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Brian Stelter's Book Makes NY Best Seller List, Conservative Author Mysteriously Missing

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Jul 06, 2021
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Townhall's daily VIP feature with coverage on the deeply flawed aspects of journalism in the nation. We'll look to bring accountability to the mishaps, malaprops, misdeeds, manipulations, malpractice, and manufactured narratives in mainstream media.

07.06.21

Low Octane Gas Lighting – CNN

Chris Cillizza really thinks he caught Donald Trump this time. In looking over the transcript of the speech given on Saturday in Sarasota, Florida, Cillizza mined what he thought was an accidental admission by the former president.

  • "Donald Trump just accidentally told the truth about his disinformation strategy. If you listen to him long enough – no easy chore – Donald Trump will tell you all his secrets. Witness this line from his July 3 speech in Sarasota, Florida: "If you say it enough and keep saying it, they'll start to believe you."

Wow, Donald really slipped up there, but the crafty Cillizza picked up on this nugget!

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  • "But WOW does that quote explain everything you need to know about his approach to the presidency and life."

Slight addition, however, needs to be included in this supposed exposé. When Trump dropped those lines, he was referring to the treatment the GOP has been receiving from the press. This means that as he deflects and attempts to reshape the comments, Cillizza is engaging in the very behavior Trump was talking about. Perfect self-own by one of CNN's finest.

Reporting On The Mirror – ESPN

  • The very definition of a fed media story.

Over the holiday weekend, The New York Times broke a massive story of internal drama and turmoil unspooling behind the scenes at ESPN. On the brink of the NBA Finals, there was this report that two female anchors at the network had descended into a noteworthy squabble. In a hot-mic revelation, Rachel Nichols was recorded saying that she felt passed over for a prominent position covering the finals and that the network granted the slot to Mariah Taylor, possibly out of pressure for diversity.

While it appears that the white Nichols could have been saying racist comments about the black Taylor, or at least referencing the network's motivations, there appears more at play. As Outkick The Coverage details, it looks like this recording was leaked directly to The Times. The evidence for this is this is a recording that is over one year old and that Taylor is up for a new contract with the network. She has been pushing for a significant raise at a time when numerous personalities are being let go in cost-cutting moves, and a racial grievance is some pretty good leverage to use. 

Hoax And Change – SARI ROSENBERG

SarI Rosenberg is a high school teacher from New York who spends a significant amount of time outside the classroom. Rosenberg makes numerous media appearances as an expert on a variety of matters, most recently regarding critical race theory. Yet, if you were to note these provided details, you are guilty of exposing her to threats, it seems. At sister site Twitchy, there was a post about some of Rosenberg's CRT opinions, and as expected, these comments in dispute are regarded as "attacking" Rosenberg. She then goes on to accuse Twitchy of doxxing her and wants to target any advertisers as a result. 

One problem. These are all specifics she provides about herself in a very lengthy "About" page on her website.

  • "She has been teaching U.S. History at the High School for Environmental Studies, a public high school in NYC, for 19 years. Rosenberg is often tapped by media outlets to share her perspective as a history teacher."

News Avoidance Syndrome – THE NEW YORK TIMES

  • Reading between the lines on the Best Seller List.

A few weeks back, it was noted how poorly the Brian Stelter paperback of his book "Hoax" was performing. Though it languished in sales, it still managed to land on The NY Times Best Seller List, surely not a result of Stelter being an alumnus of the paper.

There has been increased interest in the fact that conservative pundit Michael Knowles's new book has been conversely ignored. His new release, "Speechless - Controlling Words, Controlling Minds," is not found on the list. Anywhere. This, despite the fact that Publishers Weekly shows the release to be the top-selling non-fiction title. 

Presentation Paradox – DAILY BEAST

The Beast felt like they hit on a great takedown of Fox News, but a learned individual on the matter, Preston Padden. The EC calls him Rupert Murdoch's "Trusted Lieutenant," Brian Stelter declares him to be "a Murdoch penpal," and Padden describes himself as having served directly under Murdoch for years. His roiling screed of opposition to the network lists off a number of dire issues supposedly fed by the network, carrying all the more heft as coming from one of the leader's top people.

Except he is not this, in reality. Padden says that for the past nine months, he has pleaded with Murdoch to change the course of the network, "I am at a loss to understand why he will not change course."

Perhaps because Rupert Murdoch is no longer running Fox News. I am at a loss as to how someone supposedly so close to Murdoch would spend time since November persuading the man who stepped away one year ago. Steve Krakauer explains how Preston is not exactly the embedded figure at Fox he was positioned to be. 

  • "The Murdoch exec hasn't worked for FOX since...1997, and spent just seven years there 24 years ago. Now he mostly spends his time tweeting anti-Trump voter sentiment, after two decades at Disney."

Artisanal-Crafted Narratives – NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

In case you have not gleaned this detail, anything that can be perceived as a negative in this country will be shown to have an elevated level of negative impact on minorities. Recently we were lectured by Senator Ed Markey on how the Sun is racist by making black neighborhoods 20 degrees warmer within the same city. 

Now, we have learned that the smoke from fireworks is especially impactful to black communities. Maybe since the vast majority of fireworks are manufactured in China, take it up with that nation.