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.
07.29.21 (Update)
Both Kinds Of Standards – CNN
- Well, Chris Cuomo will not criticize Gavin Newsom, so OF COURSE, he attacks a private business owner.
As California continues to spiral into varying degrees of dystopia, the Dem. Governor Gavin Newsom is under fire for an impending recall election, so Chris Cuomo had to run interference. He decided it would be clever to have on his show a restaurant owner who posted a sign outside his business that reads, “Proof of being UN-vaccinated required.”
While the under-blessed thinker Cuomo thought he would roast this man on national TV and make an example of him, he was not ready for Tony Roman to call out Chris for himself breaking pandemic protocols and even scorched his brother's policies.
Cuomo was reduced to insults and stammering, "I quarantined," but also, flustered, said, "I went out."
BOOM: CA restaurant owner calls out Chris Cuomo for breaking quarantine when he was infected with COVID last year. Fredo claimed he "quarantined" but added: "I went out." The restauranteur then called out Gov. Andrew Cuomo for killing New York nursing home residents. pic.twitter.com/ci5cqhl4gr
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) July 29, 2021
Both Kinds Of Standards – WASHINGTON POST
The Washington Post staff was on the mark in detailing President Biden making a call for expanded rules on federal government spending on American business interests. As he was making the bogus claim that he used to drive an 18-wheeler (attention: fact-checkers), Biden announced his plan to have the government invest more in U.S. manufacturing.
If this sounds like a familiar proposal, that is because it has echoes of a nearly identical plan made by President Trump. Then, however, The Post took an altogether different approach.
Joe Biden calls to have the federal government buy American, in an effort to expand US manufacturing. WaPo is completely on board with it.https://t.co/0jCOXH3AcZ
— Brad Slager - In Trouble More Than Pres. Biden (@MartiniShark) July 29, 2021
Yet when Donald Trump made the same call we were somehow a racist country for doing so.https://t.co/NFKGJBZCJY pic.twitter.com/ly2kFXF0jV
Anti-Social Media – POLITIFACT
- It looks like there is decreased demand for this.
PolitiFact has a new job posting they have announced on Twitter. Considering our coverage in this column, we can attest there is already a glut of misinformation in the media. But, it is healthy at least for PolitiFact to make this admission.
PolitiFact is hiring! Come join our misinformation team: https://t.co/EmBkRo23KO
— Bill McCarthy (@billdmccarthy) July 29, 2021
News Avoidance Syndrome – CBS NEWS
On CBS "This Morning," they gave an exploration into the new and expanding mask policies in California, giving Gov. Newsom ample air time to defend himself. They mentioned schools dictating kids will wear masks this year, despite the recent story of Newsom's son attending a camp maskless. He was permitted to spin the story and then wax indignant on camera, saying it is fine to attack him, but not his son.
Of course, not mentioned is that the entire reason Newsom is under fire and facing a possible recall election is because of his militant pandemic mandates. Also not addressed is his own history of evading his own masking rules and quarantine rules.
This piece would be considered an in-kind political donation by the FEC if they were to actually investigate this.
The rise of the Delta variant is forcing some tough decisions at the state level.
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) July 29, 2021
Nevada issued an emergency directive this week, mandating masks indoors in 12 counties.
In California, indoor masks are a recommendation in all but two counties, where they're required. pic.twitter.com/I2ft9ZemKY
DNC PR Firm – WASHINGTON POST
- The White House can shut down its media office – WaPo got this.
Most anyone with a wallet who's been in a store recently knows the economy is under siege. Gas prices have spiked, and raw goods are practically commodities. Inflation is growing and promised to be persistent, and jobs are still not being filled. Just the latest economic gut punch came today, as the GDP grew at only a 6.5% rate, falling well short of the projected 8.5%.
But at The Washington Post, they are trying to insist this is all great news.
There is no such thing as negative economics in a Joe Biden utopia.
The economy is officially recovered from the coronavirus pandemic.
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 29, 2021
For the first time since covid took hold, economic output eclipsed its pre-pandemic high, after adjusting for inflation.https://t.co/SGuTxvWS5o
07.29.21 (Original)
Prose & Contradiction – CNN
The reflexive defense of the president and Democrats is a practiced method in the press. What is less practiced – remembering prior positions a journalist has held on a topic. One case study is from one of our favorites, CNN's Chris Cillizza, who thinks it is outlandish if anyone suggests the president may be unfit for office...er, today.
Cillizza is upset with some of those on the Right he deems to be conspiracy nuts, including Republican Ronny Jackson. Chris is upset at the Texas politician "irresponsibly speculating" about the mental health of President Biden and mentioning whether the 25th Amendment should be invoked. He calls this dangerous and brings up the Capitol riot commission as evidence.
