Recent Journalism Commentaries

Featured image for “The Truthist v. The MAGA King”
The Truthist v. The MAGA King
The truthist stands for facts. The MAGA King could care less. The truthist believes in the Constitution. The MAGA King believes in himself. The truthist appeals to those who believe in democracy. The MAGA King appeals to a cheering minority who believes in autocracy. Former Representative Liz Cheney’s “Great Task” leadership PAC is running an ad which shows the graphic...
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May 12, 2023
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Journalism is Not a Crime
The importance of journalism cannot be overstated. Vital to any democracy, it’s as essential to America as the Constitution. Journalism teaches us about the issues necessary to become good citizens. It confronts falsehoods with facts. It shines an important light on lies, fraud, hypocrisy, misinformation as well as illegality—anything and everything that threatens the public interest. Ultimately, journalism acts as...
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May 3, 2023
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A New Heart of Darkness
Is cobalt a savior for a greener planet? Possibly, but at great cost. The ferromagnetic metal—one of the most abundant of all metals found in the earth’s crust—is the essential element in all lithium-ion batteries used in cell phones, laptops, electric cars, and other products that depend on more efficient batteries. However, it is only economically feasible to mine in...
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March 31, 2023
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Pants on Fire
Lying has become far too pervasive in American culture today. When it’s done by politicians, it’s become normative. When it’s done by the media, it’s reprehensible. For 19 years, CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite was the gold standard of trust when it came to reporting the news of the day. Today, some 24/7 cable news programs have become a hodgepodge...
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February 28, 2023
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The War on Truth
Winston Churchill famously said, “The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” Churchill never met Alex Jones and his many acolytes. Last November, a court found the right-wing conspiracy podcaster guilty by default in the civil suit brought by parents of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. “Connecticut...
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March 11, 2022
Featured image for “Sarah Palin v. The New York Times”
Sarah Palin v. The New York Times
Note: Computer issues. Returning Tuesday. Last week, former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s libel suit against The New York Times, failed to convince both judge and jury that the former governor of Alaska had been defamed. A 2017 New York Times editorial linked a map—distributed by Palin’s political action committee—which carried a design that appeared as crosshairs over twenty Democratic congressional...
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February 22, 2022
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Let’s Get After It!
CNN’s Chris Cuomo Prime Time offered a mix of news, interviews, and insights into politics and how those in power work the levers of power in Washington. He often reserved his harshest assessment of others for a segment called, “Let’s Get After It!” His approach throughout was straightforward as he fearlessly held political figures accountable, and on more than one...
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December 10, 2021
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It’s Time
“…to live with integrity, it is sometimes necessary to take that difficult step – to get involved – to fight openly for what one believes to be true and right and good, even when there is risk to oneself.” – Stephen Carter, Integrity Republican Representatives Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, and Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse unquestionably meet that standard. This is...
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February 10, 2021
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What Biden, Congress and Journalists Should Do
“It’s good to be the King!”  – Mel Brooks, “History of the World Part I” It’s fifty days before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. While the Covid-19 virus remains the top priority for both the incoming president and Congress, there are steps that both can take to begin to restore trust in government, protect the interests of Americans, and...
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November 30, 2020
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Information and Analysis We Can All Use
The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue. – Edward R. Murrow, 20th century journalist. No doubt Murrow would be outraged by Donald Trump’s daily false information and governance by tweet, but… he and his staff would be working overtime to get...
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October 19, 2020