"Riffed from the Headlines" is 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.
09.29.21
Low Octane Gas Lighting – CNN
- If there is one subject Cuomo should avoid discussing, it is journalistic accountability.
During their nightly handoff segment between shows, Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon were outraged over conservatives who say they have been censored. Don Lemon went on at length about how he feels that social media should be regulated, clearly targeting those on the Right all while being oblivious as to how this type of restriction on expression can come back and affect a TV pundit who relies on the First Amendment in order to earn his living.
Cuomo came in with even deeper levels of delusion. In referencing Fox News, he denigrated the network personalities by saying they are nothing more than entertainment, not journalism. The man who appeared on camera with his brother and a prop cotton swab in a comedy routine just said that. Then he went further.
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- LEMON "They say what they want. They put headlines and things and write about things."
CUOMO: "They say it's opinion. This is all opinion."
LEMON: "Most people…we would never even put it on, give it the light of day…"
CUOMO: "That's because we have news accountability. That's the 'Fox farce.' Their whole nighttime lineup is entertainment."
He actually said that. The man who has repeatedly come under fire for journalistic ethical issues by hosting his brother and working to aid his defense against sexual harassment charges – without suffering any punishment – says they are accountable. This is the network that employs Jeffrey Toobin. This is the same Cuomo who hosted the liar Rebekah Jones and just last week told the lie about border agents whipping people. But now, CNN has accountability.
Trying to discredit censorship of conservatives, Cuomo and Lemon lash out at right-wing media, claim "they have no real protocol" for journalistic ethics. Lemon says, "We would never even put" false claims on TV. Cuomo adds: " That's because we have news accountability." pic.twitter.com/K5q45fZ2Il
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) September 29, 2021
DNC PR Firm – NBC NEWS
- They could have called the night 'Meet The Benefactors'.
Last night host of "Meet The Press" Chuck "Don't You Dare Call the Press Biased" Todd moderated the Virginia gubernatorial debate. He makes for an interesting choice – read, controversial choice – given that Todd's wife, Kristian Todd, is a donor to Democratic candidates in the state and runs a consulting firm that has worked with Dems over a number of election cycles.
But if you suggest there is a conflict of interest for Todd, it will just make him cranky.
Chuck Todd, walking/talking Conflict of Interest, is moderating a debate in Virginia tonight....despite Mrs. Todd's long history of advising/donating to Virginia Democrats. https://t.co/KnDSXi0ngP
— NewsBusters (@newsbusters) September 28, 2021
Body Checking The Fact Checkers – WASHINGTON POST
- Is it considered a fact-check when you imply something is wrong?!
President Biden has found himself in a PR nightmare over quotes regarding the Afghanistan debacle. His generals have testified under oath that they advised him to keep 2,500 troops on the ground in that country to help stabilize the region. Biden, however, claimed he was never advised as such, and even his spokesperson Jen Psaki has stated this to be the case – despite there being a video of the interview when he did say as such.
In his desperation to aid Biden, WaPo's Glenn Kessler tries to imply that Biden does not actually say this, but he stops well short of issuing a definitive fact-check on the matter at the same time.
FWIW, Biden's answers are imprecise and it's not clear exactly what he's referencing. He could be answering the 2,500-troop question. People should watch the full clip and judge for themselves.
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) September 28, 2021
This is just so great. Kessler contends that an edit in the exchange changes the context, then backs away and essentially says, "Go figure it out for yourself." This is on par with social media trolls who make wild claims and then tell you to Google something to prove them correct.
Reporting on the Mirror – NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
- We should expect no better when a media expert defends another media expert from a FoxNews "attack."
Over at NPR, David Folkenflik took dire exception to something Fox News tweeted out. The network pushed out an article noting how poorly CNN's Brian Stelter appeared in the ratings for his show "Reliable Sources," which had some of the lowest figures for the year in August.
Folkenflik found this to be unseemly because Fox dared to tweet out this article from their primary account. The problem? No one is really sure. But it appears that David considers this to be some sort of ethical violation. Brian Stelter dedicating his career to slamming and slandering Fox is acceptable, but this tweet somehow crossed a line of decency.
This is sent out by Fox News's primary Twitter account - 20MM+ followers - simply to disparage a rival media host who is frequently critical of the rhetoric on Fox.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) September 28, 2021
Zero separation of news/PR here. https://t.co/u8YVEBrLCj
Glossary Over Things – ROLLING STONE
In a lengthy report on the NBA struggling over its Covid vaccine requirements, the journalistically challenged magazine takes a decidedly biased position. In detailing a number of players wishing to opt-out of getting the shots, they reach the same conclusion – they are anti-vaxxers. Despite no one in the article campaigning against getting the shot, any player not wanting it for themself is dubbed in this fashion.
This position of making a choice for oneself makes one an advocate against the shots is backed up by legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who takes things even further by saying, "By not encouraging their people to get the vaccine, they're contributing to these deaths."
Conspiracy theories in the locker room. Mask police in the arena. Superstars trying to avoid the shot. After bringing back the culture from Covid, The NBA confronts its own civil war https://t.co/iNWfCQFLOf
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 26, 2021
Anti-Social Media – DAILY BEAST
- Facebook needs a 12-step program to deal with its conservative "problem."
On the site's podcast, Molly Jong-Fast spoke with Kevin Roose of The New York Times about how dastardly it is that Ben Shapiro, Dan Bongino, and numerous other conservative pundits are just so damn popular on the Facebook platform. Apparently, their having an audience is a problem.
- "The difference with Facebook is that it doesn't want to admit that it's [conservative-leaning] AM talk radio or that it's a cable company whose biggest show is Sean Hannity."
The first step is admitting it to Facebook.
How Long Until Ben Shapiro Becomes CEO of Facebook? - The Daily Beast https://t.co/PATrGgGBbz
— David Habbel (@DrDavidHabbel) September 28, 2021
