The above is an old New Yorker cartoon of mine that was about a specific moment in time, politically. I wish I could remember the context, but it might apply now.
This morning, I slowly became aware on twitter that the mainstream media was really messing up a story about a potential Trump/ Harris debate as yet unconfirmed. Trump was floating the notion on Truth Social that a date had been set for Sept 4th debate, on Fox in an arena, and Harris agreed. She had not. But the Times reported in a headline that it was agreed upon. What is going on with the reporters? Is it sloppy work? Some are calling it journalism malpractice to promote Trump’s “head fake” (I had to look that term up). More and more, we need to find our news in different, multiple places. Be skeptical.
Then he posts this:
Trump is floating a lot of lies and hate, sewing confusion, trying to trip up the Democrats and the media. It appears to have worked with the media. He wants to create doubt about facts. Lately, he’s been calling Kamala Harris “dumb,” just so his followers will repeat it and it will sink into their minds to doubt her.
He seems to be getting even more outrageous. It makes me fear what Trump will do if not elected, which he won’t be. Is the Biden Harris administration preparing for that?
I have always respected the legacy media, but I am unsure now.
See you tomorrow! Happy Saturday.
That’s why I read The Guardian as well as the NYT and the LATimes. They are more of an investigative and international factual newspaper.
Of course Trump is “agreeing to” a Fox hosted campaign event, not a debate. The Harris campaign has already replied that she is planning on the originally scheduled Sept 10 debate on ABC.