Still waiting for the NY Times to run 5 simultaneous stories on the front page about Trump's cognitive decline the way they did with Biden and his lackluster but coherent debate.
Exactly- NYT, WAPO, Axios, politico, MSN, CNN all did the same exact thing too, so it was more than just one outlet. It really was a total legacy media tidal wave.
All of the mainstream media are deliberately ignoring history's lessons about what happens to news outlets when authoritarian governments take over. The news agencies are decimated, no matter how much they toady up to the dictator.
Honestly, it was so eggregious I kinda think maybe the Dems had a pre-switch op in play to make the landing a little smoother . . but then I pause, and I take stock of every other soft pedaling and outrageous Headline and that seems painful Optimism
It's so frustrating how they hound Biden and Harris for the tiniest mistake, and yet give Dump a free pass to be a complete trumpster fire without consequences.
They've moved on from sanewashing him to victimwashing him. This isn't just about greed, when the 4th estate of the realm is in bed with a would be dictator, your problems are far more than greed.
@@NobodyCares-qn7yc It's, to me, up there with "top of mind", or "speaking to" a question. Simplified easily digestible language meant to signal a mass societal change indicated by who just goes right along with it. As if it's advanced language. In my opinion it is not.
@@fraymond3 I hear what you are saying fray. I find "top of mind" and "speaking to" as linguistic direction and "sanewashing" as a description regarding the normalization of shocking or extreme statements. Not sure "sanewashing" is simplified or easily digestible language. It seems like a newer conjugation from this current decade to describe what have I said about normalization. What do you mean by, "mass societal change indicated by who just goes right along with it?"
I always watch the rallies, campaign events to get my own opinion of what Trump, Vance, Harris and Walz in full context. Clips can be edited to say things that the full context doesn’t support. Since news is entertainment anymore you really can’t trust many in the business to provide the valuable straining of information that they provided in days past.
Rebecca, please do TV interviews with MSNBC, ABC and CNNN, because you need to be heard. There're millions of people like me who'd like to listen to you.
Sadly, it's becoming all too obvious why those outlets might not wish to have her on. Major kudos to the Prospect magazine for giving her a virtual outlet. And a tip of the cap to TH-cam and the ability to listen to independent news sources
I used to love and trust CNN. It is now a pale version of what was a credible channel. They have no issue inviting guests who will lie to their viewers.
Rebecca Solnit! I have massive, deep respect for your mind, your way with words, your wise perspective, and your honesty! Thank you for carrying this conversation single handedly!
Absolutely. There's a blatant double standard in how Trump's craziness is downplayed and Harris is accused of providing no detail or policy, when she clearly does and Trump doesn't.
I've already pointed out to 2-3 people who have told me that she has provided no policies that in the debate she covered a childcare policy, a housing policy for first time buyers and and a plan for investment in small businesses. It's ok to disagree with her policies or to express some reservation on how they'll be paid for but it is either a pretence or not looking if a person believes she isn't talking about her policies.
@@beefandbarley Yep. And this is the easiest "reality" TV to broadcast. This shit writes itself. ("Reality" TV is loosely scripted, always has been, just like professional wrestling.)
For the guest Rebecca Solnit: I recently unsubscribed from the NYT for the very reasons mentioned in this interview. NYT had become a Trump Propaganda Channel.
It's hard for Dumbocrats to understand when their propaganda channels start telling the truth. This woman is just exposing her own ignorance and stupidity with her lies.
Yes, but Lawrence equally excoriated the people who attended the conference and who clapped so loudly for Trump's nonsense. It's not just Trump, but rather his supporters.
@@hermitthefrog8951Of course, you have never been irritated when interrupted trying to do something important to you. You haven't presented any support for your argument that O'Donnell is stupid. You using the Irish word for idiot, when the Irish call Americans Americans, not Irish, demonstrates your lack of knowledge. I know you are not representing yourself at your best. Why not provide examples to support your opinions that would be difficult for a person using reason to refute?
I live in Ohio. I know. It's got to be about money. I quit my New York Times subscription about 4 months ago - very "soft" on DJT's shortcomings. Very. America is undereducated. Undiscerning, and probable in trouble. Gerrymandering. Money. The dark side.
Finally, a voice of reason in Rebecca. Thank you! NYT, once a beacon of journalism and the winner of many Pulitzer Prizes, has now become sophisticated version of Fox. Sad!
Just heard Haberman on NPR say that Donald Trump and his antics deserve to be treated credibly because he is the GOP nominee for president. So the cart goes before the horse and the tail wags the dog. Its a carnival that could end our democracy.
Trump should be covered credibly by pointing out how he off the mark he is, how his policies would hurt America, pointing out all of his nastiness. This is the point; most of the Media is not talking about how bad Trump is and not talking about how good Harris is. The MSM has not reminded people of Trumps 4 years as POTUS but are happy to push the lie that Harris was the Border Czar which the GOP started, when she wasn't. Remember, in America 6 Corporations own 90% of American Media and 5 of those Corporations are run by Republican and Trump backers.
I saw Ms Bash recently claim that they made a policy decision to not comment on blatant lies during that debate...so as not to "put a thumb on the scale" ... it was the opponent's job to do that. What a load of BS. The lies are so obvious a child can understand it and it must be called out.
What Bash doesn't seem to realize (or chooses not to) is that by not calling out these obvious lies by fact checking, she is thereby putting a thumb on the scale by normalizing his BS.
The press used to be referred to as the Fourth Estate of government because it was their job to report on the main 3 branches of government and thereby help keep them honest or at least alert the public to any type of corruption, skullduggery or simple incompetence. This concept worked best back when 1) politicians had a sense of shame that could be activated by truthful but unflattering reporting and 2) the media focused on reporting on news accurately instead of spinning it as some type of sports contest that would appeal to people's tribalistic nature, for purposes of profit and control.
