The job of the press is to inform the masses and give context to important, complex stories by doing basic journalism, which includes establishing the facts and holding our elected officials accountable with simple follow-up questions. Tragically, this is a rarity in the modern American corporate media, where too many journalists and anchors instead act as stenographers who parrot the talking points of the powerful.
Instead of spending time on explaining to Americans the history of the Israel-Palestine “conflict,” they act like the dog from UP and pivot their attention to the latest catastrophe and defer to the bad faith arguments of elected officials and powerful, influential lobbies like AIPAC. One would assume that Donald Trump potentially leading the United States into WW3 by supporting war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu’s unilateral strikes on Iran would merit such coverage, but, unfortunately, corporate media and Democratic leaders, such as Senator Schumer and Rep. Jeffries, can’t be bothered.
Because we live in hell, this job has fallen to Tucker Carlson of all people, who eviscerated Senator Ted Cruz and his raging war boner by simply asking him to justify his positions by answering basic questions. Predictably, Cruz failed and humiliated himself. Earlier this week, Donald Trump was asked by a reporter to comment on his own Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, stating that Iran was not close to achieving a nuclear deal. “I don’t care what she said,” was his response, and there were no follow-ups. Today, Trump doubled down on that position.
What would have happened had the media relentlessly pressured the Trump regime for facts about the abduction of innocent brown immigrants who were sent to El Salvador? Or followed up on his claim that he’s allegedly helping combat anti-semitism by reminding him of his own anti-semitic comments, his anti-semitic circle, and his dinner with white nationalist Nick Fuentes? Or, what would happen if they focus on his declining physical health and demand that he release the hospital records from his assassination attempt?
This failure of journalism has not only led to the proliferation of right-wing conspiracy theories and disinformation, but it has also led to horrific policies that threaten the lives and security of Americans and now the world at large.
Thankfully, some journalists are stepping up to the moment. Katie Phang, host of Katie Phang Show on YouTube and editor of the Katie Phang Substack, joins me to call out the failures of corporate media and how journalists must do better as we’re fighting for our rights and democracy against a fascist regime.
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