There was plenty of table pounding over at Faux as well. That partisan hack, Hugh Hewitt, was throwing a temper tantrum all day, beginning on Faux, then several postings on X. He says McDaniel should sue for "defamation" and listed off a whole bunch of false reasons why she would end up owning the network. Also, the network was losing one of the greater voices, she did nothing wrong, yada, yada, yada. Typical Hewitt blather. So later in the day, I'm reading that she is indeed, looking at suing the network. I'm hoping the legal people at NBC had this dialed in before they decided to cut ties with that gaslighter. I would hate to see a huge settlement heaped on that dunghill then the right-wing echo chamber would be laughing and pointing fingers. NBC blew it by even entertaining thoughts of hiring that person as an "alternative voice." There is no alternative - TFG fomented an insurrection because Joe Biden won a free, fair and secure election, period!
In a democracy, when any portion (or most) of the news media abandons their commitment to truth, this is what happens. The media then ceases to think critically. When that happens, arguments not grounded in truth can at first blush begin to sound reasonable. Arguments such as, that criticism of McDaniel’s hiring at NBC is not unreasonable because Americans need to hear “both sides”. Or, the argument that criticism of McDaniel’s hiring is solely motivated by those practicing “partisan politics “. And there are other arguments as well that also can sound reasonable, if one ignores and abandons commitment to truth. Conversely, a commitment to truth forces one to intellectually acknowledge that partisan politics or hearing both sides or First Amendment rights or any of those arguments ignores truth. And truth forces us to intellectually acknowledge that what happened here is that democracy was being abandoned by NBC under the guise of broadening their political appeal (which they hoped increases viewers). To do so meant they had to embrace an election denier who aided an insurrection by involvement in a fake elector scheme. All these philosophical gyrations were/are necessary by the WSJ and others supporting NBC’s hiring decision because their arguments are not based on truth. And truth requires to first examine democratic principles and if they were being damaged. NBC and all those defending McDaniel’s hiring are ignoring their failure to give first priority to democracy. Chuck Todd and all those journalists that stood for truth here are to be highly commended. We need more of them now more than ever. They are first and foremost purveyors of truth, the lifeblood of democracy.
Thank you Steve. For always always putting into such magnificent words what so many of us are and have been thinking.
I despise Fox and their whole ugly empire with a passion I cannot put into words. What they've done to the peoples and Democracies around the world is beyond disgraceful. It's simply mind-blowing.
I had an ugly screaming match with my last Maga friend yesterday. And I'm still a mess over it. If I didn't love him like a son he wouldn't still be in my life. I asked him, "What are your biggest fears about the Democrats?!" after pointing out the Hitler similarities and trying to state facts about loss of Freedoms etc. He said, "They're going to take our guns. Just like Canada. Just like Britain. Just like Austraila." I said "No No No. We just want common sense regulations. Many Democrats I know have Guns.. A lot do." He won't believe otherwise. Said if we ban assault rifles that's just the beginning of the end. He also pointed out he believes Freedom of speech is under assault. Being repressed actually through Social media. As a conservative he wants small government not big government. He's a 40 year old Construction worker. Very intelligent. His Father was a gun Store owner out of his home and they worked Gun Shows together. So you can imagine. Where we started screaming was when he tried to tell me the Access Hollywood tape Banter was just "Guy Talk". Plus we shouldn't have been eavesdropping. Right. I had read him Trump's deposition thanks to the wonderful Joyce Vance!! So I asked him "So it's OK Matt that I just come over and grab your D@#K right now right?! That's not crossing a line is it?! That's not assault?! That's just "talk" right?! Anyone can do it."
I'm sorry but I don't believe all civilized men talk like that and I KNOW all women don't. Not crossing the line into assault. My point is folks is DJT has crossed ✝️ so many lines and they will continue to make excuses for him for anything and EVERYTHING. All the way up to the Wall Street Journal. W.T.F.
