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.
08.11.21 (Original)
Body Checking The Fact Checkers – POLITIFACT
Some entries age like fine yogurt forgotten in the trunk of a car at the airport. The Texas State Supreme Court just ruled that it is perfectly legal to arrest the Democratic legislators who fled the state, and GOP House Speaker Dade Phelan signed arrest warrants for the 52 delinquent Democratic state representatives.
As a result, this PolitiFact attempted dunk on Sen. Ted Cruz, where they labeled his claim that there is legal authority to arrest the fugitive politicians as FALSE, is looking absolutely embarrassing. If only they had looked into the facts…
.@SenTedCruz said "there is clear legal authority to handcuff and put in leg irons legislators that are trying to stop the legislature from being able to do business." False. There is no legal clarity. https://t.co/E5TnK9KOQG pic.twitter.com/dxBk9obLR1
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) July 16, 2021
Legalized Press-titution – LA TIMES
The administration has been struggling with the disappearing approval of Vice President Kamala Harris, and the effect has spread to the media. Following her border work debacle, Harris has seen her approval numbers turn negative, and as her public display becomes toxic, the media have been going quiet.
One of the most fawning sources has been the LA Times, which had established a dedicated Instagram portal to celebrate the magnificence of the vice president when she took office and a webpage at the paper for her content.
Introducing 'Covering Kamala Harris' from the Los Angeles Times https://t.co/n8NlV2BqXP
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) January 20, 2021
Fox News' Joseph Wulfsohn has noticed the shrine has become rather quiet over the past few months, with barely any features of late, and even the broader coverage of her in the paper has been dwindling.
- The Instagram account...has not been updated since May 28, less than two weeks before her now-infamous interview with NBC's Lester Holt where she was grilled about not visiting the U.S. southern border.
When even her most ardent fans in the media are running away...
CODE RED: If Kamala Harris Is Completely Underwater, Can Anyone Still Hear Her Cackle? https://t.co/BANMsLSSTR
— RedState (@RedState) August 1, 2021
News Avoidance Syndrome – VARIOUS MEDIA
- Nobody mention the doddering man wandering off the sidewalk.
There was plenty of mention across social media of the video showing Joe Biden returning to the White House, missing the direction of a Secret Service agent as he walks off the end of a sidewalk and through the garden. There was just hardly any mention in the press.
The Hill was like the rest of the media outlets who found nothing at all worthy of mentioning the blatant display.
President Biden returns to the White House after spending time in Wilmington, Delaware pic.twitter.com/RopGCgStGR
— The Hill (@thehill) August 10, 2021
Both Kinds Of Standards – VARIOUS OUTLETS
President Biden gave a press conference today with numerous journalists in attendance. Many of the questions he fielded from the press concerned various aspects of mask mandates. Nearly every single time a question was asked about requiring masks to be worn, reporters removed their masks.
Happening Now: The President and Vice President deliver remarks on the Senate’s passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. https://t.co/Hk42tLoOES
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 10, 2021
08.11.21 (Original)
Reporting on the Mirror – CNN
- While Brian Stelter is expected to be a hack, he managed to go even lower in the standards.
Maybe it was unfortunate timing, but Brian Stelter had previously been scheduled to appear on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," and then Andrew Cuomo went and resigned ahead of his appearance. This meant discussing his brother and CNN colleague Chris Cuomo was inevitable. It did not go well for Stelter – at all.
To his credit, Colbert was actually asking some of the needed questions. That Stelter squirmed while making every excuse possible for Chris was evident...and rather amusing. They brought up the phone calls Chris sat in on with his brother's team, saying he was alleged to have done so. Well, no, it is not "alleged;" the NY attorney general report showed he was, in fact, involved directly. Stelter said he could confirm he was on the calls – except he bypassed the bigger story, that Chris was shown to have actually written the messaging from the governor's office.
Then when Stelter explained he has not spoken with Chris, his explanation was, "You got to have boundaries, you gotta draw lines." Colbert then sniped, "Why?! He doesn't!"
Colbert asked how Andrew Cuomo was permitted to appear on Chris' show, and Stelter could not be more weasley about the issue.
- "I think it's really complicated. It is an odd conflict. If we open up the journalism ethics book, there is no page for this. This was definitely awkward for CNN."
This is CNN's supposed media expert who is saying there are no clear ethical violations seen from Chris – despite his having to apologize on the air and restrict his coverage. The ethical problems are a complete mystery to Stelter.
