Recent Media Commentaries

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It’s Not Just Irresponsible; It’s Dangerous
At a February 28 political rally, President Trump said, “The Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus. … This is their new hoax.” In attempting to correct his meaning, Trump later said, “The ‘hoax’ was used with respect to Democrats and what they were saying. It was a ‘hoax,’ what they were saying.” No one is clear on what Trump was saying....
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March 16, 2020
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Just What is Good for Society, Mr. Zuckerberg?
“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” Fact-check: while attributed to Winston Churchill, versions of the expression existed as far back as the 1700s. Since the advent of social media, however, that cautionary quote needs serious updating and here’s why. Currently, more than 2.41 billion individuals use Facebook, of...
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November 1, 2019
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They don’t give awards for integrity…
The only time I watch Fox News is when Shepard Smith is the anchor for the mid-day news, the factual news, the honest news, not the distortions put forth by those so-called opinion guys on the network. It really isn’t surprising that the vast majority of Fox revenues are brought in by those other guys that pander to the president,...
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October 14, 2019
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We Need to Forgive
Returning Friday 1986 was not a happy year for Bill Buckner or me. Thirty-seven years old, I had filed for divorce from my first wife. Racked with self-doubt, work was intermittent as I pondered whether I would ever find my right place in a career. I returned to an empty apartment and lay awake wondering what’s going to happen next....
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June 17, 2019
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CNN v. Trump
In response to yet another controversial and unprecedented action taken by President Trump, cable news organization CNN has filed a lawsuit against the president, as well as some members of his administration, for revoking White House Correspondent Jim Acosta’s press pass to The White House. Updated: Friday, 11:23 a.m. The opening of the 18-page lawsuit reads: “…on November 7, 2018,...
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November 16, 2018
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Never Forget
NBC’s Saturday Night Live (Nov. 11), offered a funny and thoughtful exchange between regular Pete Davidson and Lt. Com. Dan Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who lost an eye from an I.E.D. in Afghanistan and was recently elected to the House. As the segment of Weekend Update unfolded, I was completely unaware of the previous week’s show and who Crenshaw...
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November 12, 2018
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If You Don’t “Embrace,” I Will Debase
“When a man does all he can, though it succeeds not well, blame not him that did it.” – George Washington, Rules of Civility Civility is a word Mr. Trump and his spokespersons use only when condemning reporters who have the temerity to ask hard questions. What is a “hard” question? Any question the president doesn’t like. The latest hard...
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November 9, 2018
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Last Man Standing
“Tomorrow the migrants… are more than two months away — if any of them actually come here, but tomorrow is one week before the midterm election, which is what all of this is about.” – Shepard Smith, FOX News anchor, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018 Shepard Smith, the informed, straightforward newsman at FOX News (Yes, you heard me correctly, FOX News),...
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November 2, 2018
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Credibility
“To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful. It is as simple as that.” ~ Edward R. Murrow, 20th century journalist in testimony before a Congressional Committee, May 1963 Let’s face it, credibility is not that simple anymore. It has less to do with facts and more...
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October 22, 2018
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Epilogue
After two weeks of turmoil and rage, what more could possibly happen? We’ve given up the common ground for my ground. We’ve gone from dissent to disrespect; from disrespect to hatred. Before we face the next bitter Division Du Jour, perhaps it’s time for us to consider what we stand for? I believe Judge Brett Kavanaugh is, fundamentally, a good...
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October 8, 2018