If raising the national debt is “Trump’s most enduring legacy,” as the Washington Post () suggests, then it follows that in order to reverse that legacy, President Joe Biden will have to reduce the debt.A Democrat has assumed office, and so, like clockwork, corporate media are here to play their favorite game of pretending to suddenly be deeply concerned with the deficit and the national debt. Debt has risen sharply after a Covid-induced economic crash and rounds of enormous Trump tax cuts (the last of which 82% of the benefits to the richest 43,000 Americans, while only 3% went to those...… If raising the national debt is “Trump’s most enduring legacy,” as the Washington Post () suggests, then it follows that in order to reverse that legacy, President Joe Biden will have to reduce the debt.A Democrat has assumed office, and so, like clockwork, corporate media are here to play their favorite game of pretending to suddenly be deeply concerned with the deficit and the national debt. Debt has risen sharply after a Covid-induced economic crash and rounds of enormous Trump tax cuts (the last of which 82% of the benefits to the richest 43,000 Americans, while only 3% went to those...WW…

 EU commissioner Thierry Breton (Politico, ):  “Regardless of whether silencing a standing president was the right thing to do, should that decision be in the hands of a tech company with no democratic legitimacy or oversight?”In the wake of the dramatic of the Capitol last week, a host of big media companies, including Facebook, Reddit, Pinterest, Twitch, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok, have all against Donald Trump. Making the most headlines, however, was the decision of the president’s favorite medium, Twitter (), to permanently suspend him “due to the risk of further incitement...… EU commissioner Thierry Breton (Politico, ):  “Regardless of whether silencing a standing president was the right thing to do, should that decision be in the hands of a tech company with no democratic legitimacy or oversight?”In the wake of the dramatic of the Capitol last week, a host of big media companies, including Facebook, Reddit, Pinterest, Twitch, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok, have all against Donald Trump. Making the most headlines, however, was the decision of the president’s favorite medium, Twitter (), to permanently suspend him “due to the risk of further incitement...WW…

 CNN () reports that “news of China offering cash for attacks on US forces comes as China awaits whether Biden will embrace Trump’s more punitive policies towards the nation or move to reset relations between Washington and Beijing.”First it was Russia (FAIR.org, ). And then . But now it is China that has supposedly been placing bounties on the heads of US soldiers in Afghanistan—according to information received by outlets like the New York Times (), Axios () and CNN ().Outlets worldwide ran with the news, many treating it as highly credible:There were, however, some serious flaws with the...… CNN () reports that “news of China offering cash for attacks on US forces comes as China awaits whether Biden will embrace Trump’s more punitive policies towards the nation or move to reset relations between Washington and Beijing.”First it was Russia (FAIR.org, ). And then . But now it is China that has supposedly been placing bounties on the heads of US soldiers in Afghanistan—according to information received by outlets like the New York Times (), Axios () and CNN ().Outlets worldwide ran with the news, many treating it as highly credible:There were, however, some serious flaws with the...WW…

 A lot of extremely rich people seem to be against the idea of giving money to the rest of us. In recent weeks, as the US continues to flounder amidst a surging Covid-19 epidemic, a wide range of political figures, from Bernie Sanders to Donald Trump, have come out in support of a one-time $2,000 check to Americans who make less than $75,000.Washington Post ()Chief among the doubters of the plan have been corporate media. A Washington Post editorial () denounced the project as a “bad idea” that would compound all the government’s errors from the previous nine months. As is tradition with...… A lot of extremely rich people seem to be against the idea of giving money to the rest of us. In recent weeks, as the US continues to flounder amidst a surging Covid-19 epidemic, a wide range of political figures, from Bernie Sanders to Donald Trump, have come out in support of a one-time $2,000 check to Americans who make less than $75,000.Washington Post ()Chief among the doubters of the plan have been corporate media. A Washington Post editorial () denounced the project as a “bad idea” that would compound all the government’s errors from the previous nine months. As is tradition with...WW…