Let's just pray the Supreme Court has a few morals left although I'm not holding out much hope for that either. I'm sorry to hear about the passing of Joe Lieberman too. He was a dedicated public servant his entire life. God Bless his family and friends as they get through this difficult time. 🙏🏻❤️🇺🇸💙
Joe Lieberman made some mistakes and was far from perfect but he was a decent and well-intentioned man who, clearly, loved his country. How about, for a few days, we appreciate his goodness without tearing him down. There will be plenty of time for anger and acrimony after his funeral.
Republicans are not ignorant and stupid when they continue to assert that the election was stolen. Just like Trump, they know that’s a lie. It’s all about clinging to power at any cost, in a desperate quest to maintain white, patriarchal, retrograde Christian supremacy.
WSJ: "NBC brass were trying to provide an alternative view of Donald Trump". So, we're back to alternative facts. If Ronna's crime was just a phone call (ignoring the years of pushing the Big LIe) then I guess Trump's being found liable for rape and defamation (twice) was just the result of a civil trial, then the WSJ is just a rag. It used to be that the WSJ was recognized for it's journalism, but those times are long gone.
Steve - you are articulating this mess in our media brilliantly, breaking it down, calling out the projection and hypocrisy to specifics!! What a feat!! Bravo and thank you!!
Excellent piece Steve.. It should be an editorial. It should be on /in every outlet in the country that is where these words belong.. In front of every single person.. If that could be done, it would be a great service.
In your video with Megan Kelly (about Santa Clause being white) she says Jesus is a white man. How stupid. He was an Arab. Born (if you are a Christian believer) when the Jews were all Arab not white Caucasian. How crazy are these folks.
The WSJ sees the reversal of NBC/MSNBC as a sign of corruption and proof of lack of professional media integrity. Clearly that self-correction was proof that integrity prevails there, showing the courage to admit errors of judgement and openly moves publically to rectify them. The single catagory here is one of morality, more precisely moral courage. The tribal strlctures of the Right do not permit even a trace of admission of error, mistake, miscalculation, apologetica. Such a binding necessitates the total exclusion of the bounds of moral considerations, and those bounds define what considerations actually define moral verity. The moral verity of the WSJ is lost in their tribal inflexibility, hoisted as it were by their own petard.
Brilliant again Steve…your writing eloquence has such a great effect of putting a smile on face, calm my rage and quickly get to the heart of the issue as I interpret them….3 favs from today👇👍
“Here is what The Wall Street Journal editorial board cannot comprehend and cannot see. They are misaligned like an amateur astronomer, who greets the forthcoming eclipse by looking up, ignorant of the importance of location and the significance of horizons, only to be disappointed by the limitations of their view and imagination.”
“Rupert Murdoch is the most dangerous immigrant who has ever arrived on American shores”
“What has played out is a clash between idealism and cynicism. The victory of principle over expediency, and courage over fecklessness, has left the editorialists of Murdoch’s most dignified realm stupefied and stumbling as if they had been concussed”.
Thank You so much for your constant insight…helps me with my sanity here in the “magaT” Desert🏜️ 🌵
"The network’s viewers will be fine without her analysis, but the episode explains why Americans don’t trust the news media. The network’s bosses were plainly trying to avoid the mistakes of 2016 by recruiting some non-crazy voices on the Trump-aligned right. Eight years ago mainstream outlets covered Mr. Trump with little but withering scorn, alienated millions of Americans who felt deep reservations about Mrs. Clinton, and after the election couldn’t explain how he won except by recourse to the false Russian collusion narrative."
Fascinating that the Murdoch Machine refers to the coverage in 2016 , and not the fawning coverage of 2020 - it does not fit their narrative
WSJ editorial page jumped the shark long long ago
As to Lieberman Steve - yes he was almost your man's running mate - didn't you push Sarah the Shallow? Anyway - when discussing Liberman be sure to mention his captiulation the the Health Insurance Industry, his holier than thou attidute towards issues, exemplifed this past weekend on the morning shows when he said he did not care if No Labels would help propel tRump into the WH again. Ego driven, petulant and out for revenge for slights unseen
readers - click these two links and read about Joe L
There was plenty of table pounding over at Faux as well. That partisan hack, Hugh Hewitt, was throwing a temper tantrum all day, beginning on Faux, then several postings on X. He says McDaniel should sue for "defamation" and listed off a whole bunch of false reasons why she would end up owning the network. Also, the network was losing one of the greater voices, she did nothing wrong, yada, yada, yada. Typical Hewitt blather. So later in the day, I'm reading that she is indeed, looking at suing the network. I'm hoping the legal people at NBC had this dialed in before they decided to cut ties with that gaslighter. I would hate to see a huge settlement heaped on that dunghill then the right-wing echo chamber would be laughing and pointing fingers. NBC blew it by even entertaining thoughts of hiring that person as an "alternative voice." There is no alternative - TFG fomented an insurrection because Joe Biden won a free, fair and secure election, period!
