"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.
08.26.22
Pre-Written Field Reports – CNN
- "Yes, yes – policy is all well and good – but let's get to the name-calling!"
Joe Biden – aka "The Great Uniter" – gave a speech where most people were scratching their heads when he slammed the Republicans on The Hill as being "semi-fascist." As many were looking at this as a possibly divisive speech, Don Lemon was rather excited about it, and he invited Karine Jean-Pierre on to discuss this very utterance.
But as he asked the White House press secretary about this comment, KJP was intent on doing some promoting on behalf of the administration, and Don was not about that. He interrupted her filibuster to get to the heart of the matter – what about the fascism talk?!?!
Recommended
Don Lemon is so eager to trash Republicans as "semi-fascists" that he loses patience with KJP for not getting right to the smears. pic.twitter.com/Fq2Fx48wqu
— Lie-Able Sources (@LieAbleSources) August 26, 2022
News Avoidance Syndrome – POLITICO
In covering the Pennsylvania Senate race and the performance of Dr. Mehmet Oz, POLITICO has come across a disturbing reality. It turns out that many conservative news outlets are engaging in a troubling act.
- "A second person, who is in Trump's orbit, confirmed that the former president's aides have also solicited help from top Republican operatives to attempt to help Oz. 'Trump world is going to try to save Oz's ass,' regardless of if they've been disappointed with his post-primary performance, the person said."
What kind of dastardly tactics is Trump World resorting to on behalf of Oz? They are showing videos of John Fetterman giving speeches.
- "Conservative media widely circulated footage of Fetterman's speech to union workers on Tuesday, in which he sometimes paused awkwardly and missed words, including during a special segment on Fox News Wednesday morning."
So they are…reporting on Fetterman, is what you are saying.
Mehmet Oz sees an opening to rescue his floundering Senate campaign: After largely refraining from making his opponent’s health an issue, the celebrity doctor has decided to go there.https://t.co/w76fzSgsIO
— POLITICO (@politico) August 26, 2022
Pounce OF Prevention – CNN
It has been a fun time compiling all of the new ways the press comes up with describing the dire practice of Republicans noticing negative news for Democrats. Seizing, latching, leaping, and all other manners of actions are detailed to deflect from bad news for Dems. The student loan decision has led CNN, however, to go with the old standby.
Wellll...of COURSE they do... pic.twitter.com/f1lDl10mya
— Lie-Able Sources (@LieAbleSources) August 25, 2022
Gilded Reframe – REUTERS
It continues to be a challenge for the administration, the Democrats, and the press to address the story of Texas shipping out overflow immigrants to cities like New York and Washington, D.C. The desire, of course, is to blame Republicans for the problem being shifted, but in so doing, they need to overlook existing realities.
Migrants bused to U.S. capital from Texas struggle to secure housing, medical care https://t.co/qiCZgf1gfn pic.twitter.com/wphPaHEj0w
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 26, 2022
It is probably insensitive to ask if the thousands of immigrants huddled beneath the highway overpass in Texas are struggling with these same issues.
DNC PR Firm – CBS NEWS
In reporting on Joe Biden's plot to bring the release of responsibility of student loans, CBS News tries to pretend that the loans have simply vaporized, and the payout is not being passed on to taxpayers.
President Biden on Wednesday announced a plan to erase thousands of dollars in student loans for borrowers, aiming to help more than 40 million Americans who owe a combined $1.7 trillion in debt. https://t.co/wctDv4GvQA
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 25, 2022
News Avoidance Syndrome – VARIOUS OUTLETS
- We will just point out that there is still a chance of disaster…
Early this spring, the press was very eager to broadcast the predictions coming out of the federal weather forecasting that this year was going to be a busy hurricane season. Of course, this brought with it every opportunity to mention climate change and how things are only going to get worse as we move forward.
Then – very little happened. A slow calendar during the summer has given way to something astounding; there have been no named cyclones this month. I am relatively certain that this is the fault of global warming…of course.
For the first time since 1982, the Atlantic has had no named storms (e.g., >=39 mph tropical cyclones) between July 3 - August 22. #hurricane pic.twitter.com/6zTfNsUCA7
— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) August 23, 2022