I recently ended my NYT subscription over this issue. "They're eating the dogs! They're eating the cats!" [corrected by moderator] "I saw it on television!" Headline in NYT - Harris and Trump Enage in Fierce Debate. WTAF!? Biden flatlines in June and the Times freaks. Trump was crazy during that same debate. All Biden. All. Sure it was time's up for Biden. When it's time to say Trump is unattached to any reality whatsoever?
In my opinion, Solnit is prone to relational aggression; as such, she is a socially divisive figure. Her ideological extremism serves the establishment as controlled opposition within their ever reliable strategy of divide and rule.
In my opinion, I think her voice is what’s needed. Too much value is placed on social cohesion. Justice needs a voice, even if it’s easier to label it “extreme”.
@@aminahchallenger523 I use the word extreme, as her sense of justice on occasion goes against the foundational values of jurisprudence such as equality before the law and innocent until proven guilty; an erosion of rights which in turn serves the neo feudal power structure of the establishment order.
Excellent analysis of the US press shortcomings. I cancelled my subscriptions to the NYT and Washington Post early this year for the bias they display. They both have some great investigative journalists; however, because they let their bias slip out of the editorial room and into the newsroom, I decided not to support them. One example I saw in a recent (a couple months ago) story on MSNBC that used a NYT story as its basis showed the text of the story and they used “Mr. Biden” and “Ms. Harris”; however they called the other guy, “former President Trump”. There are so many subtleties to their bias, in addition to the insufferable bothsidesism and sanewashing, as you point out here. Thanks for your discussion.
Were you alive during the 9/11 era when the NYT turned itself into George Bush's press bureau and helped facilitate all of the lies which led the US into the Iraq/Afghanistan debacle? The NYT is and has been trash for a very long time.
Then you weren't paying attention. This is the same paper that downplayed the Holocaust at the time because they didn't want to appear "biased towards the jews."
@@AdamBrusselback, a few days after the 2016 election, a bunch of NYT editors, all male IIRC, traipsed up to tRump Tower to kiss his.... ring. I read a transcript and it was revolting. The editors even apologized for Maureen Dowd's treatment of Rumpie: "it wasn't anything you did, it was just your turn".
Clearly not that simple. Not helpful making this all about money. And anyhow, the stories that would highlight his inability would be more click bait. Look at how much was made of Biden's age.
No quarrel here, but you’re omitting another greed-driven factor: These media giants are profit-seeking corporations. So they are made of shareholders (the owners) and handsomely paid executives. These groups would rather not see tax go up for the obscenely wealthy. They very much like the idea of lower tax on corporate earners; elimination of capital gains tax. I think with all that going, we should be surprised by their occasional unfavorable coverage of that psychopath. This is why I’m glad there are TH-cam channels not so beholden to such interests who can call them out.
Though I admire Ms Solnit's restraint, what's not being addressed in this excellent interview is the control of media by an increasingly-small number of companies, and those companies are invested in keeping the status quo.
I quit the Times after they whitewashed Clinton's shocking misogyny in the 90's: He allowed a 22 year old woman to twist in the wind. Her prolonged public humiliation nearly ended with suicide. A real gentleman would NEVER have countenanced such conduct. It was appalling.
Because you are actually listening to what he says. But people who only read reports about his speeches might think that he is making sense and actually has a plan (other than the Heritage Foundation's fascist manifesto Project 2025).
The majority of his Cult followers believe in talking snakes and virgin births. Their ability to discern fact from fiction/truth from myth/fact from blind-faith is almost non-existent.
Just today Bret Stephens has a piece in the NYT detailing what VP Harris will need to do to win his vote. I can’t read it because my head would pop off and roll down the street, but it sounds like a version of what Ms. Solnit is describing (love your work! - I’m a Guardian supporter).
I’ve been complaining about a related problem with coverage of Trump in foreign media since back in 2015. Whenever Trump is quoted in media here in Europe they translate the quote to the relevant local language. I have _never_ seen this been done accurately. They always create a grammatically correct sentence with properly used words instead of the kindergartener’s vocabulary and stroke patient syntax he used in the original quote. It is quite frustrating. Especially since the boomer generation typically doesn’t speak English on a level higher than Trump, so they fail to really appreciate the insanity.
I don't agree at all. Haberman has been reporting on Trump for decades and describes his ongoing trials, latest volley of lies, etc. in a calm and dispassionate manner.
RE: Heather Cox Richardson, not only does she give historical context to current events, she also provides supporting documentation to her substack articles.
Trump just announced " I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!" that's not the action odf a sane political candidate. Trump is off his nut, and the media are not covering it as crackpottery.
Imagine if Harris or Biden posted that they hate kid rock or some other similar Trump endorsing musician. There would be bloody outrage in the right wing media and social media word. The main stream media is acting like the Taylor Swift post is just another normal day. Not one station that I have seen has made much about the point that this is unacceptable behavior by a Presidential candidate.
@@Alvan81 Well, I didn’t mean legally disqualifying but morally disqualifying. No President should hate any American for exercising their free choice to endorse anyone they see fit. It’s as un Democratic as you can get and un American. A President should represent ALL Americans not just the ones who like them. In my Opinion this is just one more example of why Trump is unfit to lead. Plus it’s petty as f u c k.
@@Winstonrodney6989 We agree as to the nature of the post. The "press" can't/ shouldn't use words like crackpot, I guess is my point. I agree about the sanewashing. But as a practical matter, you can't transcribe/print 5 paragraphs of rambling. And you can't editorialize much. I guess you could print just the core parts about Tariffs? I'm at work so can't brainstorn, but I think this guest is thoughtful yet totally impractical. Imagine a web or print article with the litsny of Trump's warts every time, It would be 3 times the length for a start.
Bless your soul. This is not about KH or Trump but how disgusting it is when obvious truths gets ignored for selfish, bigoted, egocentric reasons esp with likes of NYT but then who owns it. She is sooo spot on.
The fact that his words need to be interpreted and translated by "journalists" and "reporters" should automatically disqualify him from any public office.
