Corporate Media: Don’t Worry, Be Fracking
A new study shows that gas leaks from fracking wells are responsible for water contamination. But some media outlets were keen to send the message that fracking isn’t causing these problems.
Peter Hart
The PBS Left: ‘Airstrikes Are Wonderful’
The voice from the left on PBS wants a serious debate over Obama’s war plan–but also makes it clear that airstrikes are great.
ABC: ISIS Possibly Scarier Than Al-Qaeda–Due to Social Media
A key element in the shift in US public opinion toward attacking ISIS is the idea that the country could be attacked by the group. Where do people get this idea? TV news might be one place.
CBS: ‘We Have No Choice’ but to Attack ISIS ‘Before We All Get Killed’
CBS host Bob Schieffer believes that ISIS poses a threat to the American “homeland” and tells viewers: “This evil must be eradicated. These forces must be destroyed.”
Cutting Pensions and ‘Responsible’ Politics
Anything that hurts labor unions, workers and moves Democrats to the right must be something to cheer about.
Four Myths About Obama’s War on ISIS
While Barack Obama’s military plan to launch strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) might impress many pundits, there are some serious questions that should be asked–about the threat posed by the Islamic State and about some of the assumptions guiding the debate.
And Now, a Word From Henry Kissinger…
Henry Kissinger is making the rounds again–mostly reminding us that elite media love to fawn over Henry Kissinger.
To NYT, ‘Full Range of Views’ on War Is Pretty Narrow
What does a “full range of views” look like to the New York Times? Powerful people who worked for Republicans and Democrats.
Fracking Away the Climate Crisis
The New York Times and PBS NewsHour present very different looks at fracking. What’s missing from both? Climate change.
New NPR Boss: ‘We’re Going to Be Talking About Brands That Matter a Little Bit More’
The new boss at NPR says you should expect to hear more corporate advertising– no wait, that’s not it. You’ll hear more about “brands that matter.”
Our New War Will Be Different Because…
The New York Times seems to suggest that the ongoing wars in Yemen and Pakistan are limited to attacks on “leaders.” That is “a totally false statement,” one analyst notes.
How to Decode the New York Times
The Israeli government unequivocally declared that Hamas was responsible for the kidnapping and murder of three young Israelis. But Israeli legal documents do not support the Israeli government’s accusations.
David Gregory—and Other Famous Left-Wingers
The New York Post refers to Meet the Press’s “famously left-leaning former hosts including the ousted David Gregory.” A quick overview of Gregory’s record doesn’t turn up much evidence of leaning to the left–but plenty to the contrary.
‘Debating’ War, Corporate Media Style
Discussions of what the Obama White House should do in Iraq and Syria are dominated by hawks, military officials and former national security insiders.
Chuck Todd’s Theory of Politics
Todd’s critics are upset by the failure of journalism act as a check on government power, and to process-style political journalism that crowds out reporting on issues of actual substance.
Chris Christie’s Totally Accurate Occupation Faux Pas
The New York Times reports that Chris Christie is consulting with the likes of Henry Kissinger and Condoleezza Rice to get past a previous foreign policy problem: saying something completely accurate about Israel.
Does the Public Want More War?
USA Today’s August 29 edition boasted the front-page headline “More Want US to Flex Muscle.” The evidence comes from a new Pew poll, so it’s worth noting how that data is transformed into a desire for US “muscle-flexing.”
Israel, Gaza and False Balance
Striving for a deceptive “balance,” US media miscast the devastating violence of Israel’s attacks on Gaza and obscured the lopsided nature of the death toll.
Washington Post Editorial Page, Meet Noam Chomsky
The Washington Post stands firm against Russian aggression, since Putin has violated an “international norm” that is “uncontroversial.” Do those rules apply to the US, though?
