillicon Valley — Questions loom over Musk's Twitter deal |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/overnights/3708613-hillicon-valley-questions-loom-over-musks-twitter-deal/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=The Hill |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102034044/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/overnights/3708613-hillicon-valley-questions-loom-over-musks-twitter-deal/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-04 |title=Elon Musk agrees to $44B acquisition of Twitter in hopes of averting trial |url=https://www.wpri.com/hill-politics/elon-musk-agrees-to-44b-acquisition-of-twitter-in-hopes-of-averting-trial/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=WPRI.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201210937/https://www.wpri.com/hill-politics/elon-musk-agrees-to-44b-acquisition-of-twitter-in-hopes-of-averting-trial/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Bond |first=Shannon |date=October 7, 2022 |title=Here's what Elon Musk will likely do with Twitter if he buys it |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2022/10/07/what-elon-musk-will-likely-do-with-twitter-if-he-buys-it/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Oregon Public Broadcasting |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323140852/https://www.opb.org/article/2022/10/07/what-elon-musk-will-likely-do-with-twitter-if-he-buys-it/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Klar |first=Rebecca |date=2022-10-09 |title=Critics sound alarm over 'Twitter troll' Elon Musk's company takeover |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3678650-critics-sound-alarm-over-twitter-troll-elon-musks-company-takeover/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=The Hill |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203212037/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3678650-critics-sound-alarm-over-twitter-troll-elon-musks-company-takeover/ |url-status=live }}
Personal life
Carusone is married to Brett Abrams. He lives on Long Island, New York.
References
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