the disinformation blueprint: from big tobacco to modern industry
by starproxy✨
“delay, deny, defend” and “delay, distract, discredit” are two strategies with the same goal: protect power, reap profits, and exploit the people.
most are familiar with “delay, deny, defend” as the go-to legal tactic of healthcare insurance companies looking to avoid covering patient care. this strategy is simple: stall the process, deny wrongdoing, and defend against claims. but the blueprint for this form of cognitive warfare wasn’t written in a boardroom—it was written by big tobacco.
a public-facing playbook
enter “delay, distract, discredit,” the original public disinformation model, engineered to deceive the public about the emerging correlation between smoking and lung cancer. it didn’t rely on facts. it relied on confusion.
manufacture doubt
confuse the public
protect the brand
the frank statement, 1954
in 1954, america’s largest tobacco companies launched a full-page ad campaign titled “the frank statement to cigarette smokers.” it appeared in over 400 u.s. newspapers and claimed that tobacco companies were concerned about public health. behind the scenes, a multi-million dollar operation was underway to suppress the truth.
they created the tobacco industry research committee (tirc) to appear “scientific” and legitimate. at its head was dr. clarence cook little, who publicly stated that the link between smoking and cancer was “inconclusive.”
this assertion was made despite more than 18 international studies already establishing a clear correlation between cigarette use and lung cancer.
public pushback
in 1957, harvard physician dr. david rutstein wrote an open letter published in the atlantic, directly accusing dr. little of selectively ignoring mounting evidence—such as the finding that lung damage worsened with increased cigarette consumption.
a strategy of confusion
big tobacco wasn’t just stalling regulation—it was constructing a framework of doubt. the methods included:
funding biased research
propping up “experts” on payroll
creating fake controversy to stall reform
delay regulation. distract the public. discredit the truth.
a legacy of manipulation
the aim of the game was simple: buy enough time to protect as much profit as possible, even at the expense of public health and safety. the strategy worked so well, other industries adopted it. over time, the playbook has been adjusted to fit the specific needs of corporations across healthcare, energy, pharmaceuticals, and more.
originally published april 1, 2025
april 1, 2025
back online
after some unexpected technical turbulence, the lumin press is back on track! it took some time to come back online but we are ecstatic to be back. the neocities support team was super warm and apologetic in tone in their support messages. their kindness was appreciated, and we're grateful for the support.
the silence was unexpected, but as they say, "the show must go on." stories are ready to be posted. you won't believe how many unexpected parts of our reality coincide with each other to create intricate relationships that affect all of our lives.
our job is to not only highlight power structures, but also how they interact with each other to create systems. our job is to illuminate current conditions and explain why or how it got there. we connect the dots.
thank you for sticking around.
with clarity, starproxy✨
march 23, 2025
sanders, aoc, and algorithmic dissonance
what a las vegas rally, a viral video, and a broken system can teach us about modern media
it started with a 9+ minute video of hasan piker outside a bernie sanders and aoc rally in las vegas. the voice of another fiery politician can be heard in the background, with cheers from a crowd that can be estimated to be well into the thousands. the atmosphere from the ambiance alone was electrifying, you can almost feel the momentum building as a watcher from miles away.
hasan chats with sanders & aoc in las vegas, march 2025
seeing this moment in time that will go down in history, i had to search for more. not just the speech, but how the public was responding to the true voices of the left and progressives gaining traction. what i found next was nothing what i expected.
🕳 down the algorithmic rabbit hole
youtube is my go-to when searching for media to watch. granted, i may be using myself and those around me as confirmation bias, but it is true that internet media like youtube has grown in popularity and is part of the reason why traditional media like television and movie theaters are suffering a slow death. basically, if you want to know what is capturing the internet's attention in the moment, it should not come to a surprise that youtube would be one of the first places to check out.
on youtube, videos of the rally were racking up tens (and now hundreds) of thousands of views. instagram was lighting up. reddit threads were locked in. you'd think that sanders and aoc were dominating online attention.
so i decided that the sit-down with hasan piker would be a great topic to cover. to conduct more research, i turned to google trends for more information to confirm the data spikes in their names, the rallies, and other issue-based curiosity i was seeing on my feeds.
the trending political names had little or nothing to do with this rally, or even with the progressive movement. google trends were set to show what was trending within a week in the political category, filtered by relevance.
