"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.
12.15.21
Both Kinds Of Standards – CNN
- This hiring from another outlet is less sensible than Chris Wallace.
On "The Situation Room," they covered the story of the numerous cities sporting elevated murder rates across the country. For the segment, Wolf Blitzer introduced the network's new Law Enforcement Analyst, Art Acevedo, announcing him as the former police chief of Austin, Texas. It was the aspects of Acebedo's resumé that were not mentioned that we find interesting.
Austin was not Acevedo's last law enforcement position. Earlier this year, he took over as Police Chief of Miami, Florida, but the celebrity cop was basically run out of town in October after clashes with city leaders and internal office problems that he created. Then there is the small matter that this is his second role with a news outlet. Acevedo used to be a regular fixture on Info Wars with Alex Jones. That would be the reviled outlet that CNN's own Oliver Darcy campaigned to have de-platformed from YouTube and other media outlets.
Art Acevedo, fmr. Austin police chief, says bipartisanship is needed to help reduce the homicide rate in US cities. "Both sides need to come to the middle on gun policy and on violent criminals and bail policy. Or else, we are not going to see this get better anytime soon." pic.twitter.com/0znhM5H5fh
— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) December 15, 2021
News Avoidance Syndrome – VARIOUS OUTLETS
- So much graphite poisoning of the scalps as reporters scratch their heads in confusion.
During her regular press briefing, ice cream doyenne and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was asked about the rash of gang-style smash and grab robberies of retail locations across the country. Pelosi expressed her dismay over the news reports.
- "There's an attitude of lawlessness springing up in the country from I don't know where."
Of note is how the speaker went relatively unchallenged on this comment, despite rather copious evidence of a permissive nature from her own party and the press. From mostly peaceful riots to Kamala Harris helping arrange bail for violent rioters, as well as many commenting that looting is an offshoot of the social frustrations of citizens – plus, these places are insured! (Most businesses are, in fact, not able to be insured for riots.) Then this year, the sympathetic voices continued, so Nan's dismay here is a rather weak dramatic performance.
It's a real bafflement, Nancy. Cannot grasp how this started... https://t.co/2rfM2kh0aD pic.twitter.com/K5DFVhk975
— Brad Slager - Incontinent On Another Continent (@MartiniShark) December 15, 2021
Artisanally-Crafted Narratives – ESPN
- The sports leader commemorates the historic hate crime that never happened.
It is hard to come up with a more embarrassing display of journalism, but then as a sports outlet, you will not find much in the way of shame from this troupe. For reasons only they can explain – yet does not – ESPN has a new documentary out about the infamous noose in the garage story surrounding POC driver Bubba Wallace.
Last year, a noose was found in Bubba Wallace's stall at Talladega Superspeedway. The next day, the NASCAR community stood with him in unity.
— ESPN (@espn) December 14, 2021
"I was like, 'Holy s---, it's the whole garage.' ... That's when I lost it." pic.twitter.com/Zh5HWumagX
Kamala Harris has redecorated the VP’s office. Here’s the meaning behind her choices: https://t.co/pTteUooBBC pic.twitter.com/zbyP2zfBZy
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) December 13, 2021
It is a 90-minute long documentary about an incident that did not take place. The FBI confirmed that the garage door pull had been found to be in place at that location the year before, and there was no connection whatsoever to Wallace. That report was turned in one and a half years ago, yet here is ESPN, hyping the non-intolerance all over again.
In the clip offered, the interviewer mentions members of NASCAR who had remained silent at a time of the controversy, and Wallace defiantly says, "Oh, I still don't forget. I don't forget the ones who were silent." So he is still carrying a grudge over an incident that did not take place.
NASCAR releases a statement on the situation: pic.twitter.com/RC6asyMxMn
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) June 23, 2020
Legalized Press-titution – SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
- "Clean-up needed at the Naval Observatory."
With her image in tatters and approval numbers that are only considered good in comparison to her boss' crashing into the basement, Vice President Kamala Harris is in dire need of some positive coverage. Dutifully on assignment arrives the paper from Kammy's old stomping grounds in San Francisco.
In a shameless piece of media merengue, the Chronicle gives us a glowing profile, a tour of the artwork in her VP office, and even mention of her Christmas and Hannuka decorations.
This is just the type of Serv-Pro cleanup effort needed, but the mess seems too extensive for something this light to repair the damage. It was a few months ago that Harris brought in a crisis-management communications team to help get things right, but that desperate bilge pump effort led to news items of staff squabbling, and then this month's major names left her staff outright, including her press secretary Symone Sanders.
Kamala Harris has redecorated the VP’s office. Here’s the meaning behind her choices: https://t.co/pTteUooBBC pic.twitter.com/zbyP2zfBZy
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) December 13, 2021
Prose & Contradiction – CNN
- Making White House press bans fashionable once again.
This week, CNN has had a number of primetime struggle sessions over the bombshell revelations of Fox News personalities texting Mark Meadows on January 6. (To be clear, not all bombshells actually detonate.) During one discussion between Don Lemon, S.E. Cupp, and Brian Stelter, the discussion turned toward Peter Doocy, the Fox News White House correspondent. Doocy had asked Jen Psaki a question regarding the burning down of the Christmas tree outside the Fox headquarters, specifically about the arsonist who had been let free without bail. This drew condemnation from the CNN experts.
CNN’s @donlemon: "Why does Jen Psaki continue to call on Fox in the briefing room?”
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) December 14, 2021
"Why should they be able to take part in a legitimate press briefing and legitimate journalism?"
"Why did they even allow Fox to pretend in the briefing room they’re a real news organization?" pic.twitter.com/HEf06pesIT
Clarity is needed, as Doocy's question was, in fact, valid because it tied in with the discussion of funding police departments juxtaposed against the tendency to let the criminals walk without dropping a dime toward their bail. In addition, this is the same gathering of squealers who were positively outraged at the thought when their cohort Jim Acosta had his White House press credentials stripped. But today, it is cool to suggest blackballing Doocy is acceptable because they do not like his questions.
