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Artisanally-Crafted Narratives – CNN
The next time she gets somebody on the record will be the first time.
Washington is all a titter over Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, again. This time, it is a result of the intel community’s favorite tongue in D.C., as Natasha Bertrand, along with Zachary Cohen, is out with another scathing report based on her “anonymous insiders.” Yes…again.
New: SecDef Hegseth did not inform the White House before he authorized a pause on weapons shipments to Ukraine last week, 5 sources tell @NatashaBertrand & me, setting off a scramble inside the administration to understand why the halt was implemented.https://t.co/QgbGHFn991
— Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) July 8, 2025
The only official on record, sort of, was this mention from the DoD media contact:
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed last week that the department was conducting “a capability review … to ensure US military aid aligns with our defense priorities.”
However, after this CNN report came out, Parnell was forcefully pushing back against the accuracy of this story, and even alluded to having provided fuller context to the reporters while not having that included in the article.
First of all, this story is a complete & total fabrication.
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) July 9, 2025
On a related note, one of the CNN ‘journalists’ involved in this fake narrative is a well established hoaxer.
We made sure to mention that in our comment but CNN omitted it from the story. https://t.co/Og2C2FdhRl
Gilded Reframe – CBS NEWS
Now, in order to blackmail Steve, there first needs to be an offense to keep from being exposed, correct?
There continues to be fallout in the press regarding the Paramount CBS settlement with President Trump last week, as many journalists are bothered by the appearance of a news outlet being held accountable. Former “60 Minutes” anchor Steve Kroft was on with Jon Stewart, and he described the $16 million payout and other agreements made to be a case of a “shakedown” taking place.
Now, how would Trump be able to shake down the network if there was not first in place some objectionable behavior he was ready to expose?
Why did Paramount pay Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit? Former "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft says, "It was a shakedown." pic.twitter.com/f1c0GwJLig
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) July 8, 2025
Stealth Story Evolution – USA TODAY
So now it is back to being a s***hole, is that the explanation?
When it comes to the subject of the nation of Haiti, the press appears to be very sensitive on the matter. The problem is getting the press to settle on what it is they are sensitive about, concerning the island nation.
The latest proposal from the DHS is that it's looking at rescinding the temporary protected status of immigrants formerly permitted into this country. This will include residents of Haiti, and USA Today opposes this idea on the surface, due to claims that the place is a festering hive of danger and violence.
But this flies in the face of the previous outrage when Donald Trump described the country as being (to paraphrase) an aperture filled with fecal matter.
In response to Trump’s comments, Conan O’Brien even recorded a number of dispatches from the country to show it as an idyllic island. Yet today, the idea of arranging for Haitians to be returned to this paradise is met with furious outrage:
Every neighborhood has a gang, every neighborhood is controlled by a gang member. They're vicious: burning buildings, killing kids, cleaning out neighborhoods. That's the kind of life they're going to (if they return to Haiti). They're going to a death sentence.
As Trump ends TPS, Haitians say returning home would be a 'death sentence' https://t.co/KER7QqZcTY
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) July 7, 2025
News Avoidance Syndrome – CNN
Is it maybe a case where attacking agents is not considered “extremism”?
It was back in April when Donie O’Sullivan, CNN’s resident extremism correspondent, stated he could not find too many examples of political violence and extremism on the left. This was to promote his special about political extremism, where he giggled over the alleged murderer Luigi Mangione with the emotionally fractured journalist Taylor Lorenz.
He followed this up with a visit to Colorado, but not to look into the firebombing of Israel supporters in Boulder, but to drop in on the Mike Lindell trial in Denver.
We bring this up just to note that after violent attacks made recently on ICE and Border Patrol headquarters, where ambushes were plotted, he still has not seemed to have covered or commented on these examples.
Curious that…
A man with a rifle and tactical gear is dead after exchanging gunfire with authorities at a Border Patrol facility in Texas https://t.co/BSwcOHq2BB
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 7, 2025
Anti-Social Media – ATLAS OBSCURA
Those computers sure do get around!
It was back in April when it was announced that the travel interest website Atlas Obscura would have a new boss. Louise Story stepped in, coming with a vaunted pedigree including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, among other journalistically impressive stops.
And she has promptly strangled the journalism at the outlet. It is reported that since taking the reins, Ms. Story has ushered to the exits a number of writers and has moved to a more AI-driven model for the site.
LATEST BREAKER: Staffers depart and AI moves in as former NYT and WSJ exec Louise Story takes the reins at Atlas Obscura —https://t.co/zJ3sXJ83mh
— Lachlan Cartwright (@LachCartwright) July 9, 2025
