Trump's lawyer, interviewed by NPR and elsewhere today, spewed lies and half truths . They were all designed to influence potential jurors. They included the free speech absurdity, "Biden's Justice Department" indicted Trump, and the former president was only following legal advice (a defense widely ridiculed by legal experts).
Trump's lawyer, interviewed by NPR and elsewhere today, spewed lies and half truths . They were all designed to influence potential jurors. They included the free speech absurdity, "Biden's Justice Department" indicted Trump, and the former president was only following legal advice (a defense widely ridiculed by legal experts).
NPR's interviewer simply let the lawyer drone on with well-prepared talking point, barely ever daring to meekly challenge him. Chicken-sh*t journalism at its finest, which has become an NPR standard.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the free press will be suppressed — or worse — if Trump wins.
Michael, of late I have been disappointed with NPR as the newscasters seem to ask questions that parrot Republican talking points, many of them false or outright lies, in ways that validate the interviewee.
Just following MSM which followed Fox. Where are the people who go out to see if it is raining. I try to get a bit from a lot of places, BBC has less bs, it seems
I start the morning with BBC radio news. They seem to scour the globe for items that are enough to curdle milk. But they pronounce all those African names with unhesitating fluency....
I grew up listening to transistor radios with long rabbit ear-like antennas ten times taller than the radios. I sometimes wonder if that is why I enjoy podcasts and audio books so much.
100% agreement. NPR used to provide reliable 'centrist' to 'center-left' to left viewpoints. They have slid past center into clearly partisan rightist views and some of their journalists are a joke--letting the rightwingers gabble on without push-back or providing context. As you pointed out, often the interviewers ask questions designed to let rightwingers "speechify" following their so-called conservative talking points. It's definitely making me rethink my financial support of the local NPR stations.
His lawyer Paul Mauro was also on the PBS NewsHour with his "Biden's Justice Department" talking points, and Geoff Bennett countered well with multiple questions. We are in for a long, grueling slog, which we should expect from Trumpworld.
My favorite Lauro-ism was the bit where he stated that the Biden administration has spent 3 and a half years investigating Trump...so let's see: August 2023, minus 3.5 equals February 2020. This is the legal genius/minion carrying the rancid water this time.
Bennet tried to counter with good questions but to no avail. At least they followed with another interview with the lawyer who worked on the Impeachment committee, he was an excellent counter to the defense attorney.
Not expressing opinions is professional. But letting lies go without pushback is dangerous, especially when it is done only to assure continued access to the liar/“guest”. Personalities drive/hold eyeballs. Reports do not need to have a conversation with a personality to state facts. But the “guest” model of MSM is entrenched. It is the corroding truth factor. We crave it and support it with our attention. The advertisers/corporate sponsors need that assurance for their business-model-bottom-line support. We get an interpretive-dance of information called “News”. But it only shallowly informs citizens, and more greatly dumbs down democracy.
Just reported on MSNBC (just as an aside-not the story) that Trump went out to dinner with Fox News executives. 😳 They are his propaganda cable show. Period!
When Trump was in the WH he used to talk by phone every night with Sean Hannity, and he'd call in on a regular basis to the Fox morning show as well, to the point where some of them were annoyed by it.
Have been since Jeb flamed out. Chump said a while back that Rupert called him way more than Roger Ailes did. Rupert must think that they can lie enough to put him back in office. And they might. Master class propaganda so far. Nothing I would love so much as to see both in orange and cuffs.
That's why I watch the NewsHour. Plus, it has minimal commercials, so there's more time for news. And if you can't watch it live, you can find it on YouTube.
I saw that Mauro dude. Some of these folks are so clever. Have no shame about being a lyer and can spin on a dime ! Hopefully I'll never get in that kind of trouble but If I do, I know who to call - with his lying @$$ ! : )
I was pleasantly surprised to see/hear Gayle King on CBS Mornings go head-to-head with that lawyer yesterday. Ed O'Keefe was there, too, and went after him. They ran out of time, but you could tell Ed especially was eager to keep arguing with him.
In the past, journalists who went easy on interview subjects involved in big controversial stories were looked down upon by their peers. Apparently no more.
Agree, Michael. I was listening to the NPR interview in the car & screaming @ the interviewer. TFG’s lawyer had time to air all of his refutable/ disputable talking points .
It starts to feel like a denial of service attack on our democracy. Throw enough wrenches in the works and the democracy comes to a grinding halt. We must persevere through this.
Thought NPR's Newshour did a better job interviewing Trump’s attorney than CBS did. CBS let the guy drone on without challenge. At least NPR challenged him, quoting the released indictment.
