Here is the comment from the reader I mentioned in the newsletter:
Hello Robert:
I’ve found another way to reach NY Times and other MSM journalists when they cover the upcoming presidential contest as a horse race.
I write to journalists when I disagree with their approach, and they usually respond. It’s something other readers of your newsletter can do. This is because I write respectfully and sum up the import of linked content. The latest success of this strategy was a reply by Peter Baker, the NY Times White House correspondent. He responded almost immediately to let me know they are aware of Michael Podhorzer’s dissent and that David Leonhardt quoted Podhorzer extensively the other day. He assured me that he and his colleagues take Podhorzer's views into account as they try to process and analyze election issues.
I’ve had a similarly attentive response recently by WAPO opinion columnist Perry Bacon when trying to understand my Congressional Representative, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, joining the Blue Dog Coalition and the Problem Solver's Caucus.
Years ago Jim Lehrer sent a brief, handwritten note agreeing with views I shared by letter about his regularly interviewing the reactionary firebrand, Patrick Buchanan.
Here’s a parallel observation. Look at the reader comments objecting to MSM stories that are pushing Biden ageism or alleged unpopularity. We are piling on, and they print our comments. Journalists writing those pieces must read the Comments section to see how they are being received. I’m cautious, though. I think they’re still writing clickbait that may elicit our disagreement while demoralizing or dissuading less informed readers. Maybe not, though, because how many ill-informed people read MSM publications of record?
They are doing many things to reform the media. For example they have petitioned the FCC to deny the broadcast license renewal of a Fox owned TV station."
Also use www.mediamatters.org website to help discern MSM “failures” in context. They (Media Matters for America) are a web-based 501c3. Definitely progressive in their research and information bent. They monitor/analyze & even try to correct conservative misinformation in our domestic media hellscape.
I would add to the list of important pro-Biden voices that of David J. Rothkopf, political and foreign policy commentator who heads DSR Media and writes for The Daily Beast. He is also one of the people whose presence on Twitter keeps me there--as part of a determined resistance community.
Here’s a Rothkopf tweet I used in my blog post yesterday, which contains appropriate snark, I believe:
In this case, the primary issue is not misinformation, it's the emphasis on Biden's age vs accomplishments. And, secondarily, Biden's age vs Trump's age.
They would argue they are not misrepresenting the facts, which is true.
This emphasis on age is indeed discouraging since President Biden's accomplishments are pretty amazing. Leadership is not just about the leader, but about how the leader is able to appoint and listen to competent people around them. President Biden does this and, it might well be noted, that he has a lot of competent, energetic younger people working for him. This isn't a beauty contest. This is real life. One distinct advantage of being older is that there is less ego involved and you are more eager to cut to the chase. I think we need to help each other ferret out the facts, and the policies, and think for ourselves. Relying on the mainstream media is a little like relying on your weather app rather than drawing back the curtains and looking out the window to see if it's raining.
I guess I might argue with them that they ARE misrepresenting the facts, since nowhere in their discussion of "age" do they mention "fitness" - which as we all know is part and parcel to that equation. If they factored in physical fitness, mental acuity, temperament, and other aspects of one's "age," there would be nothing at all for them to talk about. I'm 76 and as fit as I've ever been. My late husband died when he was 68 and my late partner died when he was 63. My mother is 97 and going strong. I'm waiting for the old, fat, senile guy to keel over any day now, because he's just one heart attack away from foaming at the mouth.
Not really true, if the media ignores Trump's age, physical condition, and deteriorating cognition, and his autocratic intentions. That's very selective reporting that is ultimately deceptive and misleading.
Thank you, Ellie, I had no idea. At first I was uncomfortable with supporting the blocking of a license - what about free speech? But I read the docs, and got clear - this isn't about speech, it's about defying FCC regulations re acting in the public interest that are requirements for holding the license. Then I read about the Republicans who have come out in support of this:
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 21, 2023 — Former Republican Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman and broadcast licensee Alfred Sikes today joined the Media and Democracy Project (MAD) and media veterans Ervin S. Duggan and William Kristol to support a petition to deny the broadcast license renewal application for FOX Corporation-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF-TV)."
Thank you for this link. Last night, when there was coverage of the debate (I didn't watch it nor did I watch the dissection of it), I caught a series of clips that MSNBC chose to show from Fox, to reflect their reaction to the abortion issue and I noticed that anchor after anchor referred to their network as "we" and "our" as in indication that they were nothing more than a propaganda network for the Fascist party (my name for the GOP.) Comments on the order of "WE need to change our messaging" or "WE need to change how we talk about abortion" caught my attention.
I just signed the petition and asked to be placed on the email list. Thanks again!
I have written to journalists. They have responded by defending themselves. I think I should change my email to a male name to get heard. In the meantime, I continue to address problems where there is a forum to do so. However, I think that the Democratic party needs to be explaining the Inflation Reduction Act directly to the people bit by bit, picking the most salient items that affect people. Most people don't understand the bill, which covers a lot of things.
The Democratic Party needs to push ALL of Pres. Biden's accomplishments, which are many: The Infrastructure Act, which is providing funds to improve & repair our aging roads & bridges in every state; the Chips & Science Act, which provides $39 billion in subsidies for chip manufacturing on US soil & $13 billion for semiconductor research & workforce training; and the Inflation Reduction Act, which allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices & caps out of pocket costs to $2000, closes tax loopholes, lowers ACA healthcare premiums for millions of Americans, & sets a goal of lowering energy costs, increasing cleaner production, & reducing carbon emissions by roughly 40% by 2030.
I am surprised that guns are not talked about more. One thing that occurred to me is that the GOP's messaging is now that "it's a mental health issue, not a gun issue." Ok, but what are they doing to help mental health issues? Social support, which requires taxpayer dollars, is against their mission. So, they're doing nothing.
I was just going to say the same thing regarding the lack of MSM attention to assault weapons. They must be banned if we are going to save lives. That is just as important as the abortion issue. In spite of what just happened in Maine, assault weapon regulations are just forgotten by the media. We all must do something about this.
Agreed! I had thought that the Chips and Science and The Infrastructure Acts are clearer to people than the Inflation Reduction Act. There should be people who are explaining this to the membership of AARP. I am sure my 89 year old mother does not have any idea what is in most of these bills. I have noticed that she is missing out on a lot of information that she might have understood earlier. Still, there should be people targeting information from each of the acts to the public in general, and the target groups as a priority!
And the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Coach the reps and senators from each state about what is being built or repaired in their district or state so they will tout it.
I would be interested to learn of your results by writing with your name versus a male name to the same reporter on different issues. I expect that you’re right and also wonder whether some issues expressed by a woman would be more powerful than those expressed by a man. Then there are communicators by gender diverse people, which may be impactful to journalists who have come out of the closet.
This is a great comment. I think something else we must do (and it's hard)--is have the self-control to actually click on and read more articles about Biden's policies, etc, than about polls and the horse race. I don't think they are promoting these articles because they want Trump reelected--they just need clicks, and it may be that our behavior counts for more than our words. If the click-count switches to favoring the kind of coverage we want to see, their behavior will change.
Thank you, Gary. This is very helpful. Another age-old action to take is letters to the editors. I try to send a few each month--I’m actually not sure that my DALLAS MORNING NEWS receives that many submissions, as they are published fairly frequently. Like you, I am respectful, and try to focus on issues and what I hope are common values. Frequently, acquaintances in my community comment that they read my letters and agree with me--acquaintances who I had no idea were like thinkers.
As an aside, when I read earlier this week (pre-election) a Leonholt comment that Democrats exaggerat the impact of Dobbs, I nearly spit up my coffee. So this morning, Thursday, he is still defending that opinion. Good grief.
You’re welcome! Keep on pushing Leonhardt, who is quoting Michael Podhorzer. This isn’t different from many constituents influencing a politician. I agree that LTEs are powerful. I’ve been very successful posting them to our local paper and have sometimes had them published in the New York Times, but there’s lots of competition with other writers in a huge outlet like that.
BTW, I have seen stories emerging that are highlighting Democratic successes last night as very bad news for the MAGA movement.
I was thrilled to read that he was living in Marie Gluesenkamp Perez' district. It must be uplifting to be represented by her. I follow her (from far away in Europe) on Twitter. She is in her first term, I do hope many more will follow. People like her are the future of the Democratic Party.
