20 Years After His Death, Gary Webb’s Truth Is Still Dangerous
Twenty years ago this month, former San Jose Mercury News investigative reporter Gary Webb died by apparent suicide after his career was systematically destroyed.
Ronald Reagan’s Racism Should Come as No Surprise
The historical amnesia that allows people to be surprised that Ronald Reagan was a racist does more than sanitize the image of a historical figure. If you imagine that Donald Trump invented the political technique of appealing to white supremacy, you’re going to have a hard time figuring out an effective way to overcome it.
‘The Violence Elliott Abrams Supported Is Unspeakable’
“Elliott Abrams supported Latin American democracy pretty much like Jeffrey Dahmer supported all the people that he brought to his apartment.”
Tim Shorrock on Korea Summit, Jon Schwarz on Elliott Abrams
The last thing you’ll get from US media’s assessment of the prospect of peace on the Korean peninsula? What Koreans think.
The Reagan ‘Boom’ Echoed Glory Days of Ford/Carter
The “boom” following Reagan’s tax cuts was similar to the growth during the Ford/Carter years–which are not generally remembered as a time of great prosperity.
Fareed Zakaria Wants a Better Public
Zakaria has a different standard for ignorant citizens and ignorant politicians–not to mention ignorant media pundits.
No, Putin Isn’t Following ‘Reagan Playbook’ in Ukraine—Thank God
When the Washington Post’s David Ignatius writes a column headlined “Putin Steals the CIA’s Playbook on Anti-Soviet Covert Operations,” is that supposed to be a criticism or a compliment?
Jonah Goldberg Swings at Obama on Nukes—and Hits Reagan
Right-wing columnist Jonah Goldberg slams Obama for expressing support for a ‘nuclear free world’– which was what Reagan said too.
Mandela and Misremembering US History
U.S. media coverage of Nelson Mandela’s legacy celebrates the late icon’s forgiveness. But one area that gets relatively little attention is US support for the racist government Mandela fought against.
This American Life on Guatemalan Genocide
On the evening of December 4, 1982, President Ronald Reagan informed reporters assembled at an Air Force base in Honduras that he had just engaged in a “useful exchange of ideas” with Efraín Rios Montt. The Guatemalan military general was the most recent in a succession of U.S.-backed dictators who had been governing the country […]
Bum Rap: The U.S. Role in Guatemalan Genocide
The New York Times report, “Trial on Guatemalan Civil War Carnage Leaves Out U.S. Role,” raises at least one obvious question: How much has U.S. coverage of the Ríos Montt trial talked about U.S. support for genocide?
FAIR TV: The IRS & Obama’s Scandal Trifecta, Matthews Praises Reagan, Newseum Scandal
What should we make of the so-called “trifecta” of scandals hitting the Obama White House? And what questions should we ask about the IRS/Tea Party story? Also this week: Chris Matthews wants Obama to take charge–just like the union-busting Ronald Reagan. And the Newseum decides two Palestinian journalists shouldn’t be considered part of their tribute […]
Reagan Didn’t Get Thatchered
When it comes to elite media and political circles, there’s no doubt that Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher were treated the same way when they died: with gushing, uncritical celebration. They just wish the public could have been so univocal.
NYT: Odd Memories of Iran/Contra, Obama First Term
The New York Times’ Michael Shear suggests that Rep. Rand Paul’s criticism of Obama’s drone attacks are nothing out of the ordinary–but he takes a strange trip down memory lane to make the case.
Debunking the Debunkers of October Surprise
Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from investigative reporter Robert Parry’s new book, America’s Stolen Narrative. One of the book’s storylines examines corporate media’s role in squelching investigation into whether Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign in 1980 went behind President Jimmy Carter’s back to contact Iranian officials then holding 52 Americans hostage, a controversy dubbed the […]
War Propaganda, Olympics-Style
NBC‘s Olympics broadcast last night included a profile of Grenadian runner Kirani James. The small island is peaceful now, viewers learned, thanks in no small part to Ronald Reagan’s decision to invade. Here’s the clip: (UPDATE: As you can see, someone at NBC is keeping tabs on YouTube, and they’ve taken this down twice. You […]
Zakaria and Democracy ‘Tension’
In the new issue of Time (12/12/11), Fareed Zakaria writes in the first sentence of his column: It is difficult to find a country on the planet that is more anti-American than Pakistan. In a Pew survey this year, only 12 percent of Pakistanis expressed a favorable view of the U.S. It’s not that difficult. […]
Libya and Terrorist Signatures
Under the headline “Nations Hope Veil Lifts From Libya’s History of Terrorism,” John Burns writes in today’s New York Times (8/30/11): Television footage of the only man convicted in the Lockerbie bombing lying in bed, purportedly comatose with advanced prostate cancer at his Tripoli home, has provided a focal point for a question asked with […]
CBS News Still Covering for Ronald Reagan?
In his new book, Ron Reagan says he saw early signs of Alzheimer’s disease in his father, Ronald Reagan, while the late president was still in the White House. When he said as much on ABC‘s 20/20 last Friday (1/14/11), he infuriated many on the right, including his older brother Michael Reagan. Over the weekend, […]
Joe Klein: Obama No Reagan
Time columnist Joe Klein (12/3/09) was not altogether impressed by Obama’s announcement of a 30,000 troop escalation in Afghanistan (an “iffy proposition,” as Klein put it). But Klein’s main point was that Obama should have justified the war differently: “Once you have made the decision to go, or to redouble your efforts, you must lead […]
