"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.)
11.19.21
DNC PR Firm – POLITICO
- Devil is in the details you do not cover.
As the field gets set for the 2022 gubernatorial race in Florida, the Democratic Party candidates are already trying to damage Governor Ron DeSantis – and already the press is already showing they are willing to help them out. The latest example is a contrived uproar over the gas prices in the state and the notice that the state gasoline tax will increase after New Year's by one-half of a cent per gallon.
Contenders Nikki Fried and Charlie Crist saw this reported by Gary Fineout of Politico Florida, and they pounced on the news, declaring it an outrage that DeSantis was raising the gas tax when Floridians are suffering. Okay, Democrats complaining about a tax increase is just...hilarious to start with. But both of these political geniuses are either ignorant of or lying about the reality that there is a state law that ties the gas tax with the Consumer Price Index. That is, the tax has to rise with inflation, and the governor does not control this.
Even as Fineout covered this in his entry, he was still dutiful about detailing Crist issuing a complaint. Crist wants DeSantis to violate the law, and he's calling for the governor to rescind the increase for the holidays when it does not take effect until after the holidays.
Also noted in Playbook....
— Gary Fineout (@fineout) November 18, 2021
As gas prices remain high - Florida's Department of Revenue announced on Wednesday that the state's gas taxes will go up on Jan. 1. Move came the same day @CharlieCrist called on @GovRonDeSantis to suspend those taxes for the holidays.
Pathological Media Amnesia – CNN
- How the president is BOTH helpless and heroic on the same topic within days.
You just have to wonder sometimes. It might make sense there's the desire to defend the president when bad news arrives or praise him effusively when there is good news. After all, the press is reflexive in their need to burnish his image, but seriously – how do you forget your position on the man within the span of a week or so?!
Behold, as CNN takes great pains to excuse Joe from fuel concerns, only to hurl confetti when a positive spin arrives barely a week later.
Biden is helpless to do anything.
— Brad Slager - Incontinent On Another Continent (@MartiniShark) November 19, 2021
Biden has done heroic things to solve it!!!
Within 9 days.
Same subject, Same Outlet - SAME REPORTERhttps://t.co/RuVeapXQtChttps://t.co/32VMYqoVuo pic.twitter.com/hwfTaUyIUS
Presentation Paradox – THE BULWARK
When it comes to unintentional political comedy, the crowd on the Poopdeck of the bad ship S.S. Bulwark rarely disappoints. The latest sees Gabriel Schoenfeld laying into writers Jonah Goldberg and Eli Lake, and the comedy begins when he attacks the men in his effort to defend the good honor of Adam Schiff. Seriously, this is the basis of his screed that rambles on for over 2,000 words.
The best, though, after taking exception at Jonah and Eli for daring to suggest Schiff had botched his investigations and that the Russian collusion charge has been all but vacant, he goes on to qualify things – by delivering the evidence that they were in fact completely correct.
- "It must also be acknowledged that Schiff has made mistakes in the course of his investigations. As Eli Lake pointed out in a February 2020 article in Commentary, Schiff repeated elements of the now-discredited "Steele dossier" in a congressional hearing, leveling charges against the Trump aide Carter Page that did not pan out and for which Schiff never apologized. Schiff and his staff defended the continued issuance of FISA warrants against Page, warrants known now to be defective for relying on the Steele dossier, when there was reason for skepticism."
Can you believe the temerity of these guys for...saying the exact same thing?!
DNC PR Firm – WASHINGTON POST
Along with the concerns this feasting holiday of soaring prices for turkey and other items, there is more dire news – there will be a pie shortage! Now, I know this will induce panic, but WaPo is here to let us know – it is not Joe Biden's fault!
- "For months, supply chain issues and labor shortages have been putting the squeeze on Mike's Pies, a popular commercial bakery. But another powerful factor — climate change — is heightening those challenges. Its impact is less visible but more enduring, and its consequences are playing out right as the food industry is struggling to avoid holiday season shortages."
We will stay on top of this story to see if WaPo adopts the CNN tactic and when we actually become flush with holiday desserts next week, Biden will be credited for...doing something heroic to give us our traditional fare.
For months, supply chain and labor shortages have been putting the squeeze on Mike’s Pies.
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 17, 2021
But another powerful factor — climate change — is heightening those challenges. https://t.co/2HIazST30A
Pulitzer Prize Nomination – TRAVEL AND LEISURE
Look, we get there is a novelty to the story of a cow that escaped from a slaughterhouse and was later found stuck in a water slide flume. Most reporters would jump to report such. What earns Alison Fox scorn, however, is that in covering this for the vacation publication, she resorted to using this phrase:
- "While legen-dairy escapes are fun to watch…"
No, Alison – just...no.
This Cow Got Stuck on a Waterslide After Escaping a Nearby Cattle Ranch in Brazil https://t.co/6WzQHkMaEq
— Travel + Leisure (@TravelLeisure) November 18, 2021