She is walking a tightrope trying to hold onto a seat in a Trump +5 district. Sometimes I fear that she runs away from turning off conservatives and neglects or turns off the many Democrats iwho worked hard to elect her. But the alternative is a charismatic and die-hard America First guy who frequently appears on the Steve Bannon show. Podhorzer has a lot to say about turning out Democrats versus trying to convert lifelong Republicans, which is a tough sell. I believe that his observations about national politics can also be applied to congressional districts that may have urban, suburban and rural areas.
I totally agree. Writing directly to columnists can be a powerful way for people to influence the national narrative. However, most publications do not provide contact information for individual columnists.
If you click on the author's name in a WaPo article, you will get a little envelope symbol for their email. Click that and you will get their direct email address. In my experience, if you go through the effort to do that to contact them, they take you seriously and respond to seriously-written comms. I save all the things I'd*really* like to say to the otherwise-unemployables for my Substack and act like they are someone to take seriously, whether or not their work demonstrates that.
Jerry, I’ve written directly to columnists without posted contact info by doing a quick Google search. There’s almost always an email address I can use for contact while referencing where I originally read their column.
You’re correct about the WaPo email standard. Also, if you click on a journalist name in their byline, you’re presented with a page that gives a brief bio and has an email link on the bottom. Clicking that link puts their email address in your mail software.
For broadcast media, I don’t know, but they have websites too. When I wrote to Jim Lehrer, I must have forgotten to mention that soon after that, Buchanan no longer appeared on his show. I doubt my one letter pushed Buchanan off the ledge, but letters from many readers may have had an impact. And probably Jim Lehrer was fed up with Buchanan’s being immovable from reactionary talking points.
Thank you. I will try to reach the Daily Show as they have been pushing the negative narrative, too, with "jokes" about Biden's age. I was going to just stop watching but you have alerted me to the necessity to speak up.
Thank you. This is such a useful discussion. It would be great if there was a source for giving the emails for all of the prominent reporters from the most prominent newspapers. Herd mentality is a sad factor of human nature and mainstream journalists are no exception. They are also lazy. Many just regurgitate press releases they receive; many repeat what a single regarded source among colleagues says and that person’s opinion gets copied over and over by others. I am especially disgusted by the NYT and glad Robert gave it a well deserved drubbing. Thank God for grassroots media!
I don’t think that journalists are lazy, by and large. But they are understaffed, pressured to meeting deadlines, and have to satisfy corporate bosses. There are journalists in MSM whose views most often support our cause. I’m thinking of people like Michelle Goldberg, Charles Blow, Paul Krugman, and usually Frank Bruno in the New York Times.
The latest Bruno quip cited by Robert is dismaying. But he’s now living out of state, working as a professor, and facing aging and health issues. He apparently bought the theme being driven by pollsters and the too many of us who are wringing our hands in fear that tfg will ascend to the golden toilet again.
If journalists are smart, they'd pay attention to the number of "likes" to comments. That is an indication of strength of agreement, regardless of whether the person chooses to add a comment. I'm one of those. And I use social media deliberately to share Robert's substack as well as those he mentioned in this newsletter. I know it is being read by my followers because I observe how many times he is being quoted and how often his (and others) newsletters are being "shared." Reporters might note the fact that most here are well connected through subgroups and especially social media. When I still played in the Xitter pigpen, I would write directly to the producers of certain cable shows as well as to their anchors. On occasion, I would receive a response. In a sense, we here are a part of the grassroots effort, spreading fact to counter the fiction "out there."
I have been writing the heads of PBS and national news but with your suggestion will write directly to the jjournalists. I know I have had answers in the distance past. Good call
Thank you, Robert and Reader, I just joined the Media and Democracy Project (Thank you Ellie Kona) and I will begin these responses .
Meanwhile, this whole issue is inspiring something in me:
Remember "Dance 10, looks 3" from A Chorus Line? The melody to the chorus: "Tits and Ass" keeps coming to mind (with thanks to songwriters Edward Kleban / Marvin Hamlisch) with new words:
Kudos to you, but as someone who has worked in Communications for 30 years, the MSM has devolved into nothing more than clickbait since they make money that way. The writers you’re responding to will happily keep chugging along writing crap.
How did the reader break through to Peter Baker??? More generally, how can one succeed in contacting NYT writers?? NYT, unlike WaPo, doesn’t make internet addresses available. It’s frustrating.
I clicked on his name, which revealed contact information. He responded almost immediately and I practically fell off my chair. This is like trying to influence a politician. Be polite and speak up.
You actually can contact WaPo journalists directly. Click on their linked name in the byline. You’ll see an email link and a link that still bears the Twitter logo FWIW. The email link inserts their email address in your mail software.
Robert, the tone and content of today's Today's was absolutely on point! It felt good to hear you sharing our frustration with the effing media! This is going out to my email list. And I will follow up with writing to journalists as per Gary. Thank you!
To your point, Robert Hubbell, I recall during the summer of 2020, two reporters were having an online discussion about covering the election. Unfortunately, I can't remember who they were specifically. But suffice it to say, they were both from mainstream media. To my amazement and fury, they gleefully admitted that even though Trump was outrageous, even dangerous, he was in their assessment "entertaining". I couldn't believe my ears. Therein lies the problem. Some, or perhaps most, of these so-called journalists are treating Trump's vitriol as tantalizing, although distasteful, fodder for their readers/viewers. As long as some media care more about their numbers than truth, our democracy, and the common good, this garbage is what they will continue to dish out. I don't expect them to change now if it's working for them. So I agree with you. Let's write and disseminate our own narrative about Biden, his impressive accomplishments, and his fitness for a second term.
Wait! Please don’t apologize for airing your ire at MSM. I have the same feelings - as do many of your readers. Thank you,
I’m so glad you wrote at length about this.
I write letters to the editor (NYTimes and WaPo) as well as to individual columnists at least weekly and join you in encouraging others to do so too. If there are enough of us, at some point they might rethink their coverage/decisions.
A quick point re: the Times headline about abortion as the issue in this election, and your “fair enough “ comment. To reduce the election victories to that one issue is inaccurate and denigrating to Dems. While reproductive rights (the term they should use) was big, all the victories across the country - up and down ballot - were about way more than that. Except of course specific votes like Ohio.
Alexandra, thanks for highlighting the term “ reproductive rights” that we all should be using.According to Speaker Johnson and others,a fertilized ovum =fetal personhood. A broader attack on contraception will be next…
Agree! I use "reproductive liberty" to emphasize that it is one of the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights, due process, and equal protections clauses in the Constitution. It is a liberty like free speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of association.
For more about what you can do about the media please see the Media and Democracy (MAD) Project at https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/ They are doing many things to reform the media. For example they have petitioned the FCC to deny the broadcast license renewal of a Fox owned TV station. One thing I did after hearing Milo of MAD talk was to become an engaged member of the Texas Tribune, an independent newspaper that you can count on to get excellent news coverage of Texas that you can trust. https://www.texastribune.org/.
While I find the continual efforts by the media to push a "the Democrats are in deep trouble" narrative despicable, I am not sure its effects are necessarily deleterious. I suspect for every voter discouraged by this negative drumbeat there are at least two who are motivated to work, to contribute and to vote Democratic by the understandable fear of the destructive effects of a victory by the MAGA crowd. Each successive election proves that the GOP is pushing a raft of deeply unpopular policies. The longer this process goes on, the greater likelihood of an enduring Democratic majority. The GOP "base" is composed of shrinking demos--older citizens, the less educated, rural residents. Conversely our strength is among the younger, the better educated and the urban--all growing demo's. We can't rely solely on these demographic trends, but they do provide a strongly positive underpinning to our having better candidates pursuing substantially more popular policies. Tuesday's election results have unquestionably demonstrated the truth of this despite the chorus of pundits either ignoring or simply downplaying these undeniable realities. We Democrats simply need to cheer up and realize that we are on the winning side--if we work assiduously to expose the lies of the MAGA crowd.
After I have read an article on WaPo or NYT, I might write in the “comments” section. I have seen some folks totally vilify the journalists for their skewed views. I have done that also.
Just wanted to point out that Indivisible was one of the first grass roots organizations established after 2016. I belonged to a chapter for several years until two of the people running it reached burn out. In the meantime, I talk to many people, email articles, such as Robert’s, to get people off of their asses. We cannot afford to have people put their heads in the sand and pretend nothing is happening!