Too late now. He was absolutely the wrong choice for the job. Biden needed to appoint a pit bull on day one. Trump would already be in jail and the mess we're in could have been avoided.
All that patriotic hand on heart BS we’ve heard from Americans all these years is totally forgotten the moment influencers see a chance to make more $ and/or get more power. How cheaply Americans sold out their country is astonishing.
He wouldnt have been such a damn problem if people had refused to take him seriously from the get go, he never deserved it. He's too much of a ratings cow and he played the media like a fiddle
This right here. It is infuriating to hear Dana Bash, or other 'mainstream' media, justify not calling out Trump and his lies in the interests of being neutral. That only elevates his BS to the same level as the truth being spit by his opponents.
That would be okay if the journalists were genuinely neutral. But journalists have spent a huge amount of effort of arguing on Trump's behalf how Trump might not be completely confused by simple things, like his plain words suggest.
So glad you laud Heather Cox Richardson. i couldn’t live sanely without her. i quit both WaPo and TNYT. I’m sick of Goldberg and the Atlantic, too. I gave up on the National Review for their fictional npn-coverage of the FlintbWater Crises.
Having served in state and local governments since the 70's I observe that the richest person in the room gets their way - everything else is window dressing.
@@512Squared Corrupt city manager has his retirement party in January. Anybody that stood in the way of corporate money and growth was punished and besmirched. Fudge the numbers or find a new way to feed the fam.
That is mostly because anything we see in publication shows up there and is fed to us by those who spend money to make that happen. There is a validity to that, but also a very unfair system that is never talked about. Why is it that year after year the richer get toxicly richer, and mostly the toxic rich - like Trump and Musk for example. Why is there no outlet for free speech and sane discussion. Elon Musk says he bought Twitter in service of free speech, but that is utter nonsense. He manipulates the message.
I noticed the NYT and the Wall st journal were soft on trump in 2016. I felt like I was going out of my mind with anger and despair until I found the medias touch network.
Could you list out the small independent news outlets she reads? We should all support those outlets, given the near-extinction of local and soon national U.S. newspapers.
Any of us with experience with people who have slid into dementia can see what's going on with him. It's particularly concerning in the case of a sociopathic narcissist with thousands of fanatical devotees.
I concur, and I will not renew my TNYT’s subscription for the first time in 60 years. When I was 13, my French parents okayed me using my allowance to subscribe to the print edition 7 days a week. The Guardian is my newspaper of record.
Great to hear the blog by Heather Cox Richardson being lauded. Historical context and reliable information. Readers want it and will pay, are paying, or it. Many journalists/channels are too focused on presenting absurdity and lies as normal. We need more honest assessment, not the imbalanced concern for esthetics of objectivity making things look balanced where they're not - as Rebecca explains do eloquently in the last few minutes here. Well done , Prospect, for this interview with Rebecca Solnik.
@@fredjohnston4340 Solnit's finishing words were full-on projection. They would better be read as the confession of an ideologue whose output IMO frequently constitutes relational aggression. Indeed, in the name of her favoured ideology she is quite happy to write hit pieces that undermine the fundamentals of jurisprudence such as equality before the law or innocent until proven guilty
Thanks for this perspective. This helped me reach the decision to cancel my subscription to NYT. I thought it was just me thinking they were normalizing Trump. I will use these savings to sub to Ms Richardson et al
Rebecca is joining a growing group of people who are calling out the MSM avoidance of addressing DT's far from normal cognitive and psychological functioning.
Isn’t the NYT a Murdoch paper ? Wherever he goes, whatever he buys, it’s always power bending muck ! He has damaged three continents; the UK when he helped to engineer Brexit, Australia, his home country by the same media distortion and finally the US with his media Cess pools like Fox “News” ! Murdoch Muck has way too much power, and Murdoch is fighting to set up his son Lachlan, who is just as power hungry,as Rupert 2.0 !
No. Its the writers. Can you imagine Woodstein in this story? The reporter mentality is more 50s era today..Sad Organization man. The alternative press, YT, other sources..seems to be where the gonzo energy is today.
Oh great! I found this, I´m such a fan of Rebecca Solnit. Being a German I am amazed how unwilling the American legal system seems to be when it comes to going from legalistic balleydancing to actually prosecuting the crimes of Trump. What inhibits you? That he´s rich? Is it that you voted such a terrible person into office? What is it?
Thank you for this!! Long-time loyal reader of the NYT here, who recently (and finally) unsubscribed in complete disgust over their unfair and biased reporting re: Trump. I blame them, in large part, for getting him "elected" in 2016. To be fair, though, I think most of the blame lies with the owners and editors in mainstream media, and their choice of columnists, rather than the journalists who may actually want to report on the truth but are constrained by certain expectations.
Ms Solnit is absolutely correct.For my own sanity, I've had to stop reading the New York Times because of the quality of its political coverage and it's intently myopic opinion pieces.
@@daydays12, It's interesting to note the NYT totally missed the opportunity to expose George Santos before he was elected; A Long Island newspaper, the North Shore Leader, had investigated him and published an editorial where the paper's editor, a Republican, endorsed Santos's Democrat opponent because they couldn't find anything to back up Santos's wild claims about himself, and there appeared to be some financial mismanagement of his campaign as well. The New York Times is apparently completely, perhaps wilfully, clueless about other political happenings in their own backyard.
The media in the US is quite terrible at its job in general and that is nothing new. They have been giving Trump cover for many years, just brushing over his inane comments about things like abortion or tariffs, immigrants, etc….all of it…..It is pathetic.
Back in the 70s, I always maintained that the people in the USA were being fed as much propaganda as the people in the Ostbloc. The only difference is that the people in Russia knew this. Now we all know they are. I met many of the leading newspaper journalists in Berlin just after the Berlin Wall fell. I am shocked at how this media has disintegrated.
