"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.
02.11.22
Stealth Story Evolution – CNN
With all the upheaval, scheduling openings, and ratings erosion at CNN, they do not seem too interested in fixing what ails their network. That is to say, they are still doing all the things that have delivered failure. With so much going on in the world, it is good to know that they still place the focus squarely where it belongs; on another news network.
In the "Reliable Sources" newsletter, Oliver Darcy was in control, and he echoed a report that was hysterically posted across social media.
- "The Department of Homeland Security is now warning authorities that such protests could soon begin in the US and potentially impact the Super Bowl and State of the Union address. In a bulletin, which was first reported by Yahoo and confirmed by CNN, the DHS said it has 'received reports of truck drivers planning to potentially block roads in major metropolitan cities in the United States in protest of, among other things, vaccine mandates for truck drivers.'"
Except, despite the blaring headline, the report does not mention truckers targeting the Super Bowl.
- "The DHS document, which is marked unclassified and for official use only, notes that as of its release on Feb. 8, the U.S. trucker convoy 'appears to be purely aspirational because the event is only being discussed online,' though it warns that 'this could change quickly.'"
The "plan," such as it is, could possibly involve some truckers leaving California to go cross country, picking up more truckers along the way to protest in D.C. Maybe. A Super Bowl protest appears to be something entirely conceived by the press and not from DHS.
U.S. truckers planning protest convoy, perhaps starting in L.A. for Super Bowl, DHS warns https://t.co/AWjehDC7SE
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 11, 2022
Blue-Anon – THE NEW REPUBLIC
Yesterday we noted how Fox was being scorned for dedicating what was described as a "whopping 7 hours and 59 minutes" of coverage to the protest over the past two weeks. (CNN, by comparison, exceeded 20 hours of January 6 coverage on a single day.) Now, the overwrought belief is that Fox is engaging in a long con for the sake of news content.
- "This ultimately is the goal: To bring a trucker convoy to the U.S. that Fox News can then spend months crowing about endlessly. In a group of Canadian truckers, Fox News thinks it's found the next golden goose. Now it just needs to spark its own version into existence."
“There is, in each of these segments, a barely concealed effort to portray the Canadian truckers as part of some grassroots movement of patriots who are fed up with Covid-era coercion and control, who are now taking matters into their own hands.”https://t.co/JmlIeiXJBw
— The New Republic (@newrepublic) February 11, 2022
Pre-Written Field Reports – WASHINGTON POST
- Showing the exaggerated support for the trucker protest by using false claims is a bad look, Philip.
Philip Bump analyzes the Canadian protest and comes to a conclusion – the U.S. is attempting to export right-wing agendas into Canada. He cites a number of polls that show support in that country for the protest may not measure up, but then he makes this wild leap.
- "Support for the protest, particularly from the United States, constitutes something akin to foreign interference in the country's domestic politics. If you imagine a scenario in which D.C. was rendered partially immobile by an anti-gun protest funded heavily by a concerted campaign led by prominent Chinese officials, you can get an understanding of the frustration that Canadian officials feel."
So, does Mr. Bump offer up anything approaching evidence of this funding, or who may be offering up the heavy funding of the truckers from this country? Er, nope. But do not let a request for evidence derail his outrage, please.
Anti-Social Media – CNN
- Nothing to be concerned about, just a network foreign policy analyst proposing attacking protestors.
As mentioned, the press is consumed with pointing out supposed hypocrisy from conservatives who now support an occupying protest. Of course, the press lashing out at a completely non-violent protest is not hypocritical, after praising firebombed cities as peaceful locations and declaring the CHAZ/CHOP occupation as non-violent, despite reports of violence and a shooting death therein.
Following suit is CNN foreign policy analyst Juliette Kayyem, who opposes the trucker occupation, and she has a grand proposal – vandalize the trucks and haul them off.
The convoy protest, applauded by right wing media as a "freedom protest," is an economic and security issue now. The Ambassador Bridge link constitutes 28% of annual trade movement between US and Canada. Slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers, and move the trucks ?? https://t.co/nvRQTfPWir
— Juliette Kayyem (@juliettekayyem) February 10, 2022
Now, I'm unclear how rendering tractor-trailer rigs immobile will facilitate their removal from a bridge, but then again, I am not an expert foreign policy analyst employed by CNN, so what do I know on the matter.
Reporting on the Mirror – CANADIAN BROADCAST COMPANY
- Looks like Canada has brave firefighters in the media as well.
With all of the talk of potential violence that this protest is assuredly going to inspire, someday, anytime now, it is good to see a report from inside the protest itself to see just how harrowing things can get.
Behold as this reporter from the CBC illustrates just what journalists have to endure on the front lines – as he has to face direct questions from the protestors!
A small sample of what it's like to be a journalist covering Ottawa right now. pic.twitter.com/UsvypVXM92
— Joseph Tunney (@TunneyTun) February 9, 2022
News Avoidance Syndrome – CNN
- Give them credit; at least in Gov. Whitmer, they found an expert in putting Americans out of work.
On CNN's "New Day," they brought on Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer to bemoan the horrors the bridge blockade is delivering in creating the inability to deliver goods between the countries.
Brianna Keilar was extremely polite to her guest in that she allowed Whitmer to complain about the loss of goods and the threat to American jobs while never once bringing up how Gretchen was known for barricading sections of stores and arresting people for trying to go to work. Seriously, that is just good manners in not embarrassing Mrs. Whitmer by bringing up those details.
Mich. @GovWhitmer: “Downright dangerous” how conservative media is supporting #TruckersConvoy pic.twitter.com/FGkC8JEKiO
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) February 11, 2022
