"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. (For a VIP discount, drop SLAGER in the signup form.)
11.22.21
Presentation Paradox – THE DISPATCH
There are all sorts of loud praise for Jonah Goldberg and Steve Hayes making the bold pronouncement that they are quitting their positions as contributors at Fox News. The reason given is that they cannot abide that Tucker Carlson made "Patriot Purge," a docu-series about the moves by the government against citizens, particularly those involved in the January 6 violence.
The pair have already had a diminished presence on the network, but the call by so many that they have taken a brave stand is rather laughable. Carlson's series does not appear on the network but is available on the Fox Nation subscription service, but the concept that these two running away, instead of remaining on the air, is a brave act defies logic. Also of note, Jonah does not seem consistent in his outrage toward those with wild accusations toward the left.
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''We have to quit FoxNews because it is WAY out of line for Tucker Carlson to do a series about Leftist Fascism'', says author @JonahDispatch. pic.twitter.com/HTACvCR7QD
— Brad Slager - Incontinent On Another Continent (@MartiniShark) November 22, 2021
Glossary Over Things – REUTERS
When the horrific news came out that a driver plowed his SUV into a Christmas parade in Wisconsin, you got the sense the press would be in conflict. There would be the desire to tie it in as a reaction to the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, but then it would mean highlighting violence by someone likely on the left side of the social spectrum.
Now that the suspect, Darrel E. Brooks, has been detained, and he is a POC who was released from jail this weekend due to bail reform measures, the media is already trying to massage the details. Reuters describes the incident in this bizarre fashion.
Waukesha police say there were fatalities from parade incident https://t.co/Fxs0fVOn7q pic.twitter.com/RS7JuccAfK
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) November 22, 2021
Both Kinds Of Standards – THE ATLANTIC
At The Atlantic, Adam Serwer tried to lament those on the Right who regard Kyle Rittenhouse in a positive light. Serwer seems bothered that people saw a political motivation behind the trial. Of course, we get no such concern for those desperately inserting race into the proceedings, or the desire to make the trial a guns rights issue. But it is not the only contradiction Adam had to overlook.
- "It is one thing to argue that the jury reached a reasonable verdict based on this law, and another entirely to celebrate Rittenhouse's actions. Much of the conservative media and the Republican Party, however, don't see the killings as 'wrongful' in any sense, instead elevating Rittenhouse as the manifestation of retributive violence against their political enemies."
Those in the press who have made heroes out of Kyle's victims, a collection of criminals who were fully armed that night as they attacked Rittenhouse, do not receive condemnation from Serwer, of course.
“Democrats may be productive, but if they can’t telegraph these wins to voters, will it even matter?” In the latest Wait, What @MollyJongFast explains why “a little Democratic salesmanship" could help gain support for the Build Back Better Act. https://t.co/cRKV2J9eFB
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) November 19, 2021
DNC PR Firm – POLITICO
In a way, you could sympathize with the journalists. After months of dismal approval numbers, the result of numerous policy blunders by the president, just when Joe Biden has something to brag about along comes a news cycle to drive his victory from the front pages.
Politico gets weepy about the fact that Biden's signing of his mammoth spending bill into law has become eclipsed by the Rittenhouse news cycle. The irony is that the press is upset that the press cannot help themselves from obsessively covering a divisive news story.
POLITICO Playbook: "Rittenhouse verdict pushes BBB out of the headlines"
— David Gura (@davidgura) November 20, 2021
The New York Times: pic.twitter.com/BgMyaw0Z9K
News Avoidance Syndrome – WASHINGTON POST
The Washington Post addressed the sweeping scandal that bore Anthony Fauci's name the past few weeks. Social media was awash in the images of beagles being subjected to some gruesome experiments and done through the funding of the Fauci-guided NIAID. WaPo digs in, to prove the charges were inaccurate, placing most of the blame on an animal rights group that has Republican members on its board.
The article frames the uproar over the dogs as a massive conservative disinformation campaign unfairly waged on Fauci, except for mitigating facts.
- "The false claim about the funding for the beagle study, research that was conducted in Tunisia, originated with an error by scientists. Initially, the researchers mistakenly listed NIAID as a funder when they published a paper in a scientific journal in late July. The journal issued a correction Oct. 26, when the agency flagged the mistake to the researchers amid the deluge of angry phone calls."
This means that Republicans are blamed for listening to the scientists, who allowed their claim to stand for months. This also means the animal group was accurate in their report until the retraction was issued, and the political attack charge allows the paper to avoid covering any of Fauci's numerous other conflicting comments the past couple of years.
An allegation that Tony Fauci was behind a cruel beagle experiment drove weeks of public attacks and deluged his office in angry calls.
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) November 19, 2021
But the claim wasn’t true. @yabutaleb7 @bethreinhard dig into the right-wing rush to make Fauci a public punching bag. https://t.co/JB6f3ucKqo
Gilded Reframe – THE NEW YORK TIMES
The feeling this Thanksgiving is one of deeply diminished anxiety over the pandemic. Even last year there were signs people had enough of the fear-mongering, but this time around it seems most are over the hysteria.
Seemingly sensing this, The New York Times gathered some doctors to field questions and deliver more stern warnings about safety, even when every precaution is taken. One questioner mentioned a large family gathering where everyone is seemingly fully protected, but the lesson was to STILL be fearful and take more precautions.
These people are not serious.
— Brad Slager - Incontinent On Another Continent (@MartiniShark) November 22, 2021
Now, says the @NYTimes, if everyone at your Thanksgiving is properly vaccinated it is still not a safe environment. pic.twitter.com/GQkoHcWfQj
