The 1976 film Network was so ahead of the curve. At the time, it was nothing more than a brilliant satire. In retrospect the film accurately depicted the future of network news. Perhaps not as over the top but today's news follow a similar motivation--ratings. It's nothing more than ratings. And ratings of course means money. This is one example of how unregulated capitalism can bring down a nation. It's painfully obvious today that the media is giving this maniac Trump a pass but this has been going on for decades now. Republicans lie, cheat, suppress votes, make up rules to their benefit and the press says business as usual. Democrats create minor infractions and then the news outlets claims the sky is falling. Look at all the episodes of this presidency. If Trump had won as a Democrat, at what point would the Republican controlled congress have removed him from office? When he said in Charlottesville that there were good people on both sides? Remember how outraged we were at that time? That was nothing when compared to what followed and yet he's still in the White House with the Washington press corp willing to continue the show. Big money runs the media. The press is not about to upset the applecart. Make no mistake, the media has failed as one of the checks and balances that our founders had designed to help protect our democracy. Happy Fourth of July everyone!
the press will occasionally ask a tough question but then no follow-up. Ex: yesterday on CNN Dana Bash asked Sen. Ernst why she claimed Obama lacked leadership during Ebola when 2 people died vs. 130K dead for Covid. It was a good question. Then Bash gave Ernst 2 uninterrupted mis to give a non-answer.
so it's kind of this dance: CNN gives the appearance of holding GOP accountable w/ a tough question. but in reality, the GOP guest knows she can just filibuster and never be held accountable.
Right, the media can say well we're asking tough questions. I guess they're frightened. Maybe outlets are waiting for another to finally let loose against Trump then all will jump in. Or maybe I'm just being too optimistic.
Network and Face In the Crowd (1957) were way ahead of their time. In retrospect, I don't think Network seems over the top at all considering what we've witnessed.
Why is Stephen Miller off limits to the press and Congress?
I don't mean that he's never mentioned; he is but always as an addendum or aside to some central point about Trump. Miller wrote that speech as he has all of the similarly themed speeches. The man is an out-and-out white supremacist - something that isn't even in question considering his history. There have been lengthy profiles of the man. There have been passing mentions. However, there has never been any attempt by anyone to bring this man to account.
Why? Why isn't Stephen Miller being exposed daily? Why aren't his connections to white supremacists being exposed daily? Why aren't investigative journalists out there daily digging up every single thing about Miller - if for no other reason than the historical record about what I consider a singularly dangerous man next to the President? Somebody please explain to me why he's treated as if he's some shadowy figure when he's right there in plain sight. I just don't understand why he isn't being slammed on a daily or even hourly basis for his crazy racist opinions especially when he puts them into Trump's mouth sounding as if they're a Hitler speech.
That’s an important point. I didn’t realize Miller had written that speech. It should be headline news when a white supremacist is writing speeches for the most powerful man in the world. I suspect that the media is reluctant to be that explicit about Miller in spite of all the evidence of what he believes that was revealed in his leaked emails. Too bad the media wasn’t willing to make MIller’s leaked emails as big of a scandal as they did Hillary’s innocuous email use.
I also think the media should have made a bigger stink about Trump insisting on having fireworks despite the very real danger they would cause a wildfire. Just last week one broke out only 8 miles from Mount Rushmore. The governor was a fool for allowing it.
None of this makes sense.The media helped create this monster and has been handsomely rewarded with ratings. It's as though I am living in an alternate universe watching a really crappy reality show. We need a hero since I don't think simply getting out the vote will fix this.
Here's hoping America wakes up before the damage is permanent.
Setting aside discussions of objectivity, a little story: Red Barber, the great sportscaster, became director of sports at CBS Radio in 1946. He was the first person hired to report to the director of news there, a fellow named Murrow. Murrow used to tell people to be careful of their adjectives. Well, how many writers on all sides have talked about the value of the right word? Mark Twain said the difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between the lightning and the lightning bug. You can call the TEXT of the speech fiery, but its delivery? Please.
lots of people, esp in DC, roll their eyes when you bring up Nazi comparisons. but if you talk specifically abt the rise of the party (i.e. 1934) before WW II began, and you look at the propaganda and how the international press, including NYT, downplayed the threat, there are absolutely valid comparisons to be made.