instead what i saw did not confirm what i was experiencing viewing on my feeds at all.
google trends was surfacing ezra klein, ashley biden, gorbachev, paul weiss, and others i had not seen any buzz about. meanwhile, sanders and aoc did not even make the cut.
this was the moment that made me question my reality — which has been happening more often since the pandemic. this loop phenomenon is kind of like a mental dissonance when my lived online experience completely contradicts what the algorithm says people are searching about.
if the search data says these randoms are trending, why am i not seeing it anywhere on my feeds? why does what i'm feeling in real-time online not match the charts? could i be ahead of the curve of people finding what i'm seeing and then growing interest enough to search for it?
i kept refreshing my google trends results, thinking maybe i missed something. but the longer i searched, the more i realized there was a glitch in the system, a nugget of truth in an era riddled with misinformation.
this dissonance is a symptom of the alternate realities that are causing so much confusion amongst the populace.
"headache" by alex grey, 1995
🔍 when curiosity doesn’t convert
here's what i learned which is something that isn't new but still is a mini wake-up call every time it happens. the dissonance of splitting realities is because each platform (i.e. youtube, instagram, tiktok, twitter) operates on its own algorithmic logic, with different biases. even if something is viral in one platform, it can be non-existent in another. especially if certain algorithms are programmed to deprioritize specific information.
google trends does not necessarily measure actual interest, it measures relative search volume over time. what shows up is filtered by engagement speed, spikes, and search clusters. google trends may not be the best source to search for long-term cultural momentum.
i was expecting the data on google trends to reflect what i already knew was happening on social media. apparently, these systems do not validate the organic curiosity of the people online. instead they silo it.
📈 enter: oligarchy
amid the cluster of strange names and the occasional conspiracy theory, one signal stood out on my google trends list: "oligarchy". this was the very word sanders and aoc have been emphasizing in their rallies and in their las vegas speech.
people may not be searching "bernie rally," or "aoc rally," but they are searching the terms that matter. they want to understand the power structures behind the slogans and the true nature of the system behind the inequality the people are facing.
while people may not be searching for the representatives that are speaking the interests of the people, people are searching for terms to better understand the system that is built for the interests of the corporationists, ultra wealthy, ruling class.
in a media climate designed to distract, this is a beacon of hope.
🧠 platform bias is real
algorithms are not neutral, they are designed to optimize for engagement, not truth. outrage, controversy, and hyper-polarizing personalities get boosted more than deep systemic critique. those that control the algorithms benefit most from the current systematic inequality.
so while representatives like aoc and sanders may be leading real conversations, the internet may still push you toward clickbait names with zero civic relevance. as long as you keep scrolling, they will find a way to profit off of it. if it empowers you... mehhh that's optional. maybe might ban the search term for it later, idk yet.
⚡ the dissonance we feel is real
youtube shows us one world, google shows us another. instagram, reddit, twitter, tiktok offer you glimpses into alternate realities.
if you feel there is a disconnect between what you're seeing online on different platforms vs what you are experiencing off line, you're not imagining it. the disconnect is real.
having to navigate a digital labyrinth with conflicting incentives can be quite exhausting. is it any wonder that people have become increasingly frustrated and lethargic? i don't think so.
this might be a condition that one faces when you live in simulations.
🌀 update: bernie just popped into the trends
within 12 hours of starting my research, i logged back into google trends to capture a screenshot of my search results for this piece. the page automatically updated. now sanders have finally made the list, no changes in the filters.
after a day of total disconnect, it's starting to align with my reality. not because the algorithm got smarter, but because people are doing the work and they are doing the research.
thank the gods (or god, or spirit, or universe).
✨ truth takes time to register especially in systems built for noise. patience truly is a virtue which is something we have been programmed to shut off.
change takes time and people react to the speed of chemicals, not light.
