The media haven’t learned how to cover Trump and his political sycophants or fact check their lies and distortions. If democracy dies, they will be as much as fault as….
Profit before anything else. The problem today is that journalism, the real hard stuff, is not able in real time to adjust to the hyper competitive online competition. Online advertising is sold by such small units of attention, the click bait, sensationalism, can’t look away stuff … the visual without history, context, and meaning. Consolidation is another issue and a window into what is wrong. Entertainment, news, and opinion are all melted rifting the attention pot. Nobody really understands what they’re eating. It either tastes good, or bad. And we are not getting the nutrients, necessary to thrive.
Yes. They will be at fault and victims. We should be reminding them of Jamal Khashoggi, and Evan Gershkovich. All journalists should be looking for new homes.
I agree wholeheartedly - but "Biden wants to be re-elected as a democratic president, subject to checks and balances on his authority and loyal to the Constitution. "
What check and balance is there on the president's psyche and will to double down? I think we should have a process that gives objective assessments, at least in private, of cogntive, character, and leadership qualities. Can the leader listen to responsible alternative perspectives or disagreement? There is a huge difference between Joe and Donald, but there seems to be a big lapse in our leaders' capacity for self-awareness and judgment.
The current era may, in fact, be a "reality crisis," in which only assertions, perceptions, assumptions, emotion, authority, and ideology matter, rather than substance and fact. Isn't it time to stop the slide?
My interpretation of Kahn's remarks is that they have the right to continue to present both sides equally even though one side is lying and the other is telling the truth. They seem to feel no need to expose trump's craziness but definitely feel a need to expose Biden's age problems.
there's a weird circularity to it. bigwigs, editors, reporters say they have to cover stories ad nauseum bc people are interested, as if they have no role in engaging the public's attention. "we've run 100+ stories re Biden's age in one week, but only bc people want us to" is very weird. in these situations they present themselves not as arbiters of what's news who then provide that information to the public, but slavish content providers who only offer readers what they say they want. a far cry from "all the news that's fit to print."
the Times is a particularly troublesome example bc it's considered so legit—even after previous coverage scandals like WMD, "but her emails," etc etc. the same people who say anyone who reads corporate media is a dupe cry "but it's in the Times!" when we complain about skewed, obsessive coverage and sloppy standards.
I knew the runup to November would be increasingly awful, but it's so rough already and only going to get more challenging. so grateful for the communities online that give us good information and analysis, and each other to lean on (lightly).
Especially when there is so much money in support of the authoritarian playback. There is probably more corporate and political cash now than ever before and they must be served!!
We have had these challenges in our history but it is a rising tide at this time, nationally and in the rest of the world.
Politics has become a very dangerous journey! I’m afraid good, qualified people will shy away from it. Thank God we have Ruth, Joyce, Heather & others with us to provide information & reassurance!
“Political technologists” are influencing candidates with an Eastern strategies” towards narratives and media’s shaping unreality with alternative facts. It’s a Russian thing. Stay hopeful, people are figuring it out. Europe has figured it out. The war in Ukraine is the unreality breaker for many.
A friend says this is on Mastadon. A form for the IRS that you can fill out to complain about the Heritage Foundation having tax exempt status. They also have a suggested narrative for you if you would like one. Please consider downloading it, filling it out, and sending it in, and sharing with friends.
Seen on Mastodon. At this link you can download a PDF form to file a complaint to the IRS, requesting that they revoke the Heritage Foundation‘s non-profit status. Fill out the form and mail it to: eoclass@irs.gov
This is what is suggested on the sample form to fill in:
Based on the statements of Kevin Roberst, the Heritage Foundation’s president, on June 11 and July 2, the foundation’s mission is no longer solely “research and education,” but now includes preparing for a possibly bloody revolution.