Real quick, I am new here and was working on a letter to the editors of the L.A.Times, of which I have subscribed to for decades, to support their investigative journalism. This news letter was recommended by other followers of other serious Substacks and I have been reading for about a week now. I Just upped to paid to ask about copying and pasting a part of a paragraph here. I'll stick around.
As I read the first paragraph, I saw that tonight you are dealing directly with my thoughts for the letter I have been scratching out in my head. Your post just popped up.
I would like to insert a credited quote of a paragraph of yours that would get their attention to hear me out about how their "liberal" editorial page distracts us from the real content of their publication. It is a reality driven by the news and headline editors that, by omission, choice of word or whatever to define or portray a subject that adheres to their corporate point of view. They maintain as "impatiality" their negative potrayal of the Biden administration's achievements as they quote someone who "feels" or "thinks", as opposed to providing evidence, of Bidens frailty, ineffectivenes, lack of leadership or whatever. You say here tonight, that they bolster Trump by sowing doubt about Biden's abilities.
Project 2025 and the efforts of the Heritage Foundation are news we, as citizens need to hear about too. The threats posed by the far right using Trump as their face, (as you know they have used other faces in the past), are the greatest threat to our Nation that exists today. Is this not "NEWS".
It is as if they would be quite happy to lose their press freedom that is written into the First Amendment and publish what ever the Trump dictatorship wants the public to hear.
The WAPO ran an article on Project 2025 last Sunday, as Joyce Vance just mentioned. That is about all there has been so far. Perhaps writing to the journaist of whatever piece would be the most effective.
Hi Ransom! Thanks for joining our community and thanks for all of your efforts. You can use anything from the newsletter in any way you like, with our without credit. And thanks for highlighting the dangers of Project 2025-- I will definitely address!
Glad to be here Robert. You were recommended as a calming antidote to all heavyness piling up on several other good Substacks. I stay in contact with a small number of serious and focussed commenters and have gotten to know TC pretty well personally, as he lives not far away here in LA. His Substack is one of the better ones linking current events with history. His post of a couple of nights ago was the best I or any of his followers had read about the threat to our nation ever. If you are not in touch with him, you might appreciate getting to know him.
It's getting to be that I am running out of time of day to read all the Substacks I subscribe to.
I was up until 1:00 this morning working on that letter to the LA Times only to wake up this morning to see the letters section full of letters by folks expressing my issues intelligently. FINALLY. I think I should write a letter to the Letters Editor suggesting he move over to the daily news to solve the issue of their corporate bias against reallity.
I look forward to your follow-up on last nights post.
For sure, Robert. We connected on a thread of comments on one of Heather's Letters a few months back. He mentioned Flight Journal and I told him my father put something he wrote in their Dec. 2007 issue about being shot down in China. He was in the Chinese American Composit Group of the Flying Tiges and Tom was very interested in reading the little book he wrote abut his experiences. I took it over to his house and we got deep into all kinds of interesting stuff. We both had to get back to work and left the book with him. He gave me two of his that look very interesting.
Over the past year I have stayed in touch with some very smart and articulate Substack commenters. It is very encouraging to realize how many of us are out there.
I appreciate your comments about how the mainstream media is covering the election. Sometimes they provide great articles after tremendous research into various politicians and issues. Then they continue dropping pedestrian, thoughtless and frankly bland, useless articles harping on Biden's age. The president should be judged by his accomplishments, not his age. To repetitively do otherwise is lazy, dangerous and not worthy of being called journalism.
As someone who has always cared about good journalism, I'm saddened and deeply disappointed by the "Murdoch level" constant babbling about Biden's age. Thank you for underlining the issue, Robert. I am used to Republican politicians having no integrity or shame about lying and ignoring major facts that do not fit their narrative. I am still not ready to accept that this same level of click bait reporting is often splashed across otherwise great newspapers. The media is supposed to be an important part of a vibrant democracy. Many of the papers in the U.S. are going to have to step up if they want to earn that description.
And now an ex Murdoch acolyte (William Lewis) has become the new CEO of The Washington Post - imitating CNN‘s plan to connect with FOX viewers (& please their billionaire owners)
I may have, but I do not see anything in my sent file at this time. Name is Carol! And I promote your newsletter regularly. You are one of my MUST reads. Thanks for your work.
The major media are owned by giant corporations and billionaires. They mainly care about their market power, not our democracy. The policies pushed by Biden and the Democrats, which include supporting unions and stepping up anti-trust action, threaten their power. I think that is a big part of their bias against Biden.
I have said this before-“Biden’s age/ rampant inflation “ is the new “But her e-mails” that the media hammered Hillary Clinton and her followers with in the 2016 election.I do think people are paying much more attention to this now than they were then and will respond accordingly.I considered cancelling my NYT on-line subscription but have changed my mind in this.I want to continue to follow what they and others of the big media genre are saying and to keep myself informed.I know many others feel this same way.
My thoughts exactly! I think our own media with help from Russia and Comey gave us Trump. And it looks like they’re trying to do it again. I think we can overcome them this time. Knowledge is power.
More grassroots! Today! Join Tennessee comedian Trae Crowder and rural firebrand Jessica Piper for a special fundraiser to launch Blue Tennessee! Blue Tennessee would join Blue Ohio, Blue Missouri, and Blue Texas as projects of Every State Blue, an organization that creates communities to support the down-ballot Democratic nominees running in some of the reddest state legislative districts in the country. November 9, 2023 7pm ET/4pmPT
I appreciate the comment. MSM is complicit. They act more to increase the corporate bottomline to remain open. In an age of untrustworthy news and AI. they discredit themselves as a reliable source of facts. I am grateful for the commitment of the Orlando Sentinel to investigative reporting that regularly holds FL and local officials to account, including (especially) Ron Desantis. It was OS that uncovered the ghost candidate scheme and ties to dark money from Florida Power and Light to fund the entire operation. As for NYT and WaPO, I have cancelled my subscriptions. Peter Baker infuriated me with his description of Hamas after the hostages were taken. Enough! And Biden's age - Trump is old and shows it. As for economy it no longer is the primary issue. While certainly life is a challenge (I am retired, have SS and a government pension) increased cost of housing, insurance, utilities and food are not in BIden's control though he is working hard to mitigate them. So many other factors account for increases beginning with climate change and corporate greed. Oh and BTW, did we hear one word about the climate crisis in the "debate"? NO! in Miami no less, ground zero for sea level rise. I am working with our local Democratic Party to register voters, GOTV and support our local candidates. Be well, stay strong and keep finding and sharing other news sources. Good-by MSM! Hugs and thanks to you Robert and our community of subscribers. Susan/Orlando, FL
OK - I am an inveterate optimist. I'm from Massachusetts and I thought McGovern could win! BUT - I despair of influencing the media. As you point out, Robert, they are driven by MONEY. As a physician, I see the way money has hijacked our health system (hospitals, insurance companies and big pharma) They are all too powerful and, the reality is they will not change. I spend hours screaming on the phone with insurance companies trying to convince them that I am the one qualified to make decisions on my patients' meds. In desperation I say,"OK - as of now, you have responsibility for my patient's well being - which sometimes works. That said -- let us look at the results of the election. Despite their idiocy (dare I say malevolence) the Democrats under Biden's leadership have done remarkably well. I write to journalists and people like the deplorable Susan Collins (yes deplorable!!!!) and I always end with - 'I know this will not be read by you and will end up in junk mail.' I often think of sending your columns or people like Jennifer Rubin's to the former friends and relatives who embrace Trump, and always desist, know their minds will not be affected by facts. I do send the remarkable pieces you reference to friends and relatives, who think as I do, to act as a counterbalance to the disgusting media. I did for a nano second think we all could chip in the put a full page ad in the TIMES - but again, what about TV. Biden is old??? Two years older than he who will remain nameless, who shows increasing signs of dementia and can not string together a coherent sentence. And, as has been pointed out, what we CAN do, is support grass roots, get out your fountain pens and write postcards.
I like your idea of an ad in the NY Times. However, repeating a MAGA talking point only establishes it more firmly in the national conversation. An alternate approach is Words That Win, which is a truth sandwich of Values, Villain and Vision. It starts with stating something we agree on, blaming culprits for their villany in general without repeating their message, and concluding with a vision that can also be a call to action.
Let's not forget that behind Tuesday's overwhelming victory were a lot of thoughtful voters who are offended by the way the thoughtless media giants are spinning what the voters are saying.
So true!!! I can’t count how many voter I spoke to at doors or by phone who are fed up and before I could tell them about the ballot they said I’m voting row A straight across no matter what. I feel hopeful about our fellow citizens having a meter inside that collectively wants no part of the depravity of the Republican agenda.
