At what point does one become complicit in theatre of fascism? I think of the YEARS that @refusefascism was calling for people to be out in peaceful protest and actions. I think of what difference it would have made had journos done some type of collective action. Even a press conference in front of WH, interviewed by foreign press corps. It would have created more freedom for others to come forward, yes? We're on a world stage. The Whole World Was Watching.
I have much respect for Acosta. Tom R. raises good points. I would say that there was more than one occasion that reporters could have walked out en masse. I'm thinking of WH credentials being pulled as one such case. If press are being called criminals, fake news, that's high alert for fascism & Estate being in mortal danger. Better proactive than reactive. I suggest @mattnegrin interview on Cam Meekin show. Why he went from being journalist to comedian. Expressing what MANY journos must be going through. Good stuff begins an hour into interview: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=matt+negrin&docid=608041187356984854&mid=1FA24176973DFB56FA921FA24176973DFB56FA92&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
I wonder if journalists colluded with Trump by attending rallies in which they were the active targets of hate and threats by he and his followers. Perhaps, they should have absented themselves from situations where they were at risk, and reported from a distance at the abberant, hateful nature of the rallies. By being targeted in real time, and staying through it, they became a sad part of the story which they were supposed to cover.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat deserves the initials RBG. So enjoyed hearing her on NarativeLive with Zev Shalev talking about her book “Strongmen.” As for this interview....Great questions from one first generation American to another, imo, bringing forth a larger perspective, and thus perhaps...a reason Acosta’s response shows principled moral clarity, “ Journalists are not traditionally supposed to take sides on issues of policy, but I think it's perfectly appropriate for members of the press to be proponents of a free and independent press.” I sure hope @brianstelter read this interview. Great beginning to a review of what we are still going through until NY and the DOJ get moving; and I hope it’s soon.
I appreciate Jim Acosta's comments and I do think he pushed back on Trump's excessive lying, to the point where he was temporarily banned access. I wish more of the WH press would have done the same. Some did but a good majority did not. IMO, there's still too much bothsiderism reporting being done in terms of the on-going obstructionism from Republicans whose idea of bipartisanship is my way or the highway while screeching that President Biden and Democrats are the problem.
There is a major difference between the two parties now: the Republicans have made a hard turn towards autocratic rule. This has nothing to do with the pros and cons of liberal vs conservative. A growing swath of Republicans are not conservative; they're increasingly anti-democratic. Donald Trump's attacks on the press has expanded, morphed into further degradation of basic American rights: voter suppression legislation and now most recently state laws prohibiting public protests, the right to assemble. The excesses in our militarized police departments is the tip of the spear.
We've seen this picture show before. We know how it ends. The hundreds of state-led actions by Republican legislators can neither be dismissed nor normalized.
It's an ugly wake-up call, as is the reintroduction of replacement theory being batted around on alt-right channels.
So, I would disagree with Mr. Acosta about needing 'time to recover' from the Trump era. We do not have the luxury of time because the battle is not over. In fact, I'd argue it's only just begun. Every attempt to dilute basic American principles is an assault the body politic.
We must be vigilant. We must be ready to pushback with words and action. We must ready to deny ourselves the comforting thought that everything will automatically right itself now that Trump is gone.
It won't. In fact, I suspect the fever-pitch and threat to worsen before it gets better.
Because if we do settle back on our couches breathing sighs of relief? We will be buried.
Excellent interview. The Republican Party has embraced a destructive charismatic leader who preys on those with FPP (fantasy prone personality) and uses them, via propaganda to carry out his marching orders. In Psychology, this is known as narcissistic triangulation. Jan 6th was an example of this.
At what point does one become complicit in theatre of fascism? I think of the YEARS that @refusefascism was calling for people to be out in peaceful protest and actions. I think of what difference it would have made had journos done some type of collective action. Even a press conference in front of WH, interviewed by foreign press corps. It would have created more freedom for others to come forward, yes? We're on a world stage. The Whole World Was Watching.
I have much respect for Acosta. Tom R. raises good points. I would say that there was more than one occasion that reporters could have walked out en masse. I'm thinking of WH credentials being pulled as one such case. If press are being called criminals, fake news, that's high alert for fascism & Estate being in mortal danger. Better proactive than reactive. I suggest @mattnegrin interview on Cam Meekin show. Why he went from being journalist to comedian. Expressing what MANY journos must be going through. Good stuff begins an hour into interview: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=matt+negrin&docid=608041187356984854&mid=1FA24176973DFB56FA921FA24176973DFB56FA92&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
I wonder if journalists colluded with Trump by attending rallies in which they were the active targets of hate and threats by he and his followers. Perhaps, they should have absented themselves from situations where they were at risk, and reported from a distance at the abberant, hateful nature of the rallies. By being targeted in real time, and staying through it, they became a sad part of the story which they were supposed to cover.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat deserves the initials RBG. So enjoyed hearing her on NarativeLive with Zev Shalev talking about her book “Strongmen.” As for this interview....Great questions from one first generation American to another, imo, bringing forth a larger perspective, and thus perhaps...a reason Acosta’s response shows principled moral clarity, “ Journalists are not traditionally supposed to take sides on issues of policy, but I think it's perfectly appropriate for members of the press to be proponents of a free and independent press.” I sure hope @brianstelter read this interview. Great beginning to a review of what we are still going through until NY and the DOJ get moving; and I hope it’s soon.
I appreciate Jim Acosta's comments and I do think he pushed back on Trump's excessive lying, to the point where he was temporarily banned access. I wish more of the WH press would have done the same. Some did but a good majority did not. IMO, there's still too much bothsiderism reporting being done in terms of the on-going obstructionism from Republicans whose idea of bipartisanship is my way or the highway while screeching that President Biden and Democrats are the problem.
There is a major difference between the two parties now: the Republicans have made a hard turn towards autocratic rule. This has nothing to do with the pros and cons of liberal vs conservative. A growing swath of Republicans are not conservative; they're increasingly anti-democratic. Donald Trump's attacks on the press has expanded, morphed into further degradation of basic American rights: voter suppression legislation and now most recently state laws prohibiting public protests, the right to assemble. The excesses in our militarized police departments is the tip of the spear.
We've seen this picture show before. We know how it ends. The hundreds of state-led actions by Republican legislators can neither be dismissed nor normalized.
It's an ugly wake-up call, as is the reintroduction of replacement theory being batted around on alt-right channels.
So, I would disagree with Mr. Acosta about needing 'time to recover' from the Trump era. We do not have the luxury of time because the battle is not over. In fact, I'd argue it's only just begun. Every attempt to dilute basic American principles is an assault the body politic.
We must be vigilant. We must be ready to pushback with words and action. We must ready to deny ourselves the comforting thought that everything will automatically right itself now that Trump is gone.
It won't. In fact, I suspect the fever-pitch and threat to worsen before it gets better.
Because if we do settle back on our couches breathing sighs of relief? We will be buried.
Excellent interview. The Republican Party has embraced a destructive charismatic leader who preys on those with FPP (fantasy prone personality) and uses them, via propaganda to carry out his marching orders. In Psychology, this is known as narcissistic triangulation. Jan 6th was an example of this.