The Daily Blast: Trump-MAGA Erupt in Fury at CBS over Debate—and Expose Their Vile Scam
Oct 3, 2024
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Jamison Foser, a writer focused on media's interaction with the right, delves into the fallout from a recent vice-presidential debate where CBS challenged JD Vance's misinformation. He discusses how Trump's campaign thrives on lies and the media's capitulation to this narrative. The conversation highlights the dangers of neglecting fact-checking, the rise of 'secondary lies,' and the need for media integrity amid political pressure. Foser urges listeners to foster meaningful discourse in a polarized landscape while remaining optimistic about democracy's resilience.
Trump and his supporters exemplify a strategy of bullying the media into submission to avoid accountability and fact-checking.
The media's propensity to tolerate and report on falsehoods from politicians perpetuates a culture of deception, undermining journalistic integrity.
Deep dives
Media's Response to Fact-Checking
The recent vice presidential debate highlighted the timid approach of media outlets towards political fact-checking, especially concerning candidates like J.D. Vance. The response from Trump and his supporters to a single instance of fact-checking illustrates their strategy of bullying the media into submission. Such reactions from Vance and Trump reveal a pattern of insincerity, where they publicly decry bias while not genuinely believing in it. This underscores an authoritarian mindset, believing they should face no challenges or scrutiny, which further enables a culture of deception.
Privilege of Lies in Media Coverage
The discussion points to a critical issue in media practices: the tendency to privilege lies, allowing deceptive narratives to dominate public discourse. When the media reports on false claims made by politicians, even with fact-checking, they inadvertently legitimize the misleading information by framing discussions around it. This includes narratives driven by figures like Vance, who have been explicit about using sensational lies to steer public focus and media attention. By failing to center reporting on the fundamental dishonesty of these candidates, the media contributes to a distorted public perception and perpetuates future lying.
Navigating a Polarized Media Landscape
In the current media landscape, the pressure to cater to the right's grievances has led to significant journalistic failures, including the unwillingness to hold powerful figures accountable. The idea that media outlets can appease one side by sacrificing truth illustrates a misguided approach to journalism. This dynamic results in a continuous cycle where journalists feel compelled to sidestep rigorous fact-checking to avoid criticism, ultimately compromising the integrity of their reporting. Engaging in good journalism is essential, prioritizing accurate information over fear of backlash, to ensure the public remains informed.
At the vice-presidential debate, the CBS News moderators fact-checked one of JD Vance’s lies—and that was all it took to trigger an epic attack on CBS from Donald Trump and his MAGA allies. Which highlights a larger story: The degree to which Trump’s campaign is built on an immense superstructure of endless, shameless lying. Bullying the media into not fact checking Trump and Vance is essential to that project. We talked to Jamison Foser, who writes about the media and the right on his Finding Gravity Substack, about the ways our institutions are capitulating to authoritarian attacks and threats—and what can be done in response.