“If I may, there’s something I need to get off my chest.
As democracy remains under siege, it has been frustrating to watch how the press covers politics these days.
I am reminded by lessons that came to me during the Nixon years as a CBS News correspondent, which I’ll add here:
1. Enough with Both-sides-ism
When one side lies intentionally and repeatedly, they are no longer entitled to the benefit of the doubt. They should be held to account, right away. Do not simply repeat the narratives they spew.
2. Prioritize Live Fact-Checking
Rigorous and robust fact-checking is the best defense against misinformation, intentional lies, and deflection.
If Trump says the sky is green, the story isn’t that the sky is now green; the story is that the sky is still blue and Trump got it wrong.
3. Ask Lawmakers Hard Questions
Ask about the fundamental principles of democracy. Push them to go on the record that Biden won the 2020 election.
Ask if they support the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
This writing is not to offer any claim of knowing it all. Your correspondent has made his share of mistakes, but after more than seven decades I believe I have picked up a few useful guideposts.”
~Dan Rather, born October 31, 1931
Rather worked with CBS for four decades spanning the days of the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the Watergate scandal. As an American newscaster and author, he reminds us that there once was integrity journalism.
~~•~~
Far-right billionaire media moguls:
- Elon Musk – Twitter (X Corp)
- John Malone – CNN
- Rupert Murdoch – Fox Newsand, Times of London, Wall Street Journal, New York Post
- Jeff Bezos – The Washington Post
- John Henry – The Boston Globe
- Patrick Soon-Shiong – Los Angeles Times
- Chatchaval Jiaravanon – Fortune
A lot from Lydia 
Good points. And the Wag the Dog thing is brilliantly possible
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😊
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‘Prioritize Live Fact-Checking‘–what kind of crazy concept is that?! Prove Trump wrong and have all the Maggots revolt? Unthinkable. Incur the wrath of Big Orange? Never.
The press keeps calling this (the RNC, specifically) a cult. Baby steps…..
Lydia, I don’t know that I will ever exhale. This is craziness that you could not make up.
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It feels like we’re trapped in a train heading for a brick wall in slow motion.
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I just read that Dr Fauci called Trump’s assassination attempt ‘a superficial wound to the ear.’ Contrast that with Trump saying, “The doctor never saw anything like it. It’s a miracle.” How about we fact-check that.
And, yes, slo mo into a brick wall is so very appropriate.
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Haha! I’m glad someone is speaking out about it. The day of the shooting a police officer who had been near him said Trump was hit with glass from the teleprompter, as were people who stood nearby. Then they stopped talking when Trump insisted it was a bullet.
Using a tampon would have been as appropriate as the maxi pad he’s using for attention.
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hahah! Oh, Lydia! 🤣
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Never heard of that movie, but now I will not believe anything other than the staged theory of this. Too bad about the kid and the guy who actually took the bullet though. Did you see where Alex Jones actually had an info-wars segment saying that assassinating or attempting to assassinate the Mad Mango would be good for the cause? David Packman had it.
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No, I didn’t see that. I believe it.
It’s something Roger Stone would do. The people who were shot were at the top of the bleachers, far from Trump. I wouldn’t be surprised if the shooter didn’t intend to hit anyone and didn’t expect to be killed.
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