Chris, I am one that though the media gave too much free air time to Trump in 2016. I am also one that has been frustrated with the media coverage this year, however, a bit different. I still do not think that Trump should be covered like 2016, or even close to it. My issue is that Biden was endlessly covered as being too old, incoherent, being hidden, walking too stiffly & slowly, the oldest person running for president, etc.. However, Trump is the oldest nominee to be running for president, looks older, tells lie after lie, talks crazy nonsense, flip flops on positions, etc.. Yet, barely any of that is said and if so, not nearly like the coverage that Biden was covered. What I am finding, a plus for you, is that I am now getting most of my news from people on Substack, or YouTube. MSM is losing us. IMO, the 2 candidates are not held to the same standard.
It’s admirable that you do cover trumps transcripts, but I have tired of them because it is the same old bullshit.
CNNs interview will be a lot more difficult for the dems because Harris will be forced to answer really tough questions. Trump would just filibuster and go on a rant and never answer anything.
He would riff all of the things he always whines about.
He says nothing about what he would do but to say “it will be Great”. What a fucking moron.
But honestly that's the point! Harris & Walz need to do the interviews to really show that difference. They need undecided voters to see what sane, rational, thoughtful answers sound like! They need to claim the national spotlight on all media platfoems with answers that are coherent! That will drive Trump to rant even more and force that same media to show it happen!
"...handing him billions in free advertising and catapulting him to the presidency.
While I don’t totally buy that — if only the media had that sort of power! The MSM has extraordinary power. That's why so many flacks around the country are constantly trying to air time or ink. I wouldn't downplay the media's reach and capability particularly in a situation like 2020. Case in point; in the piece quoting Chait, "That interview had an inordinate impact on her public persona because there was little else to shape it. I am a media person. Long career in a number of areas, but I think you're mistaken about media power. You do point out, on the other hand, that the media is using its standard playbook to cover him; as though he's a regular candidate. They hammered Biden over his age. I don't see the same hammering over the guy who's virtually the same age. Just an example, but the MSM must find a way to interview him and his cronies that doesn't smack of "see, their just regular guys."
Of course they media has great influence. Their entire business model is built on it. Advertisers don't spend many billions of dollars because they think media buys will not get them anything.
Exactly 💯 right, Pat! Chris *dramatically* under plays the value of the “legacy media” and their approach to 2024.
I was SO furious at the incessant “Biden is old” stories, when Trump was literally spewing nonsense, word salad, nonsequitors, and lies. All. The. Time! And they simply wouldn’t cover Trump’s cognitive decline. They were *one* of the reasons Biden left the race, so how can ANYONE ignore the power of legacy media to BE the narrative, and not just report “the news”?
That has SO dramatically affected this election, and to act as if it hasn’t, is like an ostrich putting its head in the sand!
Chris, this is tangentially related regarding media bias, but it has stuck in my craw for a couple of months. CNN reporter interviewing a Latina mother and daughter in NC. Obviously the assignment was to play up how many voters were undecided and/or torn about voting for Biden. The reporter spoke to the daughter and then to the mother, who said very clearly (in Spanish) that, indeed, she didn't know what to do, but if Biden gave way to someone like Kamala Harris, she would be VERY excited about that!
I speak Spanish, as did the reporter. Before the daughter could translate, she was cut off, and the final comment was, "And there you have it. Voters here are really confused." Her blowing off what the woman had said made this retired English language and comp teacher furious.
If the television and newspaper media told the unvarnished truth about Trump’s mental health, it would in effect be making a political argument about his fitness for office, and they won’t do that. Too many viewers would take offense because they would instead treat this journalistic point of view as a personal/political attack and many would stop watching or reading. Advertising rates would drop. The media is stuck with selling the news rather than telling the news. Should they nonetheless report the truth? Yes, because otherwise they are in the business of supporting the fascist practice of telling people not to believe their eyes and ears. The major media are violating essential pieces of the practice of journalism, which must involve taking the heat for telling the truth.
I have come to the conclusion that the MSM - CNN, the NYT, WaPo - cover Dumpy and VP Harris the way they do because they want the race to look as if it's close. If they honestly covered how incoherent Dumpy is it would show the country how bad his thought processes have become and VP Harris might pull ahead. If Harris starts outpolling Dumpy the race won't be interesting anymore and the MSM would lose eyeballs. That's all it is. Eyeballs = $$.
The ___crazy things pieces are journalism gold! Seeing the crazy in black and white, unvarnished by ear bandages or flag kissing, is instructive(and frightening) If the “mainstream” media would cover even a fraction of what the orange nutbag bleats in its unvarnished nutbaggery, the nation would be better for it.
Per Heather Cox Richardson tonight (8/27/24): “The elephant in the room these days is that most Republicans, along with many pundits, are pretending that Trump is a normal presidential candidate. They are ignoring his mental lapses, calls for authoritarianism, grifting, lack of grasp on any sort of policy, and criminality, even as he has hollowed out the once grand Republican Party and threatens American democracy itself.”
