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.
good pt, this is where the coverage is heading. last week it was, not enough people can get into airport! this week it's, too many people are inside the airport!
To me the most disturbing thing I have seen is the fact that the US embassy sent warning after warning starting back in April to all those American citizens that they needed to get out. They were even offered air fare.
Clearly those people are “stuck” in Afghanistan because they chose to ignore those warnings! Jennifer Rubin reported this last week, saying she has seen State Department documents proving this happened. You can be sure State has shown a lot of other reporters the same documents but they have chosen to ignore these facts because reporting them would destroy their preferred narrative that Biden the Bungler had no plan to evacuate these people.
I would also add that the proof that the media should have know the Saddam WMD claims were lies is that McClatchy’s Washington Bureau reporters Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel repeatedly wrote that the CIA had serious doubts that Saddam possessed any WMD. When Bill Moyers asked how they got the story right Landay said they had talked to the WMD experts at the CIA instead of the political people there. When Moyers asked Tim Russert why he got the story wrong Russert’s excuse was that no one at the CIA called to tell him.
There was factual reporting at the time from Wapo and Times journalists that got it right concerning Iraq’s lack of wmd, and those papers’ editors buried those stories deep in the back pages of Section A while pushing the Bush admin BS on page 1 and the Ed page.
My city’s paper was part of the McClatchy group (actually Knight Ridder at that time) so I was constantly reading articles about the CIA’s strong doubts that Saddam had WMD. I was really puzzled when I kept hearing that “everybody believed Saddam had WMD”. It was surreal. The Moyers’s documentary “Buying the War” finally made it clear to me that most of the media, not just Judith MIller, were willingly/knowingly? spreading Cheney’s propaganda.
I know exactly what you mean when you talk about how surreal that disconnect was between truth and lies. I also remember that feeling during Whitewater and Lewinsky and could not believe Clinton was being impeached. I believe most media have been willingly engaging in propaganda for a very long time.
Are they reporting on the terrible conditions people are facing due to the SCOTUS telling the Biden administration they have to stick with trump's "remain in Mexico" policy? The conservative SCOTUS "justices" just let one judge in Texas dictate immigration policy for a fairly elected Democratic president. I'm not seeing too much about this other than from Slate.
Just today Neal Katyal just explained that this will be a humanitarian disaster on MSNBC’s Deadline White House”. He also made it clear that this was the reason Biden changed the rules. He pointed out that that happened when they learned that people waiting in Mexico were getting kidnapped, raped, etc. He also made it clear that the Trump positions was an “atrocious policy cooked up by Steven MIller”.
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 is blood on trump's hands for the untold thousands of Covid deaths he caused through his lies, negligence, incompetence and selfishness, and the press seems to want to ignore the fact that Biden is doing all he can to contain the disease, on every possible front. Yet the same press seems to want to hang the body count since the Delta variant on Biden.
It’s as if the msm makes it up as they go along, anything to counter the accomplishments of the Dems and administration. Press distorts, gets it wrong and we/the country pay.
One of the many things that angers me is that there are dedicated, intelligent, competent, principled hard working people doing everything they can to evacuate people but most in the media don't acknowledge them. I can't imagine any one of these screeching Tweeting lazy hacks having the intelligence, dedication, skill or leadership ability needed to accomplish this herculean task. The only thing they're good for is polishing Stephen Miller's jack boots.
Especially when she destroys Peter "My Daddy Got Me This Job That Takes Years And Hard Work To Earn" Doocy. He's the sub to Psaki's top in those daily briefings!
I have been so impressed by the open, factual and near daily live updates from the administration. I guess that doesn’t count for anything among the bubbled msm. It sure matters to me.
I saw a tweet this morning that had info from a poll of people who voted in 2020. 91% of Biden voters answered that they were fully vaccinated. The number was 50% for Trump voters.
There is a Trump supporting conspiracy mongering anti-vaxxer in our extended family who is serving in the military. We are all waiting to see what he does now that the military has a vaccine mandate. Most of us think he will try to claim a religious exemption — something I think is a ridiculous thing to allow. The only exemption for active duty military should be a medical one.
"Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is ordering all active-duty and reserve service members to get vaccinated against the coronavirus." So if it is an order now and they refuse, I guess it becomes *really* serious for the individual.
