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WaPo Fact-Checks Critics of a CDC Study, Not the Accuracy of the Study

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Aug 12, 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.

08.12.21 (Update)

Anti-Social Media – CNN

CNN is trying desperately to wrangle and wriggle its way out of the Cuomo brothers fiasco, and things are only looking darker. Fox News has looked into some of the metrics of the ratings for "Cuomo Prime Time" since his brother's issues were revealed in the New York attorney general's report about the numerous charges of sexual harassment. 

Cuomo has the top-rated show on the network, but as Fox discovered, there was a significant drop in female viewers in the days following the release of the AG report.

- "The turnout was a 41% decline from the year-to-date female viewership of 'Cuomo Prime Time,' while the program also lost 45% percent of female viewers compared to the same week in 2020. 'Cuomo Prime Time' also lost 14% of the female viewers who tuned in during the second quarter of 2021. Among the key demo during the three episodes hosted by the program’s namesake last week, down 33% compared to the second quarter totals and down a stunning 56% compared to the 2021 average."

Body Checking The Fact Checkers – WASHINGTON POST

If there is one thing about the CDC we have learned over the past couple of months, it is that they are not the center of all rock-solid and perfectly vetted medical information. Glenn Kessler, however, feels they are an infallible source that is above criticism, which explains why he chooses to not fact-check issues with some of its information and instead fact-check those conservatives who dared to point out the problems.

At issue is a new mask order from the CDC that was based on a study from India, and that was found to have been turned down under peer review. Also at issue is that the study is based on a vaccine used in that country but not here in the U.S. So when Reps. Elise Stefanik, Kevin McCarthy, and Dan Crenshaw pointed out these matters, Kessler decided to go after them, and not the details of the study. Then he turned meek on the matter.

- "Stefanik sets a high bar during a pandemic to suggest that all studies used for policymaking should be peer reviewed. McCarthy also cited the fact that the paper was not peer-reviewed. Crenshaw noted that the paper was initially rejected under peer review, which turns out to be correct."

That...sounds like they had reasonable criticisms, Glenn.

- "Given this issue involves a mix of opinion and legitimate disputes about scientific research, we will leave these statements unrated."

So they did have reasonable criticisms. Of course, this vacillating position he takes where he grudgingly admitted they had some valid points did not stop him from describing their comments as "The GOP’s Attack on the CDC Mask Reversal."

Pre-Written Field Reports – VARIOUS OUTLETS

As we covered earlier, NPR dared to call into question a report from the CDC about the contagious nature of the Delta variant, comparing it to that of chickenpox. The question was where the CDC had come across this misinformation. The medical professionals who are above reproach and cannot be challenged on medical matters, misread details it collected from a picture in The New York Times.

- "The value for the chickenpox (and other R0s in the slideshow) came from a graphic from The New York Times, which wasn't completely accurate."

Well, I think we can all sleep the sleep of angels knowing these are the minds who are in charge.

Stealth Story Evolution – TEXAS TRIBUNE

We have been getting treated to all kinds of nightmare Covid stories out of Florida and Texas the past few weeks. One consistent issue has been the figures coming out of those states being shown as inflated on a regular basis. 

In Texas, this recent report had the glaring figure of nearly 6,000 children hospitalized in a single week. An alarming spike to be sure – and an inaccurate one. At the end of the very long scare article, the Texas Tribune nestles a correction that is far more alarming in just how wrong they managed to get the data.

- "Correction, Aug. 12, 2021: An earlier version of this story overstated the number of children who have been hospitalized in Texas recently with COVID-19. The story said over 5,800 children had been hospitalized during a seven-day period in August, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number correctly referred to children hospitalized with COVID-19 since the pandemic began. In actuality, 783 children were admitted to Texas hospitals with COVID-19 between July 1 and Aug. 9 of this year."

So they got the totals wrong, the time frame wrong, and compiled over a year's worth of counting into a seven-day period. But otherwise, the article was tied down accurately and completely valid.

08.12.21 (Original)

News Avoidance Syndrome – VARIOUS OUTLETS

  • Praise for an action without any evidence.

