Dems unhappy with Rachel: We recommend two recent reports about the program content of pseudoliberal cable news, especially MSNBC.
We refer to this post by Erix Levitz at New York Magazine ("The Democratic Party Has an MSNBC Problem"), and to an earlier report at The Daily Beast which Levitz quotes.
That earlier report is by Gideon Resnick and Sam Stein. Stein is a frequent presence on cable news. But the content of the Beast report is captured by its headlines:
Dems Give Up on Trying to Get Cable News to Care About Anything but RussiaThe basic premise of these reports is this: Congressional Democrats want to talk about important policy issues—more specifically, about the Trump administration's "war on the middle class." But all Rachel and them are willing to discuss is Russia and also Russia, Russia the whole freaking time.
The party wants to talk health care. They really do. But they can’t get cable bookers or programmers to care.
The Russians are coming, and also the Russians are coming! It's the Russians the whole freaking time!
We refer to Rachel Maddow because she's the top star on MSNBC. But each of these reports suggests that Democratic election prospects are being harmed by the way MSNBC is selling its one and only TV show, The (explosive) Chase:
RESNICK AND STEIN (5/14/18): Eager to move a message that focuses on things like minimum wage hikes and health care premiums, [Democrats] have been overtaken by a steady stream of stories of Russian meddling, porn star payoffs, and shady Trump-world figures. Ultimately, many offices and aides have come to the conclusion that they should simply give up on trying to break through on cable news at all.Is this relentless diet of Russia trivia harming election prospects? That's a matter of judgment, but the diet is unrelenting and largely beside the point, absent eventual action by Mueller.
“It’s impossible,” said one Senate aide, “unless you want to talk about Russia.”
...[N]umerous other aides echoed this point, sharing stories of fruitless calls and emails to bookers and abrupt cancellations on pre-existing bookings. Jessica Post, executive director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said she was bumped three times from a prime-time MSNBC show due to Trump scandals.
When it comes to her Russia obsession, Maddow is often so deep in the weeds that you can't see the swamp from there. With that in mind, we were struck by Levitz's claim, based on a study by The Intercept, that Maddow "devotes more air time to 'Trump-Russia' developments than to all other issues" combined.
The Intercept had studied Maddow's programs from February 20 through March 31. By their reckoning, Maddow had devoted 640 minutes to "Russia issues" during that period, but only 552 minutes to "Total Non-Russia Issues."
We couldn't help wondering—did Maddow really devote that much time to non-Russkie issues? What other issues does she ever discuss, we incomparably wondered.
We decided to run a quick check. Below, you see the summaries of Maddow Show highlights from the middle week in March. These summaries run on Nexis with transcripts of each night's program. We assume they come from the Maddow staff, but we don't know that for sure.
From these summaries, there's no way to assess The Intercept's statistical breakdown. But you may start to get an idea of what those "other" issues were in Maddow's Trump-obsessed issue palate. We highlight a few topics which aren't "Trump Russia" but come from the same family tree:
Monday, March 12:It wasn't all "Trump Russia" after all! It was also Kushner/Japan, plus the dumping of Tillerson and McMaster, along with the Stormy Daniels case and the embarrassment called Ben Carson!
HIGHLIGHT: David Corn and Michael Isikoff discussed with Rachel Maddow some of the insights explored in their new book, "Russian Roulette," including the unusual presence of people like Paul Manafort, Carter Page, and George Papadopoulos on the Trump campaign team, and how many of the ingredients of the Russian attack on the 2016 election were known to the U.S. intelligence community without the realization of the overall plot. Congressman Adam Schiff talked with Rachel Maddow about the Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee shutting down their Trump Russia investigation with witnesses yet to interview and questions left unanswered.
Tuesday, March 13:
HIGHLIGHT: Andrea Mitchell, NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent, talked with Rachel Maddow about the circumstances of Donald Trump's firing of Rex Tillerson and the foreign policy stakes around Trump administration upheaval. Senator Ron Wyden talked with Rachel Maddow about his objections to the elevation of Gina Haspel to director of the CIA and his concerns about the secrecy of the U.S. torture program and Haspel's role in it.
