‘Muddying a Murky Picture’: NYT’s Ukraine Kremlinology
The New York Times clearly has a hunch about deep Russian involvement in Ukraine. The ways it tries to confirm this hunch are curious.
Peter Hart
Meet the Press’s Snowden Debate: Traitor or Criminal?
The main debate about Snowden boiled down to one side saying he’s a traitor and the other side saying he should come home and do prison time, perhaps as a lesson to children.
Capital Punishment
Who would have thought that the way to kick off a media discussion about inequality in the United States would be to publish an English translation of a nearly 700-page book by a French economist?
FAIR TV: Obama’s Forgotten ‘Surge,’ Rebranding Jeb Bush, Climate Expert Coulter
This week: Obama’s Afghan War drawdown was big news–but what do media leave out of the story of the White House’s war strategy? Plus the New York Times assists in a Jeb Bush rebranding effort and CNN goes to climate change expert…Ann Coulter? Watch:
Brian Williams Frantically Tries to Prove He’s No Glenn Greenwald
Before NBC aired its Edward Snowden special, its evening newscast presented a lengthy report presenting the case against the NSA whistleblower.
CNN’s Climate Expert: Ann Coulter?!
What’s worse than not covering climate change? How about a one-on-one interview with far right climate change denier Ann Coulter. CNN, you can do better than that.
Jeb Bush Is a Wonk—Just Ask Him
The New York Times tries–a little too hard–to convince readers that Jeb Bush is brainier than his brother.
Crediting Obama for Bringing Troops Home–Without Noting He Sent Them Abroad
NPR tells listeners that Obama has cut troop levels in Afghanistan by two-thirds–but doesn’t explain that he massively escalated the war.
Federal Workers Good at Paying Taxes, USA Today Expose Conceals
The front page of USA Today (5/23/14) blew the whistle on federal workers: They are tax deadbeats who owe billions in back taxes. The story also revealed that they owe less than most people.
Confused?
American TV to Chinese Spies: Do as US Says, Not as US Does
US TV networks played up the FBI’s economic espionage charges against China–without mentioning that the NSA does something very similar.
CNN’s Climate Change Coverage: Starring Ann Coulter
As we’ve noted before, some of CNN’s previous climate coverage has involved putting climate deniers on Crossfire. But this is actually worse.
David Brooks: Democracy Is a Drag; Put Guys Like Me in Charge
Pundit David Brooks thinks the way to fix American democracy is by having less democracy. Let elites dictate policy and have pundits cheer them on!
Weather From Another Planet: Wildfires and Climate Change
Extreme drought, extreme heat and extremely devastating wildfires in Southern California are big news for TV journalists. But don’t mention climate change.
When NBC Says ‘Meeting America,’ It Means White, Republican America
An NBC series tries to introduce viewers to the America that isn’t much covered in the news. But it’s a remarkably narrow vision of the country.
FAIR TV: Snowden, Palestinian Brass Knuckles, Rubio’s Climate Denial
This week: ABC talks about a “raging debate” over Edward Snowden. They must mean the one that’s not on their show. Plus: The New York Times takes a long time to correct a story about Palestinian teen’s imaginary brass knuckles, and ABC‘s Jonathan Karl has the wrong response to Marco Rubio’s climate nonsense. Watch:
Disappearing Brass Knuckles: An NYT Correction
A video of a tense confrontation between an Israeli soldier and Palestinian youths made it into the New York Times–along with an erroneous suggestion that one of the Palestinians threatened the soldier with brass knuckles.
O’Reilly: Back from Vacation, Still Hating Muslims
Bill O’Reilly uses the horrible Boko Haram kidnappings to launch into yet another tirade against Muslims.
Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald and the Courtier Press
Glenn Greenwald’s new book tells the Snowden story–and takes aim at the corporate media.
The Wrong Response to Rubio’s Climate Nonsense
Rising GOP star Marco Rubio doesn’t believe in climate change. But watch how the reporter who asked him about it reacts.
ABC’s ‘Raging Debate’ Over Edward Snowden
ABC’s This Week: Edward Snowden sparked a “raging debate”–so here are two guests who don’t like what he did.