That is what those of us in the reality-based side of the family are hoping happens to this arrogant fool but we suspect he will try to play the religious exemption card. I think that is crazy. If your religion says you can’t fight and kill people you can’t be in the military. I think the same should hold for refusing to get a critical vaccine to keep you from getting your fellow soldiers sick.
When the first polls came out showing a sharp drop in the number who support withdrawal from Afghanistan I saw several reports claiming that it spelled doom for Biden’s presidency. Then others made it clear that despite the drop support for withdrawal was still much stronger than opposition to it. That is when they started using Covid as the reason his approval ratings have dropped. It couldn’t possibly be the relentless negative framing the media is giving the withdrawal that caused the drop. They know that will likely blow over once were out of there so now they proclaim that his response to Covid will destroy Biden’s presidency. They are like wolves salivating over prey they have wounded. Truly despicable. No wonder our democracy is in such peril.
They started that storyline after polls made it clear that, despite all their negative coverage of the Afghanistan evacuation and claims it would destroy Biden, the public still supports the evacuation.That’s when they pivoted to COvid is going to end Biden’s presidency.
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.
I am still seething over that. She recently wrote a really nasty column “Behold Barack Antionette” about Obama’s birthday party. Still into feminizing Democrats as a way to demean them. She really is quite the misogynist.
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!
Check out Lawrence O’Donnells rants about the media coverage of the Afghanistan withdrawal. It is blistering. For example the other night he pointed out that the exit from Vietnam was much, much worse but the media didn’t approach their coverage with pie-in-the-sky demands that it go smoothly. O’Donnell said that is because back them journalists were adults. Ouch! He hasn’t let up in subsequent programs.
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.
Our PressRun colleagues have recommended Josh Marshall, Digby - great! David Rothkopf, Plum line in Wapo - Paul Waldman, Greg Sargent, Jennifer Rubin, others. Google led me to their pieces. Also discovered Stephanie Miller show, prv radio. It’s a whole other world. Have fun.
Joan Walsh at the Nation has been great. Ditto for Lawrence O’Donnell’s blistering criticism of the media’s Afghanistan coverage. Salon’s Amanda Marcotte also has some great columns up.
Joan Walsh has been good. I found an NPR reporter Sarah Chayes. She left NPR and worked in non profits for 10 years in Kandahar. She speaks Poshtu and has incredible insights. She has a good grip on corruption , Pakistan, and the plight of women. Thanks all
Thanks all. Some good suggestions there. I had not heard of Josh Marshall or David Rothkopf. Also haven’t listened to Stephanie Miller. I’ll try those. The WAPO people are okay, I’m just worn out on them. I want something I can be convinced by facts. I agree with their info, but I don’t care about agreement, just insight. Thanks
Support your *local* daily news as best you can. There are good reporters out there doing a difficult job.
Avoid the editorial pages/section. It’s where journalism goes to die.
Watch the broadcast news, and not the Sunday Talkies, and certainly not the morning shows. The instant you hear anywhere the introduction to their “powerhouse panel,” shut it off.
I disagree that all of cable is a wasteland. Nicolle Wallace, Joy Reid, Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell are not following the rest of the mainstream media pack mentality.
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.
good pt, this is where the coverage is heading. last week it was, not enough people can get into airport! this week it's, too many people are inside the airport!
To me the most disturbing thing I have seen is the fact that the US embassy sent warning after warning starting back in April to all those American citizens that they needed to get out. They were even offered air fare.
Clearly those people are “stuck” in Afghanistan because they chose to ignore those warnings! Jennifer Rubin reported this last week, saying she has seen State Department documents proving this happened. You can be sure State has shown a lot of other reporters the same documents but they have chosen to ignore these facts because reporting them would destroy their preferred narrative that Biden the Bungler had no plan to evacuate these people.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/08/19/afghanistan-evacuation-how-we-got-here-where-we-are-heading/
I would also add that the proof that the media should have know the Saddam WMD claims were lies is that McClatchy’s Washington Bureau reporters Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel repeatedly wrote that the CIA had serious doubts that Saddam possessed any WMD. When Bill Moyers asked how they got the story right Landay said they had talked to the WMD experts at the CIA instead of the political people there. When Moyers asked Tim Russert why he got the story wrong Russert’s excuse was that no one at the CIA called to tell him.
lol! Russert apparently had a phone that couldn't dial out. No one called him about Scooter Libby, either.
