I believe it was NBC that added another layer of DISASTER to the Kabul exodus by reporting on the "terrible conditions" awaiting refugees in Doha. Catch 22 - you get slammed for not getting people out of Afghanistan, AND you get slammed for the accommodations for those who do get out. And don't forget the instantaneous "we don't want Afghanistan refugees HERE" meme that Republican congressmen and rightwing media were happy to spread.
Ironic that yesterday CNN posted a headline, words to the effect, "Delta variant threatens Biden legacy...Democrats may be in peril because Covid isn't 'over' like he said it would be..." while making no mention of the fact that the entire Biden administration has been consistently pointing out that the reason why Covid isn't over is because not enough people will vaccinate themselves for their own good and the good of the country, and nearly fifty! percent of republicans refuse to get the shot. The most stated reason among them for that is that it somehow takes away their "freedom". The same people rail against masks, and insist on returning to "normal", insist on going to crowded venues and so on. The biased reporting expressed by these failures is palpable.
There seems to be a fun house mirror of distortion in the reporting about Biden. I never see reflected in the press reports what I’ve seen and read about with my own eyes/ears ie Biden juggling difficult, impactful decisions and doing great things well. Gaslighting by the press perhaps??? Can they even see it themselves? Stunning lack of insight by the press and their bosses into what the country needs from them. Of course, that’s assuming they are honest brokers who understand that their job is to bring insightful information to the public. Their Republican talking points are embedded in each piece and I’m truly disgusted by what they do in their reporting. The FG was an abomination, Biden is a statesman. Seems they don’t know the difference. RIP Charlie Watts. Thought the Stones would go in forever. I was lucky enough to see them years ago .... once in a lifetime joy 🤩!
Meanwhile as the press continues to push Biden in disarray over Afghanistan, they ignore a Proud Boy rally that resulted in the vandalism of a minivan with clubs while police just stood around virtually doing nothing. How about Trump's rally last week in Alabama where they played clips from the movie Patton of annihilating the enemy, an obvious call to arms for the Trump faithful. Where is the media on what the DOJ is doing or not doing regarding the January 6th insurrection? Why aren't they calling out the obvious coup that still continues from these Republicans who follow every turd that comes out of their dear leader Trump. I guess none of this is news. The mainstream media is helping to continue a dangerous and toxic situation. They are as much to blame for the divide in this country as the right wing lunatics.
Trump specifically (and authoritarian capture of the fourth estate in general) meshes nicely with a media business model that values clicks over honest journalism.
I hope everyone pays attention to that comment by blogger Susie Madrick that the press is acting like children of divorce, blaming mom rather than dad because they are afraid to alienate him.
For years I have felt that the criticism the media and Republicans make of Democrats feels just like the kinds of criticisms moms — and women in general — constantly face. If women fight back they are strident, too aggressive or defensive but if they don’t they are weak. I remember Kerry getting that treatment when he ignored the insane Swiftboat attacks. The media said he looked weak. Then when he did fight back they said he looked defensive. Bill Clinton was constantly mocked for “feeling our pain” as if that were a terrible quality for a man to have.
Biden is getting that kind of “mommy” treatment now. I have repeatedly seen reporters call him defensive, stubborn, defiant which imply he is unreasonable, weak and childish for standing his ground. Reporters are avoiding terms like like firm, resolute, determined — manly qualities — to describe Biden’s stance. The bias is obvious to anyone who is paying attention.
There is good evidence that many people really do subconsciously think of Democrats as the Mommy Party, concerned about people’s welfare but soft and emotional, and Republicans as the strong, patriarchal daddy who is rational.
Our Failed Political Press ™ enjoyed being part of the story during the Trump years. The eyeballs, the clicks, the revenue stream justified it. When CBS said (paraphrasing) that "Trump might not be good for America, but was good for CBS” you could take that to the bank.
NY Mag got the ultimate quote from CNN’s Jeff Zucker:
“As CNN sees it, his pro-Trump panelists are not just spokespeople for a worldview; they are "characters in a drama,” members of CNN’s extended ensemble cast. “Everybody say, 'Oh, I cannot believe that you have Jeffery Lord or Kayleigh McEnany,' but you know what?” Zucker told me with some satisfaction. “They know who Jeffery Lord and Kaleith McEnany are."
It’s all fun and games. Trump hating them, attacking them made them part of the story. They ate it up with a spoon. They felt relevant. They are not part of the story with the Biden administration, they are back to being ink-stained wretches and they hate it.