Well, even if he could spout coherently, T卐ump doesn't have a bigly unifying factor. BLM support has proved that. Americans aren't falling for the bs he slings, and the protests and "riots" say: if he more overtly tried to further the hate, there would be even worse backlash.
We need to reinstate The Fairness Doctrine and also take profit out of journalism. It’s the only solution I can think of for this problem. With no profit motive, it’s why university newspapers are often better, more honest, and more accurate than the big papers. And ffs, get rid of opinion in media altogether. Batshit crazy opinion exploitation is why we are where we are. It makes propaganda and manipulation too easy. And I say this as a former journalist who took full advantage to convey my own biases/influence in my work, because I could.
Yes. A simpatico press is the foundation of when, not if, a country becomes a totalitarian state. The only thing that has prevented this absolute outcome is our Democratically-controlled House in Congress. That’s it. Nobody else is reigning him in. Nobody. Trump has defiled our judiciary, our military, our foreign policy, our economic institutions, the list goes on and on, because the press whitewashes just how unhinged and dangerous he is, so the public isn’t as angry as they should be. There’s no outrage with the press, no dogged determination to expose him as a whole, out of a sense of journalistic integrity. They LET him abuse and use them. It’s disgusting. But more than that, it’s dangerous and tens of thousands of people have died because of it.
An XLE thought: How many people actually follow the news? More relevantly, how many have heard more than a sound bite out of Donnie? Curious. Me, when I listen to him for any period of time, all I hear is phrases at best, often just a sequence of words with minimal connection, one to the next. Sentences never.
Really, in a word, he’s unhinged. Yes, sad that the media refuse to say so. Then their failings are nigh infinite.
BTH: His holiday speeches were directed only at his base and the fawning media. Weren’t meant for us or the majority of the nation.
The 1976 film Network was so ahead of the curve. At the time, it was nothing more than a brilliant satire. In retrospect the film accurately depicted the future of network news. Perhaps not as over the top but today's news follow a similar motivation--ratings. It's nothing more than ratings. And ratings of course means money. This is one example of how unregulated capitalism can bring down a nation. It's painfully obvious today that the media is giving this maniac Trump a pass but this has been going on for decades now. Republicans lie, cheat, suppress votes, make up rules to their benefit and the press says business as usual. Democrats create minor infractions and then the news outlets claims the sky is falling. Look at all the episodes of this presidency. If Trump had won as a Democrat, at what point would the Republican controlled congress have removed him from office? When he said in Charlottesville that there were good people on both sides? Remember how outraged we were at that time? That was nothing when compared to what followed and yet he's still in the White House with the Washington press corp willing to continue the show. Big money runs the media. The press is not about to upset the applecart. Make no mistake, the media has failed as one of the checks and balances that our founders had designed to help protect our democracy. Happy Fourth of July everyone!
the press will occasionally ask a tough question but then no follow-up. Ex: yesterday on CNN Dana Bash asked Sen. Ernst why she claimed Obama lacked leadership during Ebola when 2 people died vs. 130K dead for Covid. It was a good question. Then Bash gave Ernst 2 uninterrupted mis to give a non-answer.
so it's kind of this dance: CNN gives the appearance of holding GOP accountable w/ a tough question. but in reality, the GOP guest knows she can just filibuster and never be held accountable.
Right, the media can say well we're asking tough questions. I guess they're frightened. Maybe outlets are waiting for another to finally let loose against Trump then all will jump in. Or maybe I'm just being too optimistic.
Network and Face In the Crowd (1957) were way ahead of their time. In retrospect, I don't think Network seems over the top at all considering what we've witnessed.
Why is Stephen Miller off limits to the press and Congress?
I don't mean that he's never mentioned; he is but always as an addendum or aside to some central point about Trump. Miller wrote that speech as he has all of the similarly themed speeches. The man is an out-and-out white supremacist - something that isn't even in question considering his history. There have been lengthy profiles of the man. There have been passing mentions. However, there has never been any attempt by anyone to bring this man to account.