Specifically, in an interview on “The War Room” on July 2, Roberts stated that the Heritage Foundation has developed a prominent series of policy plans (Project 2025) to overhaul the federal government under a Republican president, and that the country was “in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be”
Sure sounds like Roberts and the other authors of Project 2025 are planning to start a bloody war as part of the Heritage Foundation’s mission.
This is a fascinating and enlightening post, Ruth. Clearly, the focus should have been on Trump after the debate...he is the peril. Thank you for elucidating this perspective and the need for balanced decision-making at the highest journalistic levels.
I have spent many a morning, afternoon and evening wondering about why the media is focused on Joe Biden’s mental state and practically ignored similar things from Trump. Joe Kahn’s reference to democracy being one of the topics on the minds of voters, alongside the economy and immigration turns my stomach. I agree with you, it’s not a topic. In my mind it’s a foundation of our country, it’s a principle, it’s the heart and soul of this nation. Without democracy we are nothing. Without democracy we will have no economy, have no rights over our bodies, have no rights to read whatever books we want, have no free and fair elections….the list goes on. If Joe Biden becomes the nominee we must support him 1000%. And if for some medical reason, he can’t finish his term Kamala Harris is right there. And we will be just fine.
The media is the “fourth arm of government”, - and in many ways, the most impactful. They affect and in some cases, “create” our perspectives. The newsdays of Walter Cronkite are long gone, so we turn to “news” that most agrees with our own political viewpoints. I’m partial to MSNBC which seems to TRY hard to remain nonpartisan. Where this is going, who knows? It depends upon who gets elected I guess. These are scary times, indeed.
Think we are failing to respond vigorously enough to the potential end of the US government we knew and valued.
I think this reflects a failure of American values more largely (integrity, honesty, generosity, tolerance for differences, appreciation for diversity, capacity to listen and hear, respect for work, respect for knowledge and expertise, respect for truth, belief in a duty to others).
Our modern capitalism (not enshrined in our constitution!) teaches worship of the almighty dollar and the elevation of short-sighted greed and cynicism to the stature of virtues. The focus on greed would have surprised and offended the founding fathers.
We now succumb to our appetites for disinfotainment. Media giants will surely, without fail, feed us the continuous personalized titillation we crave, whether or not it is good for us or the nation as a whole.
AI will shortly bring this crass power-concentrating anti-humanism to a head.
But THIS is the moral milieux that gives permission to MAGAts. Tfg did not do this alone; he (and his boy Epstein) is a symptom of disease. He is NOT the last of diseased humanity to come.
The fix might be to somehow remember and reassert our democratic values, and to use the power of government to preserve itself, in these remaining 5 months of US’s twilight.
One does not need to vote on our constitution and self preservation.
One needs a strong voice and strong action in concert. There are times to use the might of democratically elected leadership to defend the country, and this is that time.
But one needs to correctly assess the plethora of threats now arrayed against it - & disinformation is foremost.
Surely, it should be OBVIOUS by now that “just more information” is clearly NOT a sufficient antidote for a firehouse of calculated disinformation!
AI accelerated statistically personalized disinformation would have been already miles past such a traditional bully pulpit truth corrective in 2015 (Cambridge Analytica) even IF the commercial media were not a whore by nature in a capitalist state.
One cannot hope things will fix themselves. Persons will again have to pledge their lives, their liberty, and their sacred honor... and government will have to act in a more intelligent and vigorous self-defense.
Hi Ruth, as I have stated on other platforms concerning the debate over our President staying in the race..IMHO we are viewing an “active measures” campaign by the usual suspects coupled with the American media.. All of us have seen this movie before as well as yourself Ruth as you have studied these actions for so many years.
Thank you for this response to readers questions. I do have to say I think you’re giving the media too much credit. They have placed Murdoch people in the newsrooms as editors and CEOs. I personally do not think they are acting in good faith.
"I personally do not think they are acting in good faith."
