Screening: The Brainwashing of My Dad

Jen Senko, a documentary filmmaker, looks at the rise of right-wing media through the lens of her WWII vet father who changed from a life-long, nonpolitical Democrat to an angry, right-wing fanatic after his discovery of talk radio on a lengthened commute to work. In trying to understand how this happened, she not only finds this to be a phenomenon, but also uncovers some of the forces behind it: a plan by Roger Ailes under Nixon to create a media for the GOP; the Lewis Powell Memo, urging business leaders to influence institutions of public opinion, the media and the courts; and under Reagan, the dismantling of the Fairness Doctrine—all of which helped to change the entire country’s direction and culture, misinformed millions and divided families and even the country itself. The film will be introduced by Charles Chamberlain of Democracy For America, which is planning screening parties of this film throughout the summer.

Panelists