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Stealth Story Evolution – THE NEW YORK TIMES / WASHINGTON POST
What happens when you use selective sources?
It now appears that the Washington Post story about Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordering a second strike to take out surviving cartel members in the boat strike has fallen apart. The New York Times has come out with a report of its own, and it does the WaPo journalists no favors.
The Times spoke with insiders with knowledge of the orders on the September boat strike and explained that Hegseth did not order a double tap to kill off any survivors. What makes this report significant is that it relies on anonymous sourcing.
Yes, that is always a questionable detail, but normally, what has been seen is various outlets confirming a story via their own sources (while much of the time they are the same sources, just independently spoken with on the matter). That The Times comes out with a deeply conflicting report that exonerates Hegseth and the administration, as well as countering the prevailing media narrative about illegal orders, speaks heavily in this case.
Wait... https://t.co/FVy4oNbWEX pic.twitter.com/KeRmvFg0jx
— Byron York (@ByronYork) December 2, 2025
Anti-Social Media – CNN
Any reports on the success?
On Abby Phillip's show, she asked her panel about what they wanted for Black Friday. Bakari Sellers mentioned he was not shopping at all, and promoted a "We Ain't Buying It" boycott, pushed to punish businesses that supposedly had monetary connections with President Trump.
Here's @Bakari_Sellers promoting the boycott of Black Friday for the "We Ain't Buying It" campaign.
— Brad Slager: CNN+ Lifetime Subscriber (@MartiniShark) December 2, 2025
It failed, as record sales were recorded.
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Forbes has released data from the marketplace, showing significant increases over last year's sales figures.
Americans Spent A Record $11.8 Billion On Black Friday Despite Economic Worries https://t.co/AXSPItuKlz
— Forbes (@Forbes) December 1, 2025
Legalized Press-titution – CNN
When you think that improving your credibility is accomplished by partnering in gambling circles.
As a sign of the financial struggles that the sinking news network must be experiencing, news comes out that CNN has entered into a business partnership with the gambling app Kalshi.
Further blurring lines of credibility, it is said that on-air data and polling correspondent Harry Enten will be the key figure working on the partnership of the two companies.
Exclusive: @CNN getting into the prediction market game, has struck an exclusive data partnership w @Kalshi
— Sara Fischer (@sarafischer) December 2, 2025
- Data whiz @ForecasterEnten will spearhead the network’s integration of the product on air and in its journalism https://t.co/hFQrk9I2Bo
Legalized Press-titution – CNN
More details on the money front.
It has been a bit of a side interest on social media this week that the nation of Qatar has been doling out the cash to get media influencers to tout the merits of the Middle East nation. Now, it appears that CNN has also been part of the effort.
The Free Beacon reports that the news network has developed a deep partnership with Qatar, and even less surprising is that Middle East sympathizer Christiane Amanpour will be involved in the process.
🍎THIS IS AN APPLE … Less than a year after opening a Qatari bureau underwritten by the sheikhs in Doha, CNN will co-sponsor the Doha Forum, a Qatari propaganda confab. @amanpour to interview the prime minister! pic.twitter.com/NSbFAGCyFI
— Eliana Johnson (@elianayjohnson) December 2, 2025