Consider the headline to Nick Allen's op ed today in the Telegraph: "Joe Biden's two-term dream is over as even Democrats realise he's not up to the job..." Just SMH
The Stones did such a great job with Honkey Tonk Women that when I heard Albert King's version I thought it must have been the Stones who were covering *him*! As you know, that is not the case!
Now I'm in my car
I've got the radio on
And I'm yellin' at the kids in the back cuz they're bangin' like Charlie Watts!
Trump made reporters' jobs easy. Every day, every lie was an easy-to-report big story. And getting directly attacked by Trump boosted careers. Conversely, the bland but efficient Biden has been around Washington for decades. His personality and plodding but steady style never made for good copy. But his occasional gaffes over the years? Stop the presses! And Biden the president had produced nothing but good news until the Afghanistan withdrawal. The mistakes, now being corrected, meant finally some bad news! It was like chum on the water for hungry sharks. Thus the out-of-control feeding frenzy.
The tell, when it came to Crooked Donnie was: If covering a pathological liar was necessary, why cover him live when he can control the narrative when they could go old school and record and edit his spew and provide context? (Partially kidding; the media loathe to provide context, but you get the point.)
As for Watts and “Honky Tonk Woman”, the cowbell, at least, was Jimmy Miller. But Watts was consistently great and only got better over the years. I occasionally focus my listening on a band’s rhythm section and Watts never, ever disappointed.
It's clear now that the Liberally Biased Mainstream Media™, perhaps moreso than the Republican Party, are the true threats to American democracy. They're so starving for more revenue that they're willing to attack and destroy a president and his party for doing the right thing and for cleaning up the mess the Republican Party left behind. A party that has been attacking and discrediting the media for decades and for whom the Liberally Biased Mainstream Media™ seems to love them for.
It's a sick destructive relationship that threatens to bring America down.
Like I said before, their new slogan should be "Democracy Dies In Clickbaits!"
Question for Eric and everyone. I like many others can no longer watch or read any large company news info. Viewership is down among the major networks about 40% across all networks. Some of that is last year as an election year. But I think the lack of viewership is driving the networks wild. Not a good atmosphere for reporters writing books either. What do you read or watch that gives you a better view of the truth? I want to keep up, but I cant take the depression that sets in from the network news. Thanks all. Eric, love your site.
I believe it was NBC that added another layer of DISASTER to the Kabul exodus by reporting on the "terrible conditions" awaiting refugees in Doha. Catch 22 - you get slammed for not getting people out of Afghanistan, AND you get slammed for the accommodations for those who do get out. And don't forget the instantaneous "we don't want Afghanistan refugees HERE" meme that Republican congressmen and rightwing media were happy to spread.
Ironic that yesterday CNN posted a headline, words to the effect, "Delta variant threatens Biden legacy...Democrats may be in peril because Covid isn't 'over' like he said it would be..." while making no mention of the fact that the entire Biden administration has been consistently pointing out that the reason why Covid isn't over is because not enough people will vaccinate themselves for their own good and the good of the country, and nearly fifty! percent of republicans refuse to get the shot. The most stated reason among them for that is that it somehow takes away their "freedom". The same people rail against masks, and insist on returning to "normal", insist on going to crowded venues and so on. The biased reporting expressed by these failures is palpable.
There seems to be a fun house mirror of distortion in the reporting about Biden. I never see reflected in the press reports what I’ve seen and read about with my own eyes/ears ie Biden juggling difficult, impactful decisions and doing great things well. Gaslighting by the press perhaps??? Can they even see it themselves? Stunning lack of insight by the press and their bosses into what the country needs from them. Of course, that’s assuming they are honest brokers who understand that their job is to bring insightful information to the public. Their Republican talking points are embedded in each piece and I’m truly disgusted by what they do in their reporting. The FG was an abomination, Biden is a statesman. Seems they don’t know the difference. RIP Charlie Watts. Thought the Stones would go in forever. I was lucky enough to see them years ago .... once in a lifetime joy 🤩!
Meanwhile as the press continues to push Biden in disarray over Afghanistan, they ignore a Proud Boy rally that resulted in the vandalism of a minivan with clubs while police just stood around virtually doing nothing. How about Trump's rally last week in Alabama where they played clips from the movie Patton of annihilating the enemy, an obvious call to arms for the Trump faithful. Where is the media on what the DOJ is doing or not doing regarding the January 6th insurrection? Why aren't they calling out the obvious coup that still continues from these Republicans who follow every turd that comes out of their dear leader Trump. I guess none of this is news. The mainstream media is helping to continue a dangerous and toxic situation. They are as much to blame for the divide in this country as the right wing lunatics.
Trump specifically (and authoritarian capture of the fourth estate in general) meshes nicely with a media business model that values clicks over honest journalism.