Wednesday, March 14:
HIGHLIGHT: Britain is to expel 23 Russian diplomats allegedly operating as undeclared intelligence officers after Moscow ignored a midnight deadline to explain how its nerve weapon was used in the attempted assassination of a former double agent on U.K. soil. Caleb Melby, financial investigations reporter for Bloomberg News, talked with Rachel Maddow about a hundred million dollar real estate deal the Jared Kushner's family company did with a Japan-backed company. Sarah Chadwick, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, talked with Rachel Maddow about National Walkout Day and how the national response has increased
Thursday, March 15:
HIGHLIGHT: Donald Trump secretaries Ben Carson and Steven Mnuchin are garnering the kind of embarrassing scandal headlines that seem likely to draw the ax-wielding attention of Donald Trump. "The New York Times" reports that Robert Mueller has sent a subpoena to the Trump Organization for Russia-related documents over a time that extends to before Donald Trump declared his candidacy. Nicole Perlroth, cybersecurity reporter for "The New York Times", talked with Rachel Maddow about new details of Russia's efforts to hack vital U.S. infrastructure accompanying new sanctions on Russia. Ashley Parker, White House correspondent for "The Washington Post", talked with Rachel Maddow about Donald Trump being prepared to fire his second national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, as soon as he arranges a suitable replacement and a non-humiliating departure. Rep. Eric Swalwell talked with Rachel Maddow about evidence House Intel Democrats say they've seen that shows the Trump Organization negotiating a deal with a sanctioned Russian bank during the election season.
Friday, March 16:
HIGHLIGHT: Andrea Mitchell, NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent, talked with Rachel Maddow about the circumstances of Rex Tillerson's firing in contrast with the story the White House is trying to push about it. Donald Trump has hired attorney Charles Harder to represent him in the Stormy Daniels legal case, and filed to move the case to a federal court, showing a new seriousness about the situation. Ellen Barry, international correspondent for The New York Times, talked with Rachel Maddow about British authorities treating the death of Russian exile Nikolai Glushkov as a murder and re-examining more than a dozen past suspicious Russian deaths in the UK.
In other words, it's basically nothing but "Trump scandal and embarrassment." As Maddow socks millions of dollars away, little else ever intrudes, including major policy issues.
Last night, Maddow returned from vacation with one of her higher-energy evenings. It occurred to us that, when dealing with a dangerous president who seems to have mental health issues, it may be better to avoid having cable news anchors who have spoken about their own mental health issues, and who seem to exhibit such difficulties on a regular basis.
That said, it's now "Trump scandal and embarrassment" pretty much all the way down. Corporate cable is raking in bucks selling us an exciting "true crime" tale. We're perhaps a bit too enthralkled to see that we're being entertained, stroked, fluffed, talked down to and played.
Nothing matters except That Bad Man. Nothing affecting regular people need apply, let alone struggling children!
Corporate doesn't care about them. Neither do we, or at least that's what corporate guesses.
"pseudoliberal cable news"
ReplyDeleteYou're kidding yourself, Bob. This is exactly what your mccarthyist brethren are. And they get exactly what they deserve.
As for your "election prospects" - ha-ha, get real Bob. There's only so many zombies capable of casting a ballot...
" largely beside the point, absent eventual action by Mueller"
ReplyDeleteWhy does Somerby think there won't be eventual action by Mueller? If he had been following the Russia stories on cable, he would know that action by Mueller is highly likely, indeed has already happened judging by those who have already been charged and pled guilty.
How do you derive, from your quote by Bob, that he believes "there won't eventual action by Mueller"? Reading comprehension does not seem to be a highly developed skill with you.
DeleteHe says "absent eventual action". Why would he even say that under current circumstances? It was an odd, ridiculous thing for Somerby to say if he has followed the news. On the other hand, a conservative might think Mueller will come up empty based on Fox News misinformation. I think Somerby reveals himself with this remark.