 CNN () describes mass arrests ordered by Mohammed bin Salman as a way “to shake up the kingdom in a way his predecessors dared not.”“Freedom is blossoming.” That is how, without a shred of irony, CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson describes Saudi Arabia in his recent article (CNN, ). Visiting the kingdom, he informs us, it has “changed beyond recognition” since his last stay. All around him, there was “a sense of lightness, a freedom to make choices.” And this is all thanks to one man: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “Now our lives as Saudis completely changed,” says one...… CNN () describes mass arrests ordered by Mohammed bin Salman as a way “to shake up the kingdom in a way his predecessors dared not.”“Freedom is blossoming.” That is how, without a shred of irony, CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson describes Saudi Arabia in his recent article (CNN, ). Visiting the kingdom, he informs us, it has “changed beyond recognition” since his last stay. All around him, there was “a sense of lightness, a freedom to make choices.” And this is all thanks to one man: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “Now our lives as Saudis completely changed,” says one...WW…

 Julia Ioffe (GQ, ) reported that “dozens of American diplomats, spies and government employees” were “targets of what some experts and doctors now believe were attacks perpetrated by unknown assailants wielding novel directed energy weapons.”A 9,000-word story for GQ () about the mystery ailment of a CIA officer in Moscow has become the unlikely subject of a weeks-long media storm.Marc Polymeropoulos told the magazine’s correspondent Julia Ioffe that in December 2017, while staying at a Moscow hotel (or “enemy territory,” as she described it), he was suddenly struck with strong feelings of...… Julia Ioffe (GQ, ) reported that “dozens of American diplomats, spies and government employees” were “targets of what some experts and doctors now believe were attacks perpetrated by unknown assailants wielding novel directed energy weapons.”A 9,000-word story for GQ () about the mystery ailment of a CIA officer in Moscow has become the unlikely subject of a weeks-long media storm.Marc Polymeropoulos told the magazine’s correspondent Julia Ioffe that in December 2017, while staying at a Moscow hotel (or “enemy territory,” as she described it), he was suddenly struck with strong feelings of...WW…

 The Washington Post () identified  murdered scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh as the “architect of Iran’s disbanded effort to build a nuclear weapon.”If an empire or one of its proxies were to assassinate a citizen of an official enemy state, what kind of pretexts would one expect their propagandists to come up with to justify the murder? It’s a useful thought experiment when examining how corporate media covered the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, evidently by Israeli forces, on November 27.Judging by how corporate media covered the US’s assassination of Iranian...… The Washington Post () identified  murdered scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh as the “architect of Iran’s disbanded effort to build a nuclear weapon.”If an empire or one of its proxies were to assassinate a citizen of an official enemy state, what kind of pretexts would one expect their propagandists to come up with to justify the murder? It’s a useful thought experiment when examining how corporate media covered the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, evidently by Israeli forces, on November 27.Judging by how corporate media covered the US’s assassination of Iranian...WW…

 Even though President Donald Trump had telegraphed his intent months in advance to steal the 2020 election, by planning to get judges, state legislators and/or the Electoral College to illegitimately declare him the winner—laying out a pretext by lying about widespread voter fraud—corporate media were slow to accurately convey the reality and significance of Trump’s election theft efforts. I’ve noted twice before (FAIR.org, , ) that corporate media betrayed their journalistic responsibilities by refusing to report, outside the context of opinion columns, that Trump has been attempting a...… Even though President Donald Trump had telegraphed his intent months in advance to steal the 2020 election, by planning to get judges, state legislators and/or the Electoral College to illegitimately declare him the winner—laying out a pretext by lying about widespread voter fraud—corporate media were slow to accurately convey the reality and significance of Trump’s election theft efforts. I’ve noted twice before (FAIR.org, , ) that corporate media betrayed their journalistic responsibilities by refusing to report, outside the context of opinion columns, that Trump has been attempting a...WW…