I just unsubscribed to that semi-literate idiot Frank Bruni after I found his"newsletter" for today was all the crap he did yesterday in the Nation's Finest Fishwrap about Biden's age.
If Trump wins, I'm (almost) going to laugh my ass off when all these over-educated, under-intelligent, otherwise-unemployable semi-literate trust fund babies end up in the FEMA camps he's going to send them to.
I am trying really hard not to laugh at the image you have described, but I am failing. Sadly, you are describing a possible outcome for the major media if Trump wins.
Good morning, although I posted this in a separate comment, I’m late in reading Robert’s newsletter this morning, so it’s way down at the end of the comments section. I’m posting this here because I think you will really enjoy reading this epic takedown of the New York Times by D. Earl Stephens.
I tried to send this to the NYT yesterday! They have not replied. Same wavelength as today's Edition NL today!
I have to say that I have a negative view of polls, and these polls, in particular. And I have such a negative view about how The NY Times has waved these polls in the faces of the readers over and over throughout the week or so since the poll was performed or scored or interpreted or whatever is done before it’s published.
It’s a poll. People are voters. People can be influenced or, in this case “frightened” by polls because they think they are the real deal and - just think about the Democrats all set to vote for Biden who now hear that a lot of people would rather not.
To me it’s still a mystery about indifference or even negative views towards him. In every area where I have looked, and where he has taken an action I’m astonished with the fact of it (all of them, I’ll name some in a minute) and the grace and effectiveness of them.
If The NY Times was reporting more instead of interpreting polls and reading the moves and explaining why people don’t like Biden, perhaps more people would catch on to what a remarkable President he is!
I wasn’t all that enthusiastic about his running, I have to admit, but I have become a huge fan during his tenure. To mention a few areas: of course the Build Back Better act and other packages to pick up the economy; and bringing back industry and manufacturing to the US; and then reconnecting and strengthening US alliances - support for Ukraine, being one example. But less obvious, work on improving the Southern Pacific alliances, such as Japan and S. Korea, And then: what do people make of the fact that inflation hasn’t gone through the roof? What do they make of the fact that the jobs numbers are great?
I believe that how the news is reported is important to how people see issues - well, I guess that’s obvious. But what I see is news reporting people’s negative thoughts about Biden and his age and showing videos of his tripping, etc. Seriously.
On the weekend of the Maui fires - some reports that Biden was on vacation. Some reports that when he was asked what he thought about the fires, he said, “no comment.” I don’t think I read anywhere in the news media (WAPO and NYT) about all of the actions he took to provide support for recovery at several different levels - actions he didn’t need to clog up sea lanes and airports and roads with his motorcade and the other crowding due to his retinue by going to Maui. He made them happen while he was in Delaware and then went to Camp David to meet with the Presidents of Japan and S. Korea.
I read this in “Letters from an American” posted daily by Heather Cox Richardson. I did not find them in the New York Times. But I look for them, there. Who is responsible for the improvements in the economy (if “anyone” is)? OK so we saw pictures of him on the picket line with the UA workers - and do we think that his stance was helpful? What do we think about his actions in increasing diplomatic relationships throughout the world?
Do we think that since he hugged Bibi that he is all out behind Isreal? Do we see him advocating for a cease fire or a pause in order to really take care of hostages and injured and losses? We do. I see him as working on self-correcting, at least I hope that’s what he’s doing.
So, finally, I’m wondering whether you (the NYT) would find a way to promote Biden’s actions and moves above promoting the doom and gloom of a poll! Seriously.
Thank you for the opportunity to write to you. I expect that you won’t respond, because people don’t. Maybe you will be an exception and patiently explain to me why I am wrong, or that of course I am right and you will take steps to shift reporting from criticism and hand-wringing to reporting what’s being done.
Please understand that my following remarks are intended to be constructive. –
When I submit a Letter, these days, to the Times (via email), I almost instantly receive an automated reply (and then … nothing). Maybe there was something “technically” wrong in your communication.
Your letter was too long for them to publish. As I recall, NYT urges a 150 word limit. There are exceptions, of course, but for ordinary folks they are apparently exceptions.
I think the content of your letter would have better been directed to the Times’s Managing Editor. It was a commentary on how the Times makes editorial decisions. The Managing Editor might have influence on that. I haven’t checked, recently, but I think the Managing Editor’s internet address is available on the Times site.
I concur. I’ve had letters in the Times over the years. They’ll occasionally go longer than 150 words, but not significantly. To Lee Combrinck-Graham: It’s best to review their guidelines first.
Loved this edition and thank you for the shout out to Grassroots and specifically for me, Markers For Democracy. As you know we are NY based with a national reach and we are thrilled to have contributed to all
of Tuesday's wins. We are however very concerned about our own backyard, particularly Nassau and Suffolk County where we lost most races, many by large margins. It is the third election cycle where our State party FAILED miserably. The lack of an efective state party will have huge consequences for who controls Congress in 2024. We do not have much confidence in the Coordinated Campaign that is supposed to be the panacea. What did they do to make a dent on Long Island?
They are purple districts. We need a competent State Party Chair. The bizarre nature of this is that it's Hakeem
Jeffries who wants to be Speaketr, he is from NY, every true grassroots group have been begging him to put his foot downs with the Governor, and because he refuses, the Dem candidates in those districts are weak, so we have little to work with. Myself and others have done everything we can to be convincing on this issue and, so far, even with the devastating results in 4 of the Districts we need to flip, nothing has changed. Talk about frustration.
It turns out that my wish for alternatives to the Democratic Party to win back these NY districts is already being fulfilled. Here’s a gift link to a WaPo article on the Battle Ground New York coalition.
I’m saying don’t count on the Democratic Party if it’s that ineffective, although I would meet with Jeffries’ staff and demand better. If Jeffries or the Governor come to your area to speak, ask tough question. But as an alternative to a calcified Democratic Party, do you have Indivisible or other similar progressive activist groups there? They can put the pressure on, write Letters to the Editor of local news organizations, demonstrate at the offices of electeds, table at community events, register voters, all of that and more.
When I graduated from using only pencil, in elementary school, to using a fountain pen, My pen kept poking through the writing paper; moreover, ink got smeared by my writing hand – I write left-handed! I would put a piece of tissue under my left hand to blot ink that my hand would otherwise smear.
Ball point pens were a godsend, once faster-drying inks were introduced.
Here is the comment from the reader I mentioned in the newsletter:
Hello Robert:
I’ve found another way to reach NY Times and other MSM journalists when they cover the upcoming presidential contest as a horse race.
I write to journalists when I disagree with their approach, and they usually respond. It’s something other readers of your newsletter can do. This is because I write respectfully and sum up the import of linked content. The latest success of this strategy was a reply by Peter Baker, the NY Times White House correspondent. He responded almost immediately to let me know they are aware of Michael Podhorzer’s dissent and that David Leonhardt quoted Podhorzer extensively the other day. He assured me that he and his colleagues take Podhorzer's views into account as they try to process and analyze election issues.
I’ve had a similarly attentive response recently by WAPO opinion columnist Perry Bacon when trying to understand my Congressional Representative, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, joining the Blue Dog Coalition and the Problem Solver's Caucus.
Years ago Jim Lehrer sent a brief, handwritten note agreeing with views I shared by letter about his regularly interviewing the reactionary firebrand, Patrick Buchanan.
Here’s a parallel observation. Look at the reader comments objecting to MSM stories that are pushing Biden ageism or alleged unpopularity. We are piling on, and they print our comments. Journalists writing those pieces must read the Comments section to see how they are being received. I’m cautious, though. I think they’re still writing clickbait that may elicit our disagreement while demoralizing or dissuading less informed readers. Maybe not, though, because how many ill-informed people read MSM publications of record?
Kudos to Gary and other readers who are writing to the reporters and editors! Cathy Learoyd below took the words out of my mouth:
"For more about what you can do about the media, please see the Media and Democracy (MAD) Project at
https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/
They are doing many things to reform the media. For example they have petitioned the FCC to deny the broadcast license renewal of a Fox owned TV station."
Also use www.mediamatters.org website to help discern MSM “failures” in context. They (Media Matters for America) are a web-based 501c3. Definitely progressive in their research and information bent. They monitor/analyze & even try to correct conservative misinformation in our domestic media hellscape.
