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Pulitzer Prize Nomination – VOA / DEVDISCOURSE
Hard to believe they wanted to bring an end to this news outlet.
Early this year, there was the curtailing of the longtime international news outlet Voice of America (VOA). In February, longtime correspondent Steve Herman was placed on leave over claims of his bias in his reporting and on his social media posts.
5/6 Steve Herman’s suspension was a warning sign. Now, an entire institution is being dismantled piece by piece. This isn’t just a staffing decision — it’s a fundamental shift that endangers the future of independent journalism at VOA.
— National Press Club (@PressClubDC) March 16, 2025
We may have an example of the very charge on display.
First comes this stunted report from an industry outlet, Devdiscourse. It reported on an internal announcement made at the State Department that official correspondence "has reverted to using Times New Roman in official communications, reversing the previous administration's choice of Calibri."
Now, most calm-thinking individuals would look at this as either a barely worth a mention detail or an innocuous news item. You would be severely incorrect.
We are told that this typeface decision was a cruel act of intolerance. How?! Well, just behold the details:
This decision aligns with conservative views rejecting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as wasteful and contrary to merit-based principles. In a move reflecting broader debates on diversity, the U.S. State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has reverted to using the Times New Roman font in official communications, dismissing the previous administration's adoption of the more accessible Calibri font.
Now, again, calm-thinking folks may see "more accessible" as possibly meaning easier to read. And, again, you would be severely wrong:
Calibri, adopted in early 2023 under Secretary Antony Blinken, was intended to enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities, according to the retired directive.
See, since this involves the Trump administration, then it just HAS to be a case of intolerance! And with that, enter Steve Herman.
He saw this dose of news, and he instantly knew what it all meant.
Secretary of State Rubio has concluded Calibri is a DEI font and orders US diplomats to revert to Times New Roman in official communications. https://t.co/vmYB69Qyee
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) December 10, 2025
https://t.co/XXOeWzuFJH
Moreover, this alteration of the type used at State can mean only one thing:
Anti-Social Media – THE HILL
We dare you to tell this to a jarhead to his face!
There are several semiquincentennials taking place in the lead-up to next summer's big national anniversary. Among those landmarks reached recently was the U.S. Marines' 250th year in existence. Over at The Hill, they saw fit to recognize this point in the history of the service with a noble suggestion: It is time to abolish the Marines.
"The Marine Corps just had its 250th birthday — now let’s abolish it" (@TheHillOpinion) https://t.co/XSH0YkFxZy
— The Hill (@thehill) December 8, 2025
Gilded Reframe – THE ATLANTIC
Just call it "mostly peaceful assault on an officer" and get it over with.
It all started with recently elected Mikie Sherrill, who lashed out at DOJ attorney Alina Habba as being unqualified to serve over actions deemed to be "explicitly political." (Insert the sound of crickets here over the actions of Jack Smith and others over the past few years.) Habba answered back at Sherrill's accusation.
Name one case I charged that was “explicitly political” or one time I weaponized my office “against the president’s perceived political opponents” @MikieSherrill
— Alina Habba (@AlinaHabba) December 9, 2025
You want to attack you better come with some facts. https://t.co/QYlF5SguRv
Contributing journalist for The Atlantic, James Surowiecki, felt the need to fire a response, because as a journalist, this is what you do when you see a member of the Trump administration saying anything. James felt he had the goods on Habba and delivered with aplomb.
You indicted a Democratic congresswoman for assault for lightly pushing an ICE agent in the middle of a chaotic scrum. pic.twitter.com/3NdfwVIOSF
— James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) December 9, 2025
We have long believed that hitting a law enforcement officer in any capacity whatsoever was illegal and grounds for serious punishment. Imagine our surprise that there are differing levels of this felonious assault.
Reporting on the Mirror – CBS NEWS
More journalists upset that a journalist was given a promotion.
It cannot be proven, but we have suspicions that there would have been a different kind of reaction had he been elevated at another network. But given this is CBS News, and specifically Bari Weiss being involved, the announcement that Tony Doukopil will be the new anchor for the "CBS Evening News" has brought out a wave of criticism. Even voices inside CBS News are said to be displeased with this announcement.
New @PuckNews: Tony Doukopil will be next anchor of CBS Evening News. @tonydokoupil
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) December 9, 2025
Bari Weiss & Tom Cibrowski expected to make announcement tomorrow.
Race to the Bottom – ALL DLLS
Focusing on the wrong details there, Clarence.
Dallas sports writer Clarence Hill Jr. felt the need to weigh in on a matter that did not go well for him. Clarence is a sportswriter, covering the Dallas Cowboys for the decidedly Dallas-based portal in the All Sports network. So, of course, he was commenting on a crime story. In Florida. (Huh?)
The story concerned a group of teens from Philadelphia who were in Polk County for a football tournament…so maybe there is a sports justification, we guess?
Well, this crowd of youths decided to collectively hit a Dick's Sporting Goods location in the area, making off with hundreds of items totaling thousands of dollars in stolen property. Hill was concerned that these eight youths had their mugshots published and was seemingly bothered by this act.
Had he done the barest amount of research, Hill would have learned that in Florida, those over the age of 14 who commit a felony will find they are able to see their arrests, names, and images made public.
Also, if Mr. Hill is so concerned, we have to ask why he would repost the original post that had their mugshots, thereby sharing the images he found bothersome.
Why are they showing the names and mugshots of juveniles https://t.co/BCWDvaLhms
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) December 9, 2025
