The graphs of traffic flatlining overnight aren't convincing evidence to you?

There are definitely blacklists. Here's one that was leaked for news in "Google Now" (aka assistant/suggested stories):

https://pv-uploads1.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/08/news-bl...

See the bottom section labelled, "sites flagged for peddling hoax stories".

I'll add some more sources to support that claim, but the main one would be about the Google exec meeting after Trump got elected. https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/13/media/google-leaked-video-t...

Haven't vetted this source but I believe it's the right one