I gave up on NPR over a year ago. So depressing that they went over to the dark side. The both sides bullshit is just evil when the threat is fascism and the genocide that historically follows it.
My understanding is that in order to claim the advice of counsel defense, Trump would have to take the stand and testify himself. I cannot imagine his lawyers letting him do that.
What happens in the court of public opinion is not the same as what happens in a court of law. It’s dangerous, to be sure, but I don’t think helpful to Trump’s case in the end.
The Earth will stop spinning if Trump testifies. And if his lawyers use the “following-my-attorneys’-advice defense,” prosecutors will easily debunk it.
Michael Bales, that is why the trial must not be televised. It will bring guns to the streets. Comparison with the HEARINGS of Senator Sam Erwin during the Nixon nightmare is inappropriate. We have had those with the 1/6 Committee.
Given the unprecedented gravity of the charges and with the future of democracy on the line, I agree that the trial should be televised. Are there risks as Virginia points out? Absolutely. But the nation is better served by witnessing the proceedings rather than only getting filtered accounts.
However, are federal trials ever televised? I don't believe so.
Although generally I would agree with Joyce Vance, this time, given the fear, anger, and stupidity in this well-armed country, having read about the presence of Trump’s lawyers on TV, plus the master manipulator manipulating from the dock, I think it’s asking for armed “militias” (particularly racist ones) in the streets. My first thought was to look forward to seeing the trial, but when I thought what the sight of DT in the dock would do to inflame the Proud Boys who aren’t in jail, plus the congresspersons who are “with” him and have microphones, I changed my mind. The strength of the Fifth Column in America is more like Franco’s than many of US can accept.
Trump's lawyer, interviewed by NPR and elsewhere today, spewed lies and half truths . They were all designed to influence potential jurors. They included the free speech absurdity, "Biden's Justice Department" indicted Trump, and the former president was only following legal advice (a defense widely ridiculed by legal experts).
NPR's interviewer simply let the lawyer drone on with well-prepared talking point, barely ever daring to meekly challenge him. Chicken-sh*t journalism at its finest, which has become an NPR standard.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the free press will be suppressed — or worse — if Trump wins.
Michael, of late I have been disappointed with NPR as the newscasters seem to ask questions that parrot Republican talking points, many of them false or outright lies, in ways that validate the interviewee.
Just following MSM which followed Fox. Where are the people who go out to see if it is raining. I try to get a bit from a lot of places, BBC has less bs, it seems
The Guardian Is a reliable, objective source as well.
I do that
I start the morning with BBC radio news. They seem to scour the globe for items that are enough to curdle milk. But they pronounce all those African names with unhesitating fluency....
What is a radio?? Kidding, will check that out...
“What is a radio??”
LOL
I grew up listening to transistor radios with long rabbit ear-like antennas ten times taller than the radios. I sometimes wonder if that is why I enjoy podcasts and audio books so much.
Yep, those were the days.
I have noticed this pattern as well on the PBS news hour.
100% agreement. NPR used to provide reliable 'centrist' to 'center-left' to left viewpoints. They have slid past center into clearly partisan rightist views and some of their journalists are a joke--letting the rightwingers gabble on without push-back or providing context. As you pointed out, often the interviewers ask questions designed to let rightwingers "speechify" following their so-called conservative talking points. It's definitely making me rethink my financial support of the local NPR stations.
NPR has gotten very good at using the passive voice to slide right wing views into its reporting.
His lawyer Paul Mauro was also on the PBS NewsHour with his "Biden's Justice Department" talking points, and Geoff Bennett countered well with multiple questions. We are in for a long, grueling slog, which we should expect from Trumpworld.
My favorite Lauro-ism was the bit where he stated that the Biden administration has spent 3 and a half years investigating Trump...so let's see: August 2023, minus 3.5 equals February 2020. This is the legal genius/minion carrying the rancid water this time.
Clearly, math is not his strong suit
Bennet tried to counter with good questions but to no avail. At least they followed with another interview with the lawyer who worked on the Impeachment committee, he was an excellent counter to the defense attorney.
Where is the guts to call them what they are proud to be. Shrills for evil.
Reporters and anchors should not express opinions. When they do, they lose credibility. That is why Fox "News" is such an abomination.
Not expressing opinions is professional. But letting lies go without pushback is dangerous, especially when it is done only to assure continued access to the liar/“guest”. Personalities drive/hold eyeballs. Reports do not need to have a conversation with a personality to state facts. But the “guest” model of MSM is entrenched. It is the corroding truth factor. We crave it and support it with our attention. The advertisers/corporate sponsors need that assurance for their business-model-bottom-line support. We get an interpretive-dance of information called “News”. But it only shallowly informs citizens, and more greatly dumbs down democracy.
