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.
07.21.21 (Update)
Both Kinds Of Standards – VOX
- The job is easier when the fault always rests with Republicans.
Of course, the elevated thinkers at Vox joined along with the rest of the press in their adoration of the Texas Democrats who ran away from their job duties. Also, as expected, Vox had the polar opposite position when the very same action took place with the opposite party involved. Those protections/threats against democracy are remarkably fluid.
The ''Explainers'' have some explaining to do.
— Brad Slager - In Trouble More Than Pres. Biden (@MartiniShark) July 21, 2021
When Democrat lawmakers run away from bad policy it is the GOP's fault.
When Republican lawmakers run away from bad policy...it is STILL the GOP's fault.https://t.co/v5TlRHuVWkhttps://t.co/a4pGuv6ZjR pic.twitter.com/XnnI1ZRq88
Reporting On The Mirror – THE ATLANTIC
The recent drama unspooling between ESPN and on-air personality Maria Taylor has come to its expected end. After creating a racial dust storm at the network weeks ago in a bid to leverage more money during her contract negotiations, the end of the NBA finals now sees Taylor making an exit from the sports leader. She will be signing on with NBC and joining their team in the Olympics coverage.
At the announcement, former ESPN personality Jemele Hill sent this tweet to Taylor as a form of sisterly celebration.
Congrats @MariaTaylor. See you on the other side. https://t.co/4SvVtSbi6O pic.twitter.com/0okHS4RDy8
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) July 21, 2021
Understand, everyone, that fact that Taylor is now leaving a million-dollar salary for yammering about sports is akin to someone being sprung from the penitentiary.
Legalized Press-titution – CNN
- Tough to measure which side is more oblivious in this assessment.
In preparation for the President Biden tongue-bath town hall being held in Cincinnati this evening on the network, Jeff Zeleny appeared with Kate Bolduan.
Zeleny detailed how one of the biggest challenges for the administration is how Donald Trump has "loomed large" over the past few months and that "the Big Lie" exploded as a massive topic. It really is a mystery who exhibits the least amount of awareness that the press covering these issues on a near hourly basis would lead to this result.
Failure of imagination? @JeffZeleny say "no one inside the White House would have expected that former president Donald Trump would have loomed as large as he has over the last several months and the Big Lie would have exploded like it did..." pic.twitter.com/DufJMFtLOD
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 21, 2021
DNC PR Firm – THE NEW YORK TIMES
The months of lobbying in the press over removing the filibuster have all but been murdered by the fawning support of the Texas Democrats who left the state to block legislation and their subsequent implosion in just one week's time. As a sign of how this push has been on life support, The Times comes out with this coverage that could not be more impotent.
A letter has been issued that declares that while, yes, Democrats have relied on the filibuster in recent years, its removal is needed in order to get their way. Er, in order to preserve democracy. That former Democratic office workers penned this letter makes this so insignificant that you wonder how any editor thought to run the piece.
Thirty-one former chiefs of staff to Democratic senators have written an open letter calling for “repeal or reform” of the filibuster, saying it no longer serves its original purpose and is now being abused as a way to block and stall legislation. https://t.co/Bx5NF5GAcP
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 21, 2021
Pulitzer Prize Nominee – REUTERS
- There is no other way to show the significance of the trip than to inquire about cone selections.
In preparation for tonight's town hall, the press is diligent in getting to the bottom of the deeply trenchant issues surrounding the trip.
On the press pool recording from Air Force One today, it is believed that it is Andrea Shalal who is asking Jen Psaki if there will be ice cream when they get to Cincinnati.
Reporter asks Psaki if Biden is getting ice cream in Cincinnati as other "journalists" fantasize about what flavors he might get pic.twitter.com/XaVheocq5a
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) July 21, 2021
07.21.21 (Original)
News Avoidance Syndrome – ABC NEWS
- David Muir and company strain themselves to avoid using the term "superspreader."
It might be one of the most audacious examples of completely reframing a news story. The news of the Texas Democrats galavanting across D.C. and infecting others has been ironic – but also lost on any viewers of ABC Nightly News. Last night in covering the spate of breakthrough cases, David Muir tossed to his reporter Rachel Scott, who detailed for us how a Pelosi aide and a White House staffer have tested positive.
