Jeff Rense
{{Short description|American radio host and conspiracy theorist}}
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{{Multiple issues|
{{update|date=April 2013}}
{{BLP one source|date=December 2023}}
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{{infobox person
|name=Jeff Rense
|birth_name=Jeffry Shearer Rense
|nationality=American
|alma_mater=University of California, Santa Barbara
|occupation=self employed podcaster
|known_for=Propagating conspiracy theories
|website={{URL|https://rense.com}}
}}
Jeffry Shearer Rense is an American Internet radio talk-show host. His show, the Jeff Rense Program, was broadcast via satellite radio and is now produced at his home in Ashland, Oregon and streamed through his personal website.{{cite web |last = James B. |first = Meigs |year = 2006 |url = http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a921/4199607/ |title = The Conspiracy Industry |work = Popular Mechanics |publisher = Hearst Communications, Inc. |access-date = 2016-07-12 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160324132219/http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a921/4199607/ |archive-date = 2016-03-24}}
Rense's podcast and website propagate conspiracy theories, including those of 9/11 conspiracists,{{cite web |url=http://www.adl.org/terrorism_america/ |title=What they are saying |publisher=Adl.org |access-date=2012-12-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929065551/http://www.adl.org/terrorism_america/ |archive-date=2012-09-29 }} ufologists and advocates of the paranormal, the creation of diseases, chemtrails, evidence of advanced ancient technology, emergent energy technologies, and alternative medicine.
Rense's writings and website have been deemed pro-Nazi and antisemitic by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center.{{cite web|publisher=Anti Defamation League|url=http://www.adl.org/combating-hate/domestic-extremism-terrorism/c/rense-web-site-promotes.html|title=Rense Web Site Promotes Anti-Semitic View|date=March 17, 2009|access-date=February 17, 2015}}{{cite web|publisher=Southern Poverty Law Center|url=http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2015/04/27/jeff-rense-in-his-own-words/|title=Jeff Rense: In His Own Words|date=April 26, 2015|access-date=June 7, 2016|author=Beirich, Heidi}}
Radio host
Rense's first on-air experience came while he was a student at University of California, Santa Barbara in the 1970s.[https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/rf55z8876 "IVCC HOLDS ELECTION, POLL"], The Daily Nexus, University of California, Santa Barbara, issue April 13, 1971.
In 1994, Rense self-financed a radio show on Santa Barbara's KTMS. The show was originally broadcast as Sightings on the Radio, the title being a direct reference to the television series Sightings. The show was originally distributed by Premiere Radio Networks but was dropped in the late 1990s after it was deemed hate speech and banned in Europe. Talk Radio Network then carried the show through the early 2000s, when all references to Sightings were dropped and the title Jeff Rense Program was adopted.
Genesis Communications Network took over distribution and carried the show through August 2009, when Rense accused fellow GCN host Alex Jones of threatening to "destroy" him.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypaul.com/node/88061 |title=Alex Jones threatens Jeff Rense, has him kicked off GCN | Peace . Gold . Liberty |publisher=Dailypaul.com |access-date=2012-12-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831091050/http://www.dailypaul.com/node/88061 |archive-date=August 31, 2009 }} Jeff Rense Program is now streamed through Rense's personal website.{{cite web|last1=Beirich|first1=Heidi|title=Rense Radio Network Apparently Kicked off its Satellite Provider|url=http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2015/04/30/rense-radio-network-apparently-kicked-off-its-satellite-provider/|website=Southern Poverty Law Center|date=20 August 2014 |access-date=13 May 2015|ref=global-star}}
Guests on the show have included former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, host of The Political Cesspool James Edwards, Brad Steiger, British conspiracy theorist David Icke, Texe Marrs,{{Cite web|url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2015/04/26/jeff-rense-his-own-words|title = Jeff Rense: In His Own Words| date=27 April 2015 }} and David Duke.
Criticism of anti-Semitic content
The Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center have stated that Rense disseminates antisemitic and pro-Nazi speech while promoting people with similar ideologies.{{cite web|url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2015/04/27/new-report-jeff-rense-and-his-rense-radio-network|title=New Report on Jeff Rense and His Rense Radio Network|author=Beirich, Heidi |date=April 26, 2015|work=Southern Poverty Law Center|access-date=7 June 2016}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2015/04/28/used-canard-salesman|title=Used Canard Salesman|work=Southern Poverty Law Center|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en}}
Notes
{{reflist|30em}}
References
- Silva, Veronica C. "Cyberspace: Host to Host". BusinessWorld (Philippines). 4 September 1997. p. 18.
External links
- [http://www.rense.com Jeff Rense Program] – official site
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:9/11 conspiracy theorists
Category:American conspiracy theorists
Category:American talk radio hosts
Category:John F. Kennedy conspiracy theorists
Category:American critics of Islam
Category:Radio personalities from St. Louis
Category:University of California, Santa Barbara alumni