One of the reasons why Kamala Harris still has a chance to pull off a victory in this election is that she has a tool much more powerful than TV ads, weak campaign appearance, and celebrities beclowning themselves in order to avoid being exposed as Diddy party attendees (and other reasons); she has the "journalists" in the media.
Now it is true that people don't trust the media much anymore, although plenty of people still do, believe it or not, but the media still has a stranglehold on the flow of information. At least for people who aren't using Twitter/X.
Opinion journalism preaches to the choir, but the words to the hymns are deeply influenced by what information gets out there and what is buried.
INSANE opening tease to ABC's 'Good Morning America' from Michael Strahan and George Stephanopoulos. Look at how they framed the last 24 hours of the campaign:
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 1, 2024
Strahan: "Overnight, former President Trump now pledging to put Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who backed conspiracy theories… pic.twitter.com/gicTop5Bi9
The propaganda media pick and choose what most people see. The have the power to frame issues in a light that favors the left, and their constant repetition has a corrosive effect on the ability to make rational decisions.
If you hear "insurrection" a thousand thousand times, many people will internalize that even if they "know" that it isn't really the appropriate description of the January 6th events.
A real quote from a sitting CBS News anchor. https://t.co/0db5tWXz9c pic.twitter.com/rZaQQme7ZJ
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) October 31, 2024
Media figures usually determine what dominates the news cycle, and ironically it is often low-information independents who pick up--usually unconsciously--the sense of importance projected by the media for any particular story.
Incredible that Dems are still obsessed with a dumb comedian and yet seem to care not at all about Biden’s “garbage” comments and Mark Cuban’s insults to women. I explained it for them on @cnn last night. pic.twitter.com/HsLYPdDNxP
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) November 1, 2024
The media is in full propaganda mode. Nate Cohn of The New York Times' election newsletter discussed the important stories of the day, and it was a masterclass in media bias. This is what he wrote:
This may be a “newsletter,” but we don’t usually write very much about what’s happening in the news. That’s because most of what happens from day to day doesn’t usually have a lasting effect on the campaign. The news cycle moves on, and so do voters. People have short memories. Remember when Donald J. Trump was convicted of a felony?
But with less than a week until the election, many less engaged voters are tuning in and making up their minds — right now. The news today can make a difference, and the recent news cycle has been driven by two items that haven’t been especially favorable to Mr. Trump.
First, John Kelly, his former chief of staff, said Mr. Trump fit the definition of a fascist, naturally turning the political conversation toward Mr. Trump’s conduct on Jan. 6 and the issue of preserving democracy, where Kamala Harris has the advantage.
Second, a comedian, in the context of a political rally for Mr. Trump at Madison Square Garden, referred to Puerto Rico as an “island of garbage,” sparking a backlash on social media and reminding many voters why they didn’t like Mr. Trump.
These events are drawing attention to some of Mr. Trump’s greatest liabilities at the most important part of the cycle. It’s hard to say whether it will make a difference, but the possibility ought to be taken seriously given the timing and the very close race.
Did you notice anything missing? Days after the Madison Square rally, the joke still came up; no mention at all of the PRESIDENT OF THE FREAKING UNITED STATES in a campaign Zoom call telling his viewers that half the country is garbage. That didn't merit notice because, well, it hurt Harris. Bury it!
This kind of absurd rhetoric is despicable.
— Brian Babin (@RepBrianBabin) October 28, 2024
The Left has lost touch with reality - let alone history - for even making this comparison, and the fact that liberal media heads get away with it is ludicrous.https://t.co/mK2aj8ljn5
They keep doing the same thing. Trump made a point about how Neocons are up for any war, as long as they and theirs don't face the barrel of a gun. The proles get killed in the wars these Neocons advocate for.
Harris Senior Advisor Ian Sams: Trump is talking about sending a prominent Republican to the firing squad. Vice President Harris is talking about sending one to her Cabinet https://t.co/0zSFDRbOBM pic.twitter.com/6Eu6doMZum
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) November 1, 2024
The press is trying to turn it into a threat to execute Liz Cheney.
I don’t support Donald Trump but I also don’t support journalists lying to their audiences, and when he says (paraphrased) “these pro-war people wouldn’t be talking such a big game if they were on the front lines” it is actually not the same thing as saying they should be shot https://t.co/kyVtfjkv8e
— Kat Rosenfield (@katrosenfield) November 1, 2024
It's lies, of course, and many people see through it. But it is also a shiny object that gives them an excuse to kill the "garbage" story and Mark Cuban's suggestion that Trump-supporting women are weak and stupid.
Harris campaign's @IanSams on @MSNBC: "Think about the contrast between these two candidates. You have Donald Trump who is talking about sending a prominent Republican to the firing squad & you have Vice President Harris talking about sending one to her Cabinet." https://t.co/5fCZMUmz9L
— Monica Alba (@albamonica) November 1, 2024
Expect a lot of hand-waiving, distractions, fake news, and propaganda, and don't think it doesn't have an impact. Most "undecided" swing voters are, by definition, low-information voters. Not all, but a large chunk. They don't spend hours on the internet searching out information about the candidates because they have lives to lead.
Another bad day for @WashingtonPost. Upset with @CapehartJ and @RuthMarcus for inaccurate attacks on Trump, @hughhewitt rips off his headset and leaves lives #PostLive show. “I’m done. This is the most unfair election ad I have ever been a part of.” Show falls apart, ends early. pic.twitter.com/fsGC1GhIrx
— Brent Baker 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) November 1, 2024
Remember: a large chunk of people thought Biden was still conscious and rational because the media told them he was; it wasn't until the debate that people saw the truth.
The media narrative can have an impact. I don't know how large, but every little bit helps.
It's our job to speak our minds and bring context to those deciding right now, and even more, it is our job to drive voters to the polls.
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