EXEC SUMMARY: Hey there, Oliver Darcy here with a jam-packed newsletter for you... Scroll down for the latest on Hurricane Dorian, the ABC News debate, Alex Trebek's announcement, Neil Cavuto's monologue, our alternate news universes and so much more... But first, over to Brian Stelter...
Biden's "moving but false war story"
Brian Stelter emails: The Washington Post nails it: "One big question facing candidates and voters," the Post says, "is whether President Trump's routine falsehoods have changed the standards by which other presidential aspirants" should be judged. Case in point: The Post's revelations about Joe Biden completely botching a war story. Last Friday, on the campaign trail in NH, the Democratic frontrunner told a "moving but false" story about a Navy captain "who, despite his bravery, felt like a failure."
The problem: "Except almost every detail in the story appears to be incorrect." The Post's Matt Viser and Greg Jaffe spoke with "more than a dozen U.S. troops, their commanders and Biden campaign officials" to figure out what actually happened. They concluded that Biden "jumbled elements of at least three actual events into one story of bravery, compassion and regret that never happened." The bottom line: "In the space of three minutes, Biden got the time period, the location, the heroic act, the type of medal, the military branch and the rank of the recipient wrong, as well as his own role in the ceremony."
Biden could have corrected his mistakes, but instead...
In a previously-scheduled podcast with WaPo opinion writer Jonathan Capehart, a few hours after the story hit, Biden he was making a genuine point about an incredible "generation of warriors" — and "I don't know what the problem is. What is it that I said wrong?"
Well, the story was very clear about all the things he said wrong. The story was No. 2 on the Post's most-read list on Thursday evening. Biden said he hadn't read it yet, but perhaps he should have read it before expressing doubt about it.
Here's the FoxNews.com banner headline right now, "FOGGY ON WAR?" 👇 | | And as CNN's Devan Cole notes, "Biden made several other misstatements" at the same NH event last Friday, "including one about how many visits he's made to Afghanistan and Iraq, according to the Post..."
Two wrongs don't make a right
How you feel about this may relate to how you feel about Trump. Lots of progressives are all up in my Twitter mentions saying this Biden story doesn't matter because Trump is a pathological liar. And lots of conservatives are promoting the Biden story for obvious reasons. (One of the banners during Tucker Carlson's show: "BIDEN PUSHES FALSE WAR STORY ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.")
But the bar should stay high even if Trump constantly finds ways to go lower and lower. Every public figure should be held to a high standard of accuracy...
Here's a counter-argument
"To me," TPM's Josh Marshall wrote, "this isn't remotely like anything Trump does. And contrary to what some might claim, I really don't see how this gets in the way of making any case against Trump. Trump is a degenerate malicious liar who does not so much lie as he has a total indifference to the very concept of truth and makes things up routinely to get his own way and degrade his enemies."
Crooked Media EIC Brian Beutler tweeted that he agrees: "It is fine and right to be worried about Biden's command over his faculties, but shame on anyone who equates that to Trump's malicious, repulsive, self-serving contempt for truth."
Handing off to Oliver Darcy for the rest of this edition! 👇 👇 👇 | |
Hurricane Dorian dominates news coverage as it barrels toward Florida
Hurricane Dorian has thrashed the US Virgin islands -- and now has its sights set on Florida's east coast. The storm, which is expected to strengthen to a category 4 hurricane, isn't expected to make landfall for a few days. But it's already generating a lot of news coverage. On Thursday evening, it was the lead story across the broadcast newscasts, and on several leading news websites... CNN has all the latest updates here... And if you're in Florida, save this URL for CNN's lite site here...
FOR THE RECORD, PART ONE
-- Fox News host (and Trump favorite) Jeanine Pirro pushed the "great replacement" conspiracy theory on Fox News Radio. She claimed Democrats have a "plot to remake America, to replace American citizens with illegals that will vote for Democrats..." (Media Matters)
-- Splinter's Hannah Gais writes about "how white nationalists have infiltrated conservative media," based on leaked emails she obtained... (Splinter)
-- Jay Carney reviewed Garrett Graff's new oral history of September 11, "The Only Plane in the Sky," for Saturday's edition of Air Mail. In his review, Carney recounted his own story from 9/11... (Air Mail)
-- Business Insider published a "guide to the conspiracy theories" about Jeffrey Epstein's death and "why they're not backed by evidence..." (Business Insider)
It's official: ABC's debate will be one night only
ABC made it official on Thursday: The next Democratic primary debate will take place on one night, Thursday, September 12. The higher bar for qualifying narrowed down the field to 10 contenders. As Stelter previously reported, one night of debates is exactly what network executives had hoped for...
>> Per ABC, the candidates will appear on this stage in this order, from left to right: Amy Klobuchar, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Andrew Yang, Beto O'Rourke, and Julián Castro.