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. .FAIR is the national progressive media watchdog group, challenging corporate media bias, spin and misinformation. We work to invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints. We expose neglected news stories and defend working journalists when they are muzzled. As a progressive group, we believe that structural reform is ultimately needed to break up the dominant media conglomerates, establish independent public...…This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. .FAIR is the national progressive media watchdog group, challenging corporate media bias, spin and misinformation. We work to invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints. We expose neglected news stories and defend working journalists when they are muzzled. As a progressive group, we believe that structural reform is ultimately needed to break up the dominant media conglomerates, establish independent public...WW…

 In the wake of the 2020 election, Columbia Journalism Review editor-in-chief Kyle Pope () lamented “how little we seem to have learned” since media underestimate Donald Trump’s chances of success in 2016. Pope noted that polls were again “overhyped and under-scrutinized,” and argued that while journalists pointed out Trump’s “infinite faults,” they spent too little effort “probing the country.”“Remember the post-2016 pledges to ‘go out into the country’?” Pope asked. “We seem to have forgotten.”CJR‘s Kyle Pope () writes repeatedly that “nearly half the country” voted for Trump, and that...… In the wake of the 2020 election, Columbia Journalism Review editor-in-chief Kyle Pope () lamented “how little we seem to have learned” since media underestimate Donald Trump’s chances of success in 2016. Pope noted that polls were again “overhyped and under-scrutinized,” and argued that while journalists pointed out Trump’s “infinite faults,” they spent too little effort “probing the country.”“Remember the post-2016 pledges to ‘go out into the country’?” Pope asked. “We seem to have forgotten.”CJR‘s Kyle Pope () writes repeatedly that “nearly half the country” voted for Trump, and that...WW…

 Joe Biden hadn’t even been declared the victor of the 2020 election before establishment Democrats, in the face of poorer-than-expected results in House and Senate races, began pointing fingers at the left—with corporate media giving them a major assist.Democrats had been hoping for big wins on election night, with the possibility of winning not only the presidency but also the Senate, and increasing their majority in the House. But while Biden has come out on top, the party’s most optimistic outcome in the Senate would be a 50/50 split (if they win both Georgia runoff seats), giving them...… Joe Biden hadn’t even been declared the victor of the 2020 election before establishment Democrats, in the face of poorer-than-expected results in House and Senate races, began pointing fingers at the left—with corporate media giving them a major assist.Democrats had been hoping for big wins on election night, with the possibility of winning not only the presidency but also the Senate, and increasing their majority in the House. But while Biden has come out on top, the party’s most optimistic outcome in the Senate would be a 50/50 split (if they win both Georgia runoff seats), giving them...WW…

 Bolivia’s Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party won a decisive victory in the country’s on Sunday, with its candidate Luis Arce apparently winning by a large enough margin to avoid a runoff, likely achieving an absolute majority. The leading opposing candidate, neoliberal Carlos Mesa, and the right-wing unelected President Jeanine Áñez congratulated Arce on his victory.Some in US corporate media, however, failed to describe what was really going on in the country.The Wall Street Journal () maintained the fiction that Bolivia’s 2019 vote was “marred by irregularities.”When the Wall Street...… Bolivia’s Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party won a decisive victory in the country’s on Sunday, with its candidate Luis Arce apparently winning by a large enough margin to avoid a runoff, likely achieving an absolute majority. The leading opposing candidate, neoliberal Carlos Mesa, and the right-wing unelected President Jeanine Áñez congratulated Arce on his victory.Some in US corporate media, however, failed to describe what was really going on in the country.The Wall Street Journal () maintained the fiction that Bolivia’s 2019 vote was “marred by irregularities.”When the Wall Street...WW…

 The coronavirus pandemic has greatly increased in the United States, a key issue in the upcoming presidential election. are currently looking for the Democrats, many of whom have been murmuring about—or even demanding—a new wealth tax. show the idea is overwhelmingly popular with the electorate, with voters in 11 polled states more than three times as likely to support than oppose a candidate backing a tax on the assets of the wealthy.CNBC (): “With the odds growing of a Biden win and possible blue wave, millionaire and billionaire families are speeding up their plans to pass down wealth,...… The coronavirus pandemic has greatly increased in the United States, a key issue in the upcoming presidential election. are currently looking for the Democrats, many of whom have been murmuring about—or even demanding—a new wealth tax. show the idea is overwhelmingly popular with the electorate, with voters in 11 polled states more than three times as likely to support than oppose a candidate backing a tax on the assets of the wealthy.CNBC (): “With the odds growing of a Biden win and possible blue wave, millionaire and billionaire families are speeding up their plans to pass down wealth,...WW…