📌 updated tldr section 📌
the bernie & aoc rally gained real traction online, but google trends lagged behind, revealing a dissonance between momentum and measurement.
that dissonance sparked a “loop phenomenon,” a glitch in how virality is perceived.
the term “oligarchy” has been trending, a signal that people are seeking truth beyond the surface. now, both bernie sanders and aoc are trending — proving that organic interest, when persistent enough, breaks through algorithmic delay.
by starproxy✨
march 21, 2025
welcome to the battle royale
when capitalism starts a battle royale
this video captures the moment that ultimately gave rise to the lumin press. this is where it started. this is where the portal opened.
in their search for ways to navigate through the system, starproxy recognized how essential it is to show others how to operate within it.
the video, “when capitalism starts a battle royale! oligarch overlords turn on each other,” was created to help viewers better understand the chaotic, competitive dynamics of the capitalist structure we’re all expected to survive in.
while promoting the video, starproxy received criticism from a subreddit moderator who argued it played into the hands of “fake” nice capitalists. although the debate proved unproductive, the intention behind the video remains clear: to help people make more informed, safer choices while living within a broken system.
not everyone has the resources or opportunity to radically change their life overnight. but removing support from those in power who make no effort to protect the rights of workers or consumers is a collective priority.
the video stands as a message to those in power: your wealth and influence may shield you now, but never forget who makes your success possible. and like any system in distress, when the body is in crisis you treat what’s hurting it most, first.
read more
📝 view transcript
0:00
and why it matters now is because if we
0:02
don't recognize and support the
0:04
companies like Costco and apple now
0:07
we're setting ourselves up to be ruled
0:09
by the corporate tyrants who survived by
0:12
exploiting
0:14
[Music]
0:19
us hello and welcome to my channel you
0:22
are watching the star proxy files and
0:25
let's get into it today we're going to
0:26
be talking
0:28
about my my prediction on the future of
0:32
the oligarchs fighting it out in a epic
0:36
American oligarch Battle Royale so is
0:39
like a beast it's a beast that's eating
0:41
itself and right now it's chewing on its
0:44
own Tails today we're diving into the
0:46
battle of the Giants we are seeing
0:48
faction within the oligarchs taking
0:51
place so we have um Costco and apple and
0:55
John Deere and Starbucks that have come
0:57
to my awareness that are example of
1:00
these factions um playing out we're
1:03
going to talk about what their moves say
1:04
about the shifting tides of power and
1:06
policy um before we charge into the
1:09
battlefield don't forget to like this
1:11
video it helps appease the almighty
1:13
algorithm overlords to understand why
1:17
these Mega Corps will be clawing at each
1:20
other like in an angsty PVP match but
1:23
not so much yet we need to talk about
1:25
how capitalism works or how it doesn't
1:28
so don't worry I'm going to make it
1:30
simple I'm going to use gamer terms to
1:32
make the ideas as clear as possible so
1:35
capitalism is like ultimate PVP mode
1:37
players start with different gears and
1:39
perks when they spawn in gamees and the
1:41
goal of the game is to collect as much
1:43
gold as possible because the more gold
1:45
you have the more power you have and the
1:46
more power you have the more influence
1:48
you have over the entire world at least
1:51
in this game but here's the twist see
1:53
resources are finite so what happens
1:57
once the map is empty well then
1:58
capitalism turn Inward and it starts
2:01
devouring on itself in order to survive
2:04
it's kind of like what happens when apex
2:06
predators go unchecked because they
2:08
don't have anybody praying on them they
2:10
start decimating the populations
2:12
underneath them that they consume so
2:15
much to the point where they actually
2:16
start starving themselves because
2:18
they've eaten everything that they could
2:20
eat that's why checks and balances are
2:23
really important that's why regulation
2:25
is very important overregulation is no
2:27
good but a lack of any sort of
2:29
Regulation
2:30
not good end game should be always to
2:32
provide balance we don't want to
2:35
destabilize the ecosystem and that's
2:37
what we're about to enter we're about to
2:38
enter a phase of destabilization as this
2:41
new Administration starts to strip away
2:44
power from the people towards power of
2:47
the few affluence the very very powerful
2:51
and affluence and so they're going to
2:52
start setting the rules themselves and
2:54
deciding how we're all going to live
2:56
under their rules they've never lived a
2:58
day in our lives they've never never
3:00
