The press is indeed a culprit in this historical mess...starting with Fox. I canceled my Times subscription. Their editors need to read your piece today...as if they'll even care, I suppose. I'm not sure how we combat media manipulation. Maybe it all starts with sharing your good work.
I ditched them and cancelled my subscription in November 2016. I refuse to read their content ever gain. I got rid of CNN as well. They both gave Herr tRump a huge amount of free publicity that year and they are part of the problem here. The relentless pursuit of profits may be the undoing of our country.
Jay Kuo, Joyce Vance, and others...so many great Substack writers. I cant keep up, HA! But I share...and maybe some on Facebook dont want to see it, but damn it, they need to.
You are spread as thin as me, Susan. Your comments are on all the too many Substacks I follow! Sleep? What sleep. Us old farts don't need sleep! (speakin for myself)
I'm thinning my list of addictions. Too much lead and cadmium in chocolate, too many calories in alcohol... on and on...At least I'm getting close to my ideal weight. Sleep is great, but the task master here always has somethin to get me crackin before my early morning REM is over. Grrrr. There are so many good writers on these posts. My rear end gets sore from too much reading on a cheap chair.
Trump brings in more media dollars than Biden. If Trump is elected, the NYT would be in big trouble though. I keep coming back to the Lenin quote about the capitalist selling the rope that will be used to hang him.
Seriously! He will do much more than label them Fake News. NYT should be fighting for its life right now and that means supporting our real president! This both sides BS will put us in an autocracy.
You have it. The NYT appears to be acting on money and fear. That bending to Trump won’t save them now. If trump wins, he will make sure that the “former” NYT never writes the “wrong” message about him again. Save your jobs now fools - look at what happened to the papers in Hong Kong.
The NYT and other msm fawned over Trump in the 2016 campaign,the 2020 campaign and they are still doing it. It is past time to continue doing this for ratings since our very democracy is on the line here. I cancelled my on-line NYT subscription last week and I told the person on the other end of the line that I was sick and tired of their normalizing Trump when he is an extremist, far right wing demagogue and I could no longer abide with a lot of their editorials.
Ah, the polls. My only hope is that those favoring the orange messiah, will scare the bejesus out of people and get them to vote to prove those polls wrong.
Ummmm, who owns the Times? Or WaPo? Rich, evil, asshole billionaires, who don’t want Biden or the Dems who are happy to get behind unions, reproductive rights, and voting rights. All the billionaires want is cheap labor for their meat grinder jobs. Their editorial policies prove that. 🤢
Thank you Jeff. I know you are just testing the upper limits of my blood pressure. Well, not you actually, however, the New York Times. As you know, if there was a policy wonk running on the Democratic ticket, and a policy wonk on the Republican ticket, discussing, maybe even having a mild disagreement about whether long-term capital gains tax should be increased by a point or two, and the subsequent potential impact on capital formation in seeding new enterprise, people would be lining the birdcage with the newspaper and then going to the remote to watch football, NASCAR, or whatever trouble the Kardashians are getting into today.
The last thing the mainstream media wants is an intelligent debate on wealth inequality, foreign policy, or inflation (other then to blame someone -instead of CEO's and institutional investors -who are major campaign and PAC donors).
They want a cage match -effectively a Presidential WWE event. The last thing they want is to have to pay for journalism and research to write columns, inform and educate society. That's so last century boring. They simply want to stick a microphone up to Mr. Adolph -the orange talking Hitler horse 24x7 and then watch the ad revenue pour in.
But I do appreciate your wistfully nostalgic view of the Fourth Estate Jeff.
Slightly off topic but me thinks this is more of what Citizens United hath wrought. Intelligent debate about financial issues critical to your children's ability to rely on Social Security in their old age? Fugget about it!