This led to a segment about the variant and breakthrough cases, and then the focus was placed on – the Republicans.
- "President Donald Trump quietly got his shot before he left office, but rarely urged his supporters to get theirs."
- Next, she mentioned Steve Scalise, "finally getting his first Pfizer dose."
- Mitch McConnell is "pleading with Americans" to ignore misinformation and get vaccinated.
- Sean Hannity is encouraging the vaccine, "Even on Fox News, where hosts have downplayed the threat of Covid."
Here is where things get amazing. What Scott and Muir never mentioned in the report was the Texas Dems' responsibility in these breakouts. Those two staffers who tested positive had worked directly with these Texans, whose infection rate has now climbed to six members. We will not find any major outlets willing to call these infected fugitives a superspreader crowd.
BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS: A fully vaccinated spokesperson for House Speaker Pelosi and a White House official have tested positive for COVID-19. @rachelvscott reports as top Republicans warn about vaccine skeptics. https://t.co/tH6acyxbgI pic.twitter.com/XqzboPYH2R
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) July 21, 2021
DNC PR Firm – CNN
- Jake Tapper wants to blindly defend Dr. Anthony Fauci by not looking into the facts.
Senator Rand Paul squared off with Dr. Fauci on Capitol Hill again over the gain-of-function connections with the Wuhan lab and whether Fauci may have committed a crime by lying in front of Congress. On "The Lead," Jake Tapper was not having any of it – he was also not having a serious discussion. While clearly disgusted with Sen. Paul, he used this as a chance to slam all Republicans for questioning science, all while contradicting himself. He framed his defense of Fauci by saying, "I'm not suggesting in any way that he cannot be criticized...," and then got upset that Fauci was being criticized.
But Jake exposed his entire position early on when he admitted he had no interest in even looking into what Sen. Paul was alleging. "I don't want to get into the details of what Senator Paul was attacking there and all that."
Well, that is certainly a convenient position for an alleged journalist to take.
Fauci unloads after GOP Senator Rand Paul accuses him of lying to Congress: 'You do not know what you are talking about' @DrPaulOffit discusses pic.twitter.com/usTxHuoGc8
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) July 20, 2021
First Amendment Strike Force – HUFFINGTON POST
Over at HuffPo, their ever-imbalanced writer S.V. Dáte sees another social media account that needs to be snuffed out. Dáte is taking exception that Liz Harrington, Trump spokeswoman, is being allowed to speak.
Trump has been banned on the platform since his attempt to overthrow American democracy on Jan. 6, but Twitter has taken no action against Liz Harrington. https://t.co/F2nHHyYfOt
— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) July 20, 2021
Presentation Paradox – CNN
Washington has been mostly consumed this week with the crafting of the infrastructure bill (sorry, attention-seeking Texas Democrats!), and CNN is not being bashful about smearing opponents of the bill. Of course, actually having a bill to oppose would be in order, but that does not stop the network from implying the GOP is blocking it...before it exists. At the open, we learn of the evil plot.
- "Senate Republican leaders threatened on Monday to block a vote later this week advancing the bipartisan infrastructure bill unless the negotiators strike a deal on it."
Sounds dastardly, but then they get around to actually revealing the pertinent details. Mitch McConnel is quoted as saying they cannot vote for a bill they have not seen yet. Oh...really? Then we get the ultimate reveal.
- "Schumer, a Democrat from New York, set up a test vote for Wednesday on the legislation, which doesn't exist yet…"
Pulitzer Prize Nomination – ABC NEWS
Talk about needing filler. At ABC's "World News Tonight," they tried desperately to come up with content, it seems. They filled the dead air by bringing up Lindsey Lohan, who has done nothing of import in some time, celebrating an anniversary timeframe nobody ever commemorates.
Lindsay Lohan marked the 23rd anniversary of "The Parent Trap" by thanking its director, Nancy Meyers, for giving her the "opportunity of a lifetime." https://t.co/mKm50lPc8V
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) July 21, 2021