TONIGHT: @BrianStelter talks about the "wide range of opinions" inside CNN regarding anchor Chris Cuomo's coverage of his brother Andrew. #LSSC pic.twitter.com/27Z02RTNa3
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) August 11, 2021
Presentation Paradox – MSNBC
- Just take Joy Reid's word on the issue, don't listen to experts on her panel.
The resignation of Andrew Cuomo continues to be a vexing matter for journalists who adored the man for years. Among those grappling was Joy Reid, who on her program "The Reid Out," attempted to spin it as an example of Democrats holding their own people to a higher ethical standard than does the Republican Party.
.@JoyAnnReid: #Cuomo's exit is a product of Democrats holding their own to higher standards. #reiders https://t.co/4Ovk0kYuHt
— The ReidOut (@thereidout) August 11, 2021
Suuuuuure, Joy. Only problem with this attempt is that she had on her program a panel to discuss the larger issue, and among them was Ronan Farrow, who detailed many of Cuomo's issues, some dating back to 2014.
- "You have layers and layers of arrogance and misconduct here. Right up to the edge of obstruction of justice. These are actions that alarmed people along the way for years, and yet this is also someone who really was able to maintain a vice grip on power."
.@RonanFarrow on his reporting on new #Cuomo allegations: "I think it's telling that the Democratic Party in New York, and politicians of all stripes, allowed #AndrewCuomo to bully in this way." #TheReidOut #reiders pic.twitter.com/qi7wOGcqph
— The ReidOut (@thereidout) August 10, 2021
Artesanal-Crafted Narratives – POLITICO
There are all kinds of absolutes in the press. Men are always sexists, Republicans are racist by default, any bad events have a worse effect on minorities, and just about everything is bad for the environment.
In the case of the last example, we come to learn that the growing trend of pot-growing – a result of the push to legalize marijuana – has run into a huge snag. Politico is here to clear the smoke and show us that pot may be bad for the environment.
- Marijuana has never been more popular in the U.S. — and its carbon emissions have never posed a bigger threat to the climate. And as states increasingly embrace marijuana, a growing source of greenhouse gases is going essentially unnoticed by climate hawks on Capitol Hill.
We await word from AOC as to where on the chart of serious offenses this ranks in relation to cow flatulence.
Federal laws bar cannabis from crossing state lines, driving up the cost — and the emissions — of an industry using indoor grow operations https://t.co/x9ueqLLRQ4
— POLITICO (@politico) August 10, 2021
Anti-Social Media – VARIOUS OUTLETS
The other problem with DC Comics announcing that the icon of Robin was going to be a bisexual character now is that the publisher has not learned the lesson that Marvel Comics experienced. It has been for years now that Marvel has suffered book sales dropping as a result of going on a woke agenda. The anti-Trump stories, identity politics with characters, and activism plotlines led comic book store owners to tell Marvel that its woke agenda was not selling.
But DC thinks this will lead to some kind of populism demand. Aside from the duped collectors, this will not lead to massive sales figures.
Tim Drake, a.k.a. Robin of DC comics, comes out as bisexual in the new 'Batman: Urban Legends' anthology. https://t.co/zBGs8URFuI
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) August 10, 2021
Pounce Of Prevention – NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
- Those on the Right are the problem once again for noticing Democrat scandals.
Eric Deggans of NPR has some stern words for those conservatives who dare say anything critical about the Andrew Cuomo resignation. Harsh words for Cuomo are not in as abundant supply.
One of the oddest things about today - when Democrats pressured a popular Democratic governor into resigning after multiple allegations of sexual harassment - is seeing conservative pundits twists themselves in knots to still criticize Dems for taking action. pic.twitter.com/5Tkrri5T9l
— Eric Deggans at NPR (@Deggans) August 10, 2021
News Avoidance Syndrome – THE HILL
In an itemized report on the July price spikes seen across the economy, The Hill was coy about some other specifics. Notably not seen is any reference to the White House insisting at the time that Americans were seeing a drop in food prices for the items they would be buying for their 4th of July celebrations.
Planning a cookout this year? Ketchup on the news. According to the Farm Bureau, the cost of a 4th of July BBQ is down from last year. It’s a fact you must-hear(d). Hot dog, the Biden economic plan is working. And that’s something we can all relish. pic.twitter.com/7h9qLauIbC
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 1, 2021
