"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.
07.25.22
DNC PR Firm – NBC NEWS
- Chuck Todd actually goes there with Al Gore.
As a sign of how desperate the press has been to avoid talking about Joe Biden, it turns out Al Gore made the news for odd reasons. Much of the coverage was how the environmental guru – who has largely fallen out of disfavor as so many of his bold climate claims have not come to fruition – declared that anyone who denies climate change is comparable to the police who failed to enter the classrooms during the Uvalde school shooting. Not desperate at all, Albert.
But Chuck Todd, who was hosting the Oscar winner, actually worked on compelling him to enter the 2024 race.
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On Meet the Press, @ChuckTodd surprises Al Gore when he urges him to make another presidential run. “Why not you, Al Gore, leading a climate change presidential campaign?” #MTP pic.twitter.com/AHN4RulbWK
— Brent Baker ???? (@BrentHBaker) July 24, 2022
Presentation Paradox – ABC NEWS
- Jonathan Karl conveniently sidesteps the angry and bitter weeks leading up to the gracious and unifying speech.
Adding to the new effort to burnish the Al Gore legacy this weekend, Jon Karl also had on the former veep, and he attempts to contrast the way Gore conceded the election in comparison to Donald Trump. Of course, to arrive at the gleaming moment, Karl has to overlook weeks of protracted battles where Gore dispatched dozens of lawyers across Florida challenging numerous election laws, demanding an endless string of recounts, accusing the courts of ignoring the law, and accusing the governor of illegalities. After dozens of recounts, mind you, and numerous alterations to counting standards, Al Gore came out in front of George Bush in exactly none of them.
Gore’s concession speech in December 2000 was gracious, unifying and one of the best speeches he ever gave. https://t.co/kmJbN2SNoB
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) July 24, 2022
Glossary Over Things – THE NEW YORK TIMES
First, we had CBS News reporting on the attempted attack on Lee Zeldin as something the congressman "said" took place (video of the attack as he spoke notwithstanding), and then we had The New York Times reclassifying things. The paper said Zeldin was merely "confronted" while at a speaking engagement on the campaign trail.
Breaking News: The man accused of confronting Representative Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate for governor of New York, with a sharp weapon at a campaign event has been arrested on a federal assault charge. https://t.co/GqkxQix6dI
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 23, 2022
Meanwhile, many outlets want to dismiss the object used as "a plastic cat keychain." While technically accurate, it is, in fact, a specially designed weapon.
There is the attempt to dismiss this as an innocent keychain, but this is in fact a designed weapon being used. https://t.co/Gwy6rxEwyp pic.twitter.com/NouyFoXpun
— Brad Slager - Unique Taco/Lifetime CNN+ Subscriber (@MartiniShark) July 25, 2022
Pounce of Prevention – THE NEW YORK TIMES
Lee Zeldin adroitly predicted that after he had been the target of a violent attack, his alleged assailant would be turned free due to the asinine New York prosecution standards. Yet, after this very action took place – his attacker was let loose without paying bail – The New York Times found where the real problem was found – those damned Republicans used the event to highlight those lax bail standards.
An attempted assault on Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican nominee for governor of New York, inflamed a debate over the state’s public safety laws, hours after a man accused of charging the candidate with a pointed weapon was released without bail. https://t.co/yJUtlEOqP8
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 22, 2022
Gilded Reframe – NEWSWEEK
Last Thursday, the January 6 Commission held its latest primetime hearing. I feel the need to make this announcement based on the slim ratings it received. I do not mean to imply that it failed to deliver anything truly dramatic and compelling because Newsweek is implying that for us.
When the news source is concerned more with who a mystery bespectacled member of the witness team was, as opposed to any of that night's testimony, not much else need be explained.
Who is Jan. 6 Clark Kent? Mysterious man behind Pottinger sparks rumors https://t.co/QliZLVXL4N
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) July 22, 2022
Body Checking the Fact Checkers – USA TODAY
- We noticed Tim Young conveniently avoided doing their work for them!
Comedian Tim Young made a comment comparing the amount of aid for Ukraine to the amount for the U.S. southern border. After garnering a significant amount of responses, Young was contacted by USA Today for a fact check, and the results were illustrative.
Not only had he been asked for a clarification, but the checker had reframed his comment, before then demanding that HE provide the facts. You know, the very thing a fact-checker is by job description charged with collecting and presenting themselves.
USA today "Fact checker" @mollystellino... whose twitter feed screams progressive... has reached out to me to "fact check" my opinion tweet above. Here's her email and my response. pic.twitter.com/HQcWiN3m7D
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) July 22, 2022