That chart is truly eye opening. As a Marylander, I think the potential problem is that our presidential vote doesn't really matter and I'm not sure folks are tuned in enough to understand just how critical the senate vote is. Hogan was a solid governor but dems need to hold the senate.
As a Marylander who voted for Hogan 2x. I'm finding myself needing to make a tough decision. I couldn't agree more that the Dem's need to keep the Senate. But I also remember how well Hogan governed our state. How even in a heavy Democrat leaning state like ours he was able to get a lot done and worked across the aisle. I vote for him for governor again if given a chance although Moore has surprised me at how successful he's been. I guess my difficulty lies in the fact that I yearn for the days when both sides could work together for the good of the people. And I coukd see Hogan being one of those people to work towards that.
Nice summary of the "sane washing" regarding Trump.
The late night talk/variety shows (i.e. The Daily Show, Colbert, Seth Meyers, etc) will often highlight Trump's verbal gaffes and word-salads. Why aren't opposition groups (Lincoln Project) and PAC's running ads that showcase Trump's inability to communicate logically? As you mentioned, the media isn't doing this.
The Lincoln project has quite a few ads highlighting just that. Check out their YouTube page and take a look at their ads they are gold. And they are spending ad money to air them on the Trump leaning news sites- FOX, OAN and Newsmax. To not only highlight all his age and non stop gibberish but to get under the thin skin of TFG to great effect. He keeps suing them and Rick Wilson personally. Take a look they are fantastic
I knew it. Harris will have the interview the media cried for and immediately they will say it’s not enough or not the right setting or something. The media will not be happy till they have Harris saying something wrong.
Here’s my message to the media in all caps.
DONT CHANGE THE SUBJECT. TRUMP IS UNQUALIFIED AND DANGEROUS FOR THE COUNTRY. KEEPING TRUMP OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE IS WHAT THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT.
The way the media has been covering Trump is bizarre. If they were reporting on a hurricane, the headline would be..
"Hurricane Donald provides great conditions during the eye". Lip service would then be paid to the rest of the storm as it was destroying the community. Very Strange.
Keep showing what Trump and other politicians say. My reading of history and working the Hill convinced me that if a politician says they will do something - especially if you wish they wouldn’t - they will do it.
Chris, I am one that though the media gave too much free air time to Trump in 2016. I am also one that has been frustrated with the media coverage this year, however, a bit different. I still do not think that Trump should be covered like 2016, or even close to it. My issue is that Biden was endlessly covered as being too old, incoherent, being hidden, walking too stiffly & slowly, the oldest person running for president, etc.. However, Trump is the oldest nominee to be running for president, looks older, tells lie after lie, talks crazy nonsense, flip flops on positions, etc.. Yet, barely any of that is said and if so, not nearly like the coverage that Biden was covered. What I am finding, a plus for you, is that I am now getting most of my news from people on Substack, or YouTube. MSM is losing us. IMO, the 2 candidates are not held to the same standard.
You are absolutely right.
💯
YES!!👏
It’s admirable that you do cover trumps transcripts, but I have tired of them because it is the same old bullshit.
CNNs interview will be a lot more difficult for the dems because Harris will be forced to answer really tough questions. Trump would just filibuster and go on a rant and never answer anything.
He would riff all of the things he always whines about.
He says nothing about what he would do but to say “it will be Great”. What a fucking moron.
But honestly that's the point! Harris & Walz need to do the interviews to really show that difference. They need undecided voters to see what sane, rational, thoughtful answers sound like! They need to claim the national spotlight on all media platfoems with answers that are coherent! That will drive Trump to rant even more and force that same media to show it happen!
"...handing him billions in free advertising and catapulting him to the presidency.
While I don’t totally buy that — if only the media had that sort of power! The MSM has extraordinary power. That's why so many flacks around the country are constantly trying to air time or ink. I wouldn't downplay the media's reach and capability particularly in a situation like 2020. Case in point; in the piece quoting Chait, "That interview had an inordinate impact on her public persona because there was little else to shape it. I am a media person. Long career in a number of areas, but I think you're mistaken about media power. You do point out, on the other hand, that the media is using its standard playbook to cover him; as though he's a regular candidate. They hammered Biden over his age. I don't see the same hammering over the guy who's virtually the same age. Just an example, but the MSM must find a way to interview him and his cronies that doesn't smack of "see, their just regular guys."
>We now live in two Americas in which the political party you identify with determines what you believe the values of the country are — and should be.
I think you have that exactly backwards. What you think the country's values are (and should be) largely determines which party you support.
Hey Vance, maybe Harris should wear the same skirt, turtleneck, and brown blazer E. Jean Carroll wore at verdict....
Of course they media has great influence. Their entire business model is built on it. Advertisers don't spend many billions of dollars because they think media buys will not get them anything.
Exactly 💯 right, Pat! Chris *dramatically* under plays the value of the “legacy media” and their approach to 2024.