Why? Why isn't Stephen Miller being exposed daily? Why aren't his connections to white supremacists being exposed daily? Why aren't investigative journalists out there daily digging up every single thing about Miller - if for no other reason than the historical record about what I consider a singularly dangerous man next to the President? Somebody please explain to me why he's treated as if he's some shadowy figure when he's right there in plain sight. I just don't understand why he isn't being slammed on a daily or even hourly basis for his crazy racist opinions especially when he puts them into Trump's mouth sounding as if they're a Hitler speech.
agreed. lots of mentions of how Trump's (deranged) speeches are written by Miller, but not a general acknowledgement that his a white supremacist
That’s an important point. I didn’t realize Miller had written that speech. It should be headline news when a white supremacist is writing speeches for the most powerful man in the world. I suspect that the media is reluctant to be that explicit about Miller in spite of all the evidence of what he believes that was revealed in his leaked emails. Too bad the media wasn’t willing to make MIller’s leaked emails as big of a scandal as they did Hillary’s innocuous email use.
I also think the media should have made a bigger stink about Trump insisting on having fireworks despite the very real danger they would cause a wildfire. Just last week one broke out only 8 miles from Mount Rushmore. The governor was a fool for allowing it.
None of this makes sense.The media helped create this monster and has been handsomely rewarded with ratings. It's as though I am living in an alternate universe watching a really crappy reality show. We need a hero since I don't think simply getting out the vote will fix this.
Here's hoping America wakes up before the damage is permanent.
Yep! I think a lot of us are hounded by that reality TV feeling as we watch news unfold these days
Setting aside discussions of objectivity, a little story: Red Barber, the great sportscaster, became director of sports at CBS Radio in 1946. He was the first person hired to report to the director of news there, a fellow named Murrow. Murrow used to tell people to be careful of their adjectives. Well, how many writers on all sides have talked about the value of the right word? Mark Twain said the difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between the lightning and the lightning bug. You can call the TEXT of the speech fiery, but its delivery? Please.
I guess Hitler gave "impassioned, fiery, patriotic, free-wheeling" speeches too. Oh, wait, tRUMP-45 is a student of the führer's methods.
lots of people, esp in DC, roll their eyes when you bring up Nazi comparisons. but if you talk specifically abt the rise of the party (i.e. 1934) before WW II began, and you look at the propaganda and how the international press, including NYT, downplayed the threat, there are absolutely valid comparisons to be made.
If trump had any of Hitler's rhetorical prowess, we'd be in much deeper trouble.
Well, even if he could spout coherently, T卐ump doesn't have a bigly unifying factor. BLM support has proved that. Americans aren't falling for the bs he slings, and the protests and "riots" say: if he more overtly tried to further the hate, there would be even worse backlash.
We need to reinstate The Fairness Doctrine and also take profit out of journalism. It’s the only solution I can think of for this problem. With no profit motive, it’s why university newspapers are often better, more honest, and more accurate than the big papers. And ffs, get rid of opinion in media altogether. Batshit crazy opinion exploitation is why we are where we are. It makes propaganda and manipulation too easy. And I say this as a former journalist who took full advantage to convey my own biases/influence in my work, because I could.
there's no doubt Trump is good for the news biz. but is that bad for America?
Yes. A simpatico press is the foundation of when, not if, a country becomes a totalitarian state. The only thing that has prevented this absolute outcome is our Democratically-controlled House in Congress. That’s it. Nobody else is reigning him in. Nobody. Trump has defiled our judiciary, our military, our foreign policy, our economic institutions, the list goes on and on, because the press whitewashes just how unhinged and dangerous he is, so the public isn’t as angry as they should be. There’s no outrage with the press, no dogged determination to expose him as a whole, out of a sense of journalistic integrity. They LET him abuse and use them. It’s disgusting. But more than that, it’s dangerous and tens of thousands of people have died because of it.
Nothing but truth here. You fired on all cylinders.
Thanks!
Hey, Eric; that’s rhetorical I hope?
An XLE thought: How many people actually follow the news? More relevantly, how many have heard more than a sound bite out of Donnie? Curious. Me, when I listen to him for any period of time, all I hear is phrases at best, often just a sequence of words with minimal connection, one to the next. Sentences never.
Really, in a word, he’s unhinged. Yes, sad that the media refuse to say so. Then their failings are nigh infinite.
BTH: His holiday speeches were directed only at his base and the fawning media. Weren’t meant for us or the majority of the nation.
What a great discussion here. Thanks to everyone for their commenets.
T卐ump's about as "fiery" as a dollar store candle ... sputtering out after an hour of mediocre light.
He speaks only to other morons (who, apparently, are able to comprehend his corkscrew lingo) as the rest of us tune out for fear of going mad.