The news media thread

[Rewind]

Kevin Jackson is the author of The BIG Black Lie and the host of the syndicated talk program The Black Sphere. Until this afternoon, he was also a frequent contributor to Fox News. He was fired for what he said on Twitter about the three women who say they were sexually abused by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh:

"Kevin Jackson
@KevinJacksonTBS
Feminists are their own worst enemies and enemy of women. Also, they want men to NEVER be believed. I'm not succumbing. TO HELL with the notion that women must be believed no matter what. Lying skanks is what these 3 women are, and we ALL know more. #TeamKJ"

Salem Media Group, a conservative "family values" company which owns 117 radio stations and provides programming to 2,400 stations nationwide, syndicates Kevin Jackson's talk show.....but I wonder for how much longer.

[Rewind]

The all-news channel CNN2 launched in 1982 and was renamed Headline News in 1983. In 2005, the channel started running a lot of crime shows and entertainment programs and three years later rebranded as HLN. Today, HLN canceled three hour-long news programs. But don't worry -- you can still see all those 20-year-old episodes of Forensic Files.

HLN shake-up: Ashley Banfield, Carol Costello, Michaela Pereira exiting

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/hl...tASI?ocid=AMZN

[Rewind]

Fox News hosts -- also known as the Donald Trump Cheerleading Squad -- don't even pretend to be objective. Trump comes first and journalistic integrity is a distant second. Sean Hannity and Jeanine Pirro joined Trump on stage last night in Missouri to campaign for Republicans. (Hannity had tweeted that he would not be on stage with Trump. He lied.) Many news network staffers, including several at Fox News, believe Hannity and Pirro crossed a line. And of course Hannity denounced the news crews covering the rally, calling them "fake news" just like Trump does. By the way, one of the news crews was from Fox.

'It disturbs me to my core': Fox News staffers express outrage over Sean Hannity's rally appearance

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/06/media...lly/index.html

[Rewind]

The squawking orange parrot's attacks on the news media -- "Fake news! Fake news! Enemy of the people! Awwwkkk!" -- continue unabated.

CNN's Jim Acosta denied entry to White House
CBS News, Nov 7 2018 8:45 PM ET

The White House suspended CNN reporter Jim Acosta's press pass today, hours after he sparred with President Trump at a press briefing. Acosta posted a video on Twitter showing him being denied entry. Earlier today, Acosta had questioned MTrump on his rhetoric on the caravan moving toward the US border. Trump grew angry with Acosta and tried to move on to another question. A White House intern came to take Acosta's microphone but Acosta moved away and said "Pardon me, ma'am" and tried to continue questioning. Trump refused to answer, then called Acosta "a rude, terrible person." Trump said, "You should be ashamed of yourself. The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible. When you report fake news, as CNN does a lot, you are an enemy of the people."

The White House said it was suspending Acosta's "hard pass," which allows him press access to the White House, because it will "never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern." But video recorded at the press briefing shows Acosta putting his arm on top of hers as she tried to take the microphone away from him. It appeared to be an accident since he said, "Pardon me, ma'am" and moved away from her. Acosta tweeted the White House's statement was a "lie."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jim-aco...ay-2018-11-07/

[Rewind]

The White House suspended Jim Acosta's press pass. Sarah Huckabee Sanders accused Acosta of "unacceptable conduct" for placing his hands on a female White House intern who tried to take a microphone from him. Thanks to photos, videos and eyewitness accounts, we know Sanders was lying. Sanders also lied when she said Trump "believes in a free press." He does not. He continually calls it "fake news" and "the enemy of the American people." He even did so today.

Dan Rather said the suspension of Acosta's press pass is not just an attack on one journalist; it's an attack on the free press. Laura Bassett, noting that Trump has been accused of sexual assault by more than a dozen women, told Sanders to "please spare us the false outrage." CNN denounced Sanders' "fraudulent accusations," saying, "This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better. Jim Acosta has our full support."

White House hit with backlash after suspending press pass of CNN's Jim Acosta

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...sQ6w?ocid=AMZN

[Rewind]

Sarah Sanders has tweeted a video that first appeared on the alt-right, conspiracy-story-spreading site InfoWars. Portions were sped up and Acosta's "Pardon me, ma'am" was edited out. Rather than admit the accusation against Acosta was false, the White House is choosing to disseminate a false, doctored video. A CNN executive said the doctored video is "actual fake news." Indeed it is.

White House shares doctored video to support punishment of journalist Jim Acosta

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...uaAo?ocid=AMZN

[Rewind]

A racist, sexist, bigoted, misogynistic, right-wing Trump supporter and Fox News host who constantly attacks liberals is now upset with a group of liberals for fighting back. But hey, Tucker, just think of how you can gain the sympathy of other right-wingers by milking this story for several days! And remember, Trump will be watching.

Protesters descend on home of Fox News' Tucker Carlson
Newsweek, Nov 8 2018

Smash Racism DC, a group that says it campaigns against fascism, turned up at the home of Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson, chanting that he leave town. The group posted video on Twitter of them ringing the doorbell at his Washington DC house. One person shouts through a megaphone: "Your policies promote hate and we want you to know we know where you sleep at night." The crowd then begins chanting "Tucker Carlson, we will fight! We know where you sleep at night!"

The video has since been taken down by but it carried a caption describing Carlson as a "racist, sexist, bigoted Fox News personality." Carlson's wife was home alone and heard the noise from the kitchen. She called the police and locked herself in a pantry.

Twitter has suspended the account of Smash Racism DC, which had published Carlson's address. Carlson is famed for his abrasive presenting style and for exemplifying the right-of-center views for which his channel is renowned. Recently, Carlson said that he is no longer able to dine out in restaurants because people shout insults at him.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...tkqt?ocid=AMZN

[Rewind]

Trump does not like blacks, Trump does not like females and Trump does not like reporters so it logically follows that he would really detest black female reporters.

Backlash after Trump assails three black female reporters

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...wK9B?ocid=AMZN

[Rewind]

Letter from Carol Ann Wiley of Palm Desert in today's Los Angeles Times:

"What if Trump had a news conference and no one showed up? Why do proffessional journalists need to be humiliated, characterized as 'the enemy of the people,' disrespected and ordered to 'be quiet' and called 'rude and terrible' people? I fail to understand why these men and women do not just walk out. After all, we hear the same lies and denials every time this man speaks to the media. Why even bother to show up just to listen to another one of his temper tantrums? Trump should apologize to our hardworking journalists."

I feel compelled to point out that "temper tantrum" is a redundancy -- and Trump never apologizes to anyone for anything.

[Rewind]

Sarah Sanders said Acosta "laid his hands on" a White House intern. Video and several eyewitnesses confirmed she was lying. She compounded the lie with the release of a doctored video. Today her story has changed: Acosta merely "refused to surrender" the microphone to the intern. And for that, his credentials are revoked? Sanders also mentioned the First Amendment -- as if she and Trump care about the First Amendment. They don't.

CNN files lawsuit against Trump administration, demanding return of Jim Acosta's White House credentials

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cnn-fil...e-credentials/