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.
07.22.21
Blue-anon – CNN
- Admittedly, they were probably more interesting than Joe Biden.
Last night, President Biden held a town hall in Cincinnati, covered exclusively on CNN, and some of their experts were not even impressed by the performance. The questions were softballs, and the audience was stacked with sympathizers (note the gushing applause when one member mentioned spiking the filibuster).
One CNN staffer was seemingly distracted, as Donie O'Sullivan revealed where his focus had been last night. Once again, we learn that those who follow the conspiracy theorists the most closely are the members of the press.
Checked in on a QAnon forum after Biden mentioned QAnon at CNN Town Hall.
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) July 22, 2021
Discussion there has turned to how the person on stage isn’t really Biden….
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Anti-Social Media – NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
- Those sports reporters all look alike.
With the drama swirling around ESPN personality Maria Taylor culminating with her departure for NBC to work the Olympics, many in the media are eager to cover the histrionics. At NPR, however, they were less than diligent with their coverage. In posting a report on the Taylor move, they managed to post the wrong picture, featuring an image of Kimberly Martin instead.
I promise you, @NPR … That’s *not* Maria Taylor. It’s me. pic.twitter.com/DLIXW9SGSL
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) July 21, 2021
DNC PR Firm – VARIOUS OUTLETS
- A refreshing admission from a Democrat.
In preparation for the upcoming election, Democrat hopeful for governor of Florida Nikki Fried has been striving to gain traction with voters. She has been struggling to do so, as many of her efforts have been more embarrassing than effective.
Her method has been to try to score political hits on a popular Ron DeSantis, and in her latest bid to do so, she unintentionally reveals that hers is the party backed enthusiastically by the vast majority of the media.
Ron DeSantis has Fox News, but we have everyone else.
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) July 22, 2021
Florida will be blue in 2022.
One would think with that reality in place, Fried would have a much larger standing instead of struggling for notice.
Pre-written Field Report – BLOOMBERG
- He's a Republican, so he MUST have opposition to vaccines, right Tim?
There is a revealing flurry of activity in the press regarding a presser held yesterday by Ron DeSantis where he forcefully pushed for people to get vaccinated. Many are scoffing at his position, posturing like the governor has been a late arrival to this reality. Tim O'Brien of Bloomberg typified this attitude.
DeSantis - who signed a bill outlawing vaccine passports, blames “experts” for public distrust of vaccines, sells “Don’t Fauci My Florida” merch and was hesitant to disclose his own vaccination — wants you to know “vaccines are saving lives.” pic.twitter.com/yz7SPFTnsE
— Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) July 21, 2021
The problem with this scorn is that it flies directly in the face of reality and with the prior coverage by the press. DeSantis has been pushing to get people vaccinated from the time they have been available, and as his press secretary Christina Pushaw notes, the media has consistently attacked him regarding his vaccine enthusiasm.
The media in March: “DeSantis is too focused on vaccinating seniors! That’s racist!”
— Christina Pushaw (@ChristinaPushaw) July 22, 2021
The media in April: “DeSantis had Florida’s largest grocery chain distributing free vaccines! CORRUPTION!”
The media in July: “Today, for the first time ever, DeSantis spoke about vaccination.”
DNC PR Firm -- THE BULWARK
- Tim Miller, strawman warrior, strikes again.
The announcement of Nancy Pelosi tossing out the GOP members selected to be on the Capitol Riot Commission has been both newsworthy and revealing. The very idea that she wants to dictate who will be permitted to sit in on the sham process indicates that this is not an exploratory process but one that wants to establish preconceived opinions.
Over at The Bulwark, Tim Miller faced the revelation that this will be a far less bipartisan enterprise, and he did the only thing that comes naturally; he backed Pelosi and scorched the GOP in his trademark "True Conservative" fashion.
I guess the good news is that the bipartisanship cops have unintentionally done something clarifying. By unpersoning Liz Cheney as a Republican bc she thinks 1/6 was bad, they are defining the GOP accurately as a pro insurrection Party.
— Tim Miller (@Timodc) July 21, 2021
There is absolutely ZERO surprise that Miller would demand that Nancy's court be populated only with kangaroos.
Legalized Press-titution – CNN
- The reactions to anyone who dares critique St. Anthony Fauci tells the story.
On CNN's "Early Start," they had a panel discussion about the recent criticisms leveled at Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the producers made the mistake of inviting Mary Katherine Ham. She was not only willing to voice opposition to the deified doctor, but she brought hard evidence.
The hosts are worth the watch here, as their visible revulsion over this sacrilege is priceless.
.@mkhammer drops ABSOLUTE TRUTH BOMBS on CNN about Fauci.
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 22, 2021
Just look at their faces!
?? pic.twitter.com/5xxeIEuMOC