  FAIR () has criticized various conspiracy theories propagated by corporate media alleging a coverup of crucial information regarding the Covid-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Chinese government, as well as the notion (FAIR.org, , ) that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid, emerged from a Chinese lab. Now that some time has passed since the beginning of the outbreak, it’s worth revisiting the less-conspiratorial corporate media narrative that the Chinese government maliciously or incompetently delayed the release of critical information early on,...…  FAIR () has criticized various conspiracy theories propagated by corporate media alleging a coverup of crucial information regarding the Covid-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Chinese government, as well as the notion (FAIR.org, , ) that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid, emerged from a Chinese lab. Now that some time has passed since the beginning of the outbreak, it’s worth revisiting the less-conspiratorial corporate media narrative that the Chinese government maliciously or incompetently delayed the release of critical information early on,...WW…

 The Washington Post‘s Josh Rogin writes that “Biden and Harris, if they are elected, will have a chance to prove that Democratic muscular liberalism is still the right approach.”Washington PostFAIR.orgCBS NewsRachel Maddow ShowCBSFace the Nation BBCCBS described Trump’s hiring hyper-interventionist John Bolton as signaling a “more muscular” foreign policy team.New York TimesTimesNew York TimesBloombergWashington PostNew York TimesCBSLA TimesBBCWashington PostFAIR.orgCNNCNNFox NewsNew Yorker“Weak” is used in corporate media as a synonym for “diplomatic” (Fox Business,Business...… The Washington Post‘s Josh Rogin writes that “Biden and Harris, if they are elected, will have a chance to prove that Democratic muscular liberalism is still the right approach.”Washington PostFAIR.orgCBS NewsRachel Maddow ShowCBSFace the Nation BBCCBS described Trump’s hiring hyper-interventionist John Bolton as signaling a “more muscular” foreign policy team.New York TimesTimesNew York TimesBloombergWashington PostNew York TimesCBSLA TimesBBCWashington PostFAIR.orgCNNCNNFox NewsNew Yorker“Weak” is used in corporate media as a synonym for “diplomatic” (Fox Business,Business...WW…

Janine Jackson interviewed journalist Antonia Juhasz about the end of oil for the , episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript.PlayStoppop outXJanine Jackson: Dow Jones ExxonMobil from its blue chip stock market index, a spot it had occupied since 1928. Major , anyway, about from oil and gas; hundreds of , have done so. And, of course, hundreds of millions of people globally have spoken out, marched and agitated against a fossil fuel industry that is despoiling ecosystems, driving climate disruption, distorting international relations, and wreaking havoc on the lives and...…Janine Jackson interviewed journalist Antonia Juhasz about the end of oil for the , episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript.PlayStoppop outXJanine Jackson: Dow Jones ExxonMobil from its blue chip stock market index, a spot it had occupied since 1928. Major , anyway, about from oil and gas; hundreds of , have done so. And, of course, hundreds of millions of people globally have spoken out, marched and agitated against a fossil fuel industry that is despoiling ecosystems, driving climate disruption, distorting international relations, and wreaking havoc on the lives and...WW…

 the media “trial of the century,” WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition hearing is currently taking place in London—although you might not have heard if you’re relying solely on corporate media for news. If extradited, Assange faces 175 years in a , often as a “black site” on US soil.The United States government is asking Britain to send the Australian publisher to the US to face charges under the 1917 Espionage Act.  He is accused of aiding and encouraging Chelsea Manning to hack a US government computer in order to publish hundreds of thousands of documents detailing American...… the media “trial of the century,” WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition hearing is currently taking place in London—although you might not have heard if you’re relying solely on corporate media for news. If extradited, Assange faces 175 years in a , often as a “black site” on US soil.The United States government is asking Britain to send the Australian publisher to the US to face charges under the 1917 Espionage Act.  He is accused of aiding and encouraging Chelsea Manning to hack a US government computer in order to publish hundreds of thousands of documents detailing American...WW…