Insightful comment, Geoge P. I had to reread it to see if you were talking about the MSM (ABC,NBC,CBS) or the Amercan electorate. Because the typical American voter today wants the simple-minded clickbait when they're scanning the headlines;; the majority aren't actually interested in reading its contents. And of course, TV news is by definition mostly superficial, their typical viewers are even less engaged. Entertainment! And make it short and sweet! So the corporate media give them what they want. (WAPO is privately owned, but Bezos wants maximum eyeballs too, so they play to the same lowest common denominator). Can't risk antagonizing any Republican-leaning subscriber! Or a MAGA-leaning viewer, could result in lower monthly ratings and reduced ad revenue! Yup, they're mainly in the business of competing with each other for an ever-declining readership or a broadcast audience that increasingly prefers YouTube videos or TikTok. The role of the Fourth Estate has been seriously diminished by the smartphone-entertainment takeover of American's attention spans. May they find their niche in today's 'strange new world'.
No question it has all become monetization driven. So viewers/readers drive the content. It has been said a society gets the government they deserve. There are just too many who have sacrificed and dedicated themselves to equity, justice, and democracy who are overmatched by organized wealth and the GOP shills they control.
Back when Reagan was spouting trickle down economics, the gray lady (who could be bought for the night) never even presented the economics of this hair brain theory. They wanted the redistribution of wealth. TO the top 2%....
There is nothing new about their actions, they have just become move blatant.
Me. too. That is what makes all this so much more poignant and gut-wrenching for us: we knew a time when things were honest and accurate in the news. Walter Cronkite must be weeping.
How in the world did we become hostage to this vapid little man, devoid of redeeming qualities, whose projected insecurities are his defense, who ignores facts, lacks the ability of reasoning, does not read, has no real friends, is incapable of emotion, and focuses solely on himself? Now he is only a cult leader, who instills fear to create obedience and preys on the basest instincts of Americans. The country and world have been changed by him, ever since he came down that golden escalator. Absolutely for the worst. The survival of this nation depends on removing the adulation around him, and putting him where he belongs.
I'm too lazy to look up who owns it and who the editors are right now. Jeff, do you have further info on that? You're absolutely right about what a shitbag NYT has been for quite a while now. The only time I see it is when I read an article like yours, as I don't get any of my news from there anymore. That old Hitler article is just too much, btw. Double eye roll. Thanks for your efforts and best wishes for the holidays!!
Good question. Also, for all we hear about 'polls', they never mention how they were conducted. How and who are they contacting. I have noticed that many of the poll questions are without context, followed by an interpretation that stretches credulity.
Not to mention no one I know has ever answered any such poll. Who answers unidentified numbers anymore, and aren't they mostly landlines answerers anyway? (I could be wrong about this part--not certain)
“if the media just did its fucking job, the polls wouldn’t even be close.” TRUE!!! Just so frustrating when talking with friends and family who zero in on the 1 thing they don’t agree with and ignore the 99%that is beneficial to the majority of Americans.
Great comment. People will grasp onto any data point they can to justify their biases, even to the point of ignoring any other data that doesn't fit their narrative. They blindingly lie to themselves, which makes it easy to then repeat the lie to others with a straight face.
Your last paragraph is especially important. Covering Biden’s accomplishments won’t affect the cult but it would surely affect swing votes. I messaged the NYT and CNN (no link to message MSNBC) about covering Biden’s accomplishments. One person won’t make a difference but I tried.
The press is indeed a culprit in this historical mess...starting with Fox. I canceled my Times subscription. Their editors need to read your piece today...as if they'll even care, I suppose. I'm not sure how we combat media manipulation. Maybe it all starts with sharing your good work.
I ditched them and cancelled my subscription in November 2016. I refuse to read their content ever gain. I got rid of CNN as well. They both gave Herr tRump a huge amount of free publicity that year and they are part of the problem here. The relentless pursuit of profits may be the undoing of our country.
BAM, you got it
with a lot of paid advertising. and good commercials too, not the useless beltway pablum.
I canceled my WaPo for the same reason. MSM is becoming an adjunct of Fox News.