The press touted it loudly. The leadership bragged about it boldly. In January, we were all told that the incoming Biden White House would be an open and transparent administration, yet there is a growing list of items that have been shielded from public purview. Yesterday, Jen Psaki took a question about the release of the visitor logs at Joe Biden's Delaware homestead, where he has been frequently traveling to since taking office, and she once again exhibited the deflection and avoidance that is becoming the hallmark of this transparent outfit.

- "I can confirm we are not going to be providing information about the comings and goings of the president's grandchildren or people visiting him in Delaware."

It was just weeks ago that Psaki was testy about fielding questions regarding how many White House workers had been breakout Covid cases, and there have been times reporters were blocked from facilities at the border. Then there was the issue of Hunter Biden's art gallery sales when Psaki announced, "The gallerist will not share information about buyers or prospective buyers, including their identities."

The broader press industry has not been too bothered at all with the growing list of examples of the administration obfuscating details from the press.

 Stealth Story Evolution – POLITICO

One of the underreported aspects of the 2020 election is how many gains the Republicans made in state legislatures. The reality of this has bothered many in the press, as the recent census completion leads to a next step that involves the redrawing of some congressional districts. It has been widely reported how problematic this will be for GOP gains in the House, for instance.

But not all redistricting is bad, we learn, and sometimes gerrymandered areas are considered a positive, according to Politico. 

- "The LGBTQ Victory Fund is launching a first-of-its-kind effort to lobby redistricting authorities in different states to consider gay populations as 'communities of interest' in map-drawing, the same status given to Black and Latino voters, and other racial and ethnic groups. That means mapmakers draw some districts so those groups can elect their candidate of choice in local, state or federal races."

Ah. So it is only a problem when the other guys do it.

Blue-Anon – THE DAILY BEAST

  • You know, maybe if you just stop covering the guy…

It is likely you were unaware, but Mike Lindell, the MyPillow guy and chief Trump election conspiracy kook, is holding a symposium in Sioux Falls about election fraud and other...stuff. It does not seem important at all, but if you want to learn more, all you need to do is check-in with the major news outlets, as they are the primary outlets providing coverage, such as The Daily Beast. 

The reason is clear. They are trying to show that Lindell is a mainstream voice of conservatives – and it allows them to continue railing about Trump, naturally. One thing they would be smart to do is follow the lead of Fox News – who is not covering the event at all. 

- "A Fox News spokesperson confirmed that the network had not sent any reporters to cover Lindell's event. Fox coverage of the MyPillow mogul's various antics has been virtually non-existent in recent months, despite his repeated attempts to make MAGA-friendly news (including a rally this summer that featured Trump himself). According to media monitoring service TVEyes, Lindell has only been mentioned on Fox News five times in the past six months—and only in passing."

Now see, that is how you handle a story as daft as this one. You guys in the media ought to give it a try someday soon.

Prose & Contradiction – NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO

It has been a three-part media mantra for over a year now – follow the science, listen to healthcare experts, obey CDC guidelines. This has been repeated to us, even in the face of blatant contradictions from these sources, and anyone deviating from the narrative runs afoul of the censors and can find themselves banished.

Which makes this report from NPR about the Delta variant all the more baffling, as they come forward and boldly defy the CDC statements regarding the parameters of this new strain.

Reporting On The Mirror – THE BULWARK

  • Looks like dad is kicking them out of the basement and telling them to go find work.

We know you do not go there much. But we, on occasion, have to venture into the fetid environment of the Never Trump realm known as The Bulwark. Bill Kristol and Charlie Sykes ply their wares on the site that is notably free of banner advertising. This is because for years, the "True Conservatives" there have been fully funded by hyper-liberal billionaire Pierre Omidyar of eBay fame. Well...that trust-fund support appears to be drying up.

An announcement was made that the site will "Exit non-profit mode," which is quite the euphemism for, "He won't back us anymore."

Body Checking The Fact Checkers – USA TODAY

Lest anyone had been deeply bothered and confused by the announcement, USA Today has helpfully gotten to the bottom of the story – Dr. Anthony Fauci is NOT the child of Mother Theresa.

While the diligent factual warriors have tracked this false report to a fake news web portal, a few unanswered questions remain. Are they sure that Dr. Fauci himself had not planted this story?