Americans are (and always have been) the most heavily propagandized population on planet earth. The ascendancy of Trump is due mostly to the simple fact that the American population has appalling levels of ignorance. Americans believe they live in a democracy. FACT: They do not. Americans believe their system of governance is the best in the world. FACT: It is not. Americans believe the Iraqi state possessed weapons of mass destruction. FACT: It did not. Americans believe Global Warming is a hoax. FACT: It is not.
I would say it's even more sinister. I think it has less to do with money and more to do with control. there's about 800 people that own this country and I think they are pulling the strings.
![ปฏิเสธไม่ไหว (Crush on you) - LIPTA feat. No One Else [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NBw1jF342vw/mqdefault.jpg)
Still waiting for the NY Times to run 5 simultaneous stories on the front page about Trump's cognitive decline the way they did with Biden and his lackluster but coherent debate.
Exactly- NYT, WAPO, Axios, politico, MSN, CNN all did the same exact thing too, so it was more than just one outlet. It really was a total legacy media tidal wave.
Yes!!!! I am starting to think they fear him
If people aren't smart enough to see and hear adolf trump and jerkface vance immoral views....then people aren't using their brains!!!!
All of the mainstream media are deliberately ignoring history's lessons about what happens to news outlets when authoritarian governments take over. The news agencies are decimated, no matter how much they toady up to the dictator.
Honestly, it was so eggregious I kinda think maybe the Dems had a pre-switch op in play to make the landing a little smoother . .
but then I pause, and I take stock of every other soft pedaling and outrageous Headline and that seems painful Optimism
It's so frustrating how they hound Biden and Harris for the tiniest mistake, and yet give Dump a free pass to be a complete trumpster fire without consequences.
it drives *clicks!* which = revenue
Funny.....that! 😂
The Daily Fail in the UK. Yesterday’s chip wrapper
💯
repug owned media is why
" If you're not careful Major US media will have you hating the oppressed and loving the oppressors." ~ Malcolm X
“The revolution will not be televised “
@@rcpmac How wrong they were.
Kamala is the
Oppressed.
@@rcpmac The Last Poets were definitely pre - internet.
Effectively pre - cable TV.
They've moved on from sanewashing him to victimwashing him. This isn't just about greed, when the 4th estate of the realm is in bed with a would be dictator, your problems are far more than greed.
'sanewashing' - well and accurately put.
It's an infantile word.
Nice term, indeed.
@@fraymond3 Nothing negative fray, just a question - why is it an infantile word?
@@NobodyCares-qn7yc It's, to me, up there with "top of mind", or "speaking to" a question. Simplified easily digestible language meant to signal a mass societal change indicated by who just goes right along with it. As if it's advanced language. In my opinion it is not.
@@fraymond3 I hear what you are saying fray. I find "top of mind" and "speaking to" as linguistic direction and "sanewashing" as a description regarding the normalization of shocking or extreme statements.
Not sure "sanewashing" is simplified or easily digestible language. It seems like a newer conjugation from this current decade to describe what have I said about normalization.
What do you mean by, "mass societal change indicated by who just goes right along with it?"
Absolutely. He’s being sanitized and made far more coherent than he is in real time.
The electorate are being gaslit 😢
Since day 1
I always watch the rallies, campaign events to get my own opinion of what Trump, Vance, Harris and Walz in full context. Clips can be edited to say things that the full context doesn’t support. Since news is entertainment anymore you really can’t trust many in the business to provide the valuable straining of information that they provided in days past.
Rebecca, please do TV interviews with MSNBC, ABC and CNNN, because you need to be heard. There're millions of people like me who'd like to listen to you.
Sadly, it's becoming all too obvious why those outlets might not wish to have her on. Major kudos to the Prospect magazine for giving her a virtual outlet. And a tip of the cap to TH-cam and the ability to listen to independent news sources
I used to love and trust CNN. It is now a pale version of what was a credible channel. They have no issue inviting guests who will lie to their viewers.
Yes
@@smcdonald9991 cnn has been trashy for some time
@@smcdonald9991 the heads are trumpers, so there's that. Donated a lot of $$$ to trump.
Rebecca Solnit! I have massive, deep respect for your mind, your way with words, your wise perspective, and your honesty! Thank you for carrying this conversation single handedly!
Absolutely. There's a blatant double standard in how Trump's craziness is downplayed and Harris is accused of providing no detail or policy, when she clearly does and Trump doesn't.
I've already pointed out to 2-3 people who have told me that she has provided no policies that in the debate she covered a childcare policy, a housing policy for first time buyers and and a plan for investment in small businesses. It's ok to disagree with her policies or to express some reservation on how they'll be paid for but it is either a pretence or not looking if a person believes she isn't talking about her policies.
🤣🤣🤣 are you and I living in the same reality?
Its fucking infuriating. Plain & simple.
@@mchoe5890 No dude, clearly we are not. Why do you ask?
In a town hall he said that he will lower grocery cost by drilling more. We are currently the largest oil producer in the world.
Trump was completely bonkers at the debate. Dangerously bonkers.
It is such a relief to listen to Rebecca Solnit. Like a fresh wind blowing out all the stupid.
She’s honestly an incredible communicator, and not in the modern internet “fast talker” style. I could listen to her describe the ceiling tiles.
Agreed
I couldn't agree more. The media is doing a terrible job of accurately portraying how deranged Donald Trump has become.
Media ownership wants t.
@@beefandbarley Yep. And this is the easiest "reality" TV to broadcast. This shit writes itself. ("Reality" TV is loosely scripted, always has been, just like professional wrestling.)
For the guest Rebecca Solnit: I recently unsubscribed from the NYT for the very reasons mentioned in this interview. NYT had become a Trump Propaganda Channel.
I just did the same thing.
Murdock ruined it.
It's hard for Dumbocrats to understand when their propaganda channels start telling the truth. This woman is just exposing her own ignorance and stupidity with her lies.
