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"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.
11.10.21
Presentation Paradox – THE BULWARK
Charlie Sykes, the Captain Stubing of the good ship The S.S. Bulwark, is remarkably short on mirrors. In his newsletter, Chaz has what sounds like a sane and sober perspective on our current climate.
- "The numbers suggest this thought bubble: Can we handle optimism? Or have we become too addicted to outrage, anger, and alarm? Do the incentives of our political culture militate against any sense that 'happy days' may actually be on the way? Bill Kristol made what I thought was an interesting point, when he questioned whether Democrats were able to push an upbeat, optimistic message while they were also insisting that we urgently needed transformational policies."
Yes, it would be nice to see optimism and positivity – just not sure Charlie here is the source for such introspection. This is because in the section before his treacly positivity, Chaz was railing against Aaron Rodgers, calling him "a selfish, narcissistic crackpot," and went further from there.
- "Most of us here in Packerland are old enough to remember when Rodgers was considered a smart, talented guy. What happened? Maybe he was always nuts. Or maybe celebrity, narcissism, and head-trauma led him into a weird cul-de-sac of self-reinforcing craziness."
I think it is safe to say that Sykes is one who cannot handle optimism.
Morning Shots: WTF's Wrong With Aaron Rodgers?
— Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) November 7, 2021
Plus: the rage against bipartisanship.https://t.co/zcTKXViXab
Anti-Social Media – WASHINGTON POST
The Washington Post recently put out a lengthy piece about the president of Barstool Sports, Dave Portnoy. It concerned a sexual assault case brought against him, and there was a small disclaimer noted in the copy. "Portnoy declined to comment for this story after The Post declined his terms for conducting an interview."
There was no further explanation, but after the piece ran, Portnoy provided his version of the failed transaction. WaPo declined to allow Portnoy to record the interview. The question that needs to be asked is if this is, in fact, true, why would the paper object to that parameter?
Washpo - “Portnoy declined to comment for this story after The Post declined his terms for conducting an interview.”
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) November 9, 2021
My terms were let me record interview so you can’t cut and edit. Same thing I offered to let Business Insider do. Weird how nobody but me will accept these terms
News Avoidance Syndrome – CNN
In a piece on the official announcement that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was going to run for reelection, CNN built in the intrigue that does not, in fact, exist. This non-news event could have been tossed in the "Foregone Conclusion" file, but then the ignorance arrived right up front. Opening the piece, Steve Contorno gave this gripping account – "Setting the stage for what is expected to be one of the country's most closely watched and expensive gubernatorial races of 2022."
Apparently, Steve missed the memo that the Democrats announced they would not be dropping money into the race, seeing it as a non-starter for the party as they regard DeSantis as an overwhelming favorite.
— Steve Ferguson (@lsferguson) November 5, 2021
DNC PR Firm – NBC NEWS
Consider, first, the amount of time we have been lectured by journalists that we need to adhere to the advice of medical professionals and ardently follow the science. Okay then – explain these same journalists getting upset because people are not showing deference to Big Bird telling kids to get the Covid vaccine.
A fictional character telling us that he – a puppet – has received the vaccine is not exactly the solemn words of an epidemiologist. After falsely claiming some notables had taken a horse deworming medication, they are fully in support of telling kids a medicine for a felt puppet is perfectly acceptable.
Big Bird's vaccination announcement sparks backlash from conservatives, GOP https://t.co/7s7POlvDq5
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) November 8, 2021
Reporting on the Mirror – CNN
- When the press has less of a responsibility than those who read the press.
On "Reliable Sources," Brian Stelter had a panel to discuss the new spending bill and the way it is received by the general public. One panelist was CNN contributing historian Nicole Hemmer, who tried to pontificate where the burden of knowledge rested on this matter. Brian had to be happy that she gave the press barely a mention, but it was done at the expense of common sense.
It is unclear how consumers of media have a much greater level of responsibility than the media themselves, but she did her proper signaling on Brian's media cheerleading program.
A recent poll "showed that 57% of people had no idea what was in the Build Back Better bill."
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 7, 2021
"Some of that is on readers and consumers of media," some is on politicians, but "journalists have a role" to play too, @pastpunditry says pic.twitter.com/Zm59K044ZH
Legalized Press-titution – MOTHER JONES
The press had a gushing response to this week's Saturday Night Live episode, from a host from a press-based drama to an abortion clown. Yea, they were giddy. At Mother Jones, Dan Spinelli saw more to rave about – SNL finally has a great impersonator of Donald Trump! You know, ten months after he completed his four-year stint, but whatever. Hey, what can they do when, after all, Joe Biden is not providing them with ample pieces of material numerous times every single day he is in office?
SNL finally has a truly great Trump impersonator https://t.co/TqzSUt7vkT
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) November 9, 2021
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