"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.
08.22.22
Anti-Social Media – THE BULWARK
- Keeping the world safe from politically-offensive headgear.
It is one of the hallmarks of the political divide in the country that inanimate objects and clothing can accursedly become symbols of hate and intolerance. Last week, we detailed The Atlantic attempting to make out Catholic Rosary beads as a symbol of far-right gun obsessives. Now, over at the Bulwark, their crossover star Amanda Carpenter is laser-focused on another scourge on the political landscape.
Hats.
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It began when Ken Blackwell was spotted wearing a hat that simply read "1776," and this sent Mandy on a thread of distemper. She sourly implied the AFPI, which has adopted the year as a rallying point after the January 6 riot, has somehow canceled out the significance of the founding of our country or something.
Then, following the removal of our hats to scratch our heads, she had comments about an appearance Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis made this weekend. Get this – when he came out, DeSantis was tossing hats out to the crowd. And guess who this led Amanda to get pouty about? One hint: She's Bulwark employed.
Tossing out some hats ahead of his speech, where have I seen this move before. https://t.co/ejPtlzayiH
— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) August 21, 2022
Legalized Press-titution – ABC NEWS
- Is very recent history too much to expect for journalists to have a grasp on these days?
Jon Karl was probably distracted from all the giddiness of having the chance to speak with the media superstar Liz Cheney. But while sitting in the anchor chair of "This Week," Jon managed to display a rather daft approach to election history. (Note the lack of the use of "ancient history.") There was more reason for Karl to be brimming with excitement, as he referenced recent polls suggesting that Democrats may not be absolutely shellacked come this November.
In looking excitedly at the recent returns, Karl makes a declaration that is rather shaky in terms of accuracy.
- "If you look at the polling right now, it looks like Democrats could pick up. I mean, maybe even a couple of seats in the Senate. No first-term president has picked up Senate seats in the midterms since JFK."
Only problem: Richard Nixon and George Bush managed the feat in their first term in the White House. Also, the last time it occurred? You have to go ALL THE WAY BACK to…the last midterm election when Trump enjoyed gains in that chamber.
Here's @JonKarl:
— Lie-Able Sources (@LieAbleSources) August 22, 2022
"It looks like Democrats could pick up...a couple of seats in the Senate. No first-term president has picked up Senate seats in the midterms since JFK."
In fact, it happened 3 times since Kennedy, INCLUDING THE LAST MIDTERMS.
Seriously...https://t.co/kTvjWovMHd
DNC PR Firm – THE NEW YORK TIMES
The New York Times has made a deeply important and significant announcement: The paper has begun a dedicated beat to covering right-wing media.
- "Filled as it is with people who reject mainstream narratives and question the institutions that hold up our democracy. Understanding the way information is developed, circulated and absorbed on the right is vital at this precarious moment, and requires a healthy measure of patience, empathy and understanding along with investigative chops, skepticism and toughness."
Of course, asking if there will be a parallel beat covering left-wing media is a fruitless question. Another query absent of ripened intel is how the choice to head up this division - Ken Bensinger – is not a contradiction. Ken comes from BuzzFeed News, where he covered political disinformation, an ironic title given Ken is considered the journalist source to release the Steele dossier to the public.
To cover right-wing media the Times hires a former BuzzFeed reporter of "political disinformation" who was a key player in that outlet pimping the Steele dossier.
— Brad Slager: Raid Veteran/CNN+ Lifetime Subscriber (@MartiniShark) August 22, 2022
This seems just about perfect on all fronts for the paper.https://t.co/ChtvnzsFBw
Body Checking the Fact Checkers – POLITIFACT
The activist group The League of Conservation Voters put out campaign messaging to oppose Ron Johnson (R-WI). They state that the senator has collected campaign donations from oil companies, and in a video, he once called climate change "bullsh**."
In response to this, Politifact springs into action – to amplify its message. The site goes through the facts and cites the claim as TRUE; this, despite the fact that Johnson nor anyone else ever seems to dispute what comes from the LCV.
The basis of this fact check appears to only reiterate the claims. The writer could have saved a significant amount of time by simply writing, "We Agree!"
A video from a 2021 event showed U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson calling climate change “bull----”. He has taken over $750,000 in donations from the oil and gas industry. https://t.co/UTQT28knYM
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) August 19, 2022
Pulitzer Prize Nomination – ASSOCIATED PRESS
- Dude, just download any music app…
In today's prime example of manufactured outrage, we bring you John Wawrow, a sportswriter from the AP. John was at the Buffalo Bills preseason practice facility and came to a realization while covering the team.
We are not about to suggest that it was a grand and marvelous mental discovery, but it was a realization, all the same.
Curious.
— John Wawrow (@john_wawrow) August 22, 2022
Just dawned on me that the #Bills practice music soundtrack rarely, if ever, features a female act.
Gilded Reframe – CNN
- How is it that his parting message is the first time we agree with him?!
We have to give one last shake of the head to a departing target.
Brian Stelter signed off from "Reliable Sources" for the last time, and while his closing monologue was filled with obliviousness, he did manage to deliver as his last line something with which we actually managed to agree.
Before that, he had a segment where he discussed accountability, but only in regard to others. He does not see his cancelation as a form of accountability for delivering slanted content and constantly diminished audiences. He said, "We must not give platforms to those who are lying to our faces," and that is correct. It is why he no longer has a platform.
He called for "representing the full spectrum of debate," something he not only failed to do but seemed openly hostile toward providing, as he weekly only had on liberal acolytes and those sympathetic to his narratives. Then he said something actually trenchant.
"The free world needs a reliable source." Could not agree more with those words. Too bad that Brian Stelter did not agree with that sentiment during his nine-year tenure on the program bearing that very claim.
Brian Stelter's last words on his final program.
— Lie-Able Sources (@LieAbleSources) August 22, 2022
It is amazing and descriptive how he does not see how his comments apply to him. pic.twitter.com/Ms3XwGBgqH
