Political Theatre category archive
Dis Enchantment 0
Werner Herzog’s Bear muses on the ease with which right-wing evangelical “Christians” can suspend disbelief. A snippet:
“I Don’t Like It, Therefore It’s Not True” 0
At The Roanoke Times, Professor Robert Strong explores the concept of “fake news.” After pointing out that the word “fake” originally meant “counterfeit,” he looks at its current usage in our coarse political discourse, particularly as applied to reporting. The article is well worth a read.
Here’s an excerpt (emphasis added):
(snip)
When Donald Trump talks about fake news, he is not talking about Russian dirty tricks. He is talking about actual news stories, from legitimate news organizations that he happens not to like. Fake is not false or fraudulent; it is merely derogatory.
Walleyed Piker 0
When you hear Donald Trump babble on about a “wall,” remind yourselves of how well the Great Wall of China worked.
(Hint: It didn’t.)
The Lies of the Land 0
The Toronto Star’s Daniel Dale takes inventory. An excerpt, when asked about his methodology?
When he says something, I look it up.
The Returned Fire Next Time 0
Thom and his guest discuss whether Donald Trump is suggesting war crimes.
Mark Twain Understood America 0
If you want to understand the rise of Donald Trump, dig out a copy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and read the chapters about the Duke and the Dauphin.
The Art of the Con 0
Shorther Catherine Rampell: Look at Mark Whitaker’s resume.
Believe It or Don’t 0
At the Des Moines Register, Michael Bugeja considers how “social” media has changed the news. A snippet (emphasis added):
The audience no longer seeks information; it wants affirmation. That’s the cover-up.
What about coverage?
Two factors play into the media culture of lies. In the past decade, newsroom employment plummeted by some 23%. Increasingly, people rely on social media for news. According to the Pew Research Center, about two-thirds of American adults (68%) get their news from applications like Instagram, LinkedIn, Reddit, Twitter, Snapchat and the biggie, Facebook. An estimated 67 percent of Facebook users — and that’s a humongous amount of people (about 1.5 billion worldwide) — rely on the platform for affirmation.
Misty Water-Colored Rose-Colored Glasses 0
Shaun Mullen is still an optimist.
Full Disclosure:
I have met Shaun. I had breakfast with him (mumble) years ago and that breakfast is one of my treasured memories.
I arrogate that it gives me the right to pull his chain.
Joking aside, I have nothing but respect for his reportorial skill, experience, and expertise. As I recently said to him, while I snipe from the sidelines, he digs into the details.
Scrap Medal Industry 0
Paul Krugman considers Donald Trump’s approach to awarding “Presidential Medal of Freedom.” A snippet:
Now, this may seem like a trivial story. But it’s a reminder that the Trumpian attitude toward truth — which is that it’s defined by what benefits Trump and his friends . . . .
