The Southern Poverty Law Center Is a Dangerous Joke. Why Do Reporters Use It as a Source?

"The Southern Poverty Law Center almost got me killed," writes attorney Casey Mattox. "Why does the media still propagate its 'hate' map?"

Maajid Nawaz wonders the same thing. The Muslim author known for his courageous warnings against jihadism now finds himself on the SPLC's anti-Muslim "extremist" list and is a thus a target for violence, as he explains in this fascinating conversation with the atheist Sam Harris (whose podcast, perhaps surprisingly, is one of my favorites).

The SPLC "has become a dangerous joke," says attorney David French. "Reporters should stop using it as a source." Yesterday 47 conservative leaders and organizations urged reporters to cut ties with the SPLC. The SPLC "is far from a reliable, nonpartisan, and authoritative source," adds Mark Pulliam. Its principal function today "is to provide an aura of respectability to liberal journalists wishing to disparage conservative groups and to provide cover for political battles."

Reporters (and their editors)—including at the Tulsa World, The Oklahoman, The Journal Record, the Associated Press, KFOR, News9, and others—continue to treat SPLC as an authoritative source. Alas, this is one more reason that only one in seven Republicans trust the media.

UPDATES: 

• "The Southern Poverty Law Center is a hate-based scam that nearly caused me to be murdered," Jessica Prol Smith writes in USA Today.
• Tony Perkins has "all the evidence you need for why SPLC is not credible." To stay up-to-date, visit SPLCexposed.com.
• Journalist and author Karl Zinsmeister says the SPLC is in fact "the 'anti-hate' group that is a hate group."
• "The Southern Poverty Law Center makes millions lying about people," Margot Cleveland writes. "It’s time for the media to stop letting them arbitrate what comprises a 'hate group.'"
• Shikha Dalmia discusses "the sad hysteria of the Southern Poverty Law Center."
• "The SPLC has been forced to pay $3.375 million to the British Muslim reformist and anti-extremism campaigner Maajid Nawaz," Douglas Murray writes.
• "The Southern Poverty Law Center is notorious for labeling mainstream organizations 'hate groups' for holding to traditional Christian teachings," The Oklahoman's editorial board points out. "The organization's practice of playing fast and loose caught up with it when the SPLC included Islamic reformer Maajid Nawaz and his organization, the Quilliam Foundation, in its 'Field Guide to Anti-Muslim Extremists.' When the SPLC refused to retract the claim, Nawaz threatened to sue. The SPLC is now paying Nawaz $3.375 million. In a statement, an SPLC spokesman said, 'Since we published the Field Guide, we have taken the time to do more research …' The group found Nawaz 'made valuable and important contributions to public discourse, including by promoting pluralism and condemning both anti-Muslim bigotry and Islamist extremism.' In other words, the SPLC labeled Nawaz an extremist, and only then determined if he really was one. Sadly, this appears to be business as usual at the SPLC."
• "In a speech highlighting 'new hostility' against religious believers in the United States, Attorney General Jeff Sessions specifically called out the Southern Poverty Law Center, a liberal group known for labeling organizations it opposes as 'hate groups,' The Daily Signal reports.
• A WaPo lefty asks if the SPLC is judging fairly.
• "The SPLC has been an obvious fraud for 20 years or more," Glenn Reynolds points out. "Why are all the usual media suspects suddenly noticing now?"
• "This organization has devolved from helping people to hurting people, but it only has the power that the media and progressive corporations give it," David French writes. "Now, every single time a media organization or a company uses the SPLC’s listings, it should be held to account. There is no excuse. The emperor has no clothes. The SPLC is in a state of moral collapse."
• Sen. Tom Cotton is demanding an IRS investigation into SPLC's tax-exempt status. 
• 67 nonprofit leaders are urging the media to drop the "morally bankrupt" SPLC.
• Finally, even Twitter is distancing itself from the SPLC, and Facebook disavows "any formal relationship" with SPLC.  
• Here's why many in the media won't drop the SPLC, despite its obvious corruption.
• The SPLC and its partners defend China over coronavirus.
• 100 Orthodox rabbis have confronted Amazon for using the SPLC list that "directly endangers the Jewish community."