I did too. I used to ❤NYTimes, but I was beyond disgusted.
@@kathharper Yes. The truth is hard to swallow for a slave in the Democrat plantation.
this should be required viewing for all New York Times reporters. Spot on.
Lawrence O'Donnell argued this case well on The Last Word on MSNBC. It was a takedown to behold.
I know it as BSNBC.
Yes, but Lawrence equally excoriated the people who attended the conference and who clapped so loudly for Trump's nonsense. It's not just Trump, but rather his supporters.
STOP THE HAMMERING! STOP THE HAMMERING! STOP THE HAMMERING! O'Donnell is an eedjit...
@@marshcreek4355 Agreed. I think he also made valid criticism of the press and other media actors in general.
@@hermitthefrog8951Of course, you have never been irritated when interrupted trying to do something important to you. You haven't presented any support for your argument that O'Donnell is stupid. You using the Irish word for idiot, when the Irish call Americans Americans, not Irish, demonstrates your lack of knowledge. I know you are not representing yourself at your best. Why not provide examples to support your opinions that would be difficult for a person using reason to refute?
I live in Ohio. I know. It's got to be about money. I quit my New York Times subscription about 4 months ago - very "soft" on DJT's shortcomings. Very. America is undereducated. Undiscerning, and probable in trouble. Gerrymandering. Money. The dark side.
Finally, a voice of reason in Rebecca. Thank you! NYT, once a beacon of journalism and the winner of many Pulitzer Prizes, has now become sophisticated version of Fox. Sad!
Totally agree
They have always been doing this, the state of the world and social media is the only way reason we now notice.
Just heard Haberman on NPR say that Donald Trump and his antics deserve to be treated credibly because he is the GOP nominee for president. So the cart goes before the horse and the tail wags the dog. Its a carnival that could end our democracy.
Haberman is a Democrat who hates Trump. Nice try.
I stopped listening to NPR for this exact reason. Truly disappointing.
Trump should be covered credibly by pointing out how he off the mark he is, how his policies would hurt America, pointing out all of his nastiness. This is the point; most of the Media is not talking about how bad Trump is and not talking about how good Harris is.
The MSM has not reminded people of Trumps 4 years as POTUS but are happy to push the lie that Harris was the Border Czar which the GOP started, when she wasn't. Remember, in America 6 Corporations own 90% of American Media and 5 of those Corporations are run by Republican and Trump backers.
I heard that Maggie Haberman interview.
Trump made Haberman famous. He's her meal ticket.
I saw Ms Bash recently claim that they made a policy decision to not comment on blatant lies during that debate...so as not to "put a thumb on the scale" ... it was the opponent's job to do that. What a load of BS. The lies are so obvious a child can understand it and it must be called out.
What Bash doesn't seem to realize (or chooses not to) is that by not calling out these obvious lies by fact checking, she is thereby putting a thumb on the scale by normalizing his BS.
Trump‘s fire hose of lies cannot be met by a firehose of denials from Harris without her sounding equally nuts.
@Jeff-by9de Bash is not a journalist. She's a ridiculous, racist propagandist.
Bash is a millionaire. She doesn't care who wins the election.
The press used to be referred to as the Fourth Estate of government because it was their job to report on the main 3 branches of government and thereby help keep them honest or at least alert the public to any type of corruption, skullduggery or simple incompetence. This concept worked best back when 1) politicians had a sense of shame that could be activated by truthful but unflattering reporting and 2) the media focused on reporting on news accurately instead of spinning it as some type of sports contest that would appeal to people's tribalistic nature, for purposes of profit and control.
I recently ended my NYT subscription over this issue. "They're eating the dogs! They're eating the cats!" [corrected by moderator] "I saw it on television!" Headline in NYT - Harris and Trump Enage in Fierce Debate. WTAF!? Biden flatlines in June and the Times freaks. Trump was crazy during that same debate. All Biden. All. Sure it was time's up for Biden. When it's time to say Trump is unattached to any reality whatsoever?
Literally The Onion would do a better job of reporting than the NYT
@@CarrieV9 😄😆😂🤣 😢😭
Rebecca Solnit and Heather Cox Richardson are what keep me sane these days. So crisp and clear.
I 2nd That.
In my opinion, Solnit is prone to relational aggression; as such, she is a socially divisive figure. Her ideological extremism serves the establishment as controlled opposition within their ever reliable strategy of divide and rule.
In my opinion, I think her voice is what’s needed. Too much value is placed on social cohesion. Justice needs a voice, even if it’s easier to label it “extreme”.
@@aminahchallenger523 I use the word extreme, as her sense of justice on occasion goes against the foundational values of jurisprudence such as equality before the law and innocent until proven guilty; an erosion of rights which in turn serves the neo feudal power structure of the establishment order.
Heather Cox Richardson is wonderful.
Excellent analysis of the US press shortcomings. I cancelled my subscriptions to the NYT and Washington Post early this year for the bias they display. They both have some great investigative journalists; however, because they let their bias slip out of the editorial room and into the newsroom, I decided not to support them.
One example I saw in a recent (a couple months ago) story on MSNBC that used a NYT story as its basis showed the text of the story and they used “Mr. Biden” and “Ms. Harris”; however they called the other guy, “former President Trump”. There are so many subtleties to their bias, in addition to the insufferable bothsidesism and sanewashing, as you point out here.
Thanks for your discussion.
A lifelong reader of the NYT, I am appalled by the recent abdication of integrity.
Were you alive during the 9/11 era when the NYT turned itself into George Bush's press bureau and helped facilitate all of the lies which led the US into the Iraq/Afghanistan debacle? The NYT is and has been trash for a very long time.
It isn't recent. You just didn't notice it in the other topics you care less about.
they've done a terrible job on multiple topics. Including adults leaving abusive family systems. it's a rotten nest of incompetents
Then you weren't paying attention. This is the same paper that downplayed the Holocaust at the time because they didn't want to appear "biased towards the jews."
