The Media Are Going Easy On Trump and Russia is Going All In On Right-Wing Media
Sep 6, 2024
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In this discussion, Daniel Drezner, a Tufts University professor specializing in global politics, critiques media coverage of Trump and the inconsistencies in accountability compared to other candidates. Dan Froomkin from PressWatchers.org highlights how fact-checking can sometimes create confusion in political narratives. Will Sommer from the Washington Post explores Kremlin influence on U.S. conservative media. Lastly, Dan Taberski dives into the mysterious connections between mass psychogenic illness and public perception, unraveling societal impacts.
Mainstream media's unequal scrutiny of Democrats and Republicans amplifies misinformation, neglecting the significant differences in truthfulness between candidates.
The ties between Tennessee-based Tenet Media and Russian funding highlight the alarming influence of foreign entities on American political discourse.
Media coverage can exacerbate social phenomena, as seen in the Le Roy high school case, emphasizing the responsibility of journalists in reporting.
Deep dives
Media Coverage and False Equivalence
The episode highlights the media's handling of the coverage regarding Democratic and Republican candidates, particularly the false equivalence that often pervades political reporting. It points out that minor misstatements by Democratic candidates receive disproportionate scrutiny compared to more significant inaccuracies from their Republican counterparts, notably Donald Trump. The discussion includes examples of Trump's incoherent speech during interviews and how media outlets tend to favor clean, coherent narratives that obscure the chaotic nature of his rhetoric. This tendency ultimately misleads the public and obscures the actual differences in truthfulness between the two political parties.
Russian Influence Operations Exposed
A Tennessee media company's links to the Kremlin were brought to light, revealing how this operation received millions in funding to manipulate public discourse and influence U.S. politics. The indictment uncovers that the Russian government attempted to launder nearly $10 million to pay political influencers to create misleading content, masquerading as genuine American expressions. Conservative figures, including prominent YouTubers, fell victim to this scheme, believing they were working for a legitimate entity. This event showcases the pervasive nature of foreign influence within American media, raising concerns about the integrity of political messaging.
Media's Role in Mass Psychogenic Illness
The podcast dives into a phenomenon observed at a New York high school, where students began exhibiting Tourette's-like symptoms, raising questions about the influence of media coverage on such mass psychogenic illnesses. The episode discusses how an intense media spotlight on the students amplified their symptoms and spread the disorder throughout the school. Neurologists involved in the investigation argued that excessive media attention served as a vector for the illness, suggesting that reducing exposure could mitigate the symptoms. This incident emphasizes the responsibility of the media in reporting such stories and the potential consequences of sensationalized coverage.
Critique of Fact-Checking Practices
The episode critiques the state of political fact-checking, illustrating how mainstream news outlets tend to provide equivalent scrutiny to misleading statements from both political sides. Critics argue that this approach can obscure the vast discrepancies in honesty and integrity between the parties, particularly when one side displays a consistent pattern of falsehoods. The discussion also examines instances where fact-checkers engaged in hair-splitting analyses rather than addressing the substantive nature of political lies, often hindering the audience's ability to discern truth from dishonesty. It calls for a shift in fact-checking to focus more on the implications and motivations behind political statements instead of solely evaluating their accuracy.
Influencers as Vectors for Propaganda
The episode further explores the role of influencers in propagating politically charged narratives, showcasing how they unwittingly serve as channels for foreign propaganda through financial incentives. Notable right-wing figures were reported to have collaborated with a media company funded by Russian interests, often oblivious to the origin of the money and the intentions behind its distribution. The influencers' reactions range from denial of complicity to claims of victimhood, suggesting a disconnect between their content creation and the larger implications of their roles. This points to a broader issue in social media, where monetary gain can compromise integrity and lead to the perpetuation of misinformation.
At a town hall event hosted by Fox, Donald Trump shared a number of falsehoods, and appeared to confuse who he was running against. On this week’s On the Media, how mainstream outlets fail to hold the Republican candidate accountable. Plus, meet the right-wing American pundits who’ve received payouts from the Kremlin.
[01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone speaks with Daniel Drezner, professor of International Politics at Tufts University. Drezner discusses how the political press continues to struggle to cover Trump, and his campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris.
[12:34] Host Brooke Gladstone interviews Dan Froomkin, editor of presswatchers.org. Froomkin explains why fact checkers at legacy outlets are too often adding to political confusion.
[20:49] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Will Sommer, reporter for the Washington Post who writes about conservative media. They discuss a federal investigation into how the Russian-funded media network RT funded and influenced content of a conservative media company in the U.S., which appears to be the Tennessee-based Tenet Media.
[35:01 ] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Dan Taberski, the host and creator of the podcast series “Hysterical,” about the ties between a medical mystery in Le Roy, New York in 2011, and the unending Havana Syndrome saga.
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.
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