Alex Trebek is back at work | | Thursday's best bit of news: Alex Trebek has been back at work for the past five weeks, taping the new season of "Jeopardy!," five months after being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The show released a video on Thursday, showing Trebek promoting the new season, and saying his chemo treatments are "now over." Trebek said "I'm on the mend and that's all I can hope for right now." The new episodes are slated to begin airing on local TV stations on September 9...
Layoffs at NatGeo
The Disney layoffs continue: This week the company "has laid off employees of the National Geographic unit it acquired from the former 21st Century Fox," Variety's Brian Steinberg reports... "As many as 70 to 80 National Geographic employees could be affected, according to one of these people. Disney has elected to take some operations of National Geographic – including its live-event, travel and publishing operations – and move them to parts of the company that already handle those businesses."
>> One of the impacts: The US editions of National Geographic Traveler are going away... One of the mag's editors said on Twitter that the December-January issue will be its last...
From Disney to Amazon...
A sign of the times? "Disney announced Thursday it has sold its stake in the YES Network to an investor group including Amazon," CNBC's Lauren Feiner reports. "The investor group, which also includes the Yankees and Sinclair Broadcast Group, acquired the 80% stake of the YES Network that was not already held by the Yankees, according to the release. The total enterprise value of the deal was $3.47 billion..."
| | BREAKING:
NYT: Trump's personal assistant exits...
...After off-the-record dinner with reporters
Trump's personal assistant Madeleine Westerhout resigned on Thursday. NYT's Annie Karni and Maggie Haberman, who broke the news, said the "abrupt and unexpected departure" came after Trump discovered she had "indiscreetly shared details about his family and the Oval Office operations she was part of during a recent off-the-record dinner with reporters staying at hotels near Bedminster."
>> A W.H. correspondent notes: "These off the record dinners are par for the course during these trips. Someone was clearly targeting her..."
Kilmeade asks Trump about attacks on Fox, then lets him dodge the question
One day after lacing into Fox, Trump appeared on Fox News Radio for an interview with Brian Kilmeade. Toward the end of the interview, Kilmeade asked Trump about his attacks on the network. Trump quickly reiterated he's "not happy" with Fox, before praising the opinion hosts who support him. Kilmeade asked Trump why he was bothered by Fox giving airtime to someone slightly critical of him.
Trump brazenly dodged the question. Instead of answering, he launched into (predictable) attacks on some of his favorite media targets: CNN and MSNBC. But Kilmeade didn't follow up. He didn't press Trump for an answer on a very reasonable question. Instead he let Trump off the hook with his dodge and moved on to the topic of Elizabeth Warren's crowd size. C'mon Kilmeade! You're better than that!
Cavuto to Trump in brutal monologue: "You're not entitled to your own set of facts"
Fox host Neil Cavuto, on the other hand, did not mince his words when he responded on Thursday to Trump's attacks on Fox. Cavuto said it was "weird" that Trump was so upset at Fox, given the coverage he receives on the network. Cavuto then ripped into Trump.
He delivered a scathing monologue in which he said he noted his job was to "report the economic numbers" whether they are good or bad. Cavuto ended the monologue saying, "You're entitled to your point of view, Mr. President. But you're not entitled to your own set of facts."
Costa: Trump has "drifted away" from Fox, but still watches Lou Dobbs for "entire hour"
WaPo's Robert Costa discussed Trump's attacks on Fox during a "Morning Joe" appearance Thursday. Costa said that since the ouster of Roger Ailes, Trump has "drifted away" from the network, believing it "doesn't have a political center in the way it did" when Ailes was at the helm and "driving the whole spirit of the network."
But Costa did note that there are some programs the president does still enjoy. He said the one show in particular Trump watches "for the entire hour" is Lou Dobbs' program on Fox Business, according to aides he's spoken with. Costa called Dobbs Trump's "spirit guide" on several issues. Costa added that Trump, of course, still remains good friends with Sean Hannity.
DOJ watchdog's report on Comey spotlights the differing news universes
The DOJ Inspector General released findings from its report about the conduct of James Comey on Thursday. The report found no evidence Comey released classified info. BUT, it also found Comey violated FBI policies. And, as you might expect, the news played out extremely different, depending on which news universe you happen to subscribe to.
Case in point, as I was writing this item right now, I happened to glance at my TV screen. On Fox, the chyron on Tucker Carlson's show read, "Smug James Comey owes America an apology right now." Over on MSNBC, the chyron for Chris Hayes' segment on the matter read, "DOJ watchdog: No evidence Comey released classified information to the media." (CNN was on a commercial break.)
The vastly different chyrons once again illustrated the choose your own adventure aspect of news in 2019. CNN's Chris Cillizza wrote about this, observing, "The new James Comey report proves whatever you want it to prove." Yup...
>> Related: Erik Wemple writes for WaPo, "Sean Hannity and John Solomon slimed James Comey. Will they admit it?"
