"Riffed from the Headlines" is Townhall's daily VIP feature with coverage on the deeply flawed aspects of journalism in the nation. We'll look to bring accountability to the mishaps, malaprops, misdeeds, manipulations, malpractice, and manufactured narratives in mainstream media.
03.02.22
DNC PR Firm – CBS NEWS
Most who objectively watched the State of the Union speech last night had to come away thinking it was a garbled mess of empty claims and bold falsehoods. Biden wants to secure the border?! Democrats stand and applaud funding the police?! Wow, their internal polling must be worse than even we thought!
And speaking of worse polls, CBS News attempted to dress up the aftermath, suggesting in their flash poll that most who watched the speech came away uplifted. Maybe – just maybe – this buoyant feeling comes about when you poll over twice as many Democrats as you do Republicans.
How to dress up a meandering, falsehood-filled speech:
— Brad Slager - Digging into the CPAC 12-pack (@MartiniShark) March 2, 2022
A 3-act play from @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/ZmQx07HS0S
Glossary Over Things – CNN
- The way you present this, Brian, makes it sound significant.
After the Biden speech, CNN's media maven stepped in and provided some keen insight into what was delivered. Get ready, gird yourself – this is landmark reportage about to be delivered.
Biden just became the first president to mention "social media" in a State of the Union address.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 2, 2022
Life has just been made easier for the Joe Biden campaign squad. This historical nugget will all but assure that Joe has cemented his reelection.
Artisanal-Crafted Narratives – WASHINGTON POST
- Mourning the loss of a lengthy narrative.
Among those filled with relief over the nation finally easing away from Covid mandate protocols are citizens, parents, employees, business owners, and the list goes on. As for those who bemoan the country getting back to normal – journalists. Gone are their daily opportunities to deliver lectures and instructions on how we can comport our lives.
Just look at Washington Post's Dan Diamond's jarring reaction to the good news of an unmasked congressional chamber.
As Biden mingles with dozens of Democrats after his speech, am struck that this is the most proximity that the 79-year-old president has had to so many unmasked people, indoors, in two years. pic.twitter.com/XrkcVE4XVA
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) March 2, 2022
Legalized Press-titution – CNN
- Implying Biden is a skilled uniter by use of stolen agenda items.
As mentioned above, Biden gave us a good laugh-line when he boldly declared that financially backing our law enforcement officers was a solid idea. CNN's Lauren Fox saw this as a shimmering moment in the speech, where the president managed to sway Republicans to support him…um, by uttering a long-standing Republican agenda item.
Republicans (and Dems) stand in applause when Biden says the answer isn't to defund police, but to fund the police.
— Lauren Fox (@FoxReports) March 2, 2022
Blue-anon – CBS NEWS
- Speaking about topics they just cannot let go…
After President Biden spoke, the CBS News post-game panel tossed it to their D.C. reporter Scott McFarlane to get his impressions on the speech. Mc-F gave his impressions on the differences seen and felt in the chamber, with distancing still taking place and members occupying seats in the balcony normally reserved for guests. Then he noted what was not heard in the speech.
- "There were - Zero references to January 6 in the address tonight. And even as President Biden walked through those doors, that they had furniture blockading January 6, 2021, to keep - the - violent - mob - out."
The real amusement – after Scott's hysterical melodramatic reading – was the way Norah O'Donnell and the rest of the panel fidgeted and found a way to bypass the topic that Democrats are becoming aware is a drain on their agenda.
"It's just a different feel this year": @MacFarlaneNews reports on how the mood in the room for this year's #SOTU felt under COVID restrictions https://t.co/53ZYabGLjD pic.twitter.com/Gs3lBwZo5V
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 2, 2022
Anti-Social Media – CNN
- Is there a point being made here, Ms. Cupp?
It is one thing to point out the partisan pettiness seen in the press, but this desperate lurch at making a point is so far off the mark that there has to be some collateral damage from this hot take. S.E. Cupp drew up a list of GOP congresscritters who decided not to attend the SOTU, allegedly over Covid tests being mandated to enter the Rotunda.
Cupp then juxtaposed her list with a Ukrainian ballet dancer in fatigues and brandishing a weapon, because…for reasons, or something.
Refusing to take covid tests, GOP Reps. Thomas Massie, Chip Roy, Mary Miller, Matt Rosendale, Andrew Clyde, Bob Good, and Sens. Marco Rubio and Dan Crenshaw have said they will not attend tonight's #SOTU2022. Meanwhile, here's a picture of Ukrainian ballerina Lesya Vorotnyk: pic.twitter.com/pRiC780dib
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) March 2, 2022
We have to suppose that she was making some kind of commentary on bravery or such. Her effort was strained to begin with, but her inclusion of Crenshaw means she feels that an untrained ballerina is somehow braver and more fit for action than a former Navy SEAL member.