walked in our shoes they've never even
3:01
worked for somebody else but we're going
3:02
to allow these people to tell us what to
3:04
do let's see how today's oligarchs are
3:06
choosing their strategies before I get
3:07
ahead of myself and digress any further
3:10
in this epic boss battle that we're
3:13
going to see that I foresee that's going
3:16
to happen I already see two factions
3:19
emerging so Costco and apple on one side
3:22
and Starbucks and John Deere on the
3:23
other Costco and apple are doubling down
3:25
on their people focus strategies versus
3:28
John Deere and Starbucks who are ties
3:30
with the whole diversity Equity
3:32
inclusion thing like it's a dead weight
3:34
and they're going to be making complete
3:36
changes to their company um I read
3:40
somewhere that um Starbucks was actually
3:43
going to change the way that they have
3:45
their coffee shop set up in the sense
3:48
that they didn't want people hang out
3:50
there anymore which is funny because
3:52
that's literally how Starbucks was
3:54
created it was the um owner who was
3:57
inspired by the coffee shops that he saw
4:00
in Italy and he really liked the fact
4:01
that people were hanging out with their
4:04
friends and family and chatting and you
4:06
know sharing coffee and pastries with
4:08
each other and sitting around for a good
4:09
long while that's how he came up with
4:11
Starbucks but now they're going to
4:13
change all of that to make it like
4:14
Dunkin Donuts okay we already have that
4:17
it's Dunkin' Donuts but see what's going
4:19
on is they've already taken as much
4:21
money as they can out of the market so
4:24
now what they're going to do is start
4:25
cutting costs in order to make profit
4:28
and by doing this they're even willing
4:30
to strip away at these diversity Equity
4:33
inclusion policies if it means making
4:36
more money now why are Costco and apple
4:39
among the few Mega Corps that are
4:41
choosing to double down on Dei policies
4:44
is because they are ideological
4:47
differences between the factions if you
4:50
notice Starbucks and John Deere are
4:52
those that believe that cutting away at
4:54
these policies will get them more money
4:57
um while Costco and apple are those that
5:00
believe that um Team morale boosts
5:03
better performance at work thus leads to
5:06
better productivity and more efficiency
5:08
of the workplace you'll see that it
5:10
comes down to ideological differences
5:12
that we're going to see why these
5:14
oligarchs are going to fight we see it
5:17
in you know like our bosses just because
5:19
you're a boss doesn't mean that you're
5:20
right it doesn't always mean that you're
5:22
going to make the right decision all the
5:23
time but we see it all the time that our
5:25
bosses will blindly choose a wrong
5:29
approach
5:30
because it's just the thing that we've
5:32
always we've always done it that way
5:34
something shortsighted something not
5:35
that they're not seeing you know and so
5:37
we're going to see a power shift occur
5:40
and we're going to see those companies
5:42
that adapt to a global a growing Global
5:44
Market survive and thrive while those
5:48
that choose not to adapt face Extinction
5:51
I mean that's just the rules of
5:53
evolution that's life I don't make up
5:55
the rules you know these are just the
5:56
laws that all living beings
5:58
fundamentally abide by I don't make
6:00
these things up I just this is what it
6:03
is you know I wish it wasn't so I wish
6:05
we didn't have to change but we do have
6:07
to change and some of these people don't
6:08
want to change anyway capitalism is
6:11
about gaining power and right now the
6:12
battle lines are clear inclusivity and
6:15
long-term strategies versus short-term
6:17
survival tactics but how do we know
6:19
which side is actually winning so let's
6:21
break it down logically scientifically
6:22
and spiritually yes spiritually cuz some
6:26
of y'all need
6:27
Jesus like really
6:30
if capitalism is the snake eating itself
6:32
this is the part where it starts
6:34
munching faster why because fewer
6:36
companies controlling more resources
6:37
leads to stagnation exploitation and
6:40
unchecked monopolies studies show that
6:43
diverse workplaces perform better cross
6:45
Innovation profits and resilience
6:47
cutting diversity equity and inclusivity
6:50
might feel like shedding weight but it's
6:52
actually removing long-term Buffs from
6:54
your team from a spiritual perspective
6:57
balance and Karma are like you universal
7:00
laws and I know I'm not using karma in
7:02
the most appropriate way but it's still
7:05
that idea still that concept still
7:07
matters the one that you reap what you
7:09
sell basically companies that harm their
7:11
workers or communities rack up in this
7:13
karmic debt okay and trust me Universe
7:16
always collects whether in the moment or
7:20
when you least expect it but she'll be
7:22
there knocking on your door and be like
7:24
hey remember when he did this mhm it
7:27
happens I'm telling you so what can we