FOR THE RECORD, PART TWO
-- MSNBC's "Saturday Night Politics" is no more... "With summer coming to a close, so does my season run on MSNBC," Donny Deutsch tweeted... (The Contemptor, Twitter)
-- Great observation by Michael Bender: On Thursday, there were "no Trump stories on the front pages of the WSJ, NYT, or WaPo..." (Twitter)
-- Aaron Blake has a great piece on Trump's attacks on Fox. Blake argues that Trump should "be careful" because it's possible "Trump needs Fox more than Fox needs Trump..." (WaPo)
-- Mark Follman writes about how Trump is "going nuclear on the media with ugly personal attacks and crazy conspiracy theories..." (Mother Jones)
"Mark Halperin hasn't shown he deserves redemption"
That's the headline on Eleanor McManus' Thursday piece for CNN Opinion. McManus, who was one of the first accusers to go on record with her story about Mark Halperin back in 2017, wrote, "In my opinion, he has not shown any accountability or atonement for his actions. He has also not taken full responsibility or acknowledge his inappropriate behavior. He has chosen to simply ignore the past."
McManus, noting that Halperin has not apologized to her, wrote, "This November, instead of gallivanting around the country selling books and dispensing political advice, he should be working to undo the damage he did to so many women's lives." She also name-checked Judith Regan and Simon & Schuster for helping him "regain a position of influence after being outed as a serial sexual harasser."
Judith Regan responds to Press Forward: I "don't agree with your solution"
Judith Regan, the publisher who is releasing Mark Halperin's forthcoming book, responded to a letter Press Forward had sent her earlier this month. Press Forward is the organization founded by some of Halperin's accusers which aims to tackle the issue of sexual harassment in newsrooms. Regan responded to the group, writing, "As a woman, mother, and grandmother who has lived a long life, I have a slightly different view. Having been sexually harassed and assaulted, I understand full well your passion for the subject. But I just don't agree with your solution."
Regan said that "to claim that I am putting profit ahead of principle is false, defamatory and wholly unfair." She said she believes in "second chances, forgiveness, and the possibility of redemption," adding, "I will remind you that neither you nor I are prosecutor, judge, jury, or God." You can read Regan's full letter here...
🎙️ Peter Kafka and I talk about the decline of the right-wing troll in latest Recode Media podcast
Earlier this week, I headed down to Vox's studios in lower Manhattan to record an episode of the Recode Media podcast with Peter Kafka. We covered a lot of ground in the hour-long episode, ranging from right-wing trolls to what it's like filling in for Brian Stelter to how I got my start in conservative media. You can read some highlights posted on Vox and listen here to the podcast on iTunes...
FOR THE RECORD, PART THREE
By Kerry Flynn:
-- Gen Z doesn't just read the news, they curate it for their generation. Teens are running their own news sites, like 15-year-old Olivia Seltzer's newsletter theCramm and 16-year-old Sofia Frazer's Instagram account @dailydoseofwokeness... (Teen Vogue)
-- New unions have added "more complexity" inside digital media newsrooms, such as making it difficult to fire under-performing employees and manage commerce content. But they bring more transparency and equality to confusing workplaces... (Digiday)
Crowds flock to NYT offices for free 1619 copies
| | Scores of people descended on NYT's offices in New York on Thursday to obtain a copy of the 1619 Project magazine issue. NYT had previously announced they were handing out free copies from 10am to 2pm, or until their supply of copies ran out. The giveaway was to ensure "people who do not normally get The New York Times can get access to the 1619 Project," Nikole Hannah-Jones said in a statement.
Hannah-Jones added, "The fact that there was a line waiting before the 10 a.m. giveaway and that we gave out all 2,000 copies demonstrates the power of journalism that is evocative, compelling, rigorous and that explains our country to itself in a way that is unflinching and bold, and yes, beautiful, to behold. Print, clearly, is not dead if we respect readers and give them something they want to sit with and take in."
Why Lawrence O'Donnell's error hurts everyone
Trump on Thursday morning did what anyone could have guessed: He used his bully pulpit on Twitter to beat up on Lawrence O'Donnell over the MSNBC host's retracted story. Trump tweeted that O'Donnell is "NO DIFFERENT" than the rest of the press.
Of course, that is false. But it's why O'Donnell's irresponsible actions this week are so damaging. There is a big difference between O'Donnell and the rest of the press. But that's not how Trump will frame it. And I'd bet there is a good chunk of people who will have walked away with the impression that a news anchor -- not liberal opinion host violating reporting procedures -- slandered Trump.
Wemple wonders: Is O'Donnell "fit to host an MSNBC program"?
WaPo media critic Erik Wemple excoriated O'Donnell in a piece published Thursday. Wemple noted that mistakes happen for a variety of reasons. But he took issue with O'Donnell because his "catastrophe" appeared to be the result of "one man's conclusion that having Russian oligarchs on Trump loan documents is a story that's too good to check."