DeleteDemocrats want to talk about health care, says the article. But what is the point of that? Health care is not going to be raised in this Republican-controlled congress. The cuts to Medicare are going to continue. So this is a local issue. Candidates all over the country definitely need to be talking about health care but there is nothing to be done nationally. The more effective way to address this is based on the health care situation in each locality, via speeches, ads, articles in local news and on local cable, debates, social media even, but not the cable politics shows -- the don't cover local issues unless they have national import. Health care issues in California are very different than those in Nebraska, for example.
ReplyDeleteSomerby just wants to use this as a stick to beat Maddow. I knew, when I saw that headline myself that Somerby would glom onto it.
And I wouldn't trust The Intercept with a carton of milk. They are not the friends of Democrats or local progressive candidates. We saw that in 2016.
I don't know who pimps Russia and Putin more: Greenwald (The Intercept), Assange (Wikileaks), or Trump (Trump, Inc.).
Delete3:03 PM writes:
DeleteDemocrats want to talk about health care, says the article. But what is the point of that? Health care is not going to be raised in this Republican-controlled congress.
If you want to know what's wrong with the Democratic party, this is it. The idea expressed here is that while out of power Democrats should focus on getting back into power with whining responses to whatever are the corporate approved topics being featured by the Mains Stream Media during one twenty-four hour news cycle after another. In the meantime, the party should have no agenda/identity it keeps front and center before the public while awaiting an inevitable change in the political winds that will land it power in spite of itself (e.g. see the Republican meltdown in 2006/2008).
Once in power establishment Democrats have no other instinct than to reach across the aisle and to sound reasonable to Main Stream Media consumers who -with some social justice issues aside- have been saturated exclusively with center-right and far-right ideas for decades.
Tactics are not the same as party identity. You can have both. Your criticisms always seem to be about tactics, not programs and policies. You also seem to ignore the contribution of context and situation to selection of tactics, as if we could change the environment by brute force (or wishing), or by pretending it is different when it is not. There are realities on the ground that Bernie never acknowledged and that you don't seem well acquainted with either. I believe that may be my biggest disagreement with you. It is probably why you guys dislike Hillary so much -- being that she is a self-avowed pragmatist and political realist.
Delete8:58 writes:
DeleteTactics are not the same as party identity. You can have both.
You're trying to pass this off as an insight?
Tactics are used to achieve objectives- obviously, establishing its brand in the minds of voters is an objective of paramount importance to a political party. The identity the Democrats are establishing for themselves with the messaging tactics they're using is that Democrats are a bunch of carpers who are without solutions to the problems voters are facing.
When the Main Stream Media is not relaying a national political party's message to the public in a way the leadership of the political party thinks is useful, the tactic to use in response is to include a statement of your message(s) in attack after attack of that media for being the tools of your rivals or of assorted villains.
Pretty simple, go look at how the Republicans have sold their message that the rich don't have enough money and everybody else has more than they deserve by continuously attacking the Mains Steam Media for supporting New Deal/Great Society liberalism throughout the past forty years of right-wing political ascendancy.
I elect CMike, to be the Democrat to convince the main stream media to push for taking money out of elections, even though the main stream media makes tons of cash off political advertisements.
DeleteLooking forward to hearing how easy it was CMike.
"You also seem to ignore the contribution of context and situation to selection of tactics, as if we could change the environment by brute force (or wishing), or by pretending it is different when it is not."
DeleteBingo!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Delete10:34 PM writes:
DeleteI elect CMike, to be the Democrat to convince the main stream media...
The people I'm out to convince are not the corporate masters nor the on air employees of the MSM. I am for always making a two fold argument to voters; 1) This is what we stand for 2) Don't trust what you hear from the MSM.
If you systematically undermine public faith in news media you play into the hands of fascists and totalitarian regimes, like the one Trumps would like to establish here. I think you need to rethink (2).
DeleteGiven CMike's rambling comments at 6:21 and 10:11, I think he'd have real trouble with 1) and it's too late in the day to spend an hour fisking them.
