"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.
12.16.21
Both Kinds Of Standards – CNN
Elon Musk has been very outspoken on social media toward the sainted senator named Elizabeth Warren. Musk has called her out on hypocrisy and may have used some salty terms in his tweets – and this disturbs CNN's deep thinker, Chris Cillizza.
- "But, what Trump absolutely did do is drastically lower the bar on what we expect from our public figures. Rather than at least attempting to be a role model, public figures followed Trump's lead: Prioritizing rudeness and cruelty over decency and respect. Behavior like that of Musk suggests the idea of a role model has been diminished and in its place has emerged the internet troll."
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Of course, in order for Chris to have his rant, he needs to bypass the fact that Liz Warren lashed out first, calling Musk out directly and referring to him as a "freeloader." Elon Musk responding in his defense and pointing out how he will pay a record amount in taxes this year is unacceptable!
Body Checking the Fact Checkers – POLITIFACT
PolitiFact has declared what their truth-sayers found to be "The Lie of the Year." Rather than a single instance, they state that all of what they determined to be the fraudulent coverage of the Capitol riot stands as the worst LOY. Curiously, as I detailed here, to make their presentation, PolitiFact had to resort to a series of fact avoidance, distortions, and outright lies to award their honor for 2021.
By the evening of Jan. 6, democracy was still standing. But the manipulation of the narrative was already underway. PolitiFact’s 2021 Lie of the Year? Lies about the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and its significance. ??https://t.co/BriwueYTfi pic.twitter.com/WEGJGv0Gs8
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) December 15, 202<1/a>
Reporting on the Mirror – POLITICO
Politico has found a curious method for activist groups and lobbying firms to get the attention of the president of the United States. Recall how for years, it was reported as disturbing that Fox News had the ear of President Trump? Well, no one seems too bothered that a small Delaware newspaper can be used to get the attention of Joe Biden. It seems that because he is an avid reader of The News Journal, many organizations have found this periodical to be a conduit to get noticed by Biden.
- "Interest groups trying to influence the president of the United States will often fork over millions of dollars in order to do so. During the Biden era, however, an old media-centric, less splashy technique has been deployed. A handful of organizations with legislative interests before the government have taken to running print ads in Delaware's The News Journal. The spots underscore how, when it comes to influence peddling, no stone is left unturned."
How a 100-year-old newspaper became the go-to way to influence Biden https://t.co/PTogKLg86t via @Hailey_Fuchs and @maxwelltani
— Meridith McGraw (@meridithmcgraw) December 14, 2021
Both Kinds of Standards – CNN
It is still amusing to recall how Brian Stelter got in a snit when it was announced that Greg Gutfeld was being granted an 11 pm timeslot for his new talk show "Gutfeld!" this spring. Stelter condemned the idea, saying that taking a vital time frame away from the news was unprofessional, and it was an example of Fox moving further to the right.
As he says this, CNN was running a food show hosted by an actor at 9 pm on Sundays – Stanley Tucci's "Searching For Italy," but that was not a departure away from news in the primetime hours…somehow.
Now, CNN has made the announcement that they are going to start another non-news program with another non-journalist, as actress Eva Longoria will have her version of Tucci's content, with the CNN+ series "Searching for Mexico." We eagerly await Brian Stelter not being outraged at the effrontery to journalism.
Eva Longoria to Lead CNN+ Series ‘Searching for Mexico’ https://t.co/Wwgjt65me4
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) December 15, 2021
Pathological Media Amnesia – WASHINGTON POST
As it is appearing that Joe Biden's desperately-needed Build Back Better boondoggle of a bill may be dying on the vine, or at best being stalled until next year, many in the press are getting cranky about the loss of a rare positive win for Joe. At WaPo, E.J. Dionne bemoaned this development, and he echoed the appearance of Senator Joe Tester on "Morning Joe," imploring how the need to eliminate the filibuster is once again a vital proposal.
“I think it’s so dangerous to have the Senate so disabled.”
— EJ Dionne (@EJDionne) December 16, 2021
Sen. @jontester on @MSNBCMorningJoe on the urgency of reforming the filibuster. The way is opening. President Biden, use today’s @SCState1896 speech to push the voting bills. It’s time.
My column https://t.co/F77sxLR6gi
This is the portion of our programming when we have to remind journalists how Tester's party was downright addicted to using that dangerous filibuster last year at a record amount and how they invoked that voting measure over 400 times during the Donald Trump administration.
Anti-Social Media – WASHINGTON POST
Reporter Ashley Parker let it be known that there is a job opening at the Washington Post. The paper is looking for a new reporter to provide field coverage for both the 2022 midterms, as well as the following general election. This post, however, seemingly has a specific tone to it.
- "This reporter will be expected to break news and produce distinctive stories that explore the forces and personalities driving the Republican Party at every level of government and culture. This includes writing with clarity about the pro-Trump movement and its supporters, as well as the broader constellation of elected officials, activists, donors and media figures who embrace and echo its brand of politics."
Considering that this sounds very much like what they already do, one has to assume that conservative reporters and writers need not apply.
??The @washingtonpost is hiring a national political reporter to cover the political right.??
— Ashley Parker (@AshleyRParker) December 16, 2021
It’s one of the biggest stories in the country right now — and (pro or con, depending on your perspective), we’d probably team up from time to time!
Apply—> https://t.co/H3uQ8itS4j