Wemple wrote, "When we asked an MSNBC spokesperson whether O'Donnell did indeed check with someone in the Trump orbit before his report, we received another decline-to-comment response." He concluded, "Is such a fellow fit to host an MSNBC program?"
Virginia judge wants to know who is behind fake Devin Nunes cow account
The Virginia judge presiding over Devin Nunes' lawsuit against Twitter has asked Twitter to reveal the people behind the fake cow account, the Sacramento Bee reported Thursday, noting the information would be kept under seal. A Twitter spokesperson told the paper, "Defending and respecting the user's voice is one of our core values at Twitter. This value is a two-part commitment to freedom of expression and privacy." Stay tuned...
FOR THE RECORD, PART FOUR
By Katie Pellico:
-- Check out WaPo's project on the education system and its methods in teaching "The Dawn of American Slavery," and "what isn't being discussed..." (WaPo)
-- The 152-year old Daily Herald, Pennsylvania's smallest daily newspaper, "finds success with happy news, sports rivalries, and hordes of feral cats..." (Philadelphia Inquirer)
-- ICYMI: The AP Stylebook updated its guidance on hyphenation, "Ushering In Total Chaos..." (The Big Lead)
New biography shows Bloomberg's "better angel"
Katie Pellico writes: Wayne Barrett, a longtime investigative reporter for The Village Voice, was one of Michael Bloomberg's more tenacious critics during his three-term mayoralty. In a new biography from Eleanor Randolph due out September 10, "The Many Lives of Michael Bloomberg," Randolph recounts a phone call Bloomberg made to Barrett while he was ill and hospitalized.
"For 10 or more minutes, he was telling me what a good journalist I am and wishing me good luck and all that," Barrett told Randolph in an interview before his death in 2017. "It was totally surprising." Randolph adds that Barrett's quality of care at the hospital also "improved considerably" after the phone call.
Apple sets date for annual September unveil
Katie Pellico writes: Apple sent out invitations on Thursday, setting the date for its annual showcase on September 10, to be held at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple HQ in Cupertino. CNN's Ahiza Garcia wrote, "As usual, the invitation didn't provide much insight into what Apple will actually discuss at the event." But, "Apple is reportedly planning to launch three new iPhones, including two 'Pro' models to replace the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max." Details here...
>> One possible change to the programming this year, per Garcia: "Jony Ive, Apple's longtime design guru, may no longer play a key role at the event. In June, Apple announced Ive would be leaving the company after 30 years."
Spotlight PA to launch next week
Kerry Flynn writes: Spotlight PA, dedicated to watchdog journalism of the Pennsylvania government, launches next week. The new, donor-funded investigative newsroom is led by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PennLive/Patriot-News. Christopher Baxter, Spotlight PA's editor-in-chief, told me, "State departments across the country receive less and less scrutiny every year, and yet are responsible for all of the finer details of every law passed and program administered. Together with our readers and supporters, we're restoring accountability."
| | Fantasy-tinged projects from Netflix and Amazon
Brian Lowry emails: Netflix and Amazon both roll out major fantasy-tinged projects heading into the holiday weekend: "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance," a prequel to Jim Henson's 1982 movie; and "Carnival Row," which stars Orlando Bloom in a series spun out of an unproduced screenplay. Both feature flying creatures, and neither takes off.
Recommended holiday weekend viewing from Lowry
Lowry emails: "Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins" hits theaters in Texas beginning Aug. 30, rolling out to New York and L.A. the next two weekends. It's a terrific profile of the larger-than-life syndicated columnist who expressed liberal views with humor and bite in deep-red Texas. Ivins died in 2007, but the doc seems highly timely, regardless of political affiliation or where you hang your hat geographically.
Also, "Official Secrets" is a solid fact-based movie about Katharine Gun (Keira Knightley), a British intelligence specialist charged with violating the Official Secrets Act for leaking information about U.S. efforts to pressure U.N. members to vote for a resolution supporting the Iraq war in 2003. It's initially opening in New York and L.A.
FOR THE RECORD, PART FIVE
By Lisa Respers France:
-- After two years of touring and being on track to break the record for most money made by a concert tour, Ed Sheeran is planning on taking an extended break...
-- Duane Chapman says his and Beth's kids are "barely making it" after her death in June...
-- Kirsten Dunst has been acting in major projects since she was a child, but she says she feels ignored by Hollywood...
-- Lauryn Hill may not have had an album in more than 20 years, but she's still making music. She's featured on a new song with rapper Pusha-T...
-- It's the end of the month so here's what's streaming on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon in September...
| | Thank you for reading. I love your feedback, and I also love your tips. Send me an email or find me on Twitter. See you tomorrow!
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