 AFP (CBS, ) describes attacks on Gaza as “the latest retaliation against fire bombs suspended from balloons that have been released from the Palestinian territory.”Israel is bombing Palestine again, although you likely wouldn’t guess that from watching TV news. For the eleventh straight night, Israeli Defense Force warplanes have been bombing the densely populated Gaza Strip. Israel’s bombs have caused considerable damage, forcing the of the area’s only power plant.But US corporate media, focused on the coronavirus and election coverage, have shown little interest in the renewed violence...… AFP (CBS, ) describes attacks on Gaza as “the latest retaliation against fire bombs suspended from balloons that have been released from the Palestinian territory.”Israel is bombing Palestine again, although you likely wouldn’t guess that from watching TV news. For the eleventh straight night, Israeli Defense Force warplanes have been bombing the densely populated Gaza Strip. Israel’s bombs have caused considerable damage, forcing the of the area’s only power plant.But US corporate media, focused on the coronavirus and election coverage, have shown little interest in the renewed violence...WW…

 Six New York Times reporters () teamed up to produce more than 1,700 words about how “extreme heat [was] roasting California.” None of those words was “climate.”The West is , quite literally. A record-breaking heatwave has sparked unprecedented wildfires up and down the coast, turning the sky an apocalyptic, terrifying shade of red. Six of California’s 20 largest-ever fires have this year, over Oregonians have been forced to flee their homes and the destruction from this week’s blazes alone in Washington it as the state’s second-worst fire season in history.The heatwave and the fires in...… Six New York Times reporters () teamed up to produce more than 1,700 words about how “extreme heat [was] roasting California.” None of those words was “climate.”The West is , quite literally. A record-breaking heatwave has sparked unprecedented wildfires up and down the coast, turning the sky an apocalyptic, terrifying shade of red. Six of California’s 20 largest-ever fires have this year, over Oregonians have been forced to flee their homes and the destruction from this week’s blazes alone in Washington it as the state’s second-worst fire season in history.The heatwave and the fires in...WW…

 “While not disputing that pollution occurred, Chevron has alleged the villagers’ lawyer, Steven Donziger, and his associates went too far,” Reuters (1/20/17) reported.Independent journalist Chris Hedges (ScheerPost, ) wrote:The flagrant corruption and misuse of the legal system to abjectly serve corporate interests in the Donziger case illustrates the deep decay within our judiciary and democratic institutions.One of those deeply decayed institutions is the corporate media, as a review of several years of Reuters of the case illustrates.Attorney Steven Donziger has been under since August...… “While not disputing that pollution occurred, Chevron has alleged the villagers’ lawyer, Steven Donziger, and his associates went too far,” Reuters (1/20/17) reported.Independent journalist Chris Hedges (ScheerPost, ) wrote:The flagrant corruption and misuse of the legal system to abjectly serve corporate interests in the Donziger case illustrates the deep decay within our judiciary and democratic institutions.One of those deeply decayed institutions is the corporate media, as a review of several years of Reuters of the case illustrates.Attorney Steven Donziger has been under since August...WW…

 InsiderAs a historic set of wildfires sweeps across California, sparked by lightning and stoked by record heat and drought resulting from climate change (Mercury News, ; Scientific American, ), many news outlets have drawn readers’ attention to an additional problem the state faces in fighting the fires: shortages of the prison labor that it normally relies on for firefighting crews.The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection — known as Cal Fire — “has roughly half as many inmate fire crews than it originally had to work during the most dangerous part of wildfire season,”...… InsiderAs a historic set of wildfires sweeps across California, sparked by lightning and stoked by record heat and drought resulting from climate change (Mercury News, ; Scientific American, ), many news outlets have drawn readers’ attention to an additional problem the state faces in fighting the fires: shortages of the prison labor that it normally relies on for firefighting crews.The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection — known as Cal Fire — “has roughly half as many inmate fire crews than it originally had to work during the most dangerous part of wildfire season,”...WW…