I totally agree. What the hell!?
Jay Kuo, Joyce Vance, and others...so many great Substack writers. I cant keep up, HA! But I share...and maybe some on Facebook dont want to see it, but damn it, they need to.
You are spread as thin as me, Susan. Your comments are on all the too many Substacks I follow! Sleep? What sleep. Us old farts don't need sleep! (speakin for myself)
Im addicted to sleep! But I also love to read-this is such a great platform featuring so many wonderful writers!!
I'm thinning my list of addictions. Too much lead and cadmium in chocolate, too many calories in alcohol... on and on...At least I'm getting close to my ideal weight. Sleep is great, but the task master here always has somethin to get me crackin before my early morning REM is over. Grrrr. There are so many good writers on these posts. My rear end gets sore from too much reading on a cheap chair.
And, in the Dec 19th article, what's with the "Mr. Biden" crap!? Is he no longer President?
Trump brings in more media dollars than Biden. If Trump is elected, the NYT would be in big trouble though. I keep coming back to the Lenin quote about the capitalist selling the rope that will be used to hang him.
Seriously! He will do much more than label them Fake News. NYT should be fighting for its life right now and that means supporting our real president! This both sides BS will put us in an autocracy.
You have it. The NYT appears to be acting on money and fear. That bending to Trump won’t save them now. If trump wins, he will make sure that the “former” NYT never writes the “wrong” message about him again. Save your jobs now fools - look at what happened to the papers in Hong Kong.
The NYT and other msm fawned over Trump in the 2016 campaign,the 2020 campaign and they are still doing it. It is past time to continue doing this for ratings since our very democracy is on the line here. I cancelled my on-line NYT subscription last week and I told the person on the other end of the line that I was sick and tired of their normalizing Trump when he is an extremist, far right wing demagogue and I could no longer abide with a lot of their editorials.
trump is the biggest scumbag in american politics.
And that’s quite an achievement in a category as dirty as it is. Which descends to a level as ugly as I’ve ever witnessed.
trump is the biggest scumbag in american politics.
In American politics?
scumbag is being kind
He is loud enough to take the media attention away from the VERY worst.
Ah, the polls. My only hope is that those favoring the orange messiah, will scare the bejesus out of people and get them to vote to prove those polls wrong.
The NYT editors are grasping on behalf of all the worst of those who consider themselves the elites. Pretty disgusting. No, very disgusting.
Ummmm, who owns the Times? Or WaPo? Rich, evil, asshole billionaires, who don’t want Biden or the Dems who are happy to get behind unions, reproductive rights, and voting rights. All the billionaires want is cheap labor for their meat grinder jobs. Their editorial policies prove that. 🤢
🤢🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮
Thank you Jeff. I know you are just testing the upper limits of my blood pressure. Well, not you actually, however, the New York Times. As you know, if there was a policy wonk running on the Democratic ticket, and a policy wonk on the Republican ticket, discussing, maybe even having a mild disagreement about whether long-term capital gains tax should be increased by a point or two, and the subsequent potential impact on capital formation in seeding new enterprise, people would be lining the birdcage with the newspaper and then going to the remote to watch football, NASCAR, or whatever trouble the Kardashians are getting into today.
The last thing the mainstream media wants is an intelligent debate on wealth inequality, foreign policy, or inflation (other then to blame someone -instead of CEO's and institutional investors -who are major campaign and PAC donors).
They want a cage match -effectively a Presidential WWE event. The last thing they want is to have to pay for journalism and research to write columns, inform and educate society. That's so last century boring. They simply want to stick a microphone up to Mr. Adolph -the orange talking Hitler horse 24x7 and then watch the ad revenue pour in.
But I do appreciate your wistfully nostalgic view of the Fourth Estate Jeff.
Merry Christmas.
Slightly off topic but me thinks this is more of what Citizens United hath wrought. Intelligent debate about financial issues critical to your children's ability to rely on Social Security in their old age? Fugget about it!
