The White House and the Awesome Power of Several Bloggers
National Journal reporter James Oliphant has discovered that the Obama White House has a very powerful weapon it can deploy against its critics: bloggers.
Peter Hart
Can Crossfire Have a Climate Change Debate Without Climate Change Denial?
It’s enough to make you wish Crossfire would take another break–or at least decide that the climate crisis demands an entirely different sort of debate.
ABC News Exclusive: Our Parent Company’s Awesome New Things
It doesn’t appear that ABC bothered with the sort of normal journalistic disclosure during its segment on its parent company’s theme park. Maybe it’s simply too hard to keep track of all the Disney promotion they’re doing.
FAIR TV: Iran Nuke Tall Tales, New Benghazi Nonsense, White Guys on Affirmative Action
On the show this week: CNN goes to Iran nuclear expert… Benjamin Netanyahu? Plus new nonsense on Benghazi, and Meet the Press presents a discussion on affirmative action with mostly conservative white guys–showing media’s need for some affirmative action of their own.
Bill O’Reilly and Benghazi: He Gets One Thing Right
Bill O’Reilly calls out the media for dishonest Benghazi coverage. But he’s the one mangling the facts.
Bill Clinton’s Critics Are…Who, Exactly?
Big efforts are underway to burnish Bill Clinton’s economic legacy. The New York Times does its part by failing to quote critics of Clinton’s record.
‘Radioactive’ Putin Is ‘Stalin’s Spawn’
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the Crimean region of Ukraine meant that he was either “taking a page out of the Hitler playbook” or was “Stalin’s spawn.”
Meet the White Guys: NBC Panel Tackles Affirmative Action
An NBC roundtable on affirmative action–dominated by conservative white men.
Buzzfeed Feeds Paul Ryan’s Buzz
Paul Ryan says he wants to fight poverty, and he can convince reporters that he means it. But what about his actual record?
Netanyahu on Iran (This Time Without the Cartoon Bomb)
With peace talks on hold, Israeli prime minister is back on US television talking about Iran’s supposed nuclear threat. Good thing for him his claims are so rarely challenged.
In Corporate Media, Democratic Populism Always a Danger
One of the most consistent rules in corporate media’s political coverage: If you’re talking about Democrats, you should point out that those who drift too far to the left could find themselves in trouble.
Will NBC Retract Story NYT Has Walked Back?
The New York Times decided to walk back its story once there was skepticism about the photos they had been supplied. Will NBC do the same thing for its viewers?
A New Turn in the War on Whistleblowers & Journalism?
It’s hard to see how a move to criminalize routine discussions between government officials and members of the press is anything but an attempt to shut down such conversations.
TPP TV Blackout
The TV networks don’t think the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is newsworthy. But look at what they do think is worth covering….
Is NYT Walking Back ‘Russia’ Photos Scoop?
The New York Times published a big front-page scoop documenting Russian special forces operating in Ukraine. And then they published a correction–of sorts.
‘Free Trade’ Doesn’t Need a Debate in the Washington Post
The Washington Post editorializes in favor of secretive corporate-friendly trade arrangements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). But news coverage can put its thumb on the scales in favor of the pro-TPP side too.
Obama’s ‘Manhood Problem’—and Media’s Humanity Problem
David Brooks says the Middle East thinks Obama has a “manhood” problem.
In Yemen, Drones Don’t Kill Innocents
There are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about reports about the military strikes in Yemen.
To David Brooks, Revealing Government Crimes Is ‘Repellent, Unpatriotic’
Pundit David Brooks reacts to the Pulitzers: “I’m a little made nervous by the fact that [reporters] really did benefit by what I think of as a repellent, unpatriotic act.”
Trophies for Just Showing Up: Alfie Kohn on Childrearing Myths
A new book argues that the conventional wisdom about kids and parenting isn’t just misguided or inaccurate; it forms a worldview reinforces and recommends a specific, deeply conservative, political ideology.
