Yes! It is time for the press to focus on the consequences, whether it is the deportation of a beloved neighbor of 20 years, food safety outbreaks, lack of weather information, or the loss of medical coverage. People without medical coverage are more likely to show up at the emergency room with a non-emergency because they will be treated. That puts a strain on hospitals logistically and financially, and rural hospitals are particularly going to be hit hard by Medicaid cuts and many will close.
Also, a focus on Trump lets the rest of the Republicans off the hook. After all, who voted to seat those laughably inept cabinet members?
I've shared this with my journalism school family members. Trying what might be effective is worth it. I do have TDS, and I wish more were afflicted, but I can see that the propaganda pushed by the right wing causes a defensive reaction. Excellent points!!
This is an extremely insightful piece. And bravo to AP if they are doing this intentionally and strategically to actually get the truth out. People have been conditioned to view anything that smacks of political reporting either through their personal political lenses or as something to avoid. Alternative methods are required to get through the muck that makes the truth so hard to find.
The Industry-backed Crypto bill (called the “Genius Act”) is not yet getting the negative attention it deserves. Call your Senators now - including your Democratic Senators who do not seem to realize how bad this bill is. 202-225-3121.
Bravo, bravissimo! The press and too many pro-democracy activists accord too much power to this entity called "Trump." They act like poster children for the unitary executive theory, even though they'd almost certainly oppose it if they knew what it was. The roots of this go way, way back in U.S. history, at least to the late 19th century, when talking about systems or the common good or pointing out the flaws in the "free market" (or, gods forbid, trying to organize a union) got you branded a commie pinko un-American anarchist, etc.
As to "partisan" -- I'd rather reserve the word for, say, those who resisted the Nazis before and during World War 2. I've been saying for many years that all the best candidates and officeholders are Democrats, but the Democratic *Party* is nothing to write home about. After decades of being "unenrolled" (in my state, Massachusetts, unenrolled voters can take the primary ballot of either party), I signed up as a Democrat after the 2016 election and became an officer in my local Dem group. The local group was (and is) great, but what I learned about the Democratic *Party* in this state and nationally led me to go back to being unenrolled after three terms in office.
I donate to campaigns, not to the party apparatus -- although I *am* seriously considering donating to the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State (DASS) and/or the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA). They're on the front lines, and they're doing crucial work.
This strategy is right on the money. I get exasperated when folks, such as Nicholas Kristof in the NYT, demand Trump has to be held accountable. If we have learned nothing else from Trump in the past decade, it is that his cult followers will NEVER hold him accountable. That's as true today as the day when he claimed he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and nobody would care. So we have to focus on his enablers -- the cowards in Congress. That's why Indivisible is raising money for billboards highlighting Republican votes to slash Medicaid. Carolina Forward posted photos of North Carolina reps noting how many Medicaid clients are in their districts and how they are getting dismissed. This is a winning midterm strategy. The cowards in Congress think they can keep their heads down and let Trump take the hits. Democrats are not foolish enough to let them off the hook.
Biden’s accomplishments, particularly the Inflation Reduction Act, were largely ignored by journalists even though they were having significant positive impact on Americans. There seemed to be no space or time for coverage of the actual effects of government on our lives. Focusing on what is said rather than what is done is a recipe for problems.
I LOVE this strategy. Decency vs. Cruelty is a great agenda to push. We need to get every democratic member of congress using this catch phrase in every interview they do. This is how the republicans move their messages along; they keep repeating the catch phrase until it becomes part of the daily vernacular. Michael Cohen has been trying to get the democrats to catch onto this as well, but I believe you have found the winning phrase, Mr. Jacob!
When are you going to call him out for what he is REALLY trying to accomplish?
Start the next civil war. All the signs of his planning have been out there, but none of you are paying attention!! This man loves violence and thinks he’s got a MAGA base that is just waiting for his sign to start shooting.
He’s let all the violent criminals out of jail.
He has pushed through laws that not only promote gun ownership, but most recently they now have legal access to automatic weapons.
Look at the gun owner statistics. Terrifying!
He learned what he did wrong in his 2016 administration and used the 2020 term to find the right extremists to write Project 2025 and start getting the right extremists identified and ready to start tearing apart our government starting a few weeks before he took office.
He has been showing us from day one that he is king and has the Republican Party under his thumb.
He breaks the law every day and NOTHING HAPPENS!!
This man will board his new jet and disappear before the next presidential election is over. He knows he’ll lose and he won’t be anywhere to be found and convicted of his crimes.
Mark Jacobs continues to highlight both the need for strong media, and examples of media falling short. I re-read Marliss's comments. In a local Indivisible type group meeting, debate arose: who bears the onus of speaking out? Is it those in "safe" situations, especially concerning personal safety, not just democracy's? Some argued for at-risk individuals to share their stories. I contended today's risks (deportation, jail) differ from the '60s, making it crucial for the "safe" to amplify marginalized voices.
Media and elected officials still have the loudest megaphones to amplify what is happening.
Yes! It is time for the press to focus on the consequences, whether it is the deportation of a beloved neighbor of 20 years, food safety outbreaks, lack of weather information, or the loss of medical coverage. People without medical coverage are more likely to show up at the emergency room with a non-emergency because they will be treated. That puts a strain on hospitals logistically and financially, and rural hospitals are particularly going to be hit hard by Medicaid cuts and many will close.