Nor do I, Deanna. Eyeball counts, clicks and profit have taken the cat-seat for many of these media venues. Some readers, for instance, have suggested it's time for The Grey Lady to retire if they continue down this path. They were off line on Threads recently and recieved a very hostile reaction once they were back up. Readers aren't stupid or blind; they can see what's going on.
There is a world of difference between political journalists and Rupert the Wizard of Oz. Analysis of them as if they are in the same media category is akin to placing a curious carp and a piranha in the same fish tank. All anyone will see is conflict in a haze of red.
Is the lack of reporting on and editorializing about Trump's mental state and fitness for office due to self-censorship by a mainstream media who fear that if they cover Trump accurately and fully the incessant barrage of lies, criticism and slander they receive from Trump and his allies will increase to the point that they will suppress revenues excessively?
Ruth, thank you for covering this; it is exactly the topic I have been stewing about. I fear the failures of our mainstream media may cost us our democracy. And, I feel powerless to do anything about it. I rely on you, Heather, Joyce, Timothy Snyder, and a few others for good information and analysis. But most Americans don't see anything beyond the MSM (or god forbid, Fox). It scares me.
Enjoy your vacation - I hope you come back refreshed and ready to keep on saving America. We need you and appreciate you.
I don’t have the skills nor the connections to organize a nation-wide rally. But I did have the following idea to share with those who recognize the value of this kind of action for our nation’s crisis:
After the debate and Monday’s Supreme Court decision I have been struggling to think of what concerned citizens can do. This morning I wrote the statement below:
The time is now. As Heather Cox Richardson repeatedly reminds us, no one will save our democracy. It’s up to all of us. I am proposing that we start planning a nation-wide grassroots rally/protest to make our voices heard.
Our democracy is in dire danger. A major political party has become a fascist party—abandoning democratic principles, morality, and justice. Our Supreme Court has become a rogue court in which the majority has abandoned the principles of the Constitution, stripped citizens of their freedoms, and given the President imperial rights.
Our mainstream media underplays all the dangers to our democracy. And social media is unrestrained in spreading dangerous lies and disinformation.
I propose that once it’s clear that Joe Biden will be our Presidential candidate—or whoever will—we start planning a nation-wide protest/rally to highlight the messages that the mainstream media has failed to do.
After the dismal debate, the media’s headlines primarily highlighted the demand for Biden, one of our nation’s most successful presidents, to drop out of the presidential race. Almost no headlines highlighted the fact that the other candidate is a convicted felon, an insurrectionist, a rapist, a serial liar, who supports violence, who is aligned with and an enabler of our nations worst authoritarian enemies, who wants to tear down our institutions, our justice system (already has compromised both), and on and on and on.
The media would not be able to ignore the messages that should be headlines in all of our media if we do what Richardson says we should do. Make our voices heard, make our voices take up space.
We can do this by coming together as a coalition of groups (women, anti-guns, climate, Black Lives Matter, LBGTQ) and concerned citizens to organize a massive nation-wide protest/rally to fight to save our democracy. Our ultimate message would be that this unhinged, immoral and dangerous felon should not be allowed to run for President.
If our laws and our elected officials will not protect us, we must do what we can to protect our country.
think we need to think our way out of a box
The media haven’t learned how to cover Trump and his political sycophants or fact check their lies and distortions. If democracy dies, they will be as much as fault as….
This is Ruth Ben-Ghiat.
Haven’t learned or don’t want to learn!
Lazy journalism
Ignorant journalism. They are in over their heads in this election.
Lazy unaware consumers. A “ herd “
IMO: lack motivation to learn, perhaps for several reasons.
Profit before anything else. The problem today is that journalism, the real hard stuff, is not able in real time to adjust to the hyper competitive online competition. Online advertising is sold by such small units of attention, the click bait, sensationalism, can’t look away stuff … the visual without history, context, and meaning. Consolidation is another issue and a window into what is wrong. Entertainment, news, and opinion are all melted rifting the attention pot. Nobody really understands what they’re eating. It either tastes good, or bad. And we are not getting the nutrients, necessary to thrive.