@@AdamBrusselback, a few days after the 2016 election, a bunch of NYT editors, all male IIRC, traipsed up to tRump Tower to kiss his.... ring. I read a transcript and it was revolting. The editors even apologized for Maureen Dowd's treatment of Rumpie: "it wasn't anything you did, it was just your turn".
Rebecca, your calm, plainly spoken analysis is right on.
Trump = Ratings = $$$$ It's that simple.
Could not have said it better. Thank You
Clearly not that simple. Not helpful making this all about money. And anyhow, the stories that would highlight his inability would be more click bait. Look at how much was made of Biden's age.
No quarrel here, but you’re omitting another greed-driven factor: These media giants are profit-seeking corporations. So they are made of shareholders (the owners) and handsomely paid executives. These groups would rather not see tax go up for the obscenely wealthy. They very much like the idea of lower tax on corporate earners; elimination of capital gains tax.
I think with all that going, we should be surprised by their occasional unfavorable coverage of that psychopath.
This is why I’m glad there are TH-cam channels not so beholden to such interests who can call them out.
I don't agree that it's only greed. Corporate culture has a way of floating the turds to the top.
And it is not only about Trump. The media has incentive to make all races as competitive as possible. Just money, nothing personal.
Though I admire Ms Solnit's restraint, what's not being addressed in this excellent interview is the control of media by an increasingly-small number of companies, and those companies are invested in keeping the status quo.
❤Rebecca Solnit. Thanks for having her on.
It's no longer the respected NYTimes we knew! It is so imbalanced.
I’m through with the New York Times for all times.
I quit the Times after they whitewashed Clinton's shocking misogyny in the 90's: He allowed a 22 year old woman to twist in the wind. Her prolonged public humiliation nearly ended with suicide. A real gentleman would NEVER have countenanced such conduct. It was appalling.
Me, too. And the Washington Post.
They obviously don’t want Trump to lose.
Yep
I mean, it's supposed to be a news organization, it's not supposed to support either candidate.
He’s a convicted felon! Doesn’t that matter?
If they’re sanewashing Trump they need to use more detergent. He still sounds like a crackpot to me.
Because you are actually listening to what he says. But people who only read reports about his speeches might think that he is making sense and actually has a plan (other than the Heritage Foundation's fascist manifesto Project 2025).
The majority of his Cult followers believe in talking snakes and virgin births. Their ability to discern fact from fiction/truth from myth/fact from blind-faith is almost non-existent.
Stonewashed
Strong borders and the return of manufacturing are crackpot?
@@sanniepstein4835 You are aware Trump killed the bipartisan immigration legislation by republican senators Lankford for purely political gain?
Rebecca has saved my sanity..
Thank you 🙏✨️✨️✨️✨️🙏
Just today Bret Stephens has a piece in the NYT detailing what VP Harris will need to do to win his vote. I can’t read it because my head would pop off and roll down the street, but it sounds like a version of what Ms. Solnit is describing (love your work! - I’m a Guardian supporter).
Very astute, posed and balanced analysis by Ms Solnit. A treat.
I’m so glad I ran across this!
Harris in the debate was cathartic. She said what most of us have seen. I wish news would follow suit. Call a spade a spade.
She kicked his ass and only the brain dead are the ones that need to be told that!
I’ve been complaining about a related problem with coverage of Trump in foreign media since back in 2015. Whenever Trump is quoted in media here in Europe they translate the quote to the relevant local language. I have _never_ seen this been done accurately. They always create a grammatically correct sentence with properly used words instead of the kindergartener’s vocabulary and stroke patient syntax he used in the original quote. It is quite frustrating. Especially since the boomer generation typically doesn’t speak English on a level higher than Trump, so they fail to really appreciate the insanity.
"Stroke-patient syntax" 😉👏👏
The way Maggie Haberman from NYT covers Trump only demonstrates her fandom and her glee in turning revenue for NYT
Haberman is an embarrassment. Pure and simple. She tries to come off as calm, reasonable and even-handed. She’s just awful
I don't trust her at all, he's her bread and butter.
Mark Cuban approves of many policies of Harris, I respect Mark Cuban's opinion.
I don't agree at all. Haberman has been reporting on Trump for decades and describes his ongoing trials, latest volley of lies, etc. in a calm and dispassionate manner.
@@eai554 Does her professionalism upset you? Would it be better if she were running around with her hair on fire?
RE: Heather Cox Richardson, not only does she give historical context to current events, she also provides supporting documentation to her substack articles.
Thanks for naming her! I couldn't quite catch it in the actual interview.
Trump just announced " I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!" that's not the action odf a sane political candidate. Trump is off his nut, and the media are not covering it as crackpottery.
That’s the post of a mob boss calling a hit to his violent goons.
Imagine if Harris or Biden posted that they hate kid rock or some other similar Trump endorsing musician. There would be bloody outrage in the right wing media and social media word. The main stream media is acting like the Taylor Swift post is just another normal day. Not one station that I have seen has made much about the point that this is unacceptable behavior by a Presidential candidate.
@@Winstonrodney6989But then it devolves into a "Free Speech issue, right?
I agree it's disqualifying. I'm just unsure of the tactics .
@@Alvan81 Well, I didn’t mean legally disqualifying but morally disqualifying. No President should hate any American for exercising their free choice to endorse anyone they see fit. It’s as un Democratic as you can get and un American. A President should represent ALL Americans not just the ones who like them. In my Opinion this is just one more example of why Trump is unfit to lead. Plus it’s petty as f u c k.
@@Winstonrodney6989 We agree as to the nature of the post.
The "press" can't/ shouldn't use words like crackpot, I guess is my point. I agree about the sanewashing. But as a practical matter, you can't transcribe/print 5 paragraphs of rambling.
And you can't editorialize much.
I guess you could print just the core parts about Tariffs? I'm at work so can't brainstorn, but I think this guest is thoughtful yet totally impractical. Imagine a web or print article with the litsny of Trump's warts every time,
It would be 3 times the length for a start.