Also, a focus on Trump lets the rest of the Republicans off the hook. After all, who voted to seat those laughably inept cabinet members?
I've shared this with my journalism school family members. Trying what might be effective is worth it. I do have TDS, and I wish more were afflicted, but I can see that the propaganda pushed by the right wing causes a defensive reaction. Excellent points!!
This is an extremely insightful piece. And bravo to AP if they are doing this intentionally and strategically to actually get the truth out. People have been conditioned to view anything that smacks of political reporting either through their personal political lenses or as something to avoid. Alternative methods are required to get through the muck that makes the truth so hard to find.
The Industry-backed Crypto bill (called the “Genius Act”) is not yet getting the negative attention it deserves. Call your Senators now - including your Democratic Senators who do not seem to realize how bad this bill is. 202-225-3121.
https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/digital-corruption-takes-over-dc?utm_medium=ios
Bravo, bravissimo! The press and too many pro-democracy activists accord too much power to this entity called "Trump." They act like poster children for the unitary executive theory, even though they'd almost certainly oppose it if they knew what it was. The roots of this go way, way back in U.S. history, at least to the late 19th century, when talking about systems or the common good or pointing out the flaws in the "free market" (or, gods forbid, trying to organize a union) got you branded a commie pinko un-American anarchist, etc.
As to "partisan" -- I'd rather reserve the word for, say, those who resisted the Nazis before and during World War 2. I've been saying for many years that all the best candidates and officeholders are Democrats, but the Democratic *Party* is nothing to write home about. After decades of being "unenrolled" (in my state, Massachusetts, unenrolled voters can take the primary ballot of either party), I signed up as a Democrat after the 2016 election and became an officer in my local Dem group. The local group was (and is) great, but what I learned about the Democratic *Party* in this state and nationally led me to go back to being unenrolled after three terms in office.
I donate to campaigns, not to the party apparatus -- although I *am* seriously considering donating to the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State (DASS) and/or the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA). They're on the front lines, and they're doing crucial work.
The only way to defeat Trump is the same way we defeated LBJ in the late 1960s, and Nixon in the mid 1970s: massive and continual street protests.
Mark - EXCELLENT advice. If only Trump followers read the newspapers.
Worthwhile even if only non-Trump followers read them.
. . . and if non-Trump followers have Trump followers in their families or circles of acquaintance.
Jonathan and Susanna - you are BOTH right!!
This strategy is right on the money. I get exasperated when folks, such as Nicholas Kristof in the NYT, demand Trump has to be held accountable. If we have learned nothing else from Trump in the past decade, it is that his cult followers will NEVER hold him accountable. That's as true today as the day when he claimed he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and nobody would care. So we have to focus on his enablers -- the cowards in Congress. That's why Indivisible is raising money for billboards highlighting Republican votes to slash Medicaid. Carolina Forward posted photos of North Carolina reps noting how many Medicaid clients are in their districts and how they are getting dismissed. This is a winning midterm strategy. The cowards in Congress think they can keep their heads down and let Trump take the hits. Democrats are not foolish enough to let them off the hook.
Excellent
Biden’s accomplishments, particularly the Inflation Reduction Act, were largely ignored by journalists even though they were having significant positive impact on Americans. There seemed to be no space or time for coverage of the actual effects of government on our lives. Focusing on what is said rather than what is done is a recipe for problems.
I LOVE this strategy. Decency vs. Cruelty is a great agenda to push. We need to get every democratic member of congress using this catch phrase in every interview they do. This is how the republicans move their messages along; they keep repeating the catch phrase until it becomes part of the daily vernacular. Michael Cohen has been trying to get the democrats to catch onto this as well, but I believe you have found the winning phrase, Mr. Jacob!
Keep leafing & we’ll do all we can to support your great work.
Donald Trump should die in a prison cell!
Yes!
When are you going to call him out for what he is REALLY trying to accomplish?
Start the next civil war. All the signs of his planning have been out there, but none of you are paying attention!! This man loves violence and thinks he’s got a MAGA base that is just waiting for his sign to start shooting.
He’s let all the violent criminals out of jail.
He has pushed through laws that not only promote gun ownership, but most recently they now have legal access to automatic weapons.
Look at the gun owner statistics. Terrifying!
He learned what he did wrong in his 2016 administration and used the 2020 term to find the right extremists to write Project 2025 and start getting the right extremists identified and ready to start tearing apart our government starting a few weeks before he took office.
He has been showing us from day one that he is king and has the Republican Party under his thumb.
He breaks the law every day and NOTHING HAPPENS!!
This man will board his new jet and disappear before the next presidential election is over. He knows he’ll lose and he won’t be anywhere to be found and convicted of his crimes.
Mark Jacobs continues to highlight both the need for strong media, and examples of media falling short. I re-read Marliss's comments. In a local Indivisible type group meeting, debate arose: who bears the onus of speaking out? Is it those in "safe" situations, especially concerning personal safety, not just democracy's? Some argued for at-risk individuals to share their stories. I contended today's risks (deportation, jail) differ from the '60s, making it crucial for the "safe" to amplify marginalized voices.
Media and elected officials still have the loudest megaphones to amplify what is happening.