I would add to the list of important pro-Biden voices that of David J. Rothkopf, political and foreign policy commentator who heads DSR Media and writes for The Daily Beast. He is also one of the people whose presence on Twitter keeps me there--as part of a determined resistance community.
Here’s a Rothkopf tweet I used in my blog post yesterday, which contains appropriate snark, I believe:
https://twitter.com/djrothkopf/status/1722069013755265313
MediaMatters rocks!
In this case, the primary issue is not misinformation, it's the emphasis on Biden's age vs accomplishments. And, secondarily, Biden's age vs Trump's age.
They would argue they are not misrepresenting the facts, which is true.
This emphasis on age is indeed discouraging since President Biden's accomplishments are pretty amazing. Leadership is not just about the leader, but about how the leader is able to appoint and listen to competent people around them. President Biden does this and, it might well be noted, that he has a lot of competent, energetic younger people working for him. This isn't a beauty contest. This is real life. One distinct advantage of being older is that there is less ego involved and you are more eager to cut to the chase. I think we need to help each other ferret out the facts, and the policies, and think for ourselves. Relying on the mainstream media is a little like relying on your weather app rather than drawing back the curtains and looking out the window to see if it's raining.
I guess I might argue with them that they ARE misrepresenting the facts, since nowhere in their discussion of "age" do they mention "fitness" - which as we all know is part and parcel to that equation. If they factored in physical fitness, mental acuity, temperament, and other aspects of one's "age," there would be nothing at all for them to talk about. I'm 76 and as fit as I've ever been. My late husband died when he was 68 and my late partner died when he was 63. My mother is 97 and going strong. I'm waiting for the old, fat, senile guy to keel over any day now, because he's just one heart attack away from foaming at the mouth.
That's a good one! Thanks.
Not really true, if the media ignores Trump's age, physical condition, and deteriorating cognition, and his autocratic intentions. That's very selective reporting that is ultimately deceptive and misleading.
TY, Ellie! I signed & posted MAD petition on FB.
Just signed. Thank you.
signed. Thanks!
Thank you, Ellie, I had no idea. At first I was uncomfortable with supporting the blocking of a license - what about free speech? But I read the docs, and got clear - this isn't about speech, it's about defying FCC regulations re acting in the public interest that are requirements for holding the license. Then I read about the Republicans who have come out in support of this:
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 21, 2023 — Former Republican Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman and broadcast licensee Alfred Sikes today joined the Media and Democracy Project (MAD) and media veterans Ervin S. Duggan and William Kristol to support a petition to deny the broadcast license renewal application for FOX Corporation-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF-TV)."
So I signed. And joined. And shared. Thank you!
Thanks! I too just signed
Thank you for this link. Last night, when there was coverage of the debate (I didn't watch it nor did I watch the dissection of it), I caught a series of clips that MSNBC chose to show from Fox, to reflect their reaction to the abortion issue and I noticed that anchor after anchor referred to their network as "we" and "our" as in indication that they were nothing more than a propaganda network for the Fascist party (my name for the GOP.) Comments on the order of "WE need to change our messaging" or "WE need to change how we talk about abortion" caught my attention.
I just signed the petition and asked to be placed on the email list. Thanks again!
Signed and shared; thanks much!
Just signed the letter. Thanks, Ellie!
I have written to journalists. They have responded by defending themselves. I think I should change my email to a male name to get heard. In the meantime, I continue to address problems where there is a forum to do so. However, I think that the Democratic party needs to be explaining the Inflation Reduction Act directly to the people bit by bit, picking the most salient items that affect people. Most people don't understand the bill, which covers a lot of things.
The Democratic Party needs to push ALL of Pres. Biden's accomplishments, which are many: The Infrastructure Act, which is providing funds to improve & repair our aging roads & bridges in every state; the Chips & Science Act, which provides $39 billion in subsidies for chip manufacturing on US soil & $13 billion for semiconductor research & workforce training; and the Inflation Reduction Act, which allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices & caps out of pocket costs to $2000, closes tax loopholes, lowers ACA healthcare premiums for millions of Americans, & sets a goal of lowering energy costs, increasing cleaner production, & reducing carbon emissions by roughly 40% by 2030.
I am surprised that guns are not talked about more. One thing that occurred to me is that the GOP's messaging is now that "it's a mental health issue, not a gun issue." Ok, but what are they doing to help mental health issues? Social support, which requires taxpayer dollars, is against their mission. So, they're doing nothing.
I was just going to say the same thing regarding the lack of MSM attention to assault weapons. They must be banned if we are going to save lives. That is just as important as the abortion issue. In spite of what just happened in Maine, assault weapon regulations are just forgotten by the media. We all must do something about this.
And the candidates don't talk about it either. Why is that?
Agreed! I had thought that the Chips and Science and The Infrastructure Acts are clearer to people than the Inflation Reduction Act. There should be people who are explaining this to the membership of AARP. I am sure my 89 year old mother does not have any idea what is in most of these bills. I have noticed that she is missing out on a lot of information that she might have understood earlier. Still, there should be people targeting information from each of the acts to the public in general, and the target groups as a priority!
And the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Coach the reps and senators from each state about what is being built or repaired in their district or state so they will tout it.
Great Idea!
I would be interested to learn of your results by writing with your name versus a male name to the same reporter on different issues. I expect that you’re right and also wonder whether some issues expressed by a woman would be more powerful than those expressed by a man. Then there are communicators by gender diverse people, which may be impactful to journalists who have come out of the closet.
This is a great comment. I think something else we must do (and it's hard)--is have the self-control to actually click on and read more articles about Biden's policies, etc, than about polls and the horse race. I don't think they are promoting these articles because they want Trump reelected--they just need clicks, and it may be that our behavior counts for more than our words. If the click-count switches to favoring the kind of coverage we want to see, their behavior will change.
Amen!! Good points.
Interesting idea !
Good thinking
Thanks
Will do!
Thank you, Gary. This is very helpful. Another age-old action to take is letters to the editors. I try to send a few each month--I’m actually not sure that my DALLAS MORNING NEWS receives that many submissions, as they are published fairly frequently. Like you, I am respectful, and try to focus on issues and what I hope are common values. Frequently, acquaintances in my community comment that they read my letters and agree with me--acquaintances who I had no idea were like thinkers.
As an aside, when I read earlier this week (pre-election) a Leonholt comment that Democrats exaggerat the impact of Dobbs, I nearly spit up my coffee. So this morning, Thursday, he is still defending that opinion. Good grief.
I truly believe that some men are simply oblivious. It simply doesn't register.
You’re welcome! Keep on pushing Leonhardt, who is quoting Michael Podhorzer. This isn’t different from many constituents influencing a politician. I agree that LTEs are powerful. I’ve been very successful posting them to our local paper and have sometimes had them published in the New York Times, but there’s lots of competition with other writers in a huge outlet like that.
BTW, I have seen stories emerging that are highlighting Democratic successes last night as very bad news for the MAGA movement.
Good points made by Gary!
I was thrilled to read that he was living in Marie Gluesenkamp Perez' district. It must be uplifting to be represented by her. I follow her (from far away in Europe) on Twitter. She is in her first term, I do hope many more will follow. People like her are the future of the Democratic Party.
She is walking a tightrope trying to hold onto a seat in a Trump +5 district. Sometimes I fear that she runs away from turning off conservatives and neglects or turns off the many Democrats iwho worked hard to elect her. But the alternative is a charismatic and die-hard America First guy who frequently appears on the Steve Bannon show. Podhorzer has a lot to say about turning out Democrats versus trying to convert lifelong Republicans, which is a tough sell. I believe that his observations about national politics can also be applied to congressional districts that may have urban, suburban and rural areas.
Thank you, Gary!
I totally agree. Writing directly to columnists can be a powerful way for people to influence the national narrative. However, most publications do not provide contact information for individual columnists.
I believe that the Washington Post uses the "firstname.lastname@washpost.com" format (jennifer.rubin@washpost.com), but others are more obscure.
What email addresses do you use? And what about broadcast media?
Thanks for any specifics.
.
If you click on the author's name in a WaPo article, you will get a little envelope symbol for their email. Click that and you will get their direct email address. In my experience, if you go through the effort to do that to contact them, they take you seriously and respond to seriously-written comms. I save all the things I'd*really* like to say to the otherwise-unemployables for my Substack and act like they are someone to take seriously, whether or not their work demonstrates that.
Your last one was a knockout.
