"Riffed from the Headlines" is Townhall's daily VIP feature covering the nation's deeply flawed aspects of journalism. We'll look to bring accountability to the mishaps, malaprops, misdeeds, manipulations, malpractice, and manufactured narratives in mainstream media.
05.24.23
Both Kinds Of Standards – CNN
Hers is the good kind of election denialism.
It will never cease to be amusing when we see the likes of Stacey Abrams appearing across the desk from Jake Tapper. Recall, it was Tapper who once said he would not invite election denialists onto his program The Lead. Now, of course, he had this admonition in place only for GOPers in relation to the fallout of January 6, but it is always fun to point out that there is a very subjective line concerning those who dare question election results.
Tapper announced he had on Stacey Abrams, which casts this in such an amusing light.
Democrat and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate @staceyabrams explains how the themes in her new novel, "Rogue Justice," reflect the current political landscape. She also weighs in on how Donald Trump could make a 2024 resurgence in Georgia https://t.co/i0kzSaCyIU
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) May 23, 2023
Anti-Social Media – VANITY FAIR
- Something…something…protests too much…
Look, we get it; if you are a journalist you are required to be mad at Elon Musk. But it crosses over into self-parody when you allow your distemper to rise so high it clouds not just your judgement but your writing. The news that Governor Ron DeSantis will be announcing his presidential run on Twitter tonight has many a journo enflamed, and it becomes a compounded rage when their contempt for DeSantis is matched with their disgust towards Elon Musk. At Vanity Fair they seem to have lost their ever-loving minds; at least we could this about Bess Levin and the editor(s) who allowed her screed to see print. We don’t toss the term “unhinged” around lightly, but when you begin by suggesting Musk is on par with David Duke, and manage to get worse from there, then the term appears quite accurate.
- He is said to be planning to formally jump into the 2024 race during a conversation on Twitter with Elon Musk, because apparently other neo-Nazi sympathizers weren’t available.
DeSantis is set to announce his 2024 White House bid in conversation with a guy who, among other things, has made Twitter a safe haven for hate speech. https://t.co/6i8dgwdn5s
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) May 23, 2023
Low Octane Gas Lighting – NEW YORK TIMES
- We spoke with losers to get a sense of what it takes to win.
When looking over the DeSantis decision to announce things on Twitter the New York Times reached out for opinions, and found those who thought he was making a poor decision. Of course, they looked for those who thought he made the wrong decision, so it was a fruitful success. Among the writers was Maggie Haberman, who has a direct conduit to the Trump people, and wouldn’t you know it – they found those critical of the DeSantis team!
- “This is one of the most out-of-touch campaign launches in modern history,” said Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Make America Great Again, the pro-Trump group. “The only thing less relatable than a niche campaign launch on Twitter, is DeSantis’s after party at the uber-elite Four Seasons resort in Miami.”
So DeSantis opponents were NOT praiseworthy of the DeSantis plan? Color us…the opposite of shocked.
What elevates this to the level of laughter is the Times taking the word of the people who managed to lose to a barely sentient Jose Biden in order to be critical of the team that won reelection with a 20-point victory last November.
Ron DeSantis Dysphoria Continues - NY Times Features Losers Criticizing His Winning Strategy https://t.co/KOTBOc6WrY
— RedState (@RedState) May 24, 2023
Presentation Paradox – ASSOCIATED PRESS
- Just ignore the evidence presented and believe our hot take.
With Target stores coming under fire for offering up kids swimwear that is made for trans individuals the AP decided to run defence. Ther news syndicate comes out with a clarifying piece declaring it wrong to say the children’s line of swimwear feature “tuck-friendly” designs.
- AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The “tuck-friendly” swimsuits are only offered in adult sizes, according to a spokesperson for the company and Target’s website.
Only problem: This claim is contradicted by evidence collected (and ignored) by – the AP.
- At a Target in New York City’s downtown Brooklyn neighborhood that the AP visited on Monday, the same adult swimsuits shown on social media featured the “tuck-friendly” tag, while a kids’ black swimskirt for sale instead had a tag reading: “Thoughtfully Fit on Multiple Body Types and Gender Expressions.”
Social media users are spreading false claims about a swimsuit for adults featured in Target’s seasonal collection for Pride month, falsely suggesting they are sold in kids' sizes. https://t.co/xgJn9l3JYN
— AP Fact Check (@APFactCheck) May 23, 2023
News Avoidance Syndrome – NBC NEWS
- There was a Nazi flag on site? Good enough for us!
In the story of the driver who attempted to storm the White House in a U-Haul truck the press has latched onto the detail of probable white supremacy behind the failed attack. Of course, as displayed by NBC News, they have to overlook quite a bit, and display abject uncurious reporting to get there.
The driver placed a Nazi flag on the ground, once stopped. But there could be a few questions asked, considering the man stated he plotted this lame effort for 6 months, and his plan was to kidnap President Biden and take control of the country.
Also, there is the small detail of the culprit being a decided non-white, with the name of Sai Varshith Kandula - but, nah. White supremacist is good enough for now.
Driver who crashed near White House told officials he was prepared to kill Biden and 'seize power'
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) May 23, 2023
Sai Varshith Kandula, of suburban St. Louis, allegedly told authorities he admires Nazis and had planned the attack for six months. https://t.co/h2F5zcG3Zm
