"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.
10.04.21
Low Octane Gas Lighting – CNN
During one of his dwindling weekend broadcasts on CNN Newsroom, Jim Acosta shocked no one by lashing out at Fox News. James invoked the 700K death figure for Covid and laid the entire blame for the last 100,000 deaths at the feet of Fox News because he's a journalist. But then he went from being wing-nut hysterical to just flat-out wrong.
He wanted to display how the network was hypocritical by suggesting they require their employees to wear masks while coaching viewers to disregard them and the vaccine – so they will die, goes his logic. Then he displayed an image from inside Fox offices in Washington, D.C., with most of the employees wearing masks. He tried to sound critical of their alleged hypocrisy, but he also failed to provide a pertinent detail.
In D.C., office workers are required to wear masks, so the Fox image he was railing about showed the workers obeying a local ordinance, not the company mandating something. Additionally, Jim was not so critical of the mayor of D.C., who has been reported violating her own mask ordinance.
A different “replacement theory” to ponder... If you constantly feed your viewers or your constituents Covid lies some of them will die. A few thoughts as the US hits 700,000 dead… on where many of them lived and what they watched: https://t.co/Dq9Mm0mIVS
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) October 2, 2021
Blue-Anon – ROLLING STONE
To say that many in the press have been struggling with basic civics as a result of a couple of Democratic senators voting independent of the party leadership commands is becoming redundant at the point. Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin's refusal to knuckle under Democrat commands and lectures from the media have sent many journalists into a confounding spiral. Taking the lead in the most hysterical response, however, is Jeff Goodell of Rolling Stone.
More than livelihoods, lives, or even a threat to democracy itself, Goodell came to the only logical conclusion of what this means – Joe Manchin wants to eradicate the entire planet.
- "Unless Manchin changes his negotiating position dramatically in the near future, he will be remembered as the man who, when the moment of decision came, chose to condemn virtually every living creature on Earth to a hellish future of suffering, hardship, and death."
While everyone would agree this is rather hysterical, most would suggest that Goodell was hyperbolic to draw some attention. He does not actually believe this. He was not literal when he said that…
Oh, wait. He was.
- "West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin just cooked the planet. I don't mean that in a metaphorical sense. I mean that literally."
Joe Manchin just cooked the planet. https://t.co/aAB6o3OUhL
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) October 1, 2021
Gilded Reframe – POLITICO
- A more accurate map can be found on a diner placemat.
Joining in on the chorus of those who believe that it is JUST Sinema and Manchin, and not 52 senators, who are opposing the immense infrastructure spending bill, here enters Politico cartoonist Matt Wuercker. Now granted, this is considered to be political satire and thus not to be taken literally, but the sheer amount of ignorance needed to sell this impression means it is a failed attempt. Basically, to find the amusement here, you need to have a stunted grasp on politics that is below "Schoolhouse Rock" levels of understanding.
Since a couple Senators have such outsized influence maybe we need a more accurate map of our political geography.... pic.twitter.com/JpiESQi8eL
— Matt Wuerker (@wuerker) October 1, 2021
Stealth Story Evolution – ASSOCIATED PRESS
As the Autumnal spike in Covid cases continues to affect new states, there is a notable change in the coverage. The surge is now beginning to be experienced in the Northeast region, and this leads to an issue for reporters, given some of the data seen in the area.
- "According to statistics from The Associated Press, the five states with the highest percentage of a fully vaccinated population are all in New England, with Vermont leading, followed by Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. New Hampshire is 10th."
This leads to a shift in the messaging. OUT is the dastardly policies of GOP governors leading to these increases. IN is the blame being placed on the pernicious nature of the virus.
Despite having some of the highest vaccination rates in the U.S., the six New England states are still grappling with a surge of cases due to the delta variant. In some areas, hospitalizations are approaching the pandemic peak and ICUs are filling up. https://t.co/dE3hXsTrRF
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 3, 2021
So in New England, it is the variant, not politics, leading to the spike in positive cases. And in those Southern States like Florida and Texas where they are seeing the seasonal drop taking place – without any change in policies – there is silence from the press about this stark change for some reason.
First Amendment Strike Force – DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
The desire to keep erasing our past continues, as do little social activists feel the need to have altering an institution on their resume. At the campus newspaper on the University of Mississippi, editor Hal Fox has taken exception with the problematics he sees – with the school name.
In an editorial that was lambasting the school for its affiliation with Trent Lott, there was also this strained attempt to impugn the common designation applied to the university.
- "The university's recent efforts to recognize its racist past and remove its symbols are commendable, but this work must be continued. There is so much work to be done, to the point where even the name 'Ole Miss' has been highly discussed, as it is a term slaves would use for the wife of the plantation owner."
This is the kind of thing most people would not even know about since most people hear the term and instantly regard it as shorthand for the state's name. The main way for the general public to become aware of a racist connotation is when these hysterics bring it up. The real amusement comes from the listing of all the various ways Ole Miss has to contend with a deeply racist past and the numerous examples of racism which still exist – by Hal Fox, who nonetheless elected to attend the school in spite of all these triggering problematics.
“If Ole Miss wants to continue to atone for its association with segregation politics and racism, it needs to sever its ties with Trent Lott,” writes opinion columnist Hal Fox.https://t.co/V9XZL28zBY
— The Daily Mississippian (@thedm_news) September 27, 2021
DNC PR Firm – NBC SPORTS
- This means they have been chanting for a NASCAR driver at college football games for a month now.
It has become a regular feature at sporting events to hear a crowd begin chanting an invective toward the president of the United States. Videos from MLB games and football stadiums hear fans in unison saying, "F*** - Joe - Biden." So it was with very little surprise that at a NASCAR race this weekend, the now-familiar refrain was heard, and, with very little success, the on-track reporter attempted to spin what was being heard.
At the conclusion of Saturday's Xfinity race at Darlington Speedway, winner Brandon Brown spoke with the NBC reporter, and she attempted to recast what was clearly being heard from the grandstands.
NBC reporter attempts desperate damage control as crowd chants “F Joe Biden” pic.twitter.com/1iYZel4zFT
— Jewish Deplorable (@TrumpJew2) October 3, 2021
Pulitzer Prize Nomination – NEW YORK POST
Occasionally, we get a news report that really casts the proper perspective on just how much we have lost culturally as a result of the global pandemic. This is not such a news report.
Considering all of the things we have had to go without, all of the businesses that have shuttered, and all the various sacrifices and other items we have had to forego in response to this outbreak, the not-so-dire news out of Europe barely will move the needle.
Clown shortage reported in Northern Ireland amid COVID-19 lockdown https://t.co/y3yi84vFsN pic.twitter.com/JmqwPG3Jdp
— New York Post (@nypost) October 3, 2021