Yes. They will be at fault and victims. We should be reminding them of Jamal Khashoggi, and Evan Gershkovich. All journalists should be looking for new homes.
Some in the media are of a different opinion. We should elevate their voices.
https://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari/watch/trump-s-taylor-swift-nightmare-peaks-as-dems-get-a-grip-for-the-big-fight-214779973995
I agree wholeheartedly - but "Biden wants to be re-elected as a democratic president, subject to checks and balances on his authority and loyal to the Constitution. "
What check and balance is there on the president's psyche and will to double down? I think we should have a process that gives objective assessments, at least in private, of cogntive, character, and leadership qualities. Can the leader listen to responsible alternative perspectives or disagreement? There is a huge difference between Joe and Donald, but there seems to be a big lapse in our leaders' capacity for self-awareness and judgment.
The current era may, in fact, be a "reality crisis," in which only assertions, perceptions, assumptions, emotion, authority, and ideology matter, rather than substance and fact. Isn't it time to stop the slide?
Executive Function: Does America Have a Judgment Problem? | Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-pacific-heart/202407/executive-function-does-america-have-a-judgment-problem
My interpretation of Kahn's remarks is that they have the right to continue to present both sides equally even though one side is lying and the other is telling the truth. They seem to feel no need to expose trump's craziness but definitely feel a need to expose Biden's age problems.
there's a weird circularity to it. bigwigs, editors, reporters say they have to cover stories ad nauseum bc people are interested, as if they have no role in engaging the public's attention. "we've run 100+ stories re Biden's age in one week, but only bc people want us to" is very weird. in these situations they present themselves not as arbiters of what's news who then provide that information to the public, but slavish content providers who only offer readers what they say they want. a far cry from "all the news that's fit to print."
the Times is a particularly troublesome example bc it's considered so legit—even after previous coverage scandals like WMD, "but her emails," etc etc. the same people who say anyone who reads corporate media is a dupe cry "but it's in the Times!" when we complain about skewed, obsessive coverage and sloppy standards.
I knew the runup to November would be increasingly awful, but it's so rough already and only going to get more challenging. so grateful for the communities online that give us good information and analysis, and each other to lean on (lightly).
Just like we needed to hear about "her" emails. When what dems were saying, someone else and the opposition was let's make scary stories.
What is out F-ing problem.
Especially when there is so much money in support of the authoritarian playback. There is probably more corporate and political cash now than ever before and they must be served!!
We have had these challenges in our history but it is a rising tide at this time, nationally and in the rest of the world.
"like" (it hasn't let me use the Like button for a while)
Maybe you remember, "her emails"... that was a red herring that people fell for.
Such bs.
Politics has become a very dangerous journey! I’m afraid good, qualified people will shy away from it. Thank God we have Ruth, Joyce, Heather & others with us to provide information & reassurance!
“Political technologists” are influencing candidates with an Eastern strategies” towards narratives and media’s shaping unreality with alternative facts. It’s a Russian thing. Stay hopeful, people are figuring it out. Europe has figured it out. The war in Ukraine is the unreality breaker for many.
Bravo. And thank you.
A friend says this is on Mastadon. A form for the IRS that you can fill out to complain about the Heritage Foundation having tax exempt status. They also have a suggested narrative for you if you would like one. Please consider downloading it, filling it out, and sending it in, and sharing with friends.
IRS complaint
https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/irs-complaint-process-tax-exempt-organizations
Seen on Mastodon. At this link you can download a PDF form to file a complaint to the IRS, requesting that they revoke the Heritage Foundation‘s non-profit status. Fill out the form and mail it to: eoclass@irs.gov
This is what is suggested on the sample form to fill in:
Based on the statements of Kevin Roberst, the Heritage Foundation’s president, on June 11 and July 2, the foundation’s mission is no longer solely “research and education,” but now includes preparing for a possibly bloody revolution.