There was factual reporting at the time from Wapo and Times journalists that got it right concerning Iraq’s lack of wmd, and those papers’ editors buried those stories deep in the back pages of Section A while pushing the Bush admin BS on page 1 and the Ed page.
Absolutely right! I remember Walter Pincus' reporting in WaPo with steadfastly quoting CIA analysts who stated no WMD was in Iraq.
My city’s paper was part of the McClatchy group (actually Knight Ridder at that time) so I was constantly reading articles about the CIA’s strong doubts that Saddam had WMD. I was really puzzled when I kept hearing that “everybody believed Saddam had WMD”. It was surreal. The Moyers’s documentary “Buying the War” finally made it clear to me that most of the media, not just Judith MIller, were willingly/knowingly? spreading Cheney’s propaganda.
I know exactly what you mean when you talk about how surreal that disconnect was between truth and lies. I also remember that feeling during Whitewater and Lewinsky and could not believe Clinton was being impeached. I believe most media have been willingly engaging in propaganda for a very long time.
Are they reporting on the terrible conditions people are facing due to the SCOTUS telling the Biden administration they have to stick with trump's "remain in Mexico" policy? The conservative SCOTUS "justices" just let one judge in Texas dictate immigration policy for a fairly elected Democratic president. I'm not seeing too much about this other than from Slate.
Yes, I'd like to see that story, but as we both know, it will NEVER happen.
Just today Neal Katyal just explained that this will be a humanitarian disaster on MSNBC’s Deadline White House”. He also made it clear that this was the reason Biden changed the rules. He pointed out that that happened when they learned that people waiting in Mexico were getting kidnapped, raped, etc. He also made it clear that the Trump positions was an “atrocious policy cooked up by Steven MIller”.
Nicolle Wallace was not at all anti-Biden last week. Has that changed?
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.
Biden being blamed for partisan Republicans who won't get vaccinated is emerging as a media favorite, for sure
There is blood on trump's hands for the untold thousands of Covid deaths he caused through his lies, negligence, incompetence and selfishness, and the press seems to want to ignore the fact that Biden is doing all he can to contain the disease, on every possible front. Yet the same press seems to want to hang the body count since the Delta variant on Biden.
It’s as if the msm makes it up as they go along, anything to counter the accomplishments of the Dems and administration. Press distorts, gets it wrong and we/the country pay.
One of the many things that angers me is that there are dedicated, intelligent, competent, principled hard working people doing everything they can to evacuate people but most in the media don't acknowledge them. I can't imagine any one of these screeching Tweeting lazy hacks having the intelligence, dedication, skill or leadership ability needed to accomplish this herculean task. The only thing they're good for is polishing Stephen Miller's jack boots.
This DOES get OLD, doesn't it? I can BARELY watch a Psaki Presser anymore.
They are worth it to watch her mastery at swatting these idiots down firmly yet respectfully. She’s awesome.
Especially when she destroys Peter "My Daddy Got Me This Job That Takes Years And Hard Work To Earn" Doocy. He's the sub to Psaki's top in those daily briefings!
I have been so impressed by the open, factual and near daily live updates from the administration. I guess that doesn’t count for anything among the bubbled msm. It sure matters to me.
I saw a tweet this morning that had info from a poll of people who voted in 2020. 91% of Biden voters answered that they were fully vaccinated. The number was 50% for Trump voters.
There is a Trump supporting conspiracy mongering anti-vaxxer in our extended family who is serving in the military. We are all waiting to see what he does now that the military has a vaccine mandate. Most of us think he will try to claim a religious exemption — something I think is a ridiculous thing to allow. The only exemption for active duty military should be a medical one.
"Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is ordering all active-duty and reserve service members to get vaccinated against the coronavirus." So if it is an order now and they refuse, I guess it becomes *really* serious for the individual.
If it drives away the racist white nationalists in the military, then good!
That is what those of us in the reality-based side of the family are hoping happens to this arrogant fool but we suspect he will try to play the religious exemption card. I think that is crazy. If your religion says you can’t fight and kill people you can’t be in the military. I think the same should hold for refusing to get a critical vaccine to keep you from getting your fellow soldiers sick.
