"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.
08.15.22
Reporting on the Mirror – CNN
- So it is other people being shameless self-promoters that is the problem?
Jim Acosta brought on Andrew Yang, who is still on a crusade to create a third-party candidacy. However, apart from the attempt, Abilio saw a possible problem with Yang's efforts. Acosta noted that the name of Yang's outreach is also the title of his recent literary release.
- "Your message is that, it appeals to what you say is the moderate, common-sense majority, is also the same name as your book. Is this an attempt to pump up book sales? Are you just promoting yourself, I guess is what I'm asking? Are you just promoting yourself with this?"
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This is Jim Acosta, the man who is so self-absorbed that if he is "having an affair," it means that he has been caught seeing other mirrors.
Yes, Jim @Acosta thinks self-promotion is unseemly and distasteful.https://t.co/AE7An1fMHQ pic.twitter.com/1YzOehuQU9
— Lie-Able Sources (@LieAbleSources) August 15, 2022
News Avoidance Syndrome – VARIOUS OUTLETS
We are facing the dire anniversary that certainly no one in the Biden administration wants to face – one year since the debacle that was the pullout from Afghanistan. In one retrospective piece, Politico has an assessment, and the outlet makes a somewhat surprising declaration that 800 people have been evacuated in the wake of the Taliban taking control of the nation.
This, of course, flies in direct opposition to White House insistence last year that they had gotten everyone out as needed and that no one had been left behind during the evacuation efforts. The lack of many in the press challenging the Biden officials on this detail speaks volumes.
- "The figure, which hasn't been previously reported, highlights the ongoing nature of the efforts to make contact with and ultimately evacuate hundreds of Americans who were unable to leave Afghanistan as the U.S. military rapidly withdrew from the country last summer."
NEW: One year after the Afghanistan pullout, more than 800 U.S. citizens have been evacuated from the country since U.S. troops withdrew last August, showing that hundreds more Americans were left behind than previously known.
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) August 14, 2022
w/ @laraseligman @alexbwardhttps://t.co/15bENP1Mxl
Pounce of Prevention – THE ATLANTIC
In keeping with the practice of the story being Republicans noticing leftist controversies, The Atlantic has looked into Jane's Revenge, the loud pro-abortion activist group that has risen to prominence since the leaked SCOTUS draft memo about repealing Roe v. Wade. Not only was the outfit pushing to threaten Court justices, it has also claimed responsibility for numerous violent attacks on pregnancy assistance centers across the country.
As the brilliant mind of Kaitlyn Tiffany explains it, the problem does not rest with the violence from this group but with the fact that those on the right have been willing to highlight the violent activities.
- "A mysterious pro-abortion-rights group is claiming credit for acts of vandalism around the country, and right-wing activists and politicians are eating it up. Right-wing media outlets have provided ample coverage of this new threat, and anti-abortion politicians have demanded government action to address it."
Tiffany manages to condemn conservative news outlets for highlighting nearly 100 incidents that have occurred at these clinics, churches, and similar locations. The general news outlets downplaying or ignoring such violence is, of course, not seen as a problem.
i wrote about the right's embrace of Jane's Revenge, which can serve the same purpose as the notion of Antifa did in delegitimizing mass protest https://t.co/Jek3K5Xahr
— Kaitlyn Tiffany (@kait_tiffany) August 12, 2022
DNC PR Firm – NBC NEWS
- The Republican senator clearly did not receive the press memo.
On "Meet the Press," Andrea Mitchell was discussing the economic conditions with GOP Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota. After he answered a question from Andrea Mitchell, in which Rounds detailed many of our economic problems, Mitchell gently rebuked the senator.
"We are not in a recession yet," she concluded. Rounds answered back by using the standard that the past quarters indicated such, and Andrea stumbled as she insisted upon the new media standard, "That's out of date – out of date."
Here's an impressive amount of water for a woman her age to be carrying for the Democrats.
— Lie-Able Sources (@LieAbleSources) August 15, 2022
In discussing the economy with Sen. Mike Rounds, after he mentions a two-quarter loss for a recession, Andrea Mitchell parrots the White House insistence of that measurement being outdated. pic.twitter.com/dw0fHGKULl
Pathological Media Amnesia – THE DAILY BEAST
- If only there was some evidence for this decades-old non-mystery.
With amusing deflection, Wajahat Ali tries to insist that last week's attack on author Salman Rushdie is something shrouded in mystery. The journalist who leaps to accuse racial motivation behind nearly every controversy suddenly is faced with an instance of blatant, direct Muslim violence, and he cannot bring himself to acknowledge the facts.
Citing a New York Times piece on the attack, Ali tries to say that a motive is something that is unclear – despite the state of Iran placing a Fatwa on Rushdie in the 1980s and a number of individuals associated with the publishing of the book being attacked over the years. Ali tries to say that The Times was the source questioning things, despite the fact that his linked article spells it out rather clearly.
"According to the article", as you say. https://t.co/1HG1wABCJR pic.twitter.com/qCKlhiY7sJ
— Brad Slager: Raid Veteran/CNN+ Lifetime Subscriber (@MartiniShark) August 15, 2022
Low Octane Gas Lighting – MSNBC / "MORNING JOE"
- You have to wonder how many turned them down for this desperate segment.
Joe Scarborough wanted to impugn those on the right who were being critical of the FBI following the not-a-raid on Mar-a-Lago last week. In order to do so and build up the respectable reputation of the agency, the program decided to bring on…Peter Strzok. Nothing at all about his comments needs to even be mentioned – just that he was brought on as a sign of the Bureau's sterling character.
On @Morning_Joe they looked to defend the honor of the FBI, so in order to do so they brought on...(rechecks the television)...Peter Strzok.
— Brad Slager: Raid Veteran/CNN+ Lifetime Subscriber (@MartiniShark) August 15, 2022
I guess Frank Drebin was already booked on another network??? pic.twitter.com/wU5ZP11KkO