Jerry, I’ve written directly to columnists without posted contact info by doing a quick Google search. There’s almost always an email address I can use for contact while referencing where I originally read their column.
You’re correct about the WaPo email standard. Also, if you click on a journalist name in their byline, you’re presented with a page that gives a brief bio and has an email link on the bottom. Clicking that link puts their email address in your mail software.
For broadcast media, I don’t know, but they have websites too. When I wrote to Jim Lehrer, I must have forgotten to mention that soon after that, Buchanan no longer appeared on his show. I doubt my one letter pushed Buchanan off the ledge, but letters from many readers may have had an impact. And probably Jim Lehrer was fed up with Buchanan’s being immovable from reactionary talking points.
Thank you. I will try to reach the Daily Show as they have been pushing the negative narrative, too, with "jokes" about Biden's age. I was going to just stop watching but you have alerted me to the necessity to speak up.
Thank you. This is such a useful discussion. It would be great if there was a source for giving the emails for all of the prominent reporters from the most prominent newspapers. Herd mentality is a sad factor of human nature and mainstream journalists are no exception. They are also lazy. Many just regurgitate press releases they receive; many repeat what a single regarded source among colleagues says and that person’s opinion gets copied over and over by others. I am especially disgusted by the NYT and glad Robert gave it a well deserved drubbing. Thank God for grassroots media!
I don’t think that journalists are lazy, by and large. But they are understaffed, pressured to meeting deadlines, and have to satisfy corporate bosses. There are journalists in MSM whose views most often support our cause. I’m thinking of people like Michelle Goldberg, Charles Blow, Paul Krugman, and usually Frank Bruno in the New York Times.
The latest Bruno quip cited by Robert is dismaying. But he’s now living out of state, working as a professor, and facing aging and health issues. He apparently bought the theme being driven by pollsters and the too many of us who are wringing our hands in fear that tfg will ascend to the golden toilet again.
If journalists are smart, they'd pay attention to the number of "likes" to comments. That is an indication of strength of agreement, regardless of whether the person chooses to add a comment. I'm one of those. And I use social media deliberately to share Robert's substack as well as those he mentioned in this newsletter. I know it is being read by my followers because I observe how many times he is being quoted and how often his (and others) newsletters are being "shared." Reporters might note the fact that most here are well connected through subgroups and especially social media. When I still played in the Xitter pigpen, I would write directly to the producers of certain cable shows as well as to their anchors. On occasion, I would receive a response. In a sense, we here are a part of the grassroots effort, spreading fact to counter the fiction "out there."
I have been writing the heads of PBS and national news but with your suggestion will write directly to the jjournalists. I know I have had answers in the distance past. Good call
Thank you, Robert and Reader, I just joined the Media and Democracy Project (Thank you Ellie Kona) and I will begin these responses .
Meanwhile, this whole issue is inspiring something in me:
Remember "Dance 10, looks 3" from A Chorus Line? The melody to the chorus: "Tits and Ass" keeps coming to mind (with thanks to songwriters Edward Kleban / Marvin Hamlisch) with new words:
Clicks and Likes
Never mind those boring facts
Must improve our headline hacks
What'll catch the eye, stop the passers by....
More to come....
Kudos to you, but as someone who has worked in Communications for 30 years, the MSM has devolved into nothing more than clickbait since they make money that way. The writers you’re responding to will happily keep chugging along writing crap.
Will they? Consider Michelle Goldberg and Thomas Friedman in the New York Times. Michelle Goldberg put Marie Gluesenkamp Perez on the national map.
Moving MSM decision making is much like moving the political tide. Let’s give them some respectful tough love.
How did the reader break through to Peter Baker??? More generally, how can one succeed in contacting NYT writers?? NYT, unlike WaPo, doesn’t make internet addresses available. It’s frustrating.
I clicked on his name, which revealed contact information. He responded almost immediately and I practically fell off my chair. This is like trying to influence a politician. Be polite and speak up.
You actually can contact WaPo journalists directly. Click on their linked name in the byline. You’ll see an email link and a link that still bears the Twitter logo FWIW. The email link inserts their email address in your mail software.
Thank you!
Very good.
Do you email or snail mail?
Robert, the tone and content of today's Today's was absolutely on point! It felt good to hear you sharing our frustration with the effing media! This is going out to my email list. And I will follow up with writing to journalists as per Gary. Thank you!
I use email, first because it’s easier these days and also because it’ll get there faster. I wrote to Lehrer before email was a widespread option.
To your point, Robert Hubbell, I recall during the summer of 2020, two reporters were having an online discussion about covering the election. Unfortunately, I can't remember who they were specifically. But suffice it to say, they were both from mainstream media. To my amazement and fury, they gleefully admitted that even though Trump was outrageous, even dangerous, he was in their assessment "entertaining". I couldn't believe my ears. Therein lies the problem. Some, or perhaps most, of these so-called journalists are treating Trump's vitriol as tantalizing, although distasteful, fodder for their readers/viewers. As long as some media care more about their numbers than truth, our democracy, and the common good, this garbage is what they will continue to dish out. I don't expect them to change now if it's working for them. So I agree with you. Let's write and disseminate our own narrative about Biden, his impressive accomplishments, and his fitness for a second term.
I have been screaming about that so long it feels like howling into the wind.
Ransom Rideout, I hear you. It's hard, but all I can say is, "Keep howling."
Wonder how entertaining they think it'd be if some president comes along and shuts down their news outlet.
Spot on, Beth.
Pick your journalists. You won’t move those two, but there are many others. It’s not unlike trying to turn out voters for our cause.
Wait! Please don’t apologize for airing your ire at MSM. I have the same feelings - as do many of your readers. Thank you,
I’m so glad you wrote at length about this.
I write letters to the editor (NYTimes and WaPo) as well as to individual columnists at least weekly and join you in encouraging others to do so too. If there are enough of us, at some point they might rethink their coverage/decisions.
A quick point re: the Times headline about abortion as the issue in this election, and your “fair enough “ comment. To reduce the election victories to that one issue is inaccurate and denigrating to Dems. While reproductive rights (the term they should use) was big, all the victories across the country - up and down ballot - were about way more than that. Except of course specific votes like Ohio.
Alexandra, thanks for highlighting the term “ reproductive rights” that we all should be using.According to Speaker Johnson and others,a fertilized ovum =fetal personhood. A broader attack on contraception will be next…
Agree! I use "reproductive liberty" to emphasize that it is one of the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights, due process, and equal protections clauses in the Constitution. It is a liberty like free speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of association.
Good point!!
For more about what you can do about the media please see the Media and Democracy (MAD) Project at https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/ They are doing many things to reform the media. For example they have petitioned the FCC to deny the broadcast license renewal of a Fox owned TV station. One thing I did after hearing Milo of MAD talk was to become an engaged member of the Texas Tribune, an independent newspaper that you can count on to get excellent news coverage of Texas that you can trust. https://www.texastribune.org/.
I checked out MAD’s Local Journalism Directory to find local journalism in my state worth supporting !
https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/journalism-directory
While I find the continual efforts by the media to push a "the Democrats are in deep trouble" narrative despicable, I am not sure its effects are necessarily deleterious. I suspect for every voter discouraged by this negative drumbeat there are at least two who are motivated to work, to contribute and to vote Democratic by the understandable fear of the destructive effects of a victory by the MAGA crowd. Each successive election proves that the GOP is pushing a raft of deeply unpopular policies. The longer this process goes on, the greater likelihood of an enduring Democratic majority. The GOP "base" is composed of shrinking demos--older citizens, the less educated, rural residents. Conversely our strength is among the younger, the better educated and the urban--all growing demo's. We can't rely solely on these demographic trends, but they do provide a strongly positive underpinning to our having better candidates pursuing substantially more popular policies. Tuesday's election results have unquestionably demonstrated the truth of this despite the chorus of pundits either ignoring or simply downplaying these undeniable realities. We Democrats simply need to cheer up and realize that we are on the winning side--if we work assiduously to expose the lies of the MAGA crowd.
After I have read an article on WaPo or NYT, I might write in the “comments” section. I have seen some folks totally vilify the journalists for their skewed views. I have done that also.
Just wanted to point out that Indivisible was one of the first grass roots organizations established after 2016. I belonged to a chapter for several years until two of the people running it reached burn out. In the meantime, I talk to many people, email articles, such as Robert’s, to get people off of their asses. We cannot afford to have people put their heads in the sand and pretend nothing is happening!
