This current problem with legacy news got us to this point and will make it nearly impossible to pull out of this anti-democracy, fascist death spiral.
This didn’t start with Trump. The media has been normalizing or just ignoring extremist Republican actions for a very long time. It was a non-story when Reagan’s magical tax cuts for the rich didn’t pay for themselves, let alone give a significant boost to our economy but they did help nearly triple the national debt. The chart in this article in Common Dreams clearly shows that we wouldn’t have a serious debt problem without the Bush and Trump tax cuts for the rich but that’s a story the media prefers to ignore in favor of the “government (Democrats) spends too much on social programs like Medicare and Social Security”:
“Economists Blame $40 Trillion Debt Milestone on Two Things: GOP Ineptitude and Tax Cuts for the Rich
“There is one point that should be very clear: It has been run up almost entirely due to Republican tax cuts and their inept management of the economy.””
Then there’s the media’s refusal to acknowledge that Dubya walked away from the Clinton administration’s nuclear arms deal with North Korea. Colin Powell wanted to continue the negotiations to strengthen the deal but Bush, like Trump, preferred to listen to the advice of warmongering necons like John Bolton. From what I have read Bush, again like Trump, believed he could get a better deal. Instead NK is now a nuclear power with ballistic missiles capable of reaching our shores.
In a healthy media environment the minute Trump chose to walk away from Obama’s JCPOA deal they would have reminded the public of how disastrously Bush doing the same with North Korea has worked out.
It is all so obvious. My question is, why do you think these “elite journalists” don’t do what you point to should be done? Corporate ownership forbidding it? Frightened of losing access? Lazy? Thinking they are so above it all, no need to get down in the gutter by reporting what he says and does as facts? Frightened of drawing his ire, or that he will retaliate with personal threats to their safety?
I don’t get it. Why are the vast majority of the media not alarmed and using their voices to spell out the danger?
And no mention that the Trade Agreement he had just shredded was the *same* one he had personally signed after being negotiated by his own administration.
Trump negotiates, then signs trade agreement with Canada. Trump then says same trade agreement is raping America, tears it up.
100% agree. I'm a retired journalist, and everything you're written here in accurate, important, and vital to saving democracy -- and with it, freedom.
If only the journalists would do their job— as Dan Froomkin correctly urges!
This current problem with legacy news got us to this point and will make it nearly impossible to pull out of this anti-democracy, fascist death spiral.
This didn’t start with Trump. The media has been normalizing or just ignoring extremist Republican actions for a very long time. It was a non-story when Reagan’s magical tax cuts for the rich didn’t pay for themselves, let alone give a significant boost to our economy but they did help nearly triple the national debt. The chart in this article in Common Dreams clearly shows that we wouldn’t have a serious debt problem without the Bush and Trump tax cuts for the rich but that’s a story the media prefers to ignore in favor of the “government (Democrats) spends too much on social programs like Medicare and Social Security”:
“Economists Blame $40 Trillion Debt Milestone on Two Things: GOP Ineptitude and Tax Cuts for the Rich
“There is one point that should be very clear: It has been run up almost entirely due to Republican tax cuts and their inept management of the economy.””
https://www.commondreams.org/news/economists-trump-40-trillion-debt
Then there’s the media’s refusal to acknowledge that Dubya walked away from the Clinton administration’s nuclear arms deal with North Korea. Colin Powell wanted to continue the negotiations to strengthen the deal but Bush, like Trump, preferred to listen to the advice of warmongering necons like John Bolton. From what I have read Bush, again like Trump, believed he could get a better deal. Instead NK is now a nuclear power with ballistic missiles capable of reaching our shores.
In a healthy media environment the minute Trump chose to walk away from Obama’s JCPOA deal they would have reminded the public of how disastrously Bush doing the same with North Korea has worked out.
It is all so obvious. My question is, why do you think these “elite journalists” don’t do what you point to should be done? Corporate ownership forbidding it? Frightened of losing access? Lazy? Thinking they are so above it all, no need to get down in the gutter by reporting what he says and does as facts? Frightened of drawing his ire, or that he will retaliate with personal threats to their safety?
I don’t get it. Why are the vast majority of the media not alarmed and using their voices to spell out the danger?
Subhead of a NYT article today about our war with Canada: "President Trump vowed to increase tariffs..."
This is a man who has never kept a vow made in his business, political, or marital careers.
(The headline above said "threatens" which is the correct word.)
And no mention that the Trade Agreement he had just shredded was the *same* one he had personally signed after being negotiated by his own administration.
Trump negotiates, then signs trade agreement with Canada. Trump then says same trade agreement is raping America, tears it up.
MSM: *crickets*
This is how you fix journalism, for sure. I'm less sure about how you fix billionaire outlet owners to whom democracy is poison for their aspirations.
100% agree. I'm a retired journalist, and everything you're written here in accurate, important, and vital to saving democracy -- and with it, freedom.
One of the most mind-bending bits of reporting is when they report that "President Trump said XYZ using an expletive."
So, they are loath to quote Trump's actual expletive because they might be sanctioned by Trump's FCC -- for quoting him?
That's nuts.