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Dennis Donovan

(24,728 posts)
Sat Sep 7, 2024, 03:43 PM Sep 7

How the Media Sanitizes Trump's Insanity



Mark Cuban
No question, the MSM protects the republican candidate by not reporting on what he literally says. If anyone else used the exact same language, they would dismiss them as incoherent, senile, incompetent or worse. Good job Parker Malloy


How the Media Sanitizes Trump’s Insanity

The political press’s efforts to rationalize Trump’s incoherent statements are eroding our shared reality and threatening informed democracy.

Four years ago, in an article for Media Matters for America, I warned that journalists were sanitizing Donald Trump’s incoherent ramblings to make them more palatable for the average voter. The general practice went like this: The press would take something Trump said or did—for instance, using a visit to the Centers for Disease Control to ask about Fox News’s ratings, insult then–Washington Governor Jay Inslee, rant about his attempt to extort Ukraine into digging up dirt on Joe Biden, and downplay the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the U.S.—and write them up as The New York Times did: “Trump Says ‘People Have to Remain Calm’ Amid Coronavirus Outbreak.” This had the effect of making it seem like Trump’s words and actions seemed cogent and sensible for the vast majority of Americans who didn’t happen to watch his rant live.

Flash-forward to today, and it’s clear this problem has only worsened. As Trump’s statements grow increasingly unhinged in his old age, major news outlets continue to reframe his words, presenting a dangerously misleading picture to the public.

For instance, last week, Trump posted the following to his Truth Social account:

I have reached an agreement with the Radical Left Democrats for a Debate with Comrade Kamala Harris. It will be Broadcast Live on ABC FAKE NEWS, by far the nastiest and most unfair newscaster in the business, on Tuesday, September 10th, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Rules will be the same as the last CNN Debate, which seemed to work out well for everyone except, perhaps, Crooked Joe Biden. The Debate will be “stand up,” and Candidates cannot bring notes, or “cheat sheets.” We have also been given assurance by ABC that this will be a “fair and equitable” Debate, and that neither side will be given the questions in advance (No Donna Brazile!). Harris would not agree to the FoxNews Debate on September 4th, but that date will be held open in case she changes her mind or, Flip Flops, as she has done on every single one of her long held and cherished policy beliefs. A possible third Debate, which would go to NBC FAKE NEWS, has not been agreed to by the Radical Left. GOD BLESS AMERICA!


CNN described that rambling, insult-laden, conspiracy-riddled wall of text—itself a pretty good example of what he spends his time off the campaign trail doing—by writing, “Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced he has ‘reached an agreement’ to participate in a September 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, noting that ‘the rules will be the same as the last CNN debate, which seemed to work out well for everyone.’”

/snip


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uponit7771

(91,572 posts)
1. Yep, Harris would be leading by 20 if M$M wouldn't be so OPENLY biased against her. TFG is a rapist, who in the hell ...
Sat Sep 7, 2024, 03:45 PM
Sep 7

... votes for that for president without the media constantly reminding people he's a racist.

Donald "the rapist" Trump should be the only thing he's known as by now, they're freakin disgusting

tanyev

(44,413 posts)
3. I'd love to see all Democrats require reporters to read Trump's exact words
Sat Sep 7, 2024, 03:52 PM
Sep 7

out loud before answering any questions responding to “Trump said” or “Trump posted”. And once that nonsense is read out loud, there would be a lot of opportunities to ask the reporter, “Do you think that made sense? Does that sound like a serious person running for a very serious job?”

LAS14

(14,545 posts)
5. I only watch CNN, MSNBC and PBS. I've seen...
Sat Sep 7, 2024, 03:56 PM
Sep 7

... the Trump answer to the child care question at least half a dozen times.

I don't know what you guys are talking about.

Cha

(304,875 posts)
7. TY & Mark Cuban!! Just Followed him, too.. This is Priceless.
Sat Sep 7, 2024, 04:10 PM
Sep 7

It's So True and Should be Blasted All Over the Place!


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