"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.
06.30.22
DNC PR Firm – ABC NEWS
- Striving to save the planet in unbiased and non-partisan fashion.
Today's SCOTUS ruling that strips the Environmental Protection Agency of imposing carbon dioxide standards on states has been met with the expected bleating from those on the left and the media. (Redundancy noted.) At ABC News, their completely neutral-don't-you-suggest-otherwise White House Correspondent Mary Alice Parks is concerned now about – well, everything.
Who is going to save the planet?
— MaryAlice Parks (@maryaliceparks) June 30, 2022
Now, there are some calm and reasoned reactions from the press. And now, realize that Ms. Parks must actually believe that not only is the planet completely imperiled today, but the only possible way to save it was through the EPA. That is just precious.
Low Octane Gas Lighting – THE ATLANTIC
- We don't think that term means what you think it means.
It is with sharp amusement that Anne Applebaum of The Atlantic has come out with a glowing treatise about the January 6 Commission. Let's just chalk it up to bad timing, considering Anne opened by referencing a fact-check conference she attended over a week ago and then attempts to paint the J-6C as basically one huge truth-based entity.
- "In essence, they have created a giant fact-checking project designed not only to write an accurate account of what happened in the run-up to the Capitol attack, but to convince people to believe it. The point is not to establish whether some detail that one witness reveals is true or false, but rather to tell a larger story, using a wide range of perspectives, delivered in a manner optimally designed to create trust."
Maybe this becomes the excuse for the press not to fact-check this committee. Considering this was published just as the Secret Service has come forward to declare comments by Cassidy Hutchinson to be the stuff of fables, and the committee never brought in the SS to discuss her third-party allegations, their adherence to the facts seems rather fluid, if not outright non-existent.
A third of Americans aren't sure who won the 2020 election. A fifth of Americans support the January 6 attempted coup. The January 6 committee hearings have been carefully designed to change their minds: https://t.co/F91dxe6Cog
— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) June 30, 2022
Pathological Media Amnesia – WASHINGTON POST
- Okay, we might forgive a slip over the years, but this was from this morning, Jenny!
This is one of our categories when we note a journalist or outlet taking a position that is 180 degrees in opposition to a previous position on the same topic by the very same journalist or outlet. It is always a fun exercise, but it trends closer to worrisome when a journalist does it within the bounds of just a few hours.
It is little surprise that the ever-dependable Jennifer Rubin has managed to forget her stance on today's SCOTUS decision. First, she tells Democrats to run on the Court killing the ability to fight climate change, then by noon, it is a severe exaggeration to imply the EPA is stopped from doing so.
#ChefsKiss
Two - hour - difference
— Brad Slager ???????? Lifetime Subscriber to CNN+ (@MartiniShark) June 30, 2022
Same day.
She is a marvel... pic.twitter.com/DVAxtq86Ab
Artisanally-Crafted Narratives – CNN
- You know that question that has not been asked 157 ties? Manu is about to ask it.
Last year, when Biden became frustrated that he could not pass his stimulus bill without first gutting the filibuster, Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema were badgered incessantly on whether they would ever vote to do so. The most obnoxiously persistent reporter with that question had been Manu Raju of CNN.
Now, with the idea of passing a sweeping abortion bill to counter the SCOTUS decision being tabled, the need to eliminate the filibuster rises anew. And you can relax folks, yes – Manu is on the case.
Manchin’s position opposing reducing 60-vote threshold for filibuster also hasn’t changed despite Biden’s comments, per spox
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 30, 2022
Legalized Press-titution – VARIOUS OUTLETS
With all the hype from the press concerning the January 6 Commission and the recent spate of televised hearings, you would expect this to have a demonstrable effect on the electorate. And maybe it has had one, but not the kind intended.
A new CBS News poll is out measuring voter interest in a number of categories, with respondents noting if they considered the topic a HIGH or LOW priority going into the November Midterm elections. Of the ten categories shown, not only did the January 6 storyline come in last, it was the only subject that had more LOW priority responses than HIGH priority.
New CBS poll: “investigating January 6th” was the LEAST important issues to voters pic.twitter.com/sLpWwS0Ox6
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) June 28, 2022
Pulitzer Prize Nomination – ASSOCIATED PRESS
As the Ukraine war continues and Russia's military war crime atrocities expand, more and more people are suggesting that Vladamir Putin is beginning to unravel mentally. It is with this in mind that the AP running with a particularly disconnected quote by the man about his own vanity seems misplaced here.
- "Russian President Vladimir Putin shot back at Western leaders who mocked his athletic exploits, saying they would look 'disgusting' if they tried to emulate his bare-torso appearances. Putin made the comment during a visit to Turkmenistan early Thursday when asked about Western leaders joking about him at the G7 summit."
The news syndicate really has their knee on the pulse of international importance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin shot back at Western leaders who mocked his athletic exploits, saying they would look "disgusting" if they tried to emulate his bare-torso appearances. https://t.co/nT1HEVWKKZ
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 30, 2022