Bless your soul. This is not about KH or Trump but how disgusting it is when obvious truths gets ignored for selfish, bigoted, egocentric reasons esp with likes of NYT but then who owns it. She is sooo spot on.
The fact that his words need to be interpreted and translated by "journalists" and "reporters" should automatically disqualify him from any public office.
Ainshtain😂
Saying Merrick Garland has been 'sluggish' is a gross understatement. He SHOULD be FIRED!! He has been a disaster as a 'Leader' of the DOJ.
Too late now. He was absolutely the wrong choice for the job. Biden needed to appoint a pit bull on day one. Trump would already be in jail and the mess we're in could have been avoided.
All that patriotic hand on heart BS we’ve heard from Americans all these years is totally forgotten the moment influencers see a chance to make more $ and/or get more power. How cheaply Americans sold out their country is astonishing.
He wouldnt have been such a damn problem if people had refused to take him seriously from the get go, he never deserved it. He's too much of a ratings cow and he played the media like a fiddle
A cheap fiddle at that.
TOTALLY AGREE WITH REBECCA !!!! 👍🏿👍🏽👍✌🖖🍁💛💙🇺🇦
This right here. It is infuriating to hear Dana Bash, or other 'mainstream' media, justify not calling out Trump and his lies in the interests of being neutral. That only elevates his BS to the same level as the truth being spit by his opponents.
We blocked all corporate cable networks.Opinionated bobble heads don't constitute news.
That would be okay if the journalists were genuinely neutral. But journalists have spent a huge amount of effort of arguing on Trump's behalf how Trump might not be completely confused by simple things, like his plain words suggest.
Often times I feel like I'm in an old Twilight Zone episode. My eyes and ears see and hear one thing, then the gas lighting.
I’m pretty sure that I must have been in some kind of accident and am now in a coma, making all this up in my head.
Thank you! Spot on.
Yep….I’m glad I’m not alone ❤❤❤
Rebecca is awesome! She is spot on and I appreciate her getting the truth out!
So glad you laud Heather Cox Richardson. i couldn’t live sanely without her. i quit both WaPo and TNYT. I’m sick of Goldberg and the Atlantic, too. I gave up on the National Review for their fictional npn-coverage of the FlintbWater Crises.
Sad what’s happened to the NYT. It’s bizarre that they do this.
They've always been this way. They supported Nazis right up until WWII.
I’ve cancelled my subscription to the New York Times for exactly the reasons you cite. #sanewashing
This woman needs to be running the show. She gets it. Fire them all. Love her.
Having served in state and local governments since the 70's I observe that the richest person in the room gets their way - everything else is window dressing.
Yes. So true unfortunately.
Not how a democracy is supposed to work
@@512Squared Corrupt city manager has his retirement party in January. Anybody that stood in the way of corporate money and growth was punished and besmirched. Fudge the numbers or find a new way to feed the fam.
That is mostly because anything we see in publication shows up there and is fed to us by those who spend money to make that happen. There is a validity to that, but also a very unfair system that is never talked about.
Why is it that year after year the richer get toxicly richer, and mostly the toxic rich - like Trump and Musk for example.
Why is there no outlet for free speech and sane discussion. Elon Musk says he bought Twitter in service of free speech, but that is utter nonsense. He manipulates the message.
@@512Squared when combined with capitalism it is inevitable. Aldous Huxley covered this in Brave New World Revisited
I noticed the NYT and the Wall st journal were soft on trump in 2016. I felt like I was going out of my mind with anger and despair until I found the medias touch network.
For me it was reading George Conway in the Atlantic - I thought I was going doolally!
Dana Bash is a disgrace!
Bash is a shill for the corporate pigs who pay her overly large salary! She has no affinity to her viewers! Just the buck
Dana was bashed in the head with a big wad of MAGA money.
Could you list out the small independent news outlets she reads? We should all support those outlets, given the near-extinction of local and soon national U.S. newspapers.
I recommend Democracy Now, Jeremy Scahill, Zeteo, and The Majority Report.
I couldn't agree with Rebecca Solnit more, for that reason I've given up my NYT subscription .
What a breath of fresh air it was to hear Ms Solnit speak. OMG!!!!! So refreshing to hear some accurate objectivity articulately expressed!
Rebecca NAILED this….
Tax cuts to the rich owners trickle down to the editorial page. The 1% have massive influence.
The NYT should change its motto to "All the news that's safe to print."
All the news that’s safe (for our careers) to print.
All the news that’s fit to print (as long as it doesn’t hurt the stock portfolios of our executives, advertisers, or shareholders)
Exactly
@@patrickcannady2066, "sane-itized for your protection".....😖
Why can’t Americans call a liar a liar?
First amendment free speech gives too much cover for lying. The liars can fall back on opinion, which everyone is entitled to in the US.
Any of us with experience with people who have slid into dementia can see what's going on with him. It's particularly concerning in the case of a sociopathic narcissist with thousands of fanatical devotees.
It’s insanity Rebecca! And it’s been going on all my life, and I’m 67.
Agreed. Started with Regan- the media sanewashed him as well. Vote 💙
Ms. Solnit is amazing! A first-class intellect.
I concur, and I will not renew my TNYT’s subscription for the first time in 60 years. When I was 13, my French parents okayed me using my allowance to subscribe to the print edition 7 days a week. The Guardian is my newspaper of record.
NYTimes And Washington Post are dead to me.
Didn't their CEOs donate to Trump's campaign?
Nevermind. That was debunked. lol. I fell for it.
Such a great mind - Rebecca Solnit!
Great to hear the blog by Heather Cox Richardson being lauded. Historical context and reliable information. Readers want it and will pay, are paying, or it. Many journalists/channels are too focused on presenting absurdity and lies as normal. We need more honest assessment, not the imbalanced concern for esthetics of objectivity making things look balanced where they're not - as Rebecca explains do eloquently in the last few minutes here. Well done , Prospect, for this interview with Rebecca Solnik.
