Catching up from the holiday break.
First Amendment Strike Force – VARIOUS OUTLETS
When the demise of silencing others angers the media.
On Meta/Facebook, the announcement was made that it was going to do away with the fact-checking process. Mark Zuckerberg stated they are removing that arrangement on the platform and going with a Xitter-style use of Community Notes.
Mark Zuckerberg: Meta Will End Fact-Checking Program, Says It's "Too Politically Biased" https://t.co/aMElx401ii
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 7, 2025
This announcement has tellingly bothered many in the supposedly free expression industry of our national press corps.
Happening now on Fox & Friends: "Meta is announcing major changes to its censorship policy. The company's chief global affairs officer is here in the studio, he's going to join us in a moment."
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 7, 2025
.@PolitiFact will have more to say on this. But these are my thoughts. This decision has nothing to do with free speech or censorship. (PolitiFact is an original partner and has been working on this project for 8+ years). https://t.co/NjydINtNlf pic.twitter.com/OzL2UwUtmX
— Aaron Sharockman (@asharock) January 7, 2025
BlueAnon – VARIOUS OUTLETS
January 6 is considered a National Holiday for the press.
Monday saw most of America returning to normal work schedules after the holidays, but for the media, it was another holiday to celebrate. The anniversary of the January 6 riot is still held precious to the press…and means little to most everyone else.
In a dose of willful delusion on this topic, we saw CNN go full bore on Monday with remembrances and punditry on the event, but one member of the network delivered a completely disqualifying detail. Harry Enten had poll numbers showing just 5% of votes tie January 6 to Trump. It explains both how he managed to win the election and how CNN is foundering in the ratings.
Jan. 6 just didn't have the lasting impression many Dems hoped. Just 5% of voters say it's their #1 memory of Trump's 1st term.
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) January 6, 2025
Also, a much lower share now say (below 40%) say Trump holds a great deal of responsibility for the Capitol attack.
Big reason he won in 2024. pic.twitter.com/ZTnSQNiL4g
Demo-lition Project – CNN
How do we spin this as a post-election lull?
As the network tries to massage the depleting audience to a normal dip after an election surge, how do the PR mavens at CNN explain this little statistical nugget:
The generally apolitical New Years Eve program with Anderson Cooper was off -20%, hitting a five-year low for the event.
CNN drops its lowest New Year’s Eve ratings in five years https://t.co/eSVFmJ6mat
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 3, 2025
Race to the Bottom – THE BULWARK
There cannot be any other explanation, just the assumed worst.
There was an insipid controversy kicked up on social media when Senator Deb Fischer was being sworn in to office. After the pledge, Kamala Harris reached out to shake the hand of her husband, and then quickly turned away for the cameras. People began to claim the husband refused to shake the hand of the vice president, and then jumped to the conclusion that because he was the husband of a Republican this was entirely and only due to him being a racist. It was a stupid leap to make, but it is even more mentally stunted when supposedly educated and skilled journalists repeat the claim.
It turns out there were valid reasons for the husband’s lack of a social gesture. He is a stroke victim to begin with, and additionally he was incapable of shaking her hand given in one hand he was holding the Bible for the swearing in, while his other hand was holding onto his cane for support. These were details far too subtle for the cagey Sam Stein to pick up on as he piled on the man with accusations.
Refusing to shake the vice president's hand during the swearing in of your wife doesn't make you a bad ass. it just makes you kinda immature.
— Sam Stein (@samstein) January 6, 2025
Reporting on the Mirror – WASHINGTON POST
It’s good to have moral superiority as the paper is set to clean house.
There has been nothing short of a dumpster fire of internal strife at The Post for most of the past year. From the layoffs, new controversial management, and the lack of giving a presidential endorsement, the place has been a soap opera. For the latest chapter in this telenovela, a political cartoonist has left in a huff.
Ann Telnaes quit after this cartoon she made, depicting publishers bowing down to Trump, was turned down by the editors, presumably because Jeff Bezos was among those depicted.
Jeff Bezos never wanted this cartoon to become public.
— Aaron Parnas (@AaronParnas) January 4, 2025
He killed it, and as a result, pulitzer prize editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes quit.
Make sure everyone sees this cartoon. pic.twitter.com/hrvdGeowGO
That images may be turned down, she admits, happens on occasion with editors. Telnaes says in a Substack post that this was a first based on the content.
