"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.
02.16.22
Stealth Story Evolution – CNN
After two weeks of confusion about why she was permitted to stay on staff, Allison Gollust – the woman Jeff Zucker was involved with leading to his ouster – stepped down from her position at CNN. In announcing this development, Warner Media CEO Jason Kilar informed that Gollust was being let go after an internal investigation revealed violations of corporate rules involving her work with Zucker and Chris Cuomo.
The most revealing detail, apart from this not attributed to her relationship with Zucker, is that this was the result of an outside outfit investigating things for the past five months. Considering how many at CNN had been expressing surprise at Zucker's demise, that now seems a stretch after dozens of staffers were interviewed, and internal communications were investigated.
Brand new memo from Jason Kilar: "The investigation found violations of Company policies, including CNN's News Standards and Practices, by Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust, and Chris Cuomo." pic.twitter.com/Xu1HQJw9cT
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 16, 2022
First Amendment Strike Force – TWITTER
- This might be the first cancelation over no content, ever.
The realization came through yesterday that the popular right-of-center Twitter account Defiant L's had been suspended by the platform. What is amazing about this is that the account has no commentary that could be considered objectionable. The content has always been the reposting of existing tweets, which are by definition acceptable. This account does nothing but hold up a mirror.
Breaking: A message from Defiant L’s who’s account on Twitter was suspended. pic.twitter.com/37enaIJSjM
— Eliza (@elizableu) February 16, 2022
However, the suspension was short-lived, as earlier today, Defiant L's tweeted, "I'M. BACK."
IM. BACK. pic.twitter.com/drII9lTcLA
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) February 16, 2022
Anti-Social Media – CTV NEWS
- Drawing up lists and othering those enumerated sounds vaguely familiar…
This week, the announcement went out that the fundraising site GiveSendGo had been hacked, and a list of all the donors to the Canadian truckers protest had been released to the public. Taking up the cause of Justin Trudeau's oppressive government, the state broadcaster CTV saw fit to go after the private citizens on the list who broke no law.
Broadcaster Graham Richardson actually bragged on social media that he has been poring over the list and contacting the names that appear on the illegally released document. This is Stassi-like behavior, but for Richardson, it is considered a perfectly valid form of journalism.
Have spent the last two days calling local people who have donated to the trucker convoy. Including a former MP, several business owners, health care professionals and a property developer. Trying to understand why they support this. Very few calls back #ottnews #OccupiedOttawa
— Graham Richardson (@grahamctv) February 15, 2022
Presentation Paradox – ASSOCIATED PRESS
- When the narrative is disrupted in one of the most liberal cities, it just MUST be the fault of the GOP.
The long debate over parents having a say in school board activities had an interesting development when in San Francisco, a recall of members played out. No fewer than three board members had been removed from their positions, and the Associated Press saw exactly where the blame for this rested – it was those dastardly Republicans!
- "Both sides agreed that San Francisco's school board and the city itself became the focus of an embarrassing national spotlight. Republicans are increasingly looking to the education fight as a galvanizing issue that could help them sway voters."
To repeat – this was in San Francisco. Even within their own report, the AP could not avoid the realities of this, even as they strained to blame Republicans for the effort.
- "The school board has seven members, all Democrats. Parents in the politically liberal city launched the recall effort in January 2021. The mayor, one of the most prominent endorsers of the recall, praised the parents. In San Francisco, one of the nation's most liberal cities, the recall effort split Democrats. (Mayor) Breed, a Democrat, had criticized the school board for being distracted by 'political agendas.'"
Anti-Social Media – MSNBC
The story of Quintez Brown continues to be a fascinating one and one the media would rather not discuss. The reason why is rather obvious.
Brown is a former journalist and activist who has been a gun control mouthpiece for years but was recently exposed as a gunman who targeted a mayoral candidate in Louisville, Kentucky. That extremely thick serving of hypocrisy gets better, as it has been found he appeared live with Joy Reid during a March For Our Lives rally. This is of particular note, as his shooting took place on Monday, the anniversary of the Parkland High School tragedy on which he had been speaking.
The Louisville activist who shot a mayoral candidate appeared on Joy Reid’s show at an anti-gun violence rally. Said he “loves” David Hogg. https://t.co/JpVF5zbVbD
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) February 15, 2022
Both Kinds of Standards – THE ATLANTIC
It has long been the case, but the dichotomy of press coverage with the redrawing of congressional districts has reached comedic levels in the past year. The real humor has been how GOP efforts are demonized as "gerrymandering" and said to be restrictive in nature, but Democratic lines being redrawn are "redistricting" efforts leading to a more representative electoral map.
Following the recent census, the press has been all-in with coverage of how demeaning and intolerant the Republican mapping has been while at the same time pretending that Democrat-run states were not engaged in the exact same practice. (Note how Rep. Adam Kinzinger has seen his district erased in Illinois, as just one example.) But now the tide has turned, and through some court decisions and waffling by GOP leaders in some states, the Democrats seem poised to have taken an edge of sorts in obtaining new districts.
Rather telling that as The Atlantic crows about this development, nowhere in their piece are words like "racist" or "voting rights violated" ever used.
Republicans in New York are learning what it's like to be on the losing side of gerrymandering, @russellberman reports: https://t.co/npnoFe16In
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) February 15, 2022