DeleteIf you systematically undermine public faith in [the corporate] news media you play into the hands of fascists...
DeleteThis is 12:11 AM's highly ironic variation of, "Sure, I know these slot machines are rigged, but we have to play here. It's the only casino in town."
That's all right 12:36 AM, it's enough for you to let everyone know you could have fisked them. That's your variation of yelling out "43" with perfect timing at the retired comedians' home.
DeleteWhere is Leroy and his pooper scooper?
DeleteYes, when you see Bob go to The Intercept you know desperation has set in...
Delete"Pretty simple, go look at how the Republicans have sold their message that the rich don't have enough money and everybody else has more than they deserve"
DeleteIf you truly believe that this is what's being sold, then you're the dumbest zombie of them all.
The message is, quite simply, that the American government should be advancing the interests of the American citizens and American economy. The easiest message in the world to sell.
"The easiest message in the world to sell."
DeleteEasier than "Crooked Hillary"?
25 years of selling that message, without an iota of corruption from her, had to be easier.
"The message is, quite simply, that the American government should be advancing the interests of the American citizens and American economy."
DeleteIf it was that easy, we'd have Universal Healthcare.
We do have universal healthcare -- it is called Obamacare. We don't have single payer care and we don't have free health care.
DeleteIf it was that easy, we'd have guaranteed minimum income, free college tuition and living expenses for students, no homelessness, universal registration and voting by internet, and so on. Why limit your attention to health care? It is a very confusing issue despite its importance to many people, but that makes it a difficult campaign issue. Too much to explain.
I know but in "What Happened" Hillary said cable news was great. Therefore, it is.
ReplyDeleteBetter trolling please.
DeleteBut I read the book and she explains how good she is and how others sabatoged her deserved path to glory.
DeleteYou might try actually reading her book. It might surprise you.
DeleteIt might elicit any number of reactions.
DeleteSurprise is the usual reaction when there is a mismatch between expectations and reality.
Delete" ... I read the book and she explains how good she is and how others sabatoged her deserved path to glory."
DeleteAs alluded to by another commenter, it's obvious that you didn't read Hillary Clinton's book.
Your trolling, like your grasp of the truth, is weak.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI know but the book explains what happened. Bernie stole her ideas. The media didn't report her plans or the tremendous enthusiasm and attendance at her massive rally's.
DeleteSurprisingly, she doesn't talk about Bernie much. She beat him -- he isn't the reason she lost by anyone's reckoning, except that his bro's contributed to 3rd party voting in key states (WI, MI). But Bernie supposedly did not encourage that, so she gives him a pass and basically never mentions him.
DeleteShe is pretty accurate about what mattered to her loss and what didn't. She carefully evaluates each of the proposed theories and gives insider info to support or dispute each proposed theory. It is a very interesting discussion, open and frank and realistic, as she always has been.
Like I said, you might find it enlightening to read what she actually said.
This cable news focus on Russia is happening because this IS the biggest issue concerning all of us today. It is THE current event. Somerby's criticism is like complaining because the press spent so much time discussing 9/11 in the aftermath of that disaster. This too is a disaster for all of us and it needs to be followed to the finish, in ways the public can understand, because Trump is a crook and he must be taken down. Somerby treats him like just another President, but he is just another Nixon, another Hitler, another Stalin. He is that bad. If Somerby were paying attention, he would know that and he would stop writing the puke he posts here day after day, giving aid and comfort to those working to destroy our government and political system for their own enrichment.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, Somerby is an ass.
Who could argue with that logic?
DeleteNotice how Somerby doesn't mention the contribution of Avenatti to revealing Trump and Cohen's graft. No mention of Stormy or her body parts by Somerby but also no mention that Avenatti somehow has access to detailed records about Cohen's solicitation of payments (influence peddling) and has been making that info public. Meanwhile, Trump has absolutely nothing to say about Stormy and her affair, when he said lots of nasty things about the other women he assaulted [omission of allegedly is intentional]. This suggests Avenatti scares him and that he is a big more than a con man full of bluster, as Somerby recently claimed.