I believe it...morons and Darwin is reaching out from the grave to help destroy the MAGA base. Fine with me.
When the first polls came out showing a sharp drop in the number who support withdrawal from Afghanistan I saw several reports claiming that it spelled doom for Biden’s presidency. Then others made it clear that despite the drop support for withdrawal was still much stronger than opposition to it. That is when they started using Covid as the reason his approval ratings have dropped. It couldn’t possibly be the relentless negative framing the media is giving the withdrawal that caused the drop. They know that will likely blow over once were out of there so now they proclaim that his response to Covid will destroy Biden’s presidency. They are like wolves salivating over prey they have wounded. Truly despicable. No wonder our democracy is in such peril.
They pine for Trump and his merry band of fascists.
Saw a statistic published this morning that more blacks, Hispanics have been vaccinated in this country than whites. Just the facts.
Saw that too.
They started that storyline after polls made it clear that, despite all their negative coverage of the Afghanistan evacuation and claims it would destroy Biden, the public still supports the evacuation.That’s when they pivoted to COvid is going to end Biden’s presidency.
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 🤩!
Me too, Asbury Park, July 1966 and a wonderful memory.
Gillette Stadium. Date? I’m from Lakewood. Spent teens in Asbury PKC, shore.
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.
They certainly helped to create it when they referred to Limbaugh as a "satirist" and "talented entertainer" starting back in the 90's.
Trump specifically (and authoritarian capture of the fourth estate in general) meshes nicely with a media business model that values clicks over honest journalism.
sad/scary, but definitively true
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.
No one is more guilty of that than Maureen Dowd, who went out of her way to feminize Al Gore ("practically lactating') and Obama ("Obambi").
I am still seething over that. She recently wrote a really nasty column “Behold Barack Antionette” about Obama’s birthday party. Still into feminizing Democrats as a way to demean them. She really is quite the misogynist.
https://www.thewrap.com/maureen-dowd-trolled-obama-birthday-party-orgy-of-1-percent/
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!
Check out Lawrence O’Donnells rants about the media coverage of the Afghanistan withdrawal. It is blistering. For example the other night he pointed out that the exit from Vietnam was much, much worse but the media didn’t approach their coverage with pie-in-the-sky demands that it go smoothly. O’Donnell said that is because back them journalists were adults. Ouch! He hasn’t let up in subsequent programs.
Good morning Eric...one small correction in the first paragraph.... "SAME endless questions"... full stop. It does get old.
fixed for online, thanks
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.
Our PressRun colleagues have recommended Josh Marshall, Digby - great! David Rothkopf, Plum line in Wapo - Paul Waldman, Greg Sargent, Jennifer Rubin, others. Google led me to their pieces. Also discovered Stephanie Miller show, prv radio. It’s a whole other world. Have fun.
Joan Walsh at the Nation has been great. Ditto for Lawrence O’Donnell’s blistering criticism of the media’s Afghanistan coverage. Salon’s Amanda Marcotte also has some great columns up.
Joan Walsh has been good. I found an NPR reporter Sarah Chayes. She left NPR and worked in non profits for 10 years in Kandahar. She speaks Poshtu and has incredible insights. She has a good grip on corruption , Pakistan, and the plight of women. Thanks all
Thanks all. Some good suggestions there. I had not heard of Josh Marshall or David Rothkopf. Also haven’t listened to Stephanie Miller. I’ll try those. The WAPO people are okay, I’m just worn out on them. I want something I can be convinced by facts. I agree with their info, but I don’t care about agreement, just insight. Thanks
Support your *local* daily news as best you can. There are good reporters out there doing a difficult job.
Avoid the editorial pages/section. It’s where journalism goes to die.
Watch the broadcast news, and not the Sunday Talkies, and certainly not the morning shows. The instant you hear anywhere the introduction to their “powerhouse panel,” shut it off.
Keep cable news off. It’s a wasteland.
I disagree that all of cable is a wasteland. Nicolle Wallace, Joy Reid, Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell are not following the rest of the mainstream media pack mentality.
Those are all opinion shows, not news shows. The question was about news.
I agree with your assessment of Maddow, etc.
Thanks !!