Drone-Strike Feminism
US corporate media outlets have acted as cheerleaders and stenographers, allowing the US government to hijack the deterioration of women’s rights as a selling point for perpetual war.
Deep US Concern for Human Rights in Egypt? Time Says So
The idea that the United States is being forced to suspend any ‘longtime concerns’ about Egyptian human rights is hard to square with reality.
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.
FAIR TV: Ukraine Hysteria, US Hypocrisy, Keystone Protest
This week: US media go into overdrive over Russia/Ukraine, painting the conflict as proof that Barack Obama isn’t feared enough. Plus pundits laugh at Putin’s delusion–but what about John Kerry’s? And a big anti-Keystone XL rally at the White House hardly makes the news. Watch:
Putin’s ‘Delusions’ and Double Standards
Media are suggesting that Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s defense of his actions in Ukraine suggests he is delusional. But what do they call it when US leaders appear unable to remember US invasions of other countries?
CNN’s Parade of Iran Hawks
CNN’s Sunday show offered a very one-sided discussion of the Iran nuclear deal–and some misinformation from host Candy Crowley.
UN Report Provides Information, Not ‘Intelligence’
The contrast between the two reports is striking: While Kerry’s report avoided providing specific details to back up its claims–“in order to protect sources and methods,” Kerry said–the UN report strove for maximum transparency.
Asking Kerry Questions–but Which Ones?
John Kerry appeared on all of the Sunday talkshows. But he was mostly not asked about the case for war with Syria. Instead, the questioning was overwhelmingly concerned with Barack Obama’s decision to seek congressional approval for an attack on Syria.
John Kerry’s Very Precise Death Toll: Where Does It Come From?
Media reports emphasize the number John Kerry gives for the number of Syrians killed in the apparent chemical attack. But where does that number come from–and why is substantially higher than other estimates?
Which Syrian Chemical Attack Account Is More Credible?
Which account of the mass deaths in Syria should be given more credence: the U.S. government version introduced by Secretary of State John Kerry, or the article published by the Minnesota-based news site Mint Press? The government account expresses “high confidence that the Syrian government carried out a chemical weapons attack.” The Mint report bore the headline “Syrians in Ghouta Claim Saudi-Supplied Rebels Behind Chemical Attack.”
On Syria, Intelligence and Evidence
One would hope that the lessons of Iraq might inform more of the coverage of Syria. But that’s not always the case. Over the course of the past week, the White House and various officials have been adamant that they have evidence that shows the Syrian government was responsible for the horrific attack last week […]
A Cabinet of Peaceniks?
It goes to show you how limited the debate over warmaking is when politicians whose records are mostly pro-war can be portrayed as war skeptics. That’s what is happening with Barack Obama’s new cabinet picks: Sen. John Kerry for secretary of State and former Sen. Chuck Hagel as Defense secretary.
Mitt Romney Swift Boats Himself
The criticism of Mitt Romney’s time at Bain Capital doesn’t appear to be leaving the headlines. And thus some political reporters are, as Jamison Foser notes, drawing an unusual comparison: Romney is being Swift Boated. The latest example comes from Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen (7/17/12): In a sense, Romney deserves the Swift Boating he’s […]
WaPo Misleads on Dem’s ‘Super Committee’ Picks
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has named his picks to the “super committee” charged with making deficit reduction recommendations. Reid named Washington Sen. Patty Murray and center-right Max Baucus, who the Post‘s Rosalind Helderman today (8/10/11) calls a “natural choice,” given that he chairs the Finance Committee. The New York Times is a little more […]
Hawks vs. Hawks: Debating U.S. Military Intervention in Libya
The New York Times has a piece today (3/7/11) about the debate over U.S. military intervention in Libya. The paper reports that there are persistent voices–in Congress and even inside the administration–arguing that Mr. Obama is moving too slowly. Reporters David Sanger and Thom Shanker contend that there is too much concern about perceptions, and […]
More on Jon Meacham’s Strange Cheney Attraction
Newsweek editor Jon Meacham’s enthusiasm for Dick Cheney is not a new thing. Appearing on MSNBC back in 2004, Meacham praised the Republican National Convention speeches of Cheney and Sen. Zell Miller: If I taught at the Kennedy School, I would take these two speeches as ur-text of partisan rhetoric. I think it was a […]
New Medium, Old Story: Telecom Greed
Senator John Kerry’s post to the SaveTheInternet.com blog (6/16/09) looks at the fact that “nine of the most popular 10 phones are locked in a deal with one of these big wireless carriers,” and how this corporatization limits the new medium: Here’s the issue I think we need to wrestle with: Wireless service providers are […]
Make Your Own Damn Sign!
It did not surprise me, during the 2004 election, when Kerry/Edwards supporters called in to my show on Air America Radio—though it did surprise me when they called in seeking yard signs. I don’t have a yard, much less a sign. All I could think to do was to direct these callers to the Kerry […]
Judgment Reserved to Judgment Reversed
Advocacy organizations typically receive little time or space to express their opinions in mainstream media discussions, so it’s not surprising that they turn to political advertisements as an alternative means of getting their message out to the public. A paid publicity campaign may legitimize the activists’ efforts as a coverage-worthy “controversy” in the eyes of […]
America’s Broken Electoral System
Throughout 2004, the “swing state” of Ohio was in the media spotlight. Prior to the election, it was a site of alleged voter fraud and suppression; as Extra! reported (12/04), the news media tended to portray the charges as partisan ploys rather than significant threats to the electoral process. Then, on November 2, Ohio became […]
