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Does This Mean Not Even CNN Producers Watch Chris Cuomo?

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Oct 18, 2021
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"Riffed from the Headlines" is 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.

10.18.21

Pathological Media Amnesia – CNN

  • Does this mean not even CNN producers watch Chris Cuomo?

If you missed Chris Cuomo's lecture a few weeks ago (and based on his eroding ratings, it is safe to say you did), he was railing about the media focusing so much on Gabby Petito and the "white girl plight" phenomenon in the press. Chris chose the time to highlight the issue of a POC female who was missing. Of course, his complaint was an indictment of himself for never previously focusing on these missing women – and he also fumbled in his inability to even mention his highlighted victim by name. 

Well, his words seem to have fallen on deaf ears – at least at his own network. This weekend, CNN had a feature presentation focused entirely on the Petito case.

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And it turns out, this is hardly an isolated example. Over the past month, the network has covered Gabby Petito nearly as much as they have President Biden.

News Avoidance Syndrome – VARIOUS OUTLETS

  • Interesting that a VP violating the law is not a threat to our democracy.

As a sign of how much fear Terry McAuliffe has in his bid to retake the governor's mansion in Virginia, numerous Democrat superstars are campaigning on his behalf this week. One effort was VP Kamala Harris cutting a video imploring voters to back Terry. 

The only issue – the video was played in hundreds of black churches, a clear violation of election laws. Note the widespread silence from the press about this violation and the lack of criticism we normally are treated to regarding supposed violations of the separation of church and state. 

Reporting on the Mirror – WASHINGTON POST

Margaret Sullivan provided us with a bio on the man looking to re-instill the glory of Rolling Stone magazine. Noah Shachtman was brought in as editor this summer from The Daily Beast to deliver what the CEO and publisher described as "journalism with teeth."

While Sullivan noted the effort needed to still dig out of the hole from the infamous University of Virginia rape hoax story, she glosses right over the fact that just one month ago, Rolling Stone was behind the fake story of hospitals being overrun with Ivermectin poisonings. I guess those teeth have yet to grow in under Shachtman's watch.

Anti-Social Media – Defense One

  • The latest example of those preaching to follow the science who cannot be bothered to look at the facts.

This morning's announcement that General Colin Powell passed away from Covid complications has brought out no shortage of journalists – those who preach to not politicize the pandemic – who took time to politicize his death.

While most of the hot takes have been bad, we may have settled on the worst. Note the lack of adherence to science in this angry missive, as Powell was vaccinated and battling a severe case of blood cancer. But he was killed by the unvaccinated somehow, according to this Covid wizard.

News Avoidance Syndrome – VARIOUS OUTLETS

Has the standard of becoming outraged when protestors storm a building changed since January? No, just the players involved. It just appears odd that when a mob of environmentalists attempts to break into a federal facility and injures police in the process, there are no media screeching around the clock to declare our democracy is being shaken to its foundation, and no calls for a congressional commission to look into who was the motivating force behind this organized assault.

Both Kinds of Standards – WASHINGTON POST

  • It seems when a reporter feels personally affected by mask scofflaws, THEN it becomes a story.

It is with grand amusement that WaPo Deputy Editor Ruth Marcus detailed a harrowing account of her encounter with a maskless individual. She is vaccinated and should have no fears, but when a man entered an elevator with her facially unadorned, Ruth made a production of exiting the lift, then turned mask-Karen and lectured the guy. Then, get this – he was not as impressed or moved by her contempt! And she's a journalist!

Making this all the more galling/disturbing/hilarious is that this very weekend, President Biden was recorded inside a dining establishment as he and his wife defied the local mask ordinances. This follows D.C. Mayor Bowser recently being caught in the same fashion and numerous other examples of power brokers skirting their own directives.

What is most revealing is how the journos who paint themselves as brave warriors will not dare question the authority figures on their hypocrisy, but they are comfortable confronting the anonymous rabble in society as if they are affecting change.