They are not news, never have been. Ronnie and Rupert's greatest scam on the blathering fools impressed with celebrity.
Just reported on MSNBC (just as an aside-not the story) that Trump went out to dinner with Fox News executives. 😳 They are his propaganda cable show. Period!
When Trump was in the WH he used to talk by phone every night with Sean Hannity, and he'd call in on a regular basis to the Fox morning show as well, to the point where some of them were annoyed by it.
Have been since Jeb flamed out. Chump said a while back that Rupert called him way more than Roger Ailes did. Rupert must think that they can lie enough to put him back in office. And they might. Master class propaganda so far. Nothing I would love so much as to see both in orange and cuffs.
But they should analyze and offer perspective and context. Those attributes are slipping away, too.
That's why I watch the NewsHour. Plus, it has minimal commercials, so there's more time for news. And if you can't watch it live, you can find it on YouTube.
I was heartened to watch that also.
I saw that Mauro dude. Some of these folks are so clever. Have no shame about being a lyer and can spin on a dime ! Hopefully I'll never get in that kind of trouble but If I do, I know who to call - with his lying @$$ ! : )
I was pleasantly surprised to see/hear Gayle King on CBS Mornings go head-to-head with that lawyer yesterday. Ed O'Keefe was there, too, and went after him. They ran out of time, but you could tell Ed especially was eager to keep arguing with him.
In the past, journalists who went easy on interview subjects involved in big controversial stories were looked down upon by their peers. Apparently no more.
Agree, Michael. I was listening to the NPR interview in the car & screaming @ the interviewer. TFG’s lawyer had time to air all of his refutable/ disputable talking points .
I was in in the car, too. I used some choice words that my nearly 18-year-old son endures with eye rolls that say "there he goes again."
(Oh, those teenage eye-rolls...)
It starts to feel like a denial of service attack on our democracy. Throw enough wrenches in the works and the democracy comes to a grinding halt. We must persevere through this.
Steve Bannon's plan, still being carried out.
Absolutely. No easy times ahead.
AMEN ! Robert ! FAITH !!
I find it "dangerous" to listen to any talk radio in my 2500-pound car. 😈
Trump indicted trump ... the MAGA-cult and the Republican Party indicted trump ... this fiasco was and is far worst than I could have ever imagined!!!
Jim ! , IT !, is Written : " A House, DIVIDED, Will NOT STAND !! "
Jeff Bennett on PBS Newshour was actively challenging the sophist liar Trump lawyer. Great journalist
Those of you who find the NewsHour ineffective, please note that Bennett is with the NewsHour.
Thought NPR's Newshour did a better job interviewing Trump’s attorney than CBS did. CBS let the guy drone on without challenge. At least NPR challenged him, quoting the released indictment.
I gave up on NPR over a year ago. So depressing that they went over to the dark side. The both sides bullshit is just evil when the threat is fascism and the genocide that historically follows it.
"Only following legal advice". He's never "only" done anything.
Worse
My understanding is that in order to claim the advice of counsel defense, Trump would have to take the stand and testify himself. I cannot imagine his lawyers letting him do that.
What happens in the court of public opinion is not the same as what happens in a court of law. It’s dangerous, to be sure, but I don’t think helpful to Trump’s case in the end.
The Earth will stop spinning if Trump testifies. And if his lawyers use the “following-my-attorneys’-advice defense,” prosecutors will easily debunk it.
Michael Bales, that is why the trial must not be televised. It will bring guns to the streets. Comparison with the HEARINGS of Senator Sam Erwin during the Nixon nightmare is inappropriate. We have had those with the 1/6 Committee.
I disagree, Virginia. This trial needs to be as accessible as possible. Read some of Joyce Vance's writings on the subject.
Given the unprecedented gravity of the charges and with the future of democracy on the line, I agree that the trial should be televised. Are there risks as Virginia points out? Absolutely. But the nation is better served by witnessing the proceedings rather than only getting filtered accounts.
However, are federal trials ever televised? I don't believe so.
Although generally I would agree with Joyce Vance, this time, given the fear, anger, and stupidity in this well-armed country, having read about the presence of Trump’s lawyers on TV, plus the master manipulator manipulating from the dock, I think it’s asking for armed “militias” (particularly racist ones) in the streets. My first thought was to look forward to seeing the trial, but when I thought what the sight of DT in the dock would do to inflame the Proud Boys who aren’t in jail, plus the congresspersons who are “with” him and have microphones, I changed my mind. The strength of the Fifth Column in America is more like Franco’s than many of US can accept.
How much of the case against Trump ALSO consists of lies and half-truths? I shared my thoughts on this post:
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/august-2-2023/comment/21789709