Specifically, in an interview on “The War Room” on July 2, Roberts stated that the Heritage Foundation has developed a prominent series of policy plans (Project 2025) to overhaul the federal government under a Republican president, and that the country was “in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be”
Sure sounds like Roberts and the other authors of Project 2025 are planning to start a bloody war as part of the Heritage Foundation’s mission.
See NYTimes reporting of this incident on July 3rd: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/us/politics/heritage-foundation-2025-policy-america.html
The official IRS form asks for The Heritage Foundation’s EIN (employee identification number). It is this:
23-7327730.
I mailed the completed form, as email submission is not encrypted.
What took the time was finding the EIN number. And the Heritage address,
( 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002-4999. ) It is a one page form with room for a few sentences of your complaint.
Excellent idea. Complaint filed!
This is a fascinating and enlightening post, Ruth. Clearly, the focus should have been on Trump after the debate...he is the peril. Thank you for elucidating this perspective and the need for balanced decision-making at the highest journalistic levels.
Trump is pure evil! Should be the topic circulating on cable news
I have spent many a morning, afternoon and evening wondering about why the media is focused on Joe Biden’s mental state and practically ignored similar things from Trump. Joe Kahn’s reference to democracy being one of the topics on the minds of voters, alongside the economy and immigration turns my stomach. I agree with you, it’s not a topic. In my mind it’s a foundation of our country, it’s a principle, it’s the heart and soul of this nation. Without democracy we are nothing. Without democracy we will have no economy, have no rights over our bodies, have no rights to read whatever books we want, have no free and fair elections….the list goes on. If Joe Biden becomes the nominee we must support him 1000%. And if for some medical reason, he can’t finish his term Kamala Harris is right there. And we will be just fine.
The media is the “fourth arm of government”, - and in many ways, the most impactful. They affect and in some cases, “create” our perspectives. The newsdays of Walter Cronkite are long gone, so we turn to “news” that most agrees with our own political viewpoints. I’m partial to MSNBC which seems to TRY hard to remain nonpartisan. Where this is going, who knows? It depends upon who gets elected I guess. These are scary times, indeed.
V good essay.
Think we are failing to respond vigorously enough to the potential end of the US government we knew and valued.
I think this reflects a failure of American values more largely (integrity, honesty, generosity, tolerance for differences, appreciation for diversity, capacity to listen and hear, respect for work, respect for knowledge and expertise, respect for truth, belief in a duty to others).
Our modern capitalism (not enshrined in our constitution!) teaches worship of the almighty dollar and the elevation of short-sighted greed and cynicism to the stature of virtues. The focus on greed would have surprised and offended the founding fathers.
We now succumb to our appetites for disinfotainment. Media giants will surely, without fail, feed us the continuous personalized titillation we crave, whether or not it is good for us or the nation as a whole.
AI will shortly bring this crass power-concentrating anti-humanism to a head.
But THIS is the moral milieux that gives permission to MAGAts. Tfg did not do this alone; he (and his boy Epstein) is a symptom of disease. He is NOT the last of diseased humanity to come.
The fix might be to somehow remember and reassert our democratic values, and to use the power of government to preserve itself, in these remaining 5 months of US’s twilight.
One does not need to vote on our constitution and self preservation.
One needs a strong voice and strong action in concert. There are times to use the might of democratically elected leadership to defend the country, and this is that time.
But one needs to correctly assess the plethora of threats now arrayed against it - & disinformation is foremost.
Surely, it should be OBVIOUS by now that “just more information” is clearly NOT a sufficient antidote for a firehouse of calculated disinformation!
AI accelerated statistically personalized disinformation would have been already miles past such a traditional bully pulpit truth corrective in 2015 (Cambridge Analytica) even IF the commercial media were not a whore by nature in a capitalist state.