In a democracy, when any portion (or most) of the news media abandons their commitment to truth, this is what happens. The media then ceases to think critically. When that happens, arguments not grounded in truth can at first blush begin to sound reasonable. Arguments such as, that criticism of McDaniel’s hiring at NBC is not unreasonable because Americans need to hear “both sides”. Or, the argument that criticism of McDaniel’s hiring is solely motivated by those practicing “partisan politics “. And there are other arguments as well that also can sound reasonable, if one ignores and abandons commitment to truth. Conversely, a commitment to truth forces one to intellectually acknowledge that partisan politics or hearing both sides or First Amendment rights or any of those arguments ignores truth. And truth forces us to intellectually acknowledge that what happened here is that democracy was being abandoned by NBC under the guise of broadening their political appeal (which they hoped increases viewers). To do so meant they had to embrace an election denier who aided an insurrection by involvement in a fake elector scheme. All these philosophical gyrations were/are necessary by the WSJ and others supporting NBC’s hiring decision because their arguments are not based on truth. And truth requires to first examine democratic principles and if they were being damaged. NBC and all those defending McDaniel’s hiring are ignoring their failure to give first priority to democracy. Chuck Todd and all those journalists that stood for truth here are to be highly commended. We need more of them now more than ever. They are first and foremost purveyors of truth, the lifeblood of democracy.
www.tomthedemocratist.com
Thank you Steve. For always always putting into such magnificent words what so many of us are and have been thinking.
I despise Fox and their whole ugly empire with a passion I cannot put into words. What they've done to the peoples and Democracies around the world is beyond disgraceful. It's simply mind-blowing.
I had an ugly screaming match with my last Maga friend yesterday. And I'm still a mess over it. If I didn't love him like a son he wouldn't still be in my life. I asked him, "What are your biggest fears about the Democrats?!" after pointing out the Hitler similarities and trying to state facts about loss of Freedoms etc. He said, "They're going to take our guns. Just like Canada. Just like Britain. Just like Austraila." I said "No No No. We just want common sense regulations. Many Democrats I know have Guns.. A lot do." He won't believe otherwise. Said if we ban assault rifles that's just the beginning of the end. He also pointed out he believes Freedom of speech is under assault. Being repressed actually through Social media. As a conservative he wants small government not big government. He's a 40 year old Construction worker. Very intelligent. His Father was a gun Store owner out of his home and they worked Gun Shows together. So you can imagine. Where we started screaming was when he tried to tell me the Access Hollywood tape Banter was just "Guy Talk". Plus we shouldn't have been eavesdropping. Right. I had read him Trump's deposition thanks to the wonderful Joyce Vance!! So I asked him "So it's OK Matt that I just come over and grab your D@#K right now right?! That's not crossing a line is it?! That's not assault?! That's just "talk" right?! Anyone can do it."
I'm sorry but I don't believe all civilized men talk like that and I KNOW all women don't. Not crossing the line into assault. My point is folks is DJT has crossed ✝️ so many lines and they will continue to make excuses for him for anything and EVERYTHING. All the way up to the Wall Street Journal. W.T.F.
Let's just pray the Supreme Court has a few morals left although I'm not holding out much hope for that either. I'm sorry to hear about the passing of Joe Lieberman too. He was a dedicated public servant his entire life. God Bless his family and friends as they get through this difficult time. 🙏🏻❤️🇺🇸💙
Joe Lieberman made some mistakes and was far from perfect but he was a decent and well-intentioned man who, clearly, loved his country. How about, for a few days, we appreciate his goodness without tearing him down. There will be plenty of time for anger and acrimony after his funeral.