ReplyDeleteBut Somerby supposedly isn't interested in The Chase. He is only interested when Avenatti talks about Stormy and sex and those body parts that both fascinate and repel Somerby.
Anom at 3:27, well said, but only one aspect of Bob’s craven nonsense.
DeleteI love the female form but personally find ultra large implants to be grotesque. The way they unnaturally stretch the breast skin tissue like over-inflated balloons, and, by the way they're usually done, leaving an unsightly surgical scar, encircling and flattening the areola. Not to mention can kill nipple sensation.
DeleteI can understand implants for reconstructive purposes, but to take a healthy breast and stuff it with an enormous saline filled plastic bag is not my cup of tea. Keep em natural!
Congratulations, Bob. Does it feel good to see your own supposed views validated in the mainstream/liberal media? At least Stein, Resnick, and Levitz have some influence in the media, unlike The Howler.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the chasm between your own views and that of Levitz is nowhere more apparent than here:
"In truth, the Democratic Party is quite focused on promoting a progressive critique of the GOP’s positions on taxes, health care, and social spending, because it knows that Republicans are deeply vulnerable on those issues."
Looking back over your blog history, you seem to feel that "we liberals" only know one thing--the race card--and that "we liberals" don't really care about health care, education, etc.
Of course, you can't seem to be clear in your discussion. You constantly conflate the "pseudoliberal" media with the liberal "elites" and the liberal "rank and file".
So you can understand why your readers might prefer the critiques of Levitz, Stein, and Resnick to yours.
Rachel's multi-millions of dollars a year inslate her from the problems and concerns of most work-a-day Americans. She wouldn't have a clue as to how to speak to those concerns if she had to. It's all a game to her.
ReplyDeleteInsulate (spellcheck run amok)
DeleteSomerby seriously thinks the cable hosts shouldn't be talking about the major revelations occurring daily in this corrupt administration? People need to know what is happening.
ReplyDeleteNo, they should be talking about other things as well.
DeleteBtw ... speaking of the tawdry: exactly WHO initiated the "Stormy Daniels" payoff?
Stormy herself through her attorney? Nobody seems to have asked.
And why is Trump the sleazeball for having sex with her and paying her off, but SHE'S the hero for having sex with him and getting paid off?
"Btw ..."
DeleteHey, look! A troll.
The trolls are the ones who agree with the author lol.
DeleteBob, enough with the silly half measures. Let’s have the hit post on Mueller, as promised.
ReplyDeleteFor Russians you guys speak English very well. Did you train at the GRU?
ReplyDeleteI am so pissed that Rachel Maddow makes so much money. She is not even a failed comedian and may even have relations the lesbian way.
ReplyDeleteCall Dr. Dr Iyaryi for urgent and fast love spell +2349057915709 or email him driayaryi2012@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteI lost my husband to another woman,after 4 years of marriage . We had a lovely marriage but he started a relationship with a co worker who chased after him . He is living away near his work and he refused to talk to me or to come home . I was so devastated and found it hard to cope. I became very worried and needed help. As I was browsing through the Internet one day, I came across a comment by Amber that suggested that Dr Iyaryi helped her solve her marital problems, restore broken relationships and so on. So, I felt I should give him a try. I contacted him and he did a spell for me. 2 days later, my husband came to me and apologized for the wrongs he did and promise never to do it again. Ever since then, everything has returned back to normal. I and my family are living together happily again.. All thanks to Dr Iyaryi. If you need a spell caster that can cast a spell that truly works, I suggest you contact him. He will not disappoint you. I give you 100% guarantee that he will help you. His email driayaryi2012@hotmail.com And also Reach him on WhatsApp Number: +2349057915709 Thanks Dr. IyaryI
And how much time is Fox Spending leading Trump’s campaign on this? Bob does not know and does not care.
ReplyDeleteExpressing any interest, let alone concern for healthcare premiums or the minimum wage is out of Rachel Maddow's depth. She's a self-centered, rich pig boutique liberal.
