Robert Hubbell: The complicity of the media

[mcar]

I read his newsletter every day. It, and Heather Cox Richardson's emailed post, start my day. I think he makes some very good points here vis a vis the media.

https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/the-complicity-of-the-media

Most of the time, it does little good to rant about the media. But today, it matters. The media is exhibiting bias and incompetence to a degree that can only be described as complicity in Donald Trump's second attempt at a coup. Their complicity matters because it confounds and demoralizes Americans who are doing their best to defend democracy against the greatest threat it has faced in 150 years.

On Wednesday, there was one big story: The president’s party “ran the table” in Tuesday’s elections as Republicans doubled down on policies that are antidemocratic, racist, and misogynistic. Many media outlets gave the obligatory nod to the Democrats’ victory in a “Just the fact, Ma’am” fashion. But the media could not wait to pivot to the “Biden is old” and “But, but . . . inflation!” narrative. Journalists have consumed the anti-Biden Cool Aid in copious quantities.

Before I proceed further, let me skip ahead to the solution: You and me. We must become the medium and the message. We can no longer hope for help from major media outlets in speaking the truth about the danger that Donald Trump poses. It is true that there are exceptions, even in the pages of irresponsible major media outlets. But from an editorial policy perspective, the major outlets have decided to push the “Biden is old” and “inflation is out of control” stories to maximize profits—even if it breaks our democracy..

So, it’s you and me, buddy! Or rather, it is all of us. We must be messengers for Biden and Democrats. We must prod and correct media outlets that act recklessly in normalizing Trump while they choose—as an editorial policy—to dismiss, diminish, and mock Joe Biden and his supporters.

[WhiteTara]

1. Biden's age problem is a black woman

who is next in line. How can they be superior when an intelligent black woman has her finger on the nuclear trigger and they think she should be serving them breakfast instead.

[mcar]

2. Good point

[WhiteTara]

3. I think that racism and misogyny are

the reasons that particular dog whistle is being used.

[treestar]

10. Harris comes across as competent

and calm - maybe her more frequent media presence would help a lot - be reassuring to most people, bring out POC and women. Though the media may be ignoring her on purpose.

[senseandsensibility]

4. K and R!

[pwb]

5. Inflation must tough in the $7.25 an hour minimum wage states.

Mostly red state politicians crying about how hard it is for the people they keep poor.

$7.25 is 1960s wages around here.

Make that an issue? Red states can raise the minimum rate if they vote for democrats in their legislatures?

People need to be told how to fix things.

[BComplex]

6. One of the best descriptions of the media problem in this country that I've heard in a long

time!

[dalton99a]

7. Kick

[redqueen]

8. It is alarming that this is being handwaved and ignored

Media changed after the Telecommunications Act. That act gave right wing hate radio a huge boost and enabled corporations to swallow up multiple media outlets, leading to the concentration of corporate ownership we see today.

“What happened to radio, happened to television, and then it happened to cable. If we are not diligent, then it will happen to the Internet [creating] a media plantation for the 21st Century dominated by the same corporate and ideological forces that have controlled the media for the last 50 years.”
Source: Bill Moyers, keynote speech 2007 Media Reform Conference, Jan. 12, 2007

[betsuni]

9. K&R

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

11. We have a whole contingent of DUers

Who consider anyone pointing this out as conspiracy loons.

Even though the facts bear it out.