Hi, Marlene. Thanks for what you do! Burnout is a serious problem. i will address!
Yes, I like forward to reading that.
Indivisible also has statewide organizations, and some local Indivisibles are combining efforts.
Good evening Robert,
Real quick, I am new here and was working on a letter to the editors of the L.A.Times, of which I have subscribed to for decades, to support their investigative journalism. This news letter was recommended by other followers of other serious Substacks and I have been reading for about a week now. I Just upped to paid to ask about copying and pasting a part of a paragraph here. I'll stick around.
As I read the first paragraph, I saw that tonight you are dealing directly with my thoughts for the letter I have been scratching out in my head. Your post just popped up.
I would like to insert a credited quote of a paragraph of yours that would get their attention to hear me out about how their "liberal" editorial page distracts us from the real content of their publication. It is a reality driven by the news and headline editors that, by omission, choice of word or whatever to define or portray a subject that adheres to their corporate point of view. They maintain as "impatiality" their negative potrayal of the Biden administration's achievements as they quote someone who "feels" or "thinks", as opposed to providing evidence, of Bidens frailty, ineffectivenes, lack of leadership or whatever. You say here tonight, that they bolster Trump by sowing doubt about Biden's abilities.
Project 2025 and the efforts of the Heritage Foundation are news we, as citizens need to hear about too. The threats posed by the far right using Trump as their face, (as you know they have used other faces in the past), are the greatest threat to our Nation that exists today. Is this not "NEWS".
It is as if they would be quite happy to lose their press freedom that is written into the First Amendment and publish what ever the Trump dictatorship wants the public to hear.
The WAPO ran an article on Project 2025 last Sunday, as Joyce Vance just mentioned. That is about all there has been so far. Perhaps writing to the journaist of whatever piece would be the most effective.
Hi Ransom! Thanks for joining our community and thanks for all of your efforts. You can use anything from the newsletter in any way you like, with our without credit. And thanks for highlighting the dangers of Project 2025-- I will definitely address!
Glad to be here Robert. You were recommended as a calming antidote to all heavyness piling up on several other good Substacks. I stay in contact with a small number of serious and focussed commenters and have gotten to know TC pretty well personally, as he lives not far away here in LA. His Substack is one of the better ones linking current events with history. His post of a couple of nights ago was the best I or any of his followers had read about the threat to our nation ever. If you are not in touch with him, you might appreciate getting to know him.
It's getting to be that I am running out of time of day to read all the Substacks I subscribe to.
I was up until 1:00 this morning working on that letter to the LA Times only to wake up this morning to see the letters section full of letters by folks expressing my issues intelligently. FINALLY. I think I should write a letter to the Letters Editor suggesting he move over to the daily news to solve the issue of their corporate bias against reallity.
I look forward to your follow-up on last nights post.
Hi, Ransom! I know and respect Tom. I have had him over to my house for lunch with a few other writers/activists. He is a great guy.
For sure, Robert. We connected on a thread of comments on one of Heather's Letters a few months back. He mentioned Flight Journal and I told him my father put something he wrote in their Dec. 2007 issue about being shot down in China. He was in the Chinese American Composit Group of the Flying Tiges and Tom was very interested in reading the little book he wrote abut his experiences. I took it over to his house and we got deep into all kinds of interesting stuff. We both had to get back to work and left the book with him. He gave me two of his that look very interesting.
Over the past year I have stayed in touch with some very smart and articulate Substack commenters. It is very encouraging to realize how many of us are out there.
I appreciate your comments about how the mainstream media is covering the election. Sometimes they provide great articles after tremendous research into various politicians and issues. Then they continue dropping pedestrian, thoughtless and frankly bland, useless articles harping on Biden's age. The president should be judged by his accomplishments, not his age. To repetitively do otherwise is lazy, dangerous and not worthy of being called journalism.
As someone who has always cared about good journalism, I'm saddened and deeply disappointed by the "Murdoch level" constant babbling about Biden's age. Thank you for underlining the issue, Robert. I am used to Republican politicians having no integrity or shame about lying and ignoring major facts that do not fit their narrative. I am still not ready to accept that this same level of click bait reporting is often splashed across otherwise great newspapers. The media is supposed to be an important part of a vibrant democracy. Many of the papers in the U.S. are going to have to step up if they want to earn that description.
And now an ex Murdoch acolyte (William Lewis) has become the new CEO of The Washington Post - imitating CNN‘s plan to connect with FOX viewers (& please their billionaire owners)
Hi, I don't know your name but I am fairly certain you sent me an email about this worrisome development. Thanks for the nudge today. I will address!
I may have, but I do not see anything in my sent file at this time. Name is Carol! And I promote your newsletter regularly. You are one of my MUST reads. Thanks for your work.
The major media are owned by giant corporations and billionaires. They mainly care about their market power, not our democracy. The policies pushed by Biden and the Democrats, which include supporting unions and stepping up anti-trust action, threaten their power. I think that is a big part of their bias against Biden.
I have said this before-“Biden’s age/ rampant inflation “ is the new “But her e-mails” that the media hammered Hillary Clinton and her followers with in the 2016 election.I do think people are paying much more attention to this now than they were then and will respond accordingly.I considered cancelling my NYT on-line subscription but have changed my mind in this.I want to continue to follow what they and others of the big media genre are saying and to keep myself informed.I know many others feel this same way.
Argh! Good analogy! I wish I had included it!!
My thoughts exactly! I think our own media with help from Russia and Comey gave us Trump. And it looks like they’re trying to do it again. I think we can overcome them this time. Knowledge is power.
And get to read the reader comments! They often counter the columnist’s opinion very nicely.
More grassroots! Today! Join Tennessee comedian Trae Crowder and rural firebrand Jessica Piper for a special fundraiser to launch Blue Tennessee! Blue Tennessee would join Blue Ohio, Blue Missouri, and Blue Texas as projects of Every State Blue, an organization that creates communities to support the down-ballot Democratic nominees running in some of the reddest state legislative districts in the country. November 9, 2023 7pm ET/4pmPT
Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcudO6trD0vHNxYlhWI0Ta1KdRElatwqFZy
I absolutely adore Trae Crowder!! He’s funny and serious at the same time.
For more information or to donate without attending event: https://linktr.ee/BlueTennessee
I appreciate the comment. MSM is complicit. They act more to increase the corporate bottomline to remain open. In an age of untrustworthy news and AI. they discredit themselves as a reliable source of facts. I am grateful for the commitment of the Orlando Sentinel to investigative reporting that regularly holds FL and local officials to account, including (especially) Ron Desantis. It was OS that uncovered the ghost candidate scheme and ties to dark money from Florida Power and Light to fund the entire operation. As for NYT and WaPO, I have cancelled my subscriptions. Peter Baker infuriated me with his description of Hamas after the hostages were taken. Enough! And Biden's age - Trump is old and shows it. As for economy it no longer is the primary issue. While certainly life is a challenge (I am retired, have SS and a government pension) increased cost of housing, insurance, utilities and food are not in BIden's control though he is working hard to mitigate them. So many other factors account for increases beginning with climate change and corporate greed. Oh and BTW, did we hear one word about the climate crisis in the "debate"? NO! in Miami no less, ground zero for sea level rise. I am working with our local Democratic Party to register voters, GOTV and support our local candidates. Be well, stay strong and keep finding and sharing other news sources. Good-by MSM! Hugs and thanks to you Robert and our community of subscribers. Susan/Orlando, FL
💙 The Orlando Sentinel !Also Jason Garcia’s Subsatck. He’s a former investigative journalist for OS.
https://jasongarcia.substack.com/
Sometimes I yell at Peter Baker and those on CNN (which I rarely watch!). I don’t think they can hear me but I feel so much better afterwards!
OK - I am an inveterate optimist. I'm from Massachusetts and I thought McGovern could win! BUT - I despair of influencing the media. As you point out, Robert, they are driven by MONEY. As a physician, I see the way money has hijacked our health system (hospitals, insurance companies and big pharma) They are all too powerful and, the reality is they will not change. I spend hours screaming on the phone with insurance companies trying to convince them that I am the one qualified to make decisions on my patients' meds. In desperation I say,"OK - as of now, you have responsibility for my patient's well being - which sometimes works. That said -- let us look at the results of the election. Despite their idiocy (dare I say malevolence) the Democrats under Biden's leadership have done remarkably well. I write to journalists and people like the deplorable Susan Collins (yes deplorable!!!!) and I always end with - 'I know this will not be read by you and will end up in junk mail.' I often think of sending your columns or people like Jennifer Rubin's to the former friends and relatives who embrace Trump, and always desist, know their minds will not be affected by facts. I do send the remarkable pieces you reference to friends and relatives, who think as I do, to act as a counterbalance to the disgusting media. I did for a nano second think we all could chip in the put a full page ad in the TIMES - but again, what about TV. Biden is old??? Two years older than he who will remain nameless, who shows increasing signs of dementia and can not string together a coherent sentence. And, as has been pointed out, what we CAN do, is support grass roots, get out your fountain pens and write postcards.