ReplyDelete"She's a self-centered, rich pig boutique liberal."
DeleteYet another woman guilty of capitalism. "Lock her up!"
I want to let the world know about Doctor abel the Great spell caster that brought back my husband to me when i thought all hope was lost. Doctor abel used his powerful spell to put a smile on my face by bringing back my man with his spell, at first i thought i was dreaming when my husband came back to me on his knees begging me to forgive him and accept him back and even since then he loves me more than i ever expected so i made a vow to my self the i will let the World know about Doctor abel because he is a God on earth. Do you have problems in your relationship ? have your partner broke up with you and you still love and want him back ? Do you have problem with your finance ? or do you need help of any kind then contact Doctor abel today for i give you 100% guarantee that he will help you just as he helped me. Doctor abel email is: bantespelltemple@gmail.com or whatsApp him +2347059073543
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI want to let the world know about Doctor paul the Great spell caster that brought back my husband to me when i thought all hope was lost. Doctor paul used his powerful spell to put a smile on my face by bringing back my man with his spell, at first i thought i was dreaming when my husband came back to me on his knees begging me to forgive him and accept him back and even since then he loves me more than i ever expected so i made a vow to my self the i will let the World know about Doctor paul because he is a God on earth. Do you have problems in your relationship ? have your partner broke up with you and you still love and want him back ? Do you have problem with your finance ? or do you need help of any kind then contact Doctor paul today for i give you 100% guarantee that he will help you just as he helped me. Doctor paul email is: Astoriashrine@gmail.com or whatsApp him +2349051441669
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH FOR THE WISE,PROSPER LOAN FIRM IS THE ONLY WAY OUT FROM ANY FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES { prosperloanfirm@yahoo.com }
ReplyDeleteGreetings great mind, It will be my greatest pleasure saving Individuals and companies from extortion, I know not everyone will want to take it upon their self to reveal the bitter truth about online Lending because of insecurity, Time of doing it and all that. I Ryan F. Tyler, an outstanding businessman who reside at Oakland, California has taken it upon himself to share this article to whom it may concern so they can learn and educate their self from it . It's bad to the extend where you see testimonies online about getting a loan and it turn out to be fake. For real i have fallen for that tricks countless time to the extend i lost almost 65,000usd in total all in the name of getting a loan to invest in a very lucrative business. After so many failed attempt of securing a loan, I and my Manager went online to do a thorough search and found this company PROSPER LOAN FIRM +1(816) 366-8769 ) but before giving it a try we also went ahead to make sure they are registered under BBB, check their reviews and also go to their headquarter to confirm their existence and capability.We were so careful because we didn't wanted to lose any dime again and to our greatest expectation they deliver according to their review and grant us our desire loan amount of 510,000.00Usd. A word to everyone out there when it comes to Online Lenders contact only PROSPER LOAN FIRM via email: { prosperloanfirm@yahoo.com } or drop a message to them via text at +1(816) 366-8769 and consider all your financial problems tackled and solved.#SHARE, You can rescue someone from been victimized today, Thanks.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI'm Dr Ogudugu, a real and genuine spell caster/Spiritual healer with years of experience in spell casting and an expert in all spells, i specialize exclusively in LOVE SPELL/GET REUNITE WITH EX LOVER, MONEY SPELL, POWERFUL MAGIC RING, ANY COURT CASES, FRUIT OF THE WOMB, HIV CURE, CURE FOR CANCER, HERPES, DIABETE, HERPERTITIS B, PARKINSON’S HERBAL CURE, BECOMING A MERMAID, BECOMING A VAMPIRE, SAVE CHILD BIRTH. They are all %100 Guaranteed QUICK Results, it most work. If you have any problem and you need a real and genuine spell caster to solve your problems, contact me now through my personal Email Address with problem case...Note-you can also Text/Call on WhatsApp.
Contact me -
Email: greatogudugu@gmail.com
WhatsApp No: +27663492930