This is Townhall’s daily VIP feature, where we will focus coverage on the deeply flawed aspects of journalism in the nation. We'll look to bring accountability to the mishaps, misdeeds, manipulations, malpractice, and manufactured narratives in the mainstream media.
05.26.21 (Update)
Legalized Press-titution – WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS
- When identity politics erases individuals.
It is a comical offshoot of the over-insistence of this administration to highlight every instance of a special interest individual doing...anything. When Raphael Warnock won his runoff election in Georgia, there was the rush to hail him as revolutionary as a Black senator – despite Tim Scott being a standing senator already. Pete Buttigieg was celebrated as the first openly gay Cabinet member, a surprise to conservatives since Richard Grenell apparently did not count, given he was appointed by the accursed Donald Trump.
Today, it took place once again, as a Black female, Karine Jean-Pierre, fielded questions from the White House press podium. A number of news outlets tripped over each other in order to declare this a historic event, except it was not so historic. In 1991, Judy Smith was the first POC female at this podium – but George Bush was president, and we all know Republican officials do not count. Maybe we are at the stage where we can say, "She is living in her history."
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Eventually, it had to also be framed by the fact she was not the first, but then they found another reason to celebrate her arrival.
Karine Jean-Pierre makes history as the first openly gay spokeswoman and second Black woman to lead a White House press briefing. https://t.co/vwaSeUpKpH
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 26, 2021
Ah yes – there it is!
It has not been established when the press will notify us as to how qualified she may be and how good she performed at her job.
News Avoidance Syndrome – THE NEW YORK TIMES
- Is it considered following the science when you are rooting against finding the facts?
It was back in February when there was loud drama as The New York Times felt the need to fire writer Don McNeil over some supposedly insensitive comments he had made years earlier while on a trip in another country. McNeil was the paper's point man on Covid coverage, and they appear to still be looking for a suitable replacement.
Working that beat now is Apoorva Mandavilli, and she appears to be among the many reporters who are vexed that the virus possibly springing out of a lab is now a viable theory once again. She deleted this tweet where she expressed dismay that the story was alive once again.
Why is it racist to know where COVID-19 originated and what the Wuhan Institute of Virology is? pic.twitter.com/iVH52cLZZN
— Stop scolding me, I'm vaccinated (@jtLOL) May 26, 2021
Her interpretation here is a curious one. What is confusing about this is that her stance appears to be that suggesting the arrival of a virus as a possible lab breach is considered a racist position – but the concept of a bunch of foreign people eating bats or penguins in a filthy exotic animal market is NOT considered a racist idea.
Low Octane Gas Lighting – CNN
- The ratings for the network continue to get worse.
For much of the past week, Brian Stelter and others have been consumed with the news of Warner Brothers merging with the Discovery Channel Networks, a major streaming deal that also involves his channel, as they are part of the Warners properties. This has been of particular interest as CEO Jeffrey Zucker was said to be departing, and CNN's value is continuing to shrivel.
Last week's numbers show nothing but dismal performances across the board, as the network fades in the ratings.
"The network as a whole shed -11% in total prime time viewers, shed -14% in the prime time demo, -11% in total day viewers and lost -15% in the total day demo from the prior week."
And it gets even worse.
"'Cuomo Prime Time' and 'Don Lemon Tonight' both saw their lowest-rated weeks of the year. CNN slid from No. 3 among basic cable networks in total day viewers to No. 5, and from No. 4 in total prime time viewers to No. 7."
Now we can see why there was so much interest in the streaming deal recently struck – the wonder now is whether CNN might be sold off as a devalued piece.
Pre-Written Field Reports – VANITY FAIR
With people once again ready to be able to leave the house, and doing so in the shimmery upcoming season, the cagey fashion police at Vanity Fair believe they have picked up on the hot new trend on the horizon. With people outside, and it being summer, they have nailed down the must-have style choice. It is...uh...sunglasses.
Sunglasses are sure to be the most essential accessory for the summer of re-emergence. https://t.co/xYMlb3T4UT
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) May 26, 2021
Just to augment this fashion entry, we here at Townhall have been hearing whispers of another possible hot fashion preference for the coming months. Truncated slacks are poised to be another hot item in fashion – with some designers referring to them as "shorts."
Pulitzer Prize Nomination (Photography) – REUTERS
That is just some 1,000-word painting taking place, right there.
A gibbon walks by models of vehicles at a miniature park in Bakhchisaray, Crimea. More photos of the day: https://t.co/8jP47zVpiS ?? Alexey Pavlishak pic.twitter.com/m4HHTLZe8R
— Reuters Pictures (@reuterspictures) May 24, 2021
05.26.21 (Original)
Presentation Paradox – NBC NEWS
Continuing on the tradition of backing gun control by completely misrepresenting gun issues, last night "NBC Nightly News" presented a report on the new constitutional carry law about to be signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. Correspondent Morgan Chesky delivers a report filled with blatant falsehoods about the bill.
