"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. (For a VIP discount, drop SLAGER in the signup form.)
11.15.21
Pre-written Field Reports – CNN
- One anecdotal example is enough for Brian Stelter to disprove Biden's supply chain crisis.
With the holidays approaching, Joe Biden is absorbing harsh criticism on two economic fronts – steep inflation and the lack of availability of certain goods. Note my use of the term "certain." Items like car parts, durable items, select gifts and food are in shorter supply. That is not to say everything is in short supply, but Brian Stelter has managed to dispel all of the blame on Biden through one shining example – his store has milk! Ergo (Latin), there is no supply problem!
"The supply chain!" she exclaims, looking for milk for 2-year-old
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 13, 2021
"Look at this amazing, overflowing abundance," he responds pic.twitter.com/g4haMj0VT2
It is unclear which is the more lunkheaded position by him: that he thinks a particular item in full stock at a lone store is a sign of no supply problems, or that he is suggesting our domestic milk supply derives from China and is sent via shipping containers on cargo ships.
Recommended
Blue-Anon – CNN / STELTER, Part Deux
- The major media story of the week ignored by the "major" media reporter at CNN.
One of the bigger stories about the media has been the exposure of the fraud behind the infamous Steele dossier. The Durham Report has forced the Russian source – Igor Danchenko – into the open, and he's facing indictments for perjuring himself with the FBI. As major media outlets that subsisted for years on the Steele dossier to deliver countless bombshell reports about President Trump now appear entirely discredited, you would think the man charged with covering the press would find this an absorbing topic.
Not so much. But – the man who loves to tell us what stories Fox News is not covering did find a way to clear out a lengthy segment on his "Reliable Sources" broadcast to cover the antics of MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. He spent over eight broadcast minutes on the man few on the Right even listen to anymore, including an interview with Zachary Petrizzo, who noted conservative outlets were distancing themselves from Lindell. But Stelter and Petrizzo are here to give Lindell's boasts air time.
CNN's @brianstelter takes a look into MyPillow CEO and avid Trump supporter Mike Lindell's show and the 2020 election lies he continues to push. "He sells false hope." pic.twitter.com/82ol8688Pe
— Reliable Sources (@ReliableSources) November 14, 2021
Stealth Story Evolution – WASHINGTON POST
Keeping the segue theme going, The Washington Post was one news outlet forced to acknowledge that the Steele dossier was complete crap. The paper has gone through the unusual step of not only severely restructuring two major articles – altering headlines, eliminating huge segments, and removing corresponding media such as videos – but also republishing the fully amended pieces.
- "The story's headline was amended, sections identifying Millian as the source were removed, and an accompanying video summarizing the article was eliminated. An editor's note explaining the changes was added. Other stories that made the same assertion were corrected as well."
All told, about a dozen or so WaPo articles are being reedited. However, what is not addressed is that two reporters are named specifically by The Post – Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger – and they were included in the team that was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for this specific coverage. The blowback from this dossier exposure should be widespread across the media landscape.
The Washington Post corrects, removes parts of two stories regarding the Steele dossier https://t.co/LneOvwKs6r
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 12, 2021
DNC PR Firm – BLOOMBERG
With the supply chain issues expanding, Bloomberg News managed to see what the real problem is with these shortages of goods – it's all the fault of consumers.
You see, we have become too accustomed to needing or wanting things and then going out and purchasing those items.
- "When the economy falters, we're told spending is our patriotic duty. But suddenly, Americans can't spend like they used to. Store shelves are emptying, and it can take months to find a car, refrigerator or sofa. If this continues, we may need to learn to do without — and, horrors, live more like the Europeans."
It takes real skill to completely miss the very point you are making, and to do so within one sentence, as well. See, Americans are not able to do that very patriotic duty because we lack those items to purchase in order to fix this economic problem. So to attempt to blame citizens who are incapable of fixing this particular challenge is as impotent of an explanation as it gets.
Also, if Europe is such an economic Utopia, it is curious that the writer is not plying their trade on that continent.
Suddenly, Americans can’t spend like they used to. Store shelves are emptying, and it can take months to find a car, refrigerator or sofa.
— Bloomberg Opinion (@bopinion) November 13, 2021
If this continues, we may need to — gasp! — live more like the Europeans. That actually might not be a bad thing https://t.co/mfT9ZI9sgz pic.twitter.com/Mormyd8dxj
Legalized Press-titution – REUTERS
That other thorny issue that is a drag on Biden's approval numbers – inflation – is another problem the press is dutifully trying to offset elsewhere in order to excuse President Softserve. Reuters obediently spends a lengthy feature echoing the White House talking point that inflation is not Joe's fault.
See, it has not been his policies and profligate payouts diluting the dollar and making goods scarce at the same time. It is all the blame on that darned pandemic! It is completely out of his control. Of course, nowhere in the Reuters excuse-making do we see anything approaching critical commentary about the man who boldly declared that he would single-handedly end the pandemic.
Biden advisers say pandemic, not policies, fueling inflation https://t.co/l826nXMVW0 pic.twitter.com/eVxuzfvPZp
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 14, 2021
Anti-Social Media – WASHINGTON POST
- Maybe if Jennifer Rubin becomes more shrill, that would repair her disheveled reputation.
WaPo's resident punchline and former conservative Jenn Rubin is straining to regain whatever iota of relevancy she may have once possessed. Following the drubbing her preferred Democrats took in the recent off-year election, Rubin has not handled the results well.
So unhinged as she has become, it is reflecting in a curious decision – all of her imbalanced column writing has not delivered the expected results; therefore, the best solution is to act even more untethered from reality to get people to change their minds. Her newest proposal is to now cover the Republican Party, entirely, as if they are not normal. The very obvious flaw is that Rubin being the arbiter of what is considered normal will never deliver sane results.
.@JRubinBlogger calls for "rules" that would prohibit media outlets from treating Republicans as "normal" pic.twitter.com/iZVgMOd81I
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 13, 2021
