"Riffed from the Headlines" is Townhall's daily VIP feature with coverage of the nation's deeply flawed aspects of journalism. We'll look to bring accountability to the mishaps, malaprops, misdeeds, manipulations, malpractice, and manufactured narratives in mainstream media.
07.05.22
Matching Media Memorandum – MSNBC
- If only we could be more like North Korea or Venezuela, everything would be better.
It has become a tiresome lecture when journalists and pundits, making a political point, tell us how much more wise and cultured European countries are compared to the backward U.S. of America. Well, Ali Velshi is here to deliver a refreshing spin on that model: Why can't we be more like third-world dictatorships, you stunted MAGA-hatters?!
In joining the ranks of journos belly-aching over the recent abortion news, Velshi thought he was making a salient argument by pointing out all of the countries with far more favorable abortion laws than ourselves.
Ali Velshi wants you to know that "Cuba, Argentina, Turkey, Russia, China, and I hope you are sitting down for this one, North Korea" have better abortion laws than the U.S.
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) July 2, 2022
This isn't the point you think it is, Ali. pic.twitter.com/TVH0GyavRq
Velshi gave us an interactive atlas and raved over nations like China, Cuba, North Korea, and Turkey. He thinks that it makes a positive argument for him to note these are authoritarian regimes with horrible human rights records, yet we should strive for their standard of living…we suppose. Russia also made his cut, so I suppose it is now fashionable to want to emulate that nation after a few years of demonizing them under the Trump presidency.
Legalized Press-titution – CNN
- No, see, it is only collusion when Fox does this…
For reasons which defy pragmatism and common sense – meaning it now makes sense CNN got involved – Gavin Newsom came out with a new ad on July 4 targeting Florida residents, imploring them to consider moving to the Socialist Republic of California. He does this with the claim that his state is a freedom-loving utopia. No, no – seriously, he says this. Behold the comedy.
We’re about to celebrate Independence Day -- but Freedom is under attack by Republican leaders in states like Florida.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 3, 2022
Banning books.
Restricting speech.
Making it harder to vote.
Criminalizing women and doctors.
It’s time to stand up. Don’t let them take your freedom. pic.twitter.com/cFI5UzgZzX
CNN leaked the spot on July 3 and gave it full coverage. This is a curious move, considering it is a purely political ploy and made worse that CNN media analyst Brian Stelter has previously groused about Ron DeSantis being given favorable coverage by Fox News. But it seems acceptable for CNN to run PR for the governor of the state that targeted everyone from contract workers to business owners and has generated tent cities across the map and has even tried criminalizing Happy Meal toys, who claims to still believe in freedom. It is also the state that recently lost House seat representation due to resident flight, as Florida gained in the House.
There is one simple rebuttal to this idiotic appeal from Gavin Newsom: https://t.co/vbP7wMyt3P pic.twitter.com/rlfm0wWdAS
— Brad Slager ???????? Lifetime Subscriber to CNN+ (@MartiniShark) July 4, 2022
DNC PR Firm – WASHINGTON POST
The media slobbering over the Cassidy Hutchinson testimony from last week continues, but with some telling results. The journalists and outlets continue to be fascinated with her appearance, yet at the same time, there is no energy from these same outlets about the content of her appearance before the J-6 Commission.
Note the lack of stories about the specific details and how there are no extensive follow-ups as to the next step for the committee. This is because if they treated it seriously, the next logical step would involve needing to speak to the Secret Service agents regarding her reports, and they have already indicated a willingness to blow her testimony out of the water.
So, just swooning over Cassidy herself is in order, and WaPo fills that need in a bizarre fashion. The paper decided to take portions of her testimony and illustrate them. The paper literally crafted something of a graphic novel based on her witness transcript. It is as hilarious to see as it is embarrassing for the paper to stoop to this level of adoration.
D.C. Newspaper Turns DC-Comics -- Washington Post Makes Cassidy Hutchinson a Comic Book Heroine https://t.co/mCTDQouhh5
— RedState (@RedState) July 5, 2022
Blue-Anon – Thom Hartman
- One way to have people take you seriously and not regard you as unhinged: Go on a 60-tweet rant!
Progressive broadcaster Thom Hartman had some things to say about the fate of our country on the eve of July 4. Quite a lot of things.
Thom is convinced that our country is completely on the verge of utter collapse. He listed off a number of dangerous items he sees, from bankers to the plight of students, healthcare issues, and the Courts – and every single problem, all of it, to no surprise, is laid at the feet of Republicans.
Here is the first tweet of his marathon to place you on the launching pad, were you so curious to learn more.
1/ Dear Republicans: We Tried Your Way and It Does Not Work (a thread):
— Thom Hartmann (@Thom_Hartmann) July 3, 2022
Thom sways from hilariously unhinged to sadly inept deep in his filibuster when he actually manages to invalidate his outrage by proving his threatened demise of things is not taking place.
So democracy held, which means democracy is not in peril.
— Lie-Able Sources (@LieAbleSources) July 2, 2022
Could have saved yourself about 50 tweets by starting right here. https://t.co/rrgJ1hoxaN
Anti-Social Media – CNN
- "My wealthy friends are doing fine, so America is doing fine."
John Harwood continues with his coverage of the Joe Biden economy, namely that things are not nearly as bad as people think. If they would just stop noticing the hardships they are experiencing in their lives and listen to John, they would realize how good they have things.
The latest is Harwood seeing a piece in the Wall Street Journal and coming to a conclusion – people are not doing so bad because they have their savings to rely upon to pay for their food and gasoline.
“Most households have a cash cushion to navigate through the very high inflation,” said Mark Zandi, Moody’s Analytics chief economist. “This is allowing consumers to stay in the game.” https://t.co/3Alj1mdCVA
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) July 5, 2022
