"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.
09.26.22
Matching Media Memorandum – VARIOUS OUTLETS
- The charge of "fascism" is translated into Italian.
Yes, yes – we know the country already has a vested history with fascism, but the US media have been rather obsessed with the concept. So, of course, when Georgia Meloni, a staunch conservative, gets elected to be Italy's prime minister, the bulk of the media leap to declare she is the most fascist leader since Mussolini.
To grasp how desperate this lurch is, note the inability of any major outlet to lead with the fact that she is that country's first female PM, something that is automatic when it is anyone other than a conservative.
Giorgia Meloni set to be Italy's first female prime minister and leader of its most right-wing government since World War II, exit polls suggest. https://t.co/CNLxGlBB5q
— CNN (@CNN) September 25, 2022
Voters in Italy appear poised to elect a far-right prime minister tomorrow — Giorgia Meloni, the woman expected to win, leads a neo-fascist movement, reminiscent of Benito Mussolini’s own political party. pic.twitter.com/AzaD9SMRZC
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) September 25, 2022
DNC PR Firm – SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
The New York Times has an interview with Lorne Michaels and the fortunes of Saturday Night Live, as a new season looms with a high number of staff departures. In the discussion, Michaels was asked about the show taking a decidedly leftist path and not satirizing Democratic politicians with nearly the same amount of energy. Lorne was not at all even interested in addressing the questions. After asking twice, the most revealing thing the creator could muster was this.
- "Between the pandemic and presidency, people were truly frightened … We went through a really scary times, the last four years. Hopefully, we're coming out of it and it's just the old scary things like a depression or war. But the first priority can't be not offending people you like or who are powerful… and if someone does something stupid, it would be glaring to not deal with it."
Now, consider how they have barely touched this current administration, which has been marinating in doing stupid things.
The man pulling the strings at #SNL can't admit the truth ... so here's how he handles a tough but fair questionhttps://t.co/2RDk9llPoh @ChrisStigall
— Christian Toto (@HollywoodInToto) September 25, 2022
Anti-Social Media – FAST COMPANY
One might think that after centuries of consumption and various nations now involved in the process, coffee, of all things, would have shaken off any poisonous racial connotations by now.
Nope. Now, we get told that a number of black coffee shops across the country are sprouting up to re-establish the blackness of coffee, as whiteness has taken it over…we have to accept.
The unbearable whiteness of coffee https://t.co/EouWbudnGD
— Fast Company (@FastCompany) March 30, 2022
Glossary Over Things – SALON
It has been some five years or so since the attempt has been made to "correct" the Spanish language, since it hatefully has gendered terminology and this was viewed by social activists as intolerant. The effort then was to remove the male/female designation of Latino/Latina and force people to begin using "LatinX." This has been accepted in the Hispanic culture with less enthusiasm than putting ketchup on tacos.
Not only are Hispanics refusing to use the term at a rate in excess of 90%, but a significant number have said that if a politician uses that term, they are inclined to not vote for them. In the face of this rejection, Salon has recognized the error. But instead of backing away from the effort, they have instead concocted a "better" term to be adopted by those with no interest in doing so.
Stop using "Latinx" if you really want to be inclusive https://t.co/hY8TnSxvEi
— Salon (@Salon) September 26, 2022
First Amendment Strike Force – KTVU FOX 2 - SAN FRANCISCO
Considering all of the actual problems the city is facing, it seems just a touch odd that this would be something to garner the interest of a local news affiliate in San Francisco. Then again, possibly it is this type of outrage signaling that is occupying the minds of officials that the real issues get ignored.
A fireman was spotted this weekend wearing a "Let's Go Brandon" shirt while on duty. An eagle-eyed resident spotted this deeply offensive attire and they snapped into action. They snapped a picture and then Karen – well, in this case, the account was under David – sent the images to the mayor, the fire department, and the district supervisor. As a result, this fireman might soon be facing disciplinary actions, then Karen – I mean, DAVID – will be spared from seeing this offensive display again.
A San Francisco firefighter wore a shirt with the conservative phrase “Lets Go Brandon” written across the back while on duty Saturday morning. https://t.co/7655CpA5Mf
— KTVU (@KTVU) September 25, 2022