That's the root of everything.
🎯🎯🎯
Insightful comment, Geoge P. I had to reread it to see if you were talking about the MSM (ABC,NBC,CBS) or the Amercan electorate. Because the typical American voter today wants the simple-minded clickbait when they're scanning the headlines;; the majority aren't actually interested in reading its contents. And of course, TV news is by definition mostly superficial, their typical viewers are even less engaged. Entertainment! And make it short and sweet! So the corporate media give them what they want. (WAPO is privately owned, but Bezos wants maximum eyeballs too, so they play to the same lowest common denominator). Can't risk antagonizing any Republican-leaning subscriber! Or a MAGA-leaning viewer, could result in lower monthly ratings and reduced ad revenue! Yup, they're mainly in the business of competing with each other for an ever-declining readership or a broadcast audience that increasingly prefers YouTube videos or TikTok. The role of the Fourth Estate has been seriously diminished by the smartphone-entertainment takeover of American's attention spans. May they find their niche in today's 'strange new world'.
No question it has all become monetization driven. So viewers/readers drive the content. It has been said a society gets the government they deserve. There are just too many who have sacrificed and dedicated themselves to equity, justice, and democracy who are overmatched by organized wealth and the GOP shills they control.
That’s why I cancelled my NYT subscription long ago.
Back when Reagan was spouting trickle down economics, the gray lady (who could be bought for the night) never even presented the economics of this hair brain theory. They wanted the redistribution of wealth. TO the top 2%....
There is nothing new about their actions, they have just become move blatant.
This hits the nail on the head
“If the media only did their job...”. You are 100% correct. I’m old enough to remember when the news was reported without any slanted spin.
Me. too. That is what makes all this so much more poignant and gut-wrenching for us: we knew a time when things were honest and accurate in the news. Walter Cronkite must be weeping.
How in the world did we become hostage to this vapid little man, devoid of redeeming qualities, whose projected insecurities are his defense, who ignores facts, lacks the ability of reasoning, does not read, has no real friends, is incapable of emotion, and focuses solely on himself? Now he is only a cult leader, who instills fear to create obedience and preys on the basest instincts of Americans. The country and world have been changed by him, ever since he came down that golden escalator. Absolutely for the worst. The survival of this nation depends on removing the adulation around him, and putting him where he belongs.
I'm too lazy to look up who owns it and who the editors are right now. Jeff, do you have further info on that? You're absolutely right about what a shitbag NYT has been for quite a while now. The only time I see it is when I read an article like yours, as I don't get any of my news from there anymore. That old Hitler article is just too much, btw. Double eye roll. Thanks for your efforts and best wishes for the holidays!!
Good question. Also, for all we hear about 'polls', they never mention how they were conducted. How and who are they contacting. I have noticed that many of the poll questions are without context, followed by an interpretation that stretches credulity.
Not to mention no one I know has ever answered any such poll. Who answers unidentified numbers anymore, and aren't they mostly landlines answerers anyway? (I could be wrong about this part--not certain)
Exactly!
Exactly!
Spot on. It's a completely flawed sample.
“if the media just did its fucking job, the polls wouldn’t even be close.” TRUE!!! Just so frustrating when talking with friends and family who zero in on the 1 thing they don’t agree with and ignore the 99%that is beneficial to the majority of Americans.
Great comment. People will grasp onto any data point they can to justify their biases, even to the point of ignoring any other data that doesn't fit their narrative. They blindingly lie to themselves, which makes it easy to then repeat the lie to others with a straight face.
Boils my blood.
Your last paragraph is especially important. Covering Biden’s accomplishments won’t affect the cult but it would surely affect swing votes. I messaged the NYT and CNN (no link to message MSNBC) about covering Biden’s accomplishments. One person won’t make a difference but I tried.
All of our voices are needed, Karla, and you did it! You were angry enough to give them your two cents and that’s important.
Thanks, i will do this too, good idea.