Interesting, considering Cillizza addressed these very same matters in January, yet he stood on the exact opposite side of the same issue. When GOP lawmakers were opposing talk of impeachment and invoking the 25th Amendment in early January, Cillizza declared this to be "bonkers" and a "ridiculous argument." And likewise, he called it dangerous and brought up the Capitol riot commission as evidence.
Well said!!
— Jeff F ???? (@jfence69) January 12, 2021
The bonkers Republican logic on why Trump shouldn't be impeached https://t.co/7YWXbsUJCh
DNC PR Firm – WASHINGTON POST
The obsession and hyperbole over the Capitol riot commission in the press are entirely expected, but it is no less amusing to see the desperate efforts to appear rational and impartial while also hyping all of the Democratic Party talking points. Margaret Sullivan must have pulled something as she worked to contort logic in her piece on the commission.
The first dose of comedy is her presenting this witch hunt, kangaroo court commission as a soulful intent to investigate the event and find out the facts as to how and why it happened. Then in the face of Nancy Pelosi chasing off Republicans from the panel, Sullivan pretends that it is only the Republicans who are acting in bad faith.
- "This strain of news coverage, observed Jon Allsop in Columbia Journalism Review, centers on twinned, dubious implications: “That bipartisanship is desirable and that Democrats bear responsibility for upholding it — even in the face of explicit Republican obstructionism."
Her entire piece is filled with bromides and examples that explain her position that journalists no longer need to be bipartisan and even-handed in their coverage in the name of preserving democracy. Of course, this means that she starts from the position that Republicans are trying to destroy our democracy.
- "Mainstream journalists want their work to be perceived as fair-minded and nonpartisan. They want to defend themselves against charges of bias. So they equalize the unequal. This practice seems so ingrained as to be unresolvable. There is a way out. But it requires the leadership of news organizations to radically reframe the mission of its Washington coverage."
Her solution is to approach everything from the standpoint that the GOP is in the wrong, and this way, journalists will be able to report honestly in an unbiased fashion.
Our democracy is under attack. Washington journalists must stop treating it like politics as usual. …I offer a prescription for how news-organization leadership can radically reframe its coverage. … My column: https://t.co/XYGI8BvIEd
— ?? Margaret Sullivan (@Sulliview) July 28, 2021
Gilded Reframe – CNN
On the dismal morning show "New Day," Brian Stelter appeared to rave about the ratings CNN was looking at as a result of people tuning in for the Capitol riot committee hearing. Not only was this laughable considering his "Reliable Sources" just experienced two of the worst weeks of the year, but "New Day" has been getting disgraced.
The show, which was created years ago by supposed morning show wizard Jeff Zucker, has gone from struggling perennially to nearing historic levels of bad. The recent ratings have taken it to lows not seen since 2014.
CNN Talks About Fox Ratings on ‘New Day,’ Its Morning Show Disaster That Has Become Even Worse https://t.co/ZpvYlmGDQp
— RedState (@RedState) July 29, 2021
Pulitzer Prize Nomination – THE NEW YORK TIMES
- A human hamster wheel washed up on the beach – but then it makes sense.
It is the kind of headline that initially has people scratching heads, asking loud questions, and wondering what is happening. But then all of that settles down with the inclusion of two words.
"Florida Man."
Reza Baluchi has a dream, in the name of charity, to "run" across the ocean from Florida to New York City. In his attempt to do so, it involves a large cage encased inside a homemade paddle wheel, which he would pilot from St. Augustine, Florida, to Bermuda, and then ultimately New York. The effort did not end well.
Florida being Florida-y again #blessed https://t.co/ezK4mjrQmS
— Lindsay Cohen (she/her) (@lindsaycohen) July 28, 2021
Reporting On The Mirror – MIAMI HERALD
That the press has been uniquely focused on Ron DeSantis has become evident, and it is especially so within the state of Florida. The local media have been striving to find the hit on the governor that will derail his reelection, all while pimping energetically for Democratic opponents Nikki Fried and Charlie Crist.
In their latest effort, we learn the nefarious details behind DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw and how she came to get the job. She – well, she applied for it.
- "If there are any openings on the governor's comms team, I would love to throw my hat in the ring," Pushaw wrote. She attached her resume to the email, which was obtained by the Herald/Times in a records request."
Dogged reporting, that.
ICYMI: On March 19, Christina Pushaw wrote an email to Gov. DeSantis’ then-press secretary, ready to make a move.
— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) July 28, 2021
She was an admirer of the governor — and the way he dealt with unflattering press coverage.
By May 10, she had the job of press secretary. https://t.co/QlbQ0ASJiE