7:29
do but how do we choose which Giants to
7:32
support in this chaotic battle so let's
7:35
talk strategy here's the deal when all
7:37
the does settles only a few Titans will
7:39
remain the one leaning towards the
7:41
people like hosco and Apple at least for
7:44
right now will be instrumental in
7:46
shaping what comes next so some
7:48
historical parallels that you should
7:50
keep in mind um the New Deal 1930s after
7:54
the Great Depression businesses that
7:56
supported FDR's new deal policies helped
7:58
stabilize the economy and earn public
8:01
trust becoming key players in America's
8:03
recovery another example is the post-war
8:06
reconstruction 1940s and post war Japan
8:10
companies like Toyota and Sony
8:11
collaborated with the government to
8:13
rebuild the economy creating
8:15
opportunities for millions and another
8:18
example is patagonia's modern leadership
8:21
today Patagonia proves that people focus
8:24
strategies are not only ethical but also
8:27
wildly successful they models Earth is
8:30
our only shareholder is as Progressive
8:33
as it gets and why it matters now it's
8:36
because if we' all recognize and support
8:39
the companies like Costco and apple now
8:42
we're setting ourselves up to be ruled
8:44
by the corporate tyrants who survived by
8:47
exploiting us so first we support the
8:50
companies that align with our values as
8:53
people every dollar you spend is a vote
8:56
in this battle second you need to call
8:59
call out exploitative practices social
9:02
media petitions even Word of Mouth small
9:05
actions create big Ripple effects
9:08
history shows us that when the world
9:10
shifts the right allies make all the
9:12
difference let's back the players who
9:15
prioritize people now so that we can
9:18
help shape the next level and we're
9:21
going to need their help if you're ready
9:23
to fight smarter hit that subscribe
9:25
button and let me know in the comments
9:27
which companies deserve our support in
9:29
this fight together we can stay one step
9:32
ahead of the Beast energy to that thing
9:34
to smin Moon Crystal power star power
9:40
Mery star power jup star powerus star
9:44
[Applause]
9:45
[Music]
9:46
[Applause]
9:49
power thank you for watching until next
9:52
time keep your eyes sharp and stay safe
9:54
from the capitalist bosses
9:59
go
10:08
[Music]
march 20, 2025
why the lumin press exists
as our world continues to shift, it has become increasingly evident that the institutions that once claimed to inform us have become complicit in our manipulation. many people have woken up or are in the process of waking up; others choose to live in the deceptive matrix. those of us who have awakened to the reality of how dark the future of our children can become have a responsibility to help others. it is our duty to question authority, not to uphold it naively.
mainstream media has largely become a mouthpiece for the elite, shaped by corporate ownership and financial interests. the wealthy, arrogant elite class see the economy, the land, and even our futures as their personal playground. we have all seen what they do for fun behind closed doors, and if forgotten, let it be reminded that the cases of hugh hefner, epstein, weinstein, r. kelly, and diddy are not isolated. history has shown that when individuals amass extreme wealth and power, abuse often follows, whether proven in court or exposed through public testimony.
this is what happens when extreme wealth grants individuals undue influence over law enforcement and government officials allowing them to evade justice or soften their consequences.
delusions of grandeur, a sense of superiority, and unchecked entitlement are common among those detached from reality by extreme wealth. their news does not serve the people; to them, it is best used as a machine to advertise their delusions to us all.
this is why the lumin press was conceived.
a different kind of news
the lumin press is not another corporate media outlet, nor is it a clickbait factory chasing ad revenue. this is a space where truth is sought, not sold. a space to report...
on what matters, not what distracts
on what is hidden, not just what is easy to digest
because knowledge is power, and an informed people is an uncontrollable force
the lumin press encourages the people to speak their minds and have difficult conversations with those around them. this is how we become stronger as a people, as a unit. the press is meant to inform the masses, not to spread misinformation and propaganda to soothe the egos of the insecure.
what you can expect
every day, a new story will be told.
every week, an update will bring together a variety of critical issues—politics, science, culture, art, and the voices of the people.
this is a hub for independent thought. a place for truth-seekers, dissenters, and those who refuse to be silenced.
this is the lumin press.
it's time to see the light.
with clarity, starproxy✨
"through the portal" — lumin series no. 01 · generated + reimagined by starproxy
