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Demo-lition Project – ABC NEWS
There is a measurable response to the debate debacle that was witnessed last week. After receiving significant media applause for their performance – and specifically going after Donald Trump – it seemed a victory lap might be in order. Well…not so much.
A week out from that performance, we now learn Muir's program, "ABC's World News Tonight" is suffering from that evening's performance. For the three days immediately after the September 10 debate, Muir saw a drop of 12% in his audience.
ABC’s David Muir sees newscast ratings tank after his controversial debate moderating https://t.co/8jJbkzkM5N pic.twitter.com/YUcsnynvhf
— New York Post (@nypost) September 17, 2024
Artisanally-Crafted Narratives – NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
Finally committing journalism but still drawing the wrong conclusions.
The controversy swirling around Springfield, Ohio, and the perceived threats to the local pet population continues to bedevil the press. The desire is to label Donald Trump and J.D. Vance as liars all while avoiding the story and ignoring the impact from Joe Biden shipping immigrants in that has overwhelmed the community.
Two problems have emerged in this deflection attempt. Calling Trump a liar for mentioning the issue has run up against reality – the residents have been bringing this problem up since at least this past March. Another concerns the narrative that Vance was not truthful by saying residents were contacting him about the problem. The Wall Street Journal was among the few to actually go to Springfield and (get this!) speak to the residents.
Following the name the Vance camp gave, they spoke with the woman, and she asserted that her pet actually turned up after missing for a week.
Steve Inskeep of NPR used this as a lecture to Vance, but missed the underlying point: Vance was actually correct that his constituents had been reaching him about the matter.
Somebody makes a claim. You go see if it’s true. In this case it is not.
— Steve Inskeep (@NPRinskeep) September 18, 2024
It’s tempting just to accept a claim when it fits your side’s narrative.
It’s also tempting just to reject a claim when it doesn’t fit!
Better to check.
The @WSJ is particularly good at this. https://t.co/sk6QfPttHl
Blue-Anon – PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE
Yeah, those Republicans sure run on fear, right? At PBS, they are already cooking up the theory that the US Postmaster General (a Trump appointee!) is not doing enough to ensure mail-in ballots will be received in a timely fashion.
Understand, these are the same people who always claim our election system is above reproach, and that Donald Trump is sowing doubts about election integrity which in turn threatens democracy. But now, it is acceptable to say ahead of time that the election is being threatened.
PBS Challenges Trump-Appointed USPS Head on Election Mail Delays #USPS #APWU #postalreform #maildelays https://t.co/EXqnv7odAI
— 21CPW.com 🇺🇸📬 (@21cpw) September 16, 2024
Gilded Reframe – THE HILL
At The Hill, Senate correspondent Alexander Bolton spoke with a number of Democratic lawmakers, and they strongly feel Kamala Harris will deliver their preferred agenda. These senators are rather confident that despite Kamala Harris giving voice to drastically different political positions today, in stark contrast to her previous stances, she'll come back to their left-wing ideas once elected.
That is to say, this confirms they believe she is lying today.
Democrats bet Kamala Harris will move left as president https://t.co/BpNUtP99Lb
— The Hill (@thehill) September 17, 2024
Low-Octane Gaslighting – MSNBC
That is an impressive amount of manure shoveled in under two minutes.
Of all the outlets struggling mightily with the reality that Donald Trump just faced a second assassination attempt, MSNBC has to be struggling the most. Bear in mind, this is the network that has had no hesitation spewing all manner of harsh invective about Trump on a daily basis. Fascist, Hitler, a threat to democracy, executing opponents – it has all been claimed numerous times on a quotidian basis.
So, to hear them claim Trump and the Republicans need to tone down their rhetoric it is more than desperate; it is hilariously pathetic. Exemplifying this was Jonathan Lemire on "Morning Joe," who in one segment belched out a litany of supposedly dangerous talk from Trump that caused this attempt on his life. Lemire even trotted out the disproven "bloodbath" lie, and then went on to make it all about himself, claiming that he has faced threats from MAGA people.
This is purely lame spin by @JonLemire on a second attempt on Trump’s life.
— Brad Slager: A Folksy Coach & Joyful As a K-Hive! (@MartiniShark) September 18, 2024
Victim-blaming, lying (seriously Jon, the “bloodbath” hoax?!) and making the shooting about himself is deeply pathetic.
It is all done, of course, to deflect from his network’s inciting Trump rhetoric. pic.twitter.com/UFkIp8Dlk9
