OPINION
Premium

Using Bias to Supposedly Filter Out the Bias in News Outlets

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Mar 25, 2022
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.

"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.

03.25.22

Body Checking the Fact Checkers – NEWSGUARD

If you are unfamiliar with NewsGuard, here is a brief primer. Not a news fact-check site, instead it is ostensibly a grading platform that measures a news outlet on a set of arcane criteria to measure how trustworthy it is for readers. To say there are partisan problems is an understatement. 

As an example, our partner site RedState has a red flag score of 57…whatever that means. One of the strikes against them is supposed there is not enough transparency in displaying who owns the site. This, despite the PRIVACY link explaining how it is a division of Townhall Media, owned by Salem. There is also the copyright displaying Salem Media at the bottom of every single page. 

Recommended

Blinken In Deep Water After State Dept. Hosts Therapy Sessions Post-Trump Win Sarah Arnold
The Forever-Tarnished Legacy of Barack Obama Jeff Davidson

Meanwhile, go to the Washington Post, and good luck finding any references the paper is owned by Amazon or Jeff Bezos. I mention that outlet because it sports a perfect 100/100 score from NewsGuard. It also sports this score despite being one of the many news sources that incorrectly avoided the Hunter Biden laptop story, as well as attributing the story to Russian disinformation.

At NewsBusters, they show the sites that got a top score while getting it wrong, and Steven Brill, the CEO of true news stories NewsGuard, also pushing the false news story. 

Pathological Media Amnesia – PUCKNEWS

  • "I know this to be true, so no bother checking it out."

With the recent passing of Madeline Albright, a number of female journos and feminists came out with remembrances. All well and good, except when it came to the effusive praise from Julia Ioffe. 

Now, this might be excusable from a normie, but Julia here fashions herself to be a journalist. You know, someone who by trade should have a level of skill showing an aptitude for research. Her boast about Albright is rather easily debunked with a cursory investigation. 

Blue-Anon – MSNBC

A word of caution to anyone interested in physical fitness, especially those wanting to workout at home – it will make you a Nazi. 

- "The intersection of extremism and fitness leans into a shared obsession with the male body, training, masculinity, testosterone, strength and competition. Physical fitness training, especially in combat sports, appeals to the far right for many reasons."

The worst part of this idiocy? It is so stupid as to be beyond parody because you cannot even go with the dependable punchline – "You know who else used a doorframe chin-up bar? HITLER!" 

- "In 'Mein Kampf,' Hitler fixated on boxing and jujitsu, believing they could help him create an army of millions whose aggressive spirit and impeccably trained bodies, combined with 'fanatical love of the fatherland,' would do more for the German nation than any 'mediocre' tactical weapons training."

Legalized Press-titution – POLITICO

  • If this impressed you, then maybe check out the DeSantis war chest…

The Democrats have basically given up on the state of Florida financially regarding the midterms. Despite the growing red presence in the state and the coffers the incumbents are filling, Politico's Olivia Beavers is apparently impressed with the Democrats spending thousands on an upcoming ad campaign to troll a GOP conference! That is, depending on where you place the decimal point. 

This is sure to make a big enough impact that somebody is likely to notice! Know what else was noticed, Olivia? You giving the Dems an in-kind donation by running their commercial on your feed. 

Low Octane Gas Lighting – USA TODAY

When Ketanji Brown Jackson was asked by Senator Marsha Blackburn how she defines a woman, social media blew up with the jokes as the judge refused to answer. Mockery ensued, memes were created, and the "I'm not a biologist" punchline was worn out before lunchtime. 

In order to stave off this ridicule, USA Today rode in, and the outlet offered up the smartest defense possible – scientists say there is no simple way to answer what is a woman! 

The writer claims scientists (one) "agree" (a word-salad confounding excuse was made) that "there is no sufficient way to clearly define what makes someone a woman." 

Well then…if this is the case, then how are we celebrating that KBJ is the first black woman to be nominated if she cannot be scientifically declared a woman?!?!