I was SO furious at the incessant “Biden is old” stories, when Trump was literally spewing nonsense, word salad, nonsequitors, and lies. All. The. Time! And they simply wouldn’t cover Trump’s cognitive decline. They were *one* of the reasons Biden left the race, so how can ANYONE ignore the power of legacy media to BE the narrative, and not just report “the news”?
That has SO dramatically affected this election, and to act as if it hasn’t, is like an ostrich putting its head in the sand!
Chris, this is tangentially related regarding media bias, but it has stuck in my craw for a couple of months. CNN reporter interviewing a Latina mother and daughter in NC. Obviously the assignment was to play up how many voters were undecided and/or torn about voting for Biden. The reporter spoke to the daughter and then to the mother, who said very clearly (in Spanish) that, indeed, she didn't know what to do, but if Biden gave way to someone like Kamala Harris, she would be VERY excited about that!
I speak Spanish, as did the reporter. Before the daughter could translate, she was cut off, and the final comment was, "And there you have it. Voters here are really confused." Her blowing off what the woman had said made this retired English language and comp teacher furious.
If the television and newspaper media told the unvarnished truth about Trump’s mental health, it would in effect be making a political argument about his fitness for office, and they won’t do that. Too many viewers would take offense because they would instead treat this journalistic point of view as a personal/political attack and many would stop watching or reading. Advertising rates would drop. The media is stuck with selling the news rather than telling the news. Should they nonetheless report the truth? Yes, because otherwise they are in the business of supporting the fascist practice of telling people not to believe their eyes and ears. The major media are violating essential pieces of the practice of journalism, which must involve taking the heat for telling the truth.
💯
I have come to the conclusion that the MSM - CNN, the NYT, WaPo - cover Dumpy and VP Harris the way they do because they want the race to look as if it's close. If they honestly covered how incoherent Dumpy is it would show the country how bad his thought processes have become and VP Harris might pull ahead. If Harris starts outpolling Dumpy the race won't be interesting anymore and the MSM would lose eyeballs. That's all it is. Eyeballs = $$.
Agreed 💯!
The ___crazy things pieces are journalism gold! Seeing the crazy in black and white, unvarnished by ear bandages or flag kissing, is instructive(and frightening) If the “mainstream” media would cover even a fraction of what the orange nutbag bleats in its unvarnished nutbaggery, the nation would be better for it.
Per Heather Cox Richardson tonight (8/27/24): “The elephant in the room these days is that most Republicans, along with many pundits, are pretending that Trump is a normal presidential candidate. They are ignoring his mental lapses, calls for authoritarianism, grifting, lack of grasp on any sort of policy, and criminality, even as he has hollowed out the once grand Republican Party and threatens American democracy itself.”
That chart is truly eye opening. As a Marylander, I think the potential problem is that our presidential vote doesn't really matter and I'm not sure folks are tuned in enough to understand just how critical the senate vote is. Hogan was a solid governor but dems need to hold the senate.
As a Marylander who voted for Hogan 2x. I'm finding myself needing to make a tough decision. I couldn't agree more that the Dem's need to keep the Senate. But I also remember how well Hogan governed our state. How even in a heavy Democrat leaning state like ours he was able to get a lot done and worked across the aisle. I vote for him for governor again if given a chance although Moore has surprised me at how successful he's been. I guess my difficulty lies in the fact that I yearn for the days when both sides could work together for the good of the people. And I coukd see Hogan being one of those people to work towards that.
Chris,
Nice summary of the "sane washing" regarding Trump.
The late night talk/variety shows (i.e. The Daily Show, Colbert, Seth Meyers, etc) will often highlight Trump's verbal gaffes and word-salads. Why aren't opposition groups (Lincoln Project) and PAC's running ads that showcase Trump's inability to communicate logically? As you mentioned, the media isn't doing this.
The Lincoln project has quite a few ads highlighting just that. Check out their YouTube page and take a look at their ads they are gold. And they are spending ad money to air them on the Trump leaning news sites- FOX, OAN and Newsmax. To not only highlight all his age and non stop gibberish but to get under the thin skin of TFG to great effect. He keeps suing them and Rick Wilson personally. Take a look they are fantastic
I knew it. Harris will have the interview the media cried for and immediately they will say it’s not enough or not the right setting or something. The media will not be happy till they have Harris saying something wrong.
Here’s my message to the media in all caps.
DONT CHANGE THE SUBJECT. TRUMP IS UNQUALIFIED AND DANGEROUS FOR THE COUNTRY. KEEPING TRUMP OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE IS WHAT THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT.
The way the media has been covering Trump is bizarre. If they were reporting on a hurricane, the headline would be..
"Hurricane Donald provides great conditions during the eye". Lip service would then be paid to the rest of the storm as it was destroying the community. Very Strange.
Keep showing what Trump and other politicians say. My reading of history and working the Hill convinced me that if a politician says they will do something - especially if you wish they wouldn’t - they will do it.