 When Venezuela threatened to make parties that boycotted local elections re-register, Reuters () thought that was important news. Ecuador actually suspending opposition parties wasn’t as newsworthy.routinely buries information that would badly damage the reputation of US allies in the Americas. Whether those allies are bureaucrats from the Organization of American States and the dictatorship they helped install in Bolivia (FAIR.org, ), violent protesters in Nicaragua (FAIR.org, ) or Venezuelan politicians who support lethal US sanctions on their own country (FAIR.org, ),  the London-based...… When Venezuela threatened to make parties that boycotted local elections re-register, Reuters () thought that was important news. Ecuador actually suspending opposition parties wasn’t as newsworthy.routinely buries information that would badly damage the reputation of US allies in the Americas. Whether those allies are bureaucrats from the Organization of American States and the dictatorship they helped install in Bolivia (FAIR.org, ), violent protesters in Nicaragua (FAIR.org, ) or Venezuelan politicians who support lethal US sanctions on their own country (FAIR.org, ),  the London-based...WW…

 As presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s search for a running mate drags on, press coverage hasn’t failed to disappoint.Useful coverage would lay out each potential pick’s background and qualifications. While you certainly can find that if you look hard enough, many journalists seem quite content to avoid content. The Washington Post‘s () offered a nice helping of unedifying rankings in his “12 Most Logical Picks for Joe Biden’s Vice President, Ranked.” At number one, Blake put Kamala Harris:Kamala Harris is the “most logical pick,” writes the Washington Post‘s Aaron...… As presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s search for a running mate drags on, press coverage hasn’t failed to disappoint.Useful coverage would lay out each potential pick’s background and qualifications. While you certainly can find that if you look hard enough, many journalists seem quite content to avoid content. The Washington Post‘s () offered a nice helping of unedifying rankings in his “12 Most Logical Picks for Joe Biden’s Vice President, Ranked.” At number one, Blake put Kamala Harris:Kamala Harris is the “most logical pick,” writes the Washington Post‘s Aaron...WW…

 The Harper’s letter () decried “a new set of moral attitudes and political commitments that tend to weaken our norms of open debate and toleration of differences in favor of ideological conformity.”A short and rather vaguely worded open letter published in Harper’s Magazine () earlier this month caused an unlikely media storm that continues to rumble on. Glossing over right-wing threats to the First Amendment, the letter, signed by 150 writers, journalists and other public figures, decried a new intolerance to dissent and a threat to freedom of speech coming from the left.The vagueness of...… The Harper’s letter () decried “a new set of moral attitudes and political commitments that tend to weaken our norms of open debate and toleration of differences in favor of ideological conformity.”A short and rather vaguely worded open letter published in Harper’s Magazine () earlier this month caused an unlikely media storm that continues to rumble on. Glossing over right-wing threats to the First Amendment, the letter, signed by 150 writers, journalists and other public figures, decried a new intolerance to dissent and a threat to freedom of speech coming from the left.The vagueness of...WW…

 Washington Post ()Media, particularly those who have made a habit of rhetorically opposing Donald Trump for the past four years, were awash last week with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s controversial statements on reopening public schools in the middle of a pandemic. For example:The myriad of viral headlines suggested that this was another Orwellian outburst from the administration, along the lines of when George H. W. Bush : “I’ll never apologize for the United States of America. Ever! I don’t care what the facts are.” But reading her full answer, or watching the video...… Washington Post ()Media, particularly those who have made a habit of rhetorically opposing Donald Trump for the past four years, were awash last week with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s controversial statements on reopening public schools in the middle of a pandemic. For example:The myriad of viral headlines suggested that this was another Orwellian outburst from the administration, along the lines of when George H. W. Bush : “I’ll never apologize for the United States of America. Ever! I don’t care what the facts are.” But reading her full answer, or watching the video...WW…