I hope everyone pays attention to that comment by blogger Susie Madrick that the press is acting like children of divorce, blaming mom rather than dad because they are afraid to alienate him.
For years I have felt that the criticism the media and Republicans make of Democrats feels just like the kinds of criticisms moms — and women in general — constantly face. If women fight back they are strident, too aggressive or defensive but if they don’t they are weak. I remember Kerry getting that treatment when he ignored the insane Swiftboat attacks. The media said he looked weak. Then when he did fight back they said he looked defensive. Bill Clinton was constantly mocked for “feeling our pain” as if that were a terrible quality for a man to have.
Biden is getting that kind of “mommy” treatment now. I have repeatedly seen reporters call him defensive, stubborn, defiant which imply he is unreasonable, weak and childish for standing his ground. Reporters are avoiding terms like like firm, resolute, determined — manly qualities — to describe Biden’s stance. The bias is obvious to anyone who is paying attention.
There is good evidence that many people really do subconsciously think of Democrats as the Mommy Party, concerned about people’s welfare but soft and emotional, and Republicans as the strong, patriarchal daddy who is rational.
Our Failed Political Press ™ enjoyed being part of the story during the Trump years. The eyeballs, the clicks, the revenue stream justified it. When CBS said (paraphrasing) that "Trump might not be good for America, but was good for CBS” you could take that to the bank.
NY Mag got the ultimate quote from CNN’s Jeff Zucker:
“As CNN sees it, his pro-Trump panelists are not just spokespeople for a worldview; they are "characters in a drama,” members of CNN’s extended ensemble cast. “Everybody say, 'Oh, I cannot believe that you have Jeffery Lord or Kayleigh McEnany,' but you know what?” Zucker told me with some satisfaction. “They know who Jeffery Lord and Kaleith McEnany are."
It’s all fun and games. Trump hating them, attacking them made them part of the story. They ate it up with a spoon. They felt relevant. They are not part of the story with the Biden administration, they are back to being ink-stained wretches and they hate it.
Consider the headline to Nick Allen's op ed today in the Telegraph: "Joe Biden's two-term dream is over as even Democrats realise he's not up to the job..." Just SMH
The Stones did such a great job with Honkey Tonk Women that when I heard Albert King's version I thought it must have been the Stones who were covering *him*! As you know, that is not the case!
Now I'm in my car
I've got the radio on
And I'm yellin' at the kids in the back cuz they're bangin' like Charlie Watts!
John Hiatt - Slow Turning
RIP Charlie.....
Eric you're On Fire!! Keep pouring on the truth brother!
Good morning Eric...one small correction in the first paragraph.... "SAME endless questions"... full stop. It does get old.
Trump made reporters' jobs easy. Every day, every lie was an easy-to-report big story. And getting directly attacked by Trump boosted careers. Conversely, the bland but efficient Biden has been around Washington for decades. His personality and plodding but steady style never made for good copy. But his occasional gaffes over the years? Stop the presses! And Biden the president had produced nothing but good news until the Afghanistan withdrawal. The mistakes, now being corrected, meant finally some bad news! It was like chum on the water for hungry sharks. Thus the out-of-control feeding frenzy.
The tell, when it came to Crooked Donnie was: If covering a pathological liar was necessary, why cover him live when he can control the narrative when they could go old school and record and edit his spew and provide context? (Partially kidding; the media loathe to provide context, but you get the point.)
As for Watts and “Honky Tonk Woman”, the cowbell, at least, was Jimmy Miller. But Watts was consistently great and only got better over the years. I occasionally focus my listening on a band’s rhythm section and Watts never, ever disappointed.
It's clear now that the Liberally Biased Mainstream Media™, perhaps moreso than the Republican Party, are the true threats to American democracy. They're so starving for more revenue that they're willing to attack and destroy a president and his party for doing the right thing and for cleaning up the mess the Republican Party left behind. A party that has been attacking and discrediting the media for decades and for whom the Liberally Biased Mainstream Media™ seems to love them for.
It's a sick destructive relationship that threatens to bring America down.
Like I said before, their new slogan should be "Democracy Dies In Clickbaits!"
Jen Sorenson gets it and has done so for quite a while.
https://thenib.com/ironies-of-afghanistan/
Question for Eric and everyone. I like many others can no longer watch or read any large company news info. Viewership is down among the major networks about 40% across all networks. Some of that is last year as an election year. But I think the lack of viewership is driving the networks wild. Not a good atmosphere for reporters writing books either. What do you read or watch that gives you a better view of the truth? I want to keep up, but I cant take the depression that sets in from the network news. Thanks all. Eric, love your site.