Get access to Brad Slager's "Riffed From the Headlines," a daily VIP feature where he looks to bring accountability to the mainstream media. Use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership.
DNC PR Firm – CNN
"Hello, Dana, longtime listener, first-time caller..."
While on the air, Dana Bash took a phone call from Kamala Harris, and the two discussed hurricane responsiveness. The hostess went on to ask the Democratic candidate a leading question about misinformation during storm recovery – mainly from Trump.
As Harris went on to lecture about the "unconscionable" act of politicizing relief efforts, what was never brought up was Harris recently lying (sorry, "giving misinformation") about a non-existent phone call to Ron DeSantis about hurricane prep work for Florida.
VP Kamala Harris just called into CNN following a briefing on Hurricane Milton. I asked about dangerous misinformation coming in part from Donald Trump. Harris says it is "unconscionable, frankly, that anyone who would consider themselves a leader would mislead desperate people." pic.twitter.com/FiwvtdfBqt
— Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) October 9, 2024
Reporting on the Mirror – DEADSPIN
Recommended
Who would think attacking a child was poor journalism? (ANSWER: Everyone.)
It was not quite one year ago that the pseudo-sports website Deadspin angered most decent-thinking individuals when it accused a young boy of committing racism by wearing blackface to a Kansas City Chiefs game in Las Vegas. Why a boy of about 9 years old would do so, and why he would in a public setting were not questions the reactionary race-baiting writer could formulate. As it turned out, the kid was actually adorned in team colors, and the article had to be revised repeatedly.
Maybe an apology and taking down the article would have been wise, but these are not wise people. The site has since been sold, this past March, but the new owners have a challenge, as a court has permitted a defamation case to move forward against the site.
A judge refused to dismiss a defamation lawsuit against Deadspin over an article accusing a 9-year-old NFL fan and his family of racism because of his game-day attire. https://t.co/rLQ8o4N12b
— KCTV5 News (@KCTV5) October 8, 2024
Presentation Paradox – CNN
Denying the practice while engaging in it is a fantastic look, Brian.
Speaking of hurricane misinformation…
Brian Stelter attempted to take Senator Marco Rubio to task for doubting the government. Rubio implored Florida residents to heed reports from the National Weather Service regarding Hurricane Milton. Stelter castigated the senator because, previously, Rubio had cast scorn on the release of the national jobs report.
Somehow, Stelter equates the jobs data and the NOAA storm reports as equal, while the jobs data has been routinely revised under Biden. He says that doubting the jobs report is like saying all government data is wrong, which Rubio never said, as well as saying you should not have absolute trust in government but having no trust at all is wrong, which again Rubio never said.
If that makes sense to you, apply with Brian Stelter for an internship.
Ultimately this is all about trust. Having absolute trust in the government is irrational – but so is having NO trust at all. When people assume it's all a lie, it's all fake, it's all corrupt, they can't engage rationally with the world. Rebuilding trust bit by bit is Job #1. pic.twitter.com/vyVuXhl8rd
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) October 8, 2024
Both Kinds of Standards – THE NEW YORK TIMES
Not all problematic spouses are created equal.
It has been rather telling how the media have avoided outright the various stories surrounding Doug Emhoff, the Second Gentleman, and the possible historic first male spouse of a president. His history of impregnating the nanny from his first marriage and the new story of hitting a former girlfriend and paying her off has been met with shrugs. "He's not the one running for office," goes the general reaction. Of course, this has not stopped the press from touting Emhoff as redefining masculinity and being a sex symbol. (Yes, that happened.)
Meanwhile, a GOP politician running for Congress has a wife embroiled in a scandal, and The New York Times is all over it.
So a politician’s spouse is considered newsworthy?
— Brad Slager: A Folksy Coach & Joyful As a K-Hive! (@MartiniShark) October 9, 2024
Now I’d like to introduce the @NYTimes to a guy named Doug Emhoff…https://t.co/E8130oXZT0
Body Checking the Fact-Checkers – CNN
Something-something…misinformation threatens democracy...y
We have become inured to the peals of shrieking in the press about how dangerous misinformation will be and the inherent threat to the very fabric of our nation it represents. You are aware of this, but we wanted to reiterate it, considering CNN has now been exposed as a misinformation source.
It delivered a previous fact-check "debunking" the claim by Republicans that immigrants from Afghanistan were not being properly vetted and terrorist sympathizers were coming to our shores to exact violence. We bring this up because of the arrest of a terrorist sympathizer who plotted to commit violence during election day who was not properly vetted when he arrived here from the Afghanistan evacuation.
A Terrorist Arrest Once Again Exposes CNN As Fact-Checking Hacks Endangering the Countryhttps://t.co/RIIjPdk0KK
— RedState (@RedState) October 9, 2024