34 Comments

I’ve noticed all of these articles popping up about how Ivanka will fit into NYC social life again after she co-signed the horrors of her dad’s administration.

The rich and well-connected can just fail upwards regardless of how they mistreat the masses.

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Actually I have read a couple about how she probably won’t fit in but either way those articles should not have been written because attention empowers these people. Even worse those articles were posted at the top of the page. And to deliberately portray Ivanka as a viable candidate by equating Maloney’s near loss in a primary to an even more liberal candidate but ignoring the fact that Maloney won huge in the general election is nothing but pro-Ivanka propaganda.

I have been concerned that if Biden did get elected the media would return to its old tactics. I was right to be worried. Here is a prominent headline from today’s WaPo:

“ In competing events, Trump and Biden offer conflicting messages on the pandemic — and illustrate an ongoing fight for attention”

Conflicting messages??? My saying the earth is round and you saying it’s flat is not a “conflicting message”. You are either delusional or a liar. And a “fight for attention”? Seriously? Trump is desperately trying to keep the media attention on himself because a malignant narcissist can’t live without it. Biden is doing his job.

Also today the Post has an article about the ethical problems of some of Biden’s appointees for having inquired about commutation of the sentence of the son of a wealthy family that was given by the evil Bill Clinton. The article quotes the reaction of the Bush DOJ to those pardons — that oh-so-ethical DOJ that fired Republican US attorneys for refusing to bring phony voter fraud lawsuits — as well as a Republican-led House investigation that condemned the pardons.

To erase any doubt that this article is implicit bothsiderism the author actually compares this commutation of that sentence for drug dealing to Trump’s pardon of Michael Flynn!

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There's always been a double standard in the media for Democrats. They have to be perfect, but the Republicans can do nearly anything and it doesn't matter. Not to mention, as you did, the bothsiderism. It drives me up a wall.

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Meanwhile my religious right relatives push for Princess Ivanka in 2024.

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I have no doubt about that!!

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I have been reading just the opposite. Jarvanka may not be welcomed back with open arms after dad's tenure in office.

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I’ve seen that covered too.

It just speaks volumes that the public is supposed to be worried about their social life when their crimes and profiteering while her dad was in office is the bigger, and more important, story.

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What we've learned over these last four years is how divided our county actually is. It didn't start with Trump and it won't end on January 20the either. Hopefully the loud racists who embraced Trump will go back into hibernation but we'll see. Sometimes the genie is tough to get back in the bottle. Apparently the one entity that has not made this discovery of our division is the press. The fact they can produce articles like this and make the outlandish statement that Ivanka and Jared have a future in NYC, a city that simply hates the Trumps, is not only misleading, it's downright ignorant. Look, the Post and the New York Times have delivered some excellent journalism over these four years but there are far too many of these puff piece articles. The mantra of the news should have never become fair and balanced. That forces the media to create articles promoting both sides do it. What the press needs to do is to present the TRUTH to the best of their ability. The Post's motto is Democracy Dies in the Dark. There are some over there that have apparently forgot to turn on the lights.

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I love these topics today. Regarding WaPO, I wrote one of their writers about this very thing, explaining that the newspaper was giving Trump life and that they could stop talking about him. Focus on the Biden administration. To my surprise, she wrote back and said, "I agree with you! The question is just how many other people we can get on board..." How do they not know that they can change the topic? Change the topic, see what happens!

Regarding Carolyn Maloney, I'm in her district. I've been voting for her for years. The opponent she "narrowly defeated" was Suraj Patel and Carolyn has beaten him in two straight primaries. Mr. Patel wears those sweaters with half zippers and a button down shirt underneath it. He's the Jake Sherman of Queens. Anyway, unlike many other voters, I appreciate seniority and am pretty happy Carolyn is the Chair the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. I dare Ivanka Trump to try and beat Carolyn Maloney.

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I hope you let Rep. Maloney know how happy you are with her..

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I actually do.

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Dec 9, 2020
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Absurd.

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Quoting Dr Dodes in Good Stuff: "Trump has publicly shown himself to be not just mentally unwell but perhaps even a sociopath or psychopath." OK but sociopath AND psychopath would have nailed it.

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he’s so obviously a sociopath — press will touch that term

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He is very dangerous man right now. He is like the caged wild animal who sees no way out of the cage. He will destroy anything ( anyone) within striking distance.

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agreed

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If you had to choose one, which would it be? I'm going with psychopath for Trump.

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I'd be satisfied with "accirding to White House press releases" without the shabby semblance of reportage. I think you nailed it with unreported interactions behind the scenes. 'Gets' and 'breaking news' oh my.

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it’s not much beyond publishing WH press releases is it?

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(According)

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Showing how useless the DC Press Corpse is.

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I wish Eric would write a piece on evidence supporting the contention that journalists write favorably about political figures who allow them access. Probably most of us imagine that the press rewards access, but is there evidence beyond insider savvy?

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Prine example--Maggie Haberman...

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I know a bunch of stuff that fits a theory that the press -- Maggie Haberman, for instance -- intentionally goes easy on important people, and I know that Eric has done good work on showing the many instances of reporting or interviewing that fits the theory. And good for him. If access journalism is happening, it is pernicious. What I was thinking about instead was direct evidence, such as journalists admitting they do it. Or heads of news organizations admitting they engaged in quid pro quo agreements with prominent politicians. I have not researched this angle. There may be ample evidence of this sort. If so, a Press Run piece would be at least as important as regularly reminding people of what appears to be pernicious access journalism.

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The Queen of Access...

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Because Mommy works for Trump.

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Tip O'Neill once said the classic example was that Evans and Novaks, aka Errors and No Facts, would have some dirt in a column and then, like clockwork, a couple of weeks later, there would be an item that Official X was really doing a great job, and everybody figured out that was the source.

I've also been told that when the reporters would line up outside the Senate chamber, Bob Corker would stop and chat, and remembered family names and the like. Anybody notice that he was never criticized for being a total Trump toady in his votes when he was occasionally saying he was "bothered"? Meanwhile, Elizabeth Warren walks past them. Hm.

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Don't minimize by using "likely driven by access journalism" 'cause you're then guilty of exactly what you're rightly noting. No question that the coverage is access journalism driven. Would be like Woodward and Bernstein writing puff pieces on FBI sources ~ insane & irresponsible journalism.

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To address the question: Because Marty Baron had his entire digestive tract and testicles removed at some point?

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Access Journalism indeed! +Those 3 guys in Memphis with Dickinson and the Fairlight were truly amazing.

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Why is this one of the few real comments and questions today? Lays it out clearly.

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Dec 9, 2020
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Dec 9, 2020
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I'm so sorry about your dog. That's never easy.

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Dec 9, 2020
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Sorry about your dogs...couldn't have made it through this last year without my two...seems a stupid question but is Wakulla Springs in Wakulla County? Was there years ago when stationed in Panama City Beach, FL. Was like stepping back in time....

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Sorry about your dog.

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