I agree wholeheartedly The last few minutes SO POWERFUL
@@fredjohnston4340 Solnit's finishing words were full-on projection. They would better be read as the confession of an ideologue whose output IMO frequently constitutes relational aggression. Indeed, in the name of her favoured ideology she is quite happy to write hit pieces that undermine the fundamentals of jurisprudence such as equality before the law or innocent until proven guilty
Solnit is the GOAT. I'm 59 and that's the first time I've used GOAT.
Maureen Dowd of the NYT endorsed Trump in 2016 and never apologised. Afterwards she didn’t remember.
HARRIS 🇺🇸 WALZ 💙🌊🇺🇸 true patriots!!! thank you NO Project dictatorship! WE THE PEOPLE 💙 AMERICA!
Thanks for this perspective. This helped me reach the decision to cancel my subscription to NYT. I thought it was just me thinking they were normalizing Trump. I will use these savings to sub to Ms Richardson et al
Rebecca is joining a growing group of people who are calling out the MSM avoidance of addressing DT's far from normal cognitive and psychological functioning.
The MSM who spent all that time telling us how Biden was sharp as a tack? That MSM?
I cancelled my subscription to the NYT. The writers and reporters are probably not the problem. They are merely following the editorial policy.
That is correct. Editors and publisher. Snakes.
I agree, but when the Times started hiring "conservatives" for opinion pieces and columns -- the paper went off the deep end.
Isn’t the NYT a Murdoch paper ? Wherever he goes, whatever he buys, it’s always power bending muck ! He has damaged three continents; the UK when he helped to engineer Brexit, Australia, his home country by the same media distortion and finally the US with his media Cess pools like Fox “News” ! Murdoch Muck has way too much power, and Murdoch is fighting to set up his son Lachlan, who is just as power hungry,as Rupert 2.0 !
No. Its the writers. Can you imagine Woodstein in this story? The reporter mentality is more 50s era today..Sad Organization man. The alternative press, YT, other sources..seems to be where the gonzo energy is today.
Basically, there are no men anymore. The only men are women.
A privilege to listen to.
THANK YOU for this. Thank you Rebecca Solnit specifically!!!
❤😊Rebecca , you are right on , keep going , we need the voice of wisdom ❤😊
The thing that got me about the crazy gibberish he spewed about child care, is that audience applauded after all that mess!🤦🏻♂️
A huge breath of fresh air.
Still waiting on her to fire these people.
The NY Times is a Trump stooge. 10:10
Oh great! I found this, I´m such a fan of Rebecca Solnit. Being a German I am amazed how unwilling the American legal system seems to be when it comes to going from legalistic balleydancing to actually prosecuting the crimes of Trump. What inhibits you? That he´s rich? Is it that you voted such a terrible person into office? What is it?
Yes. Keep saying it. Thank you. Vote Blue Down Ballot!!!🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
Definitely! Down Ballot races are soooooo important!
I stopped reading the NYT a few years ago due to it’s normalization of trump.
YES. Thank you for that shot of reality.
Thank you for this!! Long-time loyal reader of the NYT here, who recently (and finally) unsubscribed in complete disgust over their unfair and biased reporting re: Trump. I blame them, in large part, for getting him "elected" in 2016. To be fair, though, I think most of the blame lies with the owners and editors in mainstream media, and their choice of columnists, rather than the journalists who may actually want to report on the truth but are constrained by certain expectations.
Yes, Yes, Yes. OMG Yes.
Word soup. Excellent!!
Ms Solnit is absolutely correct.For my own sanity, I've had to stop reading the New York Times because of the quality of its political coverage and it's intently myopic opinion pieces.
I as amazed at how low grade the NYT has become. I used to believe it was a great paper, paper of record
@@daydays12 Ditto.
@@totostamopo Thanks!
@@daydays12, It's interesting to note the NYT totally missed the opportunity to expose George Santos before he was elected; A Long Island newspaper, the North Shore Leader, had investigated him and published an editorial where the paper's editor, a Republican, endorsed Santos's Democrat opponent because they couldn't find anything to back up Santos's wild claims about himself, and there appeared to be some financial mismanagement of his campaign as well. The New York Times is apparently completely, perhaps wilfully, clueless about other political happenings in their own backyard.
Thank you so much. Also, Naomi Klien is doing good work on this issue and related issues.
Too much of the media is focused on the horse race, and taking the political ads (cash) that results....
The media in the US is quite terrible at its job in general and that is nothing new. They have been giving Trump cover for many years, just brushing over his inane comments about things like abortion or tariffs, immigrants, etc….all of it…..It is pathetic.
thank you Ms Solnit for this essential truth telling.
Rebecca, this is so perfect, everything you have said here. THANK YOU. 🙏
Back in the 70s, I always maintained that the people in the USA were being fed as much propaganda as the people in the Ostbloc. The only difference is that the people in Russia knew this. Now we all know they are. I met many of the leading newspaper journalists in Berlin just after the Berlin Wall fell. I am shocked at how this media has disintegrated.
Americans are (and always have been) the most heavily propagandized population on planet earth. The ascendancy of Trump is due mostly to the simple fact that the American population has appalling levels of ignorance.
Americans believe they live in a democracy. FACT: They do not.
Americans believe their system of governance is the best in the world. FACT: It is not.
Americans believe the Iraqi state possessed weapons of mass destruction.
FACT: It did not.
Americans believe Global Warming is a hoax. FACT: It is not.
I am so sick of corporate media sanewashing Dump. I don't watch any of them anymore. Watch Legal AF, MTN, Democracy Docket, BTC.
They are desperate for ratings. Advertising and cash
I would say it's even more sinister. I think it has less to do with money and more to do with control. there's about 800 people that own this country and I think they are pulling the strings.
We're starving for real conversations like this! Thank you!