Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, hit AT&T DirecTV hard for their cancellation of Newsmax from its platforms.
"This is sketchy, and I've got questions. Newsmax — the '4th highest-rated cable news channel in the nation, a top 20 cable news channel overall, and watched by 25 million Americans on cable' — was just canceled by DirecTV ... 'as a "cost-cutting" measure,'" Lee began in a Twitter thread.
DirecTV continues to carry 22 liberal news channels, many with low ratings, and all get paid hefty license fees.
AT&T owns 75% of DirecTV, and multiple conservative leaders have called for boycotts against DirecTV and AT&T.
Call DirecTV to cancel at 877-763-9762
On Thursday, The Washington Times ripped DirecTV's removal of Newsmax removal from some 13.5 million homes earlier this week, "the latest attempt" from the left to censor conservative voices.
AT&T owns 70% of DirecTV, but works with TPG, a financial firm with strong ties to the Democratic Party, to operate the system.
Congressional Republicans were already scrutinizing AT&T's and TPG's role in the deplatforming of OAN from their systems.
Earlier this week former President Donald Trump called AT&T/DirecTV's canceling of Newsmax "disgusting."
He urged supporters to cancel both DirecTV and other AT&T products, including their wireless and cellular services.
Actions to Take Now
1. DirecTV customers: Call them toll free at 877-763-9762 and demand they bring NEWSMAX back on air. President Donald Trump urges you CANCEL!
- Important: If DirecTV tells you we are still negotiating, that is a lie! They have told NEWSMAX we will never be on a regular cable channel. DirecTV also replaced NEWSMAX with a channel that has no news and no ratings. Also, NEWSMAX's livestream is ending soon on other platforms, so unless you get it on DirecTV, you will have to cancel their service.
2. AT&T customers: Call toll free at 888-855-2338, for any of their cellphones, wireless products, or services, and demand they end their censorship of NEWSMAX. President Trump has urged you to cancel their services.
3. Call your congressman or senator at 202-224-3121 and demand they stop AT&T/DirecTV's censorship of NEWSMAX — ask them to give you a date on the hearings!