"Tonight in Texas," Chesky says by way of introduction, "getting hands on a handgun about to become – even easier." The reporter refers to the bill, HB 1927, which removes the requirement to have a separate conceal-carry license in order to have your firearm out in public. The details of this new law are outlined nicely by Cam Edwards over at Bearing Arms.
Chesky details that the bill "allows anyone 21 and up who is legally allowed to buy a handgun – no license needed." This – is a complete lie. The bill does nothing to alter the requirements in gun purchases, only in the carrying of a gun already in your possession.
There is even a frightful chyron on screen declaring, "Texas set to allow unlicensed carrying of handguns." One problem. The legislation – which Chesky clearly did not read – states throughout how it applies to those considered a "licensed holder." Chesky also misrepresents how, "In Texas, the law not only eliminated the license, but also the written test, training, and state background checks." Those were the provisions for the concealed carry license, which is what has been eliminated, a distinction he fails to provide.
Gilded Reframe – CNN / Early Start
Here is a news segment that must have been scripted by sit-com writers, as there is no other explanation for the abject lack of self-awareness on display. On the CNN pre-dawn show "Early Start," they continued on with the insistent coverage of MTG but did so in curious fashion – they insisted how they were above covering the controversial congresswoman, and they rushed to cover the controversial congresswoman in breathless fashion.
Laura Jarrett insists, sternly, how on their program they do not fall into the outrage trap of covering minor members of congress who say absurd things – and then acidly delivers details of the absurd things MTG has said. While the narrative has been the GOP is obsessed with MTG, and the leadership has failed to address her, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy came out with words rebuking the problematic representative. Jarrett then has to get upset that it took too long for him to do so – five days! But, they are not needlessly outraged on "Early Start," understand.
Also curious, while insisting they will not be baited into covering all the outlandish comments by her, why then were they inspired to ferret out and display on screen an offensive tweet MTG had retweeted, and then she had deleted? And just to underscore how this report took on the tone of a jilted lover who insists they are so over their former lover, ad nauseam, during the entire segment when they declare they will not be lured into the outrage trap the chyron displayed the time read, Deranged & Dangerous.
But take their word for it, they are not outraged and obsessed at Early Start.
Matching Media Memorandum – CNN
The ever-reliable Brian Stelter is also on the Marjorie Taylor Greene beat. In the course of all of the calls for the conservatives to stop giving MTG attention and move away from her deranged and dangerous comments, Brian spots another problem – Fox News is not covering her enough!
See no evil, hear no evil: Marjorie Taylor Greene was only mentioned one time on Fox News all day Monday, by a liberal guest, and only one time on Tuesday, in a three-sentence news recap. https://t.co/w92zq8SwYY
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 26, 2021
Pounce Of Prevention – THE NEW YORK TIMES / Jonathan Chait
Jonathan Chait executed the rare double-dunk, as he got upset at "right-wingers" who pounced on the headline about right-wingers pouncing on anti-semitic violence. As we detailed yesterday, Michelle Goldberg had an outlandish piece about violence against Jews being something that helps the GOP. The Times went forward and reworded the headline in an effort to dampen the outrageousness, and as many commented on the move, Chait felt the need to rise up in defense.
He first claimed these were "stupid dunks" on Goldberg by those who did not read her column. No, Jon, these were comments about the editors who went in and altered the headline in quiet fashion.
But then Chait continued, stating that "it's just not even a remotely plausible read of the column to suggest Goldberg treats anti-semitic violence as merely a political problem." Ah, yes – the woman who pointed out the political windfall of anti-semitic violence was not making it into a political problem – somehow.
Funny, declaring it a political problem is specifically what Goldberg suggests. https://t.co/AfXeBi5dnL pic.twitter.com/5mhjLo3m7k
— Brad Slager - Social Toper and Media Antagonist (@MartiniShark) May 26, 2021
Anti-Social Media – THE YOUNG TURKS
When it comes to fostering geopolitical civility on the global stage, few people, if any, are turning to Cenk Uygur for guidance. It is just a nice convenience when he provides us with all the evidence why we should not reach out to him when it comes to brokering peace.
On the matter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he weighed in with a platform that is not only insulting to those on both sides, but he trivializes things by making a movie comparison, all while being completely incorrect in the process.
"Israelis & Palestinians kill each other over which Sky God they pretend to speak to and it's politically incorrect to point out there is no Human God, let alone one that favors Jews or Muslims. All this violence over the equivalent of which character they like better in the MCU."
Nobody tell him that both sides actually believe in the same Sky God – it would disrupt his plan to develop hostilities on both sides of the conflict.