One cannot hope things will fix themselves. Persons will again have to pledge their lives, their liberty, and their sacred honor... and government will have to act in a more intelligent and vigorous self-defense.
Hi Ruth, as I have stated on other platforms concerning the debate over our President staying in the race..IMHO we are viewing an “active measures” campaign by the usual suspects coupled with the American media.. All of us have seen this movie before as well as yourself Ruth as you have studied these actions for so many years.
Thank you for this response to readers questions. I do have to say I think you’re giving the media too much credit. They have placed Murdoch people in the newsrooms as editors and CEOs. I personally do not think they are acting in good faith.
Agreed about giving the media too much credit.
"I personally do not think they are acting in good faith."
Nor do I, Deanna. Eyeball counts, clicks and profit have taken the cat-seat for many of these media venues. Some readers, for instance, have suggested it's time for The Grey Lady to retire if they continue down this path. They were off line on Threads recently and recieved a very hostile reaction once they were back up. Readers aren't stupid or blind; they can see what's going on.
There is a world of difference between political journalists and Rupert the Wizard of Oz. Analysis of them as if they are in the same media category is akin to placing a curious carp and a piranha in the same fish tank. All anyone will see is conflict in a haze of red.
Is the lack of reporting on and editorializing about Trump's mental state and fitness for office due to self-censorship by a mainstream media who fear that if they cover Trump accurately and fully the incessant barrage of lies, criticism and slander they receive from Trump and his allies will increase to the point that they will suppress revenues excessively?
Ruth, thank you for covering this; it is exactly the topic I have been stewing about. I fear the failures of our mainstream media may cost us our democracy. And, I feel powerless to do anything about it. I rely on you, Heather, Joyce, Timothy Snyder, and a few others for good information and analysis. But most Americans don't see anything beyond the MSM (or god forbid, Fox). It scares me.
Enjoy your vacation - I hope you come back refreshed and ready to keep on saving America. We need you and appreciate you.
I don’t have the skills nor the connections to organize a nation-wide rally. But I did have the following idea to share with those who recognize the value of this kind of action for our nation’s crisis:
After the debate and Monday’s Supreme Court decision I have been struggling to think of what concerned citizens can do. This morning I wrote the statement below:
The time is now. As Heather Cox Richardson repeatedly reminds us, no one will save our democracy. It’s up to all of us. I am proposing that we start planning a nation-wide grassroots rally/protest to make our voices heard.
Our democracy is in dire danger. A major political party has become a fascist party—abandoning democratic principles, morality, and justice. Our Supreme Court has become a rogue court in which the majority has abandoned the principles of the Constitution, stripped citizens of their freedoms, and given the President imperial rights.
Our mainstream media underplays all the dangers to our democracy. And social media is unrestrained in spreading dangerous lies and disinformation.
I propose that once it’s clear that Joe Biden will be our Presidential candidate—or whoever will—we start planning a nation-wide protest/rally to highlight the messages that the mainstream media has failed to do.
After the dismal debate, the media’s headlines primarily highlighted the demand for Biden, one of our nation’s most successful presidents, to drop out of the presidential race. Almost no headlines highlighted the fact that the other candidate is a convicted felon, an insurrectionist, a rapist, a serial liar, who supports violence, who is aligned with and an enabler of our nations worst authoritarian enemies, who wants to tear down our institutions, our justice system (already has compromised both), and on and on and on.
The media would not be able to ignore the messages that should be headlines in all of our media if we do what Richardson says we should do. Make our voices heard, make our voices take up space.
We can do this by coming together as a coalition of groups (women, anti-guns, climate, Black Lives Matter, LBGTQ) and concerned citizens to organize a massive nation-wide protest/rally to fight to save our democracy. Our ultimate message would be that this unhinged, immoral and dangerous felon should not be allowed to run for President.
If our laws and our elected officials will not protect us, we must do what we can to protect our country.