Republicans are not ignorant and stupid when they continue to assert that the election was stolen. Just like Trump, they know that’s a lie. It’s all about clinging to power at any cost, in a desperate quest to maintain white, patriarchal, retrograde Christian supremacy.
WSJ: "NBC brass were trying to provide an alternative view of Donald Trump". So, we're back to alternative facts. If Ronna's crime was just a phone call (ignoring the years of pushing the Big LIe) then I guess Trump's being found liable for rape and defamation (twice) was just the result of a civil trial, then the WSJ is just a rag. It used to be that the WSJ was recognized for it's journalism, but those times are long gone.
Steve - you are articulating this mess in our media brilliantly, breaking it down, calling out the projection and hypocrisy to specifics!! What a feat!! Bravo and thank you!!
Excellent piece Steve.. It should be an editorial. It should be on /in every outlet in the country that is where these words belong.. In front of every single person.. If that could be done, it would be a great service.
In your video with Megan Kelly (about Santa Clause being white) she says Jesus is a white man. How stupid. He was an Arab. Born (if you are a Christian believer) when the Jews were all Arab not white Caucasian. How crazy are these folks.
“Anger-tainment” - my new word. Perfectly describes Fox!
The WSJ sees the reversal of NBC/MSNBC as a sign of corruption and proof of lack of professional media integrity. Clearly that self-correction was proof that integrity prevails there, showing the courage to admit errors of judgement and openly moves publically to rectify them. The single catagory here is one of morality, more precisely moral courage. The tribal strlctures of the Right do not permit even a trace of admission of error, mistake, miscalculation, apologetica. Such a binding necessitates the total exclusion of the bounds of moral considerations, and those bounds define what considerations actually define moral verity. The moral verity of the WSJ is lost in their tribal inflexibility, hoisted as it were by their own petard.
This column alone is worth the next year’s subscription
Brilliant again Steve…your writing eloquence has such a great effect of putting a smile on face, calm my rage and quickly get to the heart of the issue as I interpret them….3 favs from today👇👍
“Here is what The Wall Street Journal editorial board cannot comprehend and cannot see. They are misaligned like an amateur astronomer, who greets the forthcoming eclipse by looking up, ignorant of the importance of location and the significance of horizons, only to be disappointed by the limitations of their view and imagination.”
“Rupert Murdoch is the most dangerous immigrant who has ever arrived on American shores”
“What has played out is a clash between idealism and cynicism. The victory of principle over expediency, and courage over fecklessness, has left the editorialists of Murdoch’s most dignified realm stupefied and stumbling as if they had been concussed”.
Thank You so much for your constant insight…helps me with my sanity here in the “magaT” Desert🏜️ 🌵
As always, brilliant and essential commentary, Steve. We need your voice. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
From the editorial page quoted :
"The network’s viewers will be fine without her analysis, but the episode explains why Americans don’t trust the news media. The network’s bosses were plainly trying to avoid the mistakes of 2016 by recruiting some non-crazy voices on the Trump-aligned right. Eight years ago mainstream outlets covered Mr. Trump with little but withering scorn, alienated millions of Americans who felt deep reservations about Mrs. Clinton, and after the election couldn’t explain how he won except by recourse to the false Russian collusion narrative."
Fascinating that the Murdoch Machine refers to the coverage in 2016 , and not the fawning coverage of 2020 - it does not fit their narrative
WSJ editorial page jumped the shark long long ago
As to Lieberman Steve - yes he was almost your man's running mate - didn't you push Sarah the Shallow? Anyway - when discussing Liberman be sure to mention his captiulation the the Health Insurance Industry, his holier than thou attidute towards issues, exemplifed this past weekend on the morning shows when he said he did not care if No Labels would help propel tRump into the WH again. Ego driven, petulant and out for revenge for slights unseen
readers - click these two links and read about Joe L
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/dec/16/joe-lieberman-barack-obama-us-healthcare
https://obamaoralhistory.columbia.edu/index/people/1545
Joe Lieberman was a POS. Please don’t dignify him with praise. He deserves none.