"Riffed from the Headlines" is Townhall's daily VIP feature with coverage of 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.
03.28.22
Anti-Social Media – THE ACADEMY AWARDS
- These are the people lecturing us on how to comport our lives?!
Last night, the world was agog (well, a portion of it) as there was a celebrity confrontation at the Academy Awards. Actor Will Smith marched up to the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock for telling a rather innocuous joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. What transpired after this confrontation tells the larger story.
While the assembled luminaries sat in shock in the theater, nothing else was done. Then, during the commercial break, this scene was spotted.
During the commercial break, Will Smith is pulled aside and comforted by Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry, who motion for him to brush it off. Will appears to wipe tears from his eyes as he sits back down with Jada, with Denzel comforting Jada and Will’s rep by his side. pic.twitter.com/uDGVnWrSS2
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) March 28, 2022
So the celebrities thought it was Will Smith who needed to be comforted. These are the same hectoring voices who, for a generation, have told us words are violence, silence-is-violence, and have condemned toxic masculinity. Then when their very nightmare plays out before them, there is no action taken, and there are no words of condemnation.
Matching Media Memorandum – FLORIDA POLITICS
- Oh dear, the celebrities who already resent us are making fun in ignorant fashion!
To start the awards show last night, the deeply unfunny Amy Schumer was the hostess, alongside Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall, basically defying the audience to continue watching with their opening monologue. In one strained portion, after bleating about toxic masculinity (ahem), the trio addressed the Florida parental rights law, and predictably they displayed abject ignorance about the law.
They managed to elicit approving chuckles and guffaws from the choir-like crowd as they invoked the state and proceeded to say the word "Gay" about a dozen times.
Publisher of Florida Politics, Peter Schorsch, found this to be a trenchant commentary and not an infantile display by elitist prigs who have zero understanding of the law.
They work in an industry that categorizes films based on appropriate content for age groups and issues parental guidance warnings when needed – but they cannot tolerate the exact same standard to be applied in our classrooms.
They’re laughing at you, Florida, not with you.#DontSayGay#Oscars pic.twitter.com/GGoQEISU30
— Peter Schorsch ???? (@PeterSchorschFL) March 28, 2022
Both Kinds of Standards – CNN
In an extensive interview ahead of the rollout of CNN+ and his new program, Chris Wallace spoke about the network he just left after nearly two decades of work at Fox News.
- "'I'm fine with opinion: conservative opinion, liberal opinion,' Mr. Wallace said in his first extensive interview about his decision to leave. 'But when people start to question the truth — Who won the 2020 election? Was Jan. 6 an insurrection? — I found that unsustainable.'"
This is the level of standard for you, Chris? Asking questions is now off the table? Your new network DECLARED there was Russian involvement with Trump's campaign, DECLARES January 6 a treasonous insurrection, and completely stated clearly that Hunter Biden's laptop was fed from Russian disinformation. And on the other side, CNN did not question Andrew Cuomo's handling of Covid in his state. Look how that resulted over the past few months.
“I’m fine with opinion: conservative opinion, liberal opinion,” Chris Wallace said about his decision to leave Fox News. “But when people start to question the truth — Who won the 2020 election? Was Jan. 6 an insurrection? — I found that unsustainable.” https://t.co/660UaHi6nu
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 28, 2022
Pre-Written Field Reports – CNN
- Chris Cillizza's scenario experienced on an airline is the stuff of middle school nightmares.
Get ready for this harrowing account of air travel from CNN's resident hysteric, Chris Cillizza.
Couple in front of me on flight refused to wear masks.
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) March 26, 2022
They were tuned to “Tucker” the whole time.
We are hoping that Chris being exposed like this does not lead to adverse effects. He was, after all, in close proximity to a dangerous entity that could cripple his system. Also, the fact that these people were not only watching Fox but maskless could have been a threat.
Pulitzer Prize Nomination – WASHINGTON POST
- The fact it was not ice cream means this is actually BREAKING news.
In between butchering his numerous speeches while in Europe, Joe Biden took time to refresh himself with food. Pool reporter Ashley Parker details the importance of this event, as President Biden had an encounter with a slice of pizza.
Biden "sat down in the middle of a table, grabbing a piece of pepperoni and jalapeño pizza. The jalapeños made his eyes water, so he dabbed at them with a napkin and someone got him a glass of water." @AshleyRParker putting the spice into an A+ pool report
— Sebastian Smith (@SebastianAFP) March 25, 2022
Presentation Paradox – CNN
- You say joining a group and losing your sense of self is a bad thing, Ms. Cupp?
The press is having a field day with the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, Ginni Thomas. Launching off the story that she was texting the White House over the prospect of the election result being challenged, now journos are revisiting an archaic story of Ginni being caught up in some capacity with a cult-like organization.
S.E. Cupp had some words for Ms. Thomas.
Flashback: Ginni Thomas talks about the cult she joined: "I had intellectually and emotionally gotten myself so wrapped up with this group that I was moving away from my family and friends and the people I work with.”
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) March 27, 2022
https://t.co/Ag0NvHB5uG
Those are some trenchant comments – which sound remarkably similar to a formerly conservative journalist who took on a complete outlook change the moment she began working at CNN.
