12.21.23
Glossary Over Things – THE NEW YORK TIMES
It seems Harvard University is not the only entity struggling with President Claudine Gay's revealed history of stolen writings. The school, which expels students caught stealing previously published work, appears content to allow its leader to remain in place despite dozens of examples of theft found, and it is mounting. But the press is also challenged to be objective, as most outlets favor the DEI initiatives Gay and her ilk represent.
The New York Times could not bring itself to say that President Gay is under fire for plagiarism, opting instead for the spoonfed example from the school, and delivering its reinterpretation of the term.
I mean, seriously... pic.twitter.com/tYRJji0czS
— Brad Slager: Flips On The Highbeams In Fog Of War (@MartiniShark) December 21, 2023
Body Checking the Fact-Checkers - POLITIFACT
We have reached that point when the end-of-the-year posts are starting to flow freely. (Be on the lookout in the coming weeks for our "Townhall 50" list of the worst names in media in 2023.) The fact-checkers eagerly join in, and at PolitiFact, we have delivered its "Lie Of The Year."
We need to stress the word "ITS" in that description because once revealed, you see that it is a far cry from some of the blatant examples floating around. Surely Joe Biden's persistent fable-weaving would be considered, right? Maybe the constant false premise that Florida is "banning" books, the massive fraudulent reports of Israel bombing the Gaza hospital, or even Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly telling us the border is secure would be chosen?
Nah.
Instead, we are told the worst example is from lightly considered and barely-listened-to Robert Kennedy Jr. These are not serious people.
We don’t use the word “lie” lightly at PolitiFact. Our Lie of the Year looks back at the most significant falsehood that tried to undermine truth in 2023.
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) December 21, 2023
The 2023 Lie of the Year goes to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign of conspiracy theories. (1/9) pic.twitter.com/xN7kLSQJHO
Anti-Social Media – WASHINGTON POST
"This offer is only good until security arrives to escort you from the building."
It was with amusement that we read from Oliver Darcy that it was considered a positive the Washington Post was not resorting to layoffs (employees were said to be "breathing a sigh of relief"). This "good news" was because the paper reached its desired quota of workers who opted to take buyout clauses.
Max Tani of Semafor reports that of those departing employees, most received parting emails from the company, and there was a noted inclusion of some cold-hearted commerce.
Some people at the Washington Post who took buyouts thought it was insensitive to receive a departure email that included a line telling them to "take a last look" at the discounted WaPo merch store before leaving. pic.twitter.com/DHtDpv6hX9
— Max Tani (@maxwelltani) December 21, 2023
Artisanally-Crafted Narratives – MSNBC / THE NEW YORK TIMES
It seems the Civil War language is an intentional move.
On "Morning Joe," the always-challenged thinker Mara Gay took a look at the Colorado Supreme Court decision to remove Trump from the ballot, and came to a daft conclusion: This is proper since he is JUST like Confederate soldiers who were prevented from running for office.
NYT's @MaraGay on Republicans criticizing Colo. for banning Trump from the ballot: "Why are you standing w/ confederates who betrayed this country? ... [Reconstruction Republicans] clearly saw a threat in ex-confederates running for office, and so much so they amended the… pic.twitter.com/c3V0MfJ8ZL
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) December 20, 2023
Of course, it need not be said for those reading that Trump did not fight against the nation and has not been convicted of sedition or insurrection. It does need to be stated for the sake of Ms. Gay, however.
Blue Anon – ABC NEWS
This act of decency is a real problem!
Once again, we have the press going after new House Speaker Mike Johnson – and once again, it has nothing at all to do with anything policy-related. This means going after him by dredging items up from his past, which…have little to no bearing on him doing his job today.
The latest is from ABC News, where they found an old German news program featuring Johnson and his 13-year-old daughter attending a Purity Ball, where she would pledge her abstinence until marriage. This is called "controversial." How so, and what does this have to do with Johnson today? Good luck finding out. The most we get is that some people do not like the idea of these events. Why are we supposed to care about this? That is a question that never comes close to being answered.
New: Speaker Mike Johnson and daughter were profiled attending 'purity ball' in 2015 German TV news segmenthttps://t.co/ovVOrRhUXx
— Will Steakin (@wsteaks) December 20, 2023
"Riffed from the Headlines" is Townhall's daily VIP feature with coverage of the deeply flawed aspects of journalism in the nation, where Brad Slager looks to bring accountability to the mishaps, malaprops, misdeeds, manipulations, malpractice, and manufactured narratives in mainstream media.
