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.
07.13.21
Prose & Contradiction – VARIOUS OUTLETS
- The fluid nature of outrage/support for political opposition.
The big story dominating the news cycle is a passel of Democrats from the Texas legislature fleeing the state in order to prevent the passage of a number of measures they disapprove of in the Capitol. That they think this is a good idea shows a remarkable lack of pragmatic thought; things are slated to pass eventually, running off to D.C. will not endear them to many Texans, and on top of it all, they ended up deleting one self-congratulatory tweet that featured the case of non-Texan beer they toted for the trip.
The move has been roundly supported in the press, with numerous journos raving about the gambit in completely neutral and unbiased fashion.
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The Texas Democrats are even cooler now that they're fugitives fighting to protect voting rights from Ol' Boss Abbott. https://t.co/bI29BSgyQ8
— Max Burns (@themaxburns) July 13, 2021
With the most minimal amount of shock, we even see the stalwart "Conservatives" from The Bulwark are in full support of these liberal cranks abdicating their posts. Mrs. Carpenter sees the Democrats' actions in D.C., and it "kills her."
Once again, those True Conservatives at @TheBulwark are preserving conservatism by…pimping for the Democrats.
— Brad Slager - In Trouble More Than Pres. Biden (@MartiniShark) July 13, 2021
Makes sense that Amanda Carpenter is the CNN definition of a Republican. pic.twitter.com/Y9eRwTNFnn
All of this applause for the Texas Dems undermines the very narrative these same journalists have been pushing for the past six months. The press has been all on board with the idea of eliminating the filibuster, all because it has been called unfair that the party not in power has too much power. Yet, as the Senate has true parity with a 50/50 split, it is called anti-democratic that they have a voice. Yet, when legislators who are truly in the minority in Texas illegally engage in their Flee-ibuster, the same press drags out the pom-poms.
That they fail to see how this kills off their anti-filibuster talking points is the hilarious result.
MSNBC anchor @GeoffRBennett argues "there’s a lot that elected Democrats on the national level can learn" from Texas Dems running away from their responsibilities pic.twitter.com/klZImepjo9
— Kyle Drennen (@kjdrennen) July 12, 2021
Gilded Reframe – CNN
- Brian Stelter raves about the ratings his network received...when he was taken off the air.
For reasons not completely clear, many in the press have been beyond excitable over Richard Branson taking a new aircraft to the edge of space on Sunday. Brian Stelter has been especially giddy, and he has even come forward to tout how well coverage of the flight performed on his own network.
Brian frequently finds himself tied into knots when he mentions ratings, as he and CNN have been plagued by horrible numbers all year, but this might be the funniest bout of obliviousness yet from the man. Due to weather, Branson's flight had been delayed, but once he took off, CNN carried it live. Brian excitedly shouts about the returns on this experience.
Sunday's highest rated cable news program in the 25-54 demo: CNN's 11am hour of Branson launch coverage. Special shoutouts to @RachCrane, @KristinFisher, and superb producing teams in Atlanta, NYC and New Mexico!
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 13, 2021
Good news, we suppose, but some details need to be added to lend nuance. That 11 am launch slot on Sunday meant that the regular programming had been preempted in order to show Branson's achievement. The show that was bumped in order to receive those higher ratings – was Stelter's own "Reliable Sources."
Pre-Written Field Reports – HUFFINGTON POST
At HuffPo, in their rush to demonize the immigration agencies of this nation, they delivered a weepy story about ICE agents supposedly using the acquisition of personal data to investigate if an individual might be an illegal resident. According to the report, experts worry that federal agents might use information obtained from the driver's licenses of illegal immigrants to detain them and take further action.
The outlet failed to rationalize how presenting the reality that it is even possible for illegals to get a license completely undercuts the common narrative they love to sell, which is they claim it is near impossible for POC citizens to obtain an ID in order to vote.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement says requests for drivers’ personal data aren’t related to immigration enforcement. https://t.co/pRGhzLkpiC
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) July 13, 2021
Presentation Paradox – HUFFINGTON POST
- Promoting for your own elimination.
Trump Derangement frequently leads to blind spots in the midst of generating outrage. HuffPo's S.V. Dáte displayed this obliviousness as he was raging about a Trump minion being allowed to repeat the words of the banned former president. Citing a post from Liz Harrington, where she retweeted an official release from Trump, Date implies that this should be grounds to have her removed from the platform. One small problem...for him.
If his new standard is that anyone retweeting official Trump dispatches should be subject to de-platforming, this will end up including – S.V. Dáte himself. He just did the same thing within the past week.
And, yes, he's already using his lawsuit as fundraising gimmick. pic.twitter.com/KDKAorwiSi
— S.V. Dáte (@svdate) July 7, 2021
So, goodbye, Mr. Date – your rules, after all.
DNC PR Firm – AXIOS
- The Florida Democrats can use all the help they can get. The press is here to guide them.
As the crisis in Cuba unfolds, and we see the pictures of the downtrodden residents protesting the government, we have already seen the challenge this has brought to journalists. How do they frame this upheaval after spending years touting the oppressive Cuban regime?
Additionally, there is another issue. When faced with the plight of neglected citizens under a totalitarian state who suffer food shortages and lack basic freedoms as a violent police force attacks them, Axios sees the real problem – how will this affect Democrats?!
Democrats are worried they'll hurt themselves in Florida — and more broadly in the midterms — if they mishandle the situation in Cuba. https://t.co/UOkKYqGPOt
— Axios (@axios) July 13, 2021
Both Kinds Of Standards – TWITTER
- Holding communist dictators to a lower standard.
On the subject of Cuba's violent government response, there seems a blatant contradiction at play on social media. One thing we can all agree on is that expecting consistency from Twitter regarding its standards is as futile as expecting consistency in the press.
As Joanna Rodriguez of the Republican Governors Association notes, while Donald Trump has been banned over allegedly indirectly inciting violence, the leader of Cuba is outwardly promoting violent crackdowns on citizens – and has his verified account remaining intact.
Hey @Twitter @TwitterGov, how does Trump get banned for “inciting violence” & the “glorification of violence,” but Cuba’s dictator – who is actively ordering & celebrating the kidnapping, beating & murder of innocent Cubans by state security – gets to keep his account? ?? pic.twitter.com/3N3OXh8WOJ
— Joanna Rodriguez (@joannamrod) July 13, 2021
