What happened to Newsweek? It was once a distinguished publication, but now seems full

[JohnSJ]

of hyperbole and mis information

I saw a headline from a google “news” blurb where Newsweek says youngkin “surges” past TM

Reading into that article it is a 1 point lead, well within the MOE

A year ago they pushed an Eastman OP Ed satins Harris couldn’t legally be VP

“ Last week, Newsweek suggested one possible purpose: The legitimization of narratives straight out of the right-wing fever swamps. An op-ed written by John Eastman, a conservative lawyer and founding director of the Claremont Institute’s Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, coyly suggested that Kamala Harris, who was born in California, may not be eligible to serve as vice president because her parents were immigrants. It was, as many pointed out, a racist attack with no constitutional merit, on par with the birther conspiracy theory that claimed Barack Obama was born in Kenya. Within a few hours, Eastman’s op-ed was being brandished by President Trump, who told reporters he had “heard” Harris may not be eligible to serve.”

https://newrepublic.com/article/158968/newsweek-rise-zombie-magazine



No wonder the Washington Post sold them

[Ocelot II]

1. They also just published a piece trashing Dr. Fauci,

claiming he was wrong about everything relating to the pandemic; that there should never be lockdowns; and insisting that natural immunity is way better than vaccines (it isn't) so vaccines shouldn't be mandated - the usual RW/libertarian talking points about public health initiatives infringing on our freedumb. Newsweek used to be respectable; now it's just a paper Fox News.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

2. They've been bad for a while

Wasn’t there a prominent Trump critic who wrote for them around 2016-17? They’re pretty far gone from that now.

[JohnSJ]

3. I just wasn't paying attention.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Opinion editor Josh Hammer is far right - Claremont Institute (like Eastman), etc.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213840112

For instance, currently boasting of regularly pontificating on Jenna Ellis (RW nutjob Trump lawyer)'s podcast.

Link to tweet

He's more or less a Steve Bannon who's had a shower and shave.

[Carlitos Brigante]

10. That's the guy? And he went on that demented specimen's show?! Holy shit!! nt

[ShazamIam]

5. It was sold in 2013, link below it is neo-liberal and or libertarian globalists anti-government,

privatize, etc.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2013/08/05/meet-the-mysterious-duo-who-just-bought-newsweek/

some commentary about this new newsweek:

https://dianeravitch.net/2020/10/25/the-new-republic-newsweek-has-turned-into-a-zombie-magazine/

probably a paywall but try the archive site

[gldstwmn]

6. I believe it's owned by Jay Penske now? His company also bought Rolling Stone.

[Bucky]

7. Poor Newsweek, it's in a real Nelson Muntz situation

[Still Sensible]

8. When I was a younger poly-sci student, nearly four decades ago

the dominant news magazines in the US were Time, Newsweek and Us News &World report. Back in the 70s and early 80s, Time seemed the more mainstream-lean-slightly-conservative of the three. Newsweek made great strides to compete and they seemed like the middle-leans-slightly-more progressive. US News tended to, IMO, try to stay in the middle, focus on news they could quantify--like their college rankings, economic trends, and the like.

Newsweek seemed the bolder of the three back then, stepping out of the slightly-leans-left space with frequent features that were daring for the time. They were willing to push the envelope a bit. I believe it all changed with the rise of Reaganism. There was no internet and the company's fortunes tied very strictly to circulation numbers and advertising dollars. WAPO owned Newsweek from the early 60s until selling it for very little (debt assumption mostly) in 2010 to The Daily Beast (TDB). The latter, in 2010, was a two-year-old and growing digital media company.

While TDB claims to be open minded and looking at issues from all sides, they very reliably lean to the right.

But, as we've learned, the digital world of media and their digital extensions (FB, etc), tend to attract a lot more eyeballs when they stir up or invent items that outrage those on the conservative side.

It is obviously much more complicated than this, BUT, the dumbing down of America has surely been fueled by the fact that people used to read news sources like Newsweek... now the masses can't be bothered to "read" to really understand issues. Largely they simply stare at a screen to find out what to be pissed off about each day. And the opinions on their computer or phone screens are well supplemented by Fox, OAN and others if they want to look at a TV screen for their bullshit fix.

Yes, Newsweek has become a right wing rag.

[Poiuyt]

16. What are the center to center left news sources that you enjoy?

[UpInArms]

9. Newsweek has almost always sucked

They blackballed Robert Parry when he outed Raygun and the Iran-Contra scandal

[viva la]

11. Rightwingers only bring out that 'not a true American" with people with black parents

Obama and Harris were "ineligible" (they weren't, obviously) with a non-native-born parent... but Trump, whose mother was born in Scotland, and Ted Cruz, who himself was born in Canada and whose father was Cuban-- the rightwingers okay with that.

(My assertion-- Harris, Obama, Trump, all born in the US, are eligible. Ted-- nah.)

[obamanut2012]

12. A cult owns them

Yes, really. A far-right cult.

[Demsrule86]

13. It is now owned by a right winger.

[jcmaine72]

14. I'm actually surprised they're still in business.

Who reads weekly magazines anymore?

[relayerbob]

15. Yes, sad and shocking.

Used to be a major pillar of news reporting (a long time ago). Now it's just filled with utter trash, nonsense and mis(dis)information.

[Crunchy Frog]

17. They didn't get sold because they went nuts, they went nuts because they got sold.

They're a zombie magazine.

https://newrepublic.com/article/158968/newsweek-rise-zombie-magazine