Optimism attracts optimistic actions! I too recall voting for McGovern.
Me too and cried like hell when Nixon won in a landslide!
I like your idea of an ad in the NY Times. However, repeating a MAGA talking point only establishes it more firmly in the national conversation. An alternate approach is Words That Win, which is a truth sandwich of Values, Villain and Vision. It starts with stating something we agree on, blaming culprits for their villany in general without repeating their message, and concluding with a vision that can also be a call to action.
I don’t know if the organization that started that is still active. https://www.mobilize.us/wordsthatwin/
Let's not forget that behind Tuesday's overwhelming victory were a lot of thoughtful voters who are offended by the way the thoughtless media giants are spinning what the voters are saying.
So true!!! I can’t count how many voter I spoke to at doors or by phone who are fed up and before I could tell them about the ballot they said I’m voting row A straight across no matter what. I feel hopeful about our fellow citizens having a meter inside that collectively wants no part of the depravity of the Republican agenda.
I just unsubscribed to that semi-literate idiot Frank Bruni after I found his"newsletter" for today was all the crap he did yesterday in the Nation's Finest Fishwrap about Biden's age.
If Trump wins, I'm (almost) going to laugh my ass off when all these over-educated, under-intelligent, otherwise-unemployable semi-literate trust fund babies end up in the FEMA camps he's going to send them to.
I am trying really hard not to laugh at the image you have described, but I am failing. Sadly, you are describing a possible outcome for the major media if Trump wins.
A more deserving bunch I cannot come up with.
I’m so disappointed in Bruni. I had subscribed to his stories too, but no more. First I will write to him and tell him why.
I did that - finally sent the fourth draft.
Good morning, although I posted this in a separate comment, I’m late in reading Robert’s newsletter this morning, so it’s way down at the end of the comments section. I’m posting this here because I think you will really enjoy reading this epic takedown of the New York Times by D. Earl Stephens.
https://open.substack.com/pub/dearlstephens/p/the-death-of-the-gray-lady?r=2vk1c6&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
I tried to send this to the NYT yesterday! They have not replied. Same wavelength as today's Edition NL today!
I have to say that I have a negative view of polls, and these polls, in particular. And I have such a negative view about how The NY Times has waved these polls in the faces of the readers over and over throughout the week or so since the poll was performed or scored or interpreted or whatever is done before it’s published.
It’s a poll. People are voters. People can be influenced or, in this case “frightened” by polls because they think they are the real deal and - just think about the Democrats all set to vote for Biden who now hear that a lot of people would rather not.
To me it’s still a mystery about indifference or even negative views towards him. In every area where I have looked, and where he has taken an action I’m astonished with the fact of it (all of them, I’ll name some in a minute) and the grace and effectiveness of them.
If The NY Times was reporting more instead of interpreting polls and reading the moves and explaining why people don’t like Biden, perhaps more people would catch on to what a remarkable President he is!
I wasn’t all that enthusiastic about his running, I have to admit, but I have become a huge fan during his tenure. To mention a few areas: of course the Build Back Better act and other packages to pick up the economy; and bringing back industry and manufacturing to the US; and then reconnecting and strengthening US alliances - support for Ukraine, being one example. But less obvious, work on improving the Southern Pacific alliances, such as Japan and S. Korea, And then: what do people make of the fact that inflation hasn’t gone through the roof? What do they make of the fact that the jobs numbers are great?
I believe that how the news is reported is important to how people see issues - well, I guess that’s obvious. But what I see is news reporting people’s negative thoughts about Biden and his age and showing videos of his tripping, etc. Seriously.
On the weekend of the Maui fires - some reports that Biden was on vacation. Some reports that when he was asked what he thought about the fires, he said, “no comment.” I don’t think I read anywhere in the news media (WAPO and NYT) about all of the actions he took to provide support for recovery at several different levels - actions he didn’t need to clog up sea lanes and airports and roads with his motorcade and the other crowding due to his retinue by going to Maui. He made them happen while he was in Delaware and then went to Camp David to meet with the Presidents of Japan and S. Korea.
I read this in “Letters from an American” posted daily by Heather Cox Richardson. I did not find them in the New York Times. But I look for them, there. Who is responsible for the improvements in the economy (if “anyone” is)? OK so we saw pictures of him on the picket line with the UA workers - and do we think that his stance was helpful? What do we think about his actions in increasing diplomatic relationships throughout the world?
Do we think that since he hugged Bibi that he is all out behind Isreal? Do we see him advocating for a cease fire or a pause in order to really take care of hostages and injured and losses? We do. I see him as working on self-correcting, at least I hope that’s what he’s doing.
So, finally, I’m wondering whether you (the NYT) would find a way to promote Biden’s actions and moves above promoting the doom and gloom of a poll! Seriously.
Thank you for the opportunity to write to you. I expect that you won’t respond, because people don’t. Maybe you will be an exception and patiently explain to me why I am wrong, or that of course I am right and you will take steps to shift reporting from criticism and hand-wringing to reporting what’s being done.
Please understand that my following remarks are intended to be constructive. –
When I submit a Letter, these days, to the Times (via email), I almost instantly receive an automated reply (and then … nothing). Maybe there was something “technically” wrong in your communication.
Your letter was too long for them to publish. As I recall, NYT urges a 150 word limit. There are exceptions, of course, but for ordinary folks they are apparently exceptions.
I think the content of your letter would have better been directed to the Times’s Managing Editor. It was a commentary on how the Times makes editorial decisions. The Managing Editor might have influence on that. I haven’t checked, recently, but I think the Managing Editor’s internet address is available on the Times site.
I hope this is helpful.
I concur. I’ve had letters in the Times over the years. They’ll occasionally go longer than 150 words, but not significantly. To Lee Combrinck-Graham: It’s best to review their guidelines first.
Loved this edition and thank you for the shout out to Grassroots and specifically for me, Markers For Democracy. As you know we are NY based with a national reach and we are thrilled to have contributed to all
of Tuesday's wins. We are however very concerned about our own backyard, particularly Nassau and Suffolk County where we lost most races, many by large margins. It is the third election cycle where our State party FAILED miserably. The lack of an efective state party will have huge consequences for who controls Congress in 2024. We do not have much confidence in the Coordinated Campaign that is supposed to be the panacea. What did they do to make a dent on Long Island?
Are there local progressive groups who can be a more effective alternative to the local Democratic Party? We have that issue where we live.
They are purple districts. We need a competent State Party Chair. The bizarre nature of this is that it's Hakeem
Jeffries who wants to be Speaketr, he is from NY, every true grassroots group have been begging him to put his foot downs with the Governor, and because he refuses, the Dem candidates in those districts are weak, so we have little to work with. Myself and others have done everything we can to be convincing on this issue and, so far, even with the devastating results in 4 of the Districts we need to flip, nothing has changed. Talk about frustration.
It turns out that my wish for alternatives to the Democratic Party to win back these NY districts is already being fulfilled. Here’s a gift link to a WaPo article on the Battle Ground New York coalition.
https://wapo.st/3SxvMXb
I’m saying don’t count on the Democratic Party if it’s that ineffective, although I would meet with Jeffries’ staff and demand better. If Jeffries or the Governor come to your area to speak, ask tough question. But as an alternative to a calcified Democratic Party, do you have Indivisible or other similar progressive activist groups there? They can put the pressure on, write Letters to the Editor of local news organizations, demonstrate at the offices of electeds, table at community events, register voters, all of that and more.
*Fountain pens*, Dr. Polonsky? Wow! :-)
When I graduated from using only pencil, in elementary school, to using a fountain pen, My pen kept poking through the writing paper; moreover, ink got smeared by my writing hand – I write left-handed! I would put a piece of tissue under my left hand to blot ink that my hand would otherwise smear.
Ball point pens were a godsend, once faster-drying inks were introduced.
Fountain pens, indeed! :-)