It's a nightmare of epic proportions. As Jeff Tiedrich (I believe) pointed out, Dump has filed over 4000 lawsuits and lost 93% of them. I hope he loses this one too because as everything he attempts, it's a reflection of his needy, narcissistic personality and destined to fail. I was gratified that Judge Merchan stood his ground, BTW. But the corporate press has failed us and independent journalism needs to be encouraged and lifted up. Don't stop, D. Earl. 👏👏👏
I predict 2025 will be a very interesting year for the media. Rupert Murdoch losing his court case to try to disinherit his 'liberal leaning kids' was a sure sign of a desperate move of an old - and probably sick and dying - man. It was a case quite literally brought to court because they watched a TV programme about a fictional family in just the same scenario based on his life. (Succession). The word on the street here in Blighty is once Rupe goes to his grave, his media empire goes with him. And then its the wild west all over again. Meanwhile in other news The Onion will be strirring a hiliarious pot next year in its bid to buy disgraced Alex Jones' infowar s station; yeah it is a legal tussle but the Trustees want it, even if Alex Jones doesn't.
Here in the UK there are tussels to buy the Telegraph and the Observer by right wing foreign influencers. But the Labour (democrat you would say) Government looks set to ban news sales to overseas buyers especially in the light of the ongoing Chinese-Spy-among-the-Royals Scandal, Putin and Ukraine, and so on. This is money did an excellent story covering the whole lot.
"Historic printed media titles may find themselves under financial pressure and in search of long-term online future.
But there is no shortage of finance, much of it American (as with Premier League football clubs) ready to colonise the digital media future.
In this universe, traditional titles such as the Telegraph and Observer have become the new honeypots for busy bees seeking to revolutionise media finances, lift performance and gain a voice on UK domestic and geo-political events."
ME AGAIN...Why isn't Biden Or Harris or Pelosi or Jeffries or????? getting on the TV, calling press conferences and giving their version of what is happening???? There are also so many things that Biden put in place...and immigration is down by 75%>..does anyone know that? We are without spokespeople at this time....are they also afraid?If they are how can WE fight back without any leaders rising up and leading the battle? #WTF!
Well I don't know about the others but Nancy Pelosi is in hospital right now recovering from hip replacement surgery in Germany, was it?
But you are right, the voices have been silent for too long. Maybe, Kamala Harris will become one, if she can regroup following the loss of the election?
Meanwhile, Pelosi tanked AOC’s campaign to become the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee. Democrats instead elected 74-year-old Gerry Connolly. Schumer was re-elected as Senate minority leader. When will these old, white Democratic politicians get the hell out of the way and read the fucking room? How about the 1st of never?
We are feeling abandoned by our Democratic leaders, and stunned and disgusted that Biden invited Trump to the White House just a week after the election. (Earl wrote about both these things in the aftermath of the election.)
I will add that, until the day I die, I will never believe that Harris legitimately lost this election. Trump has cheated at everything he’s ever done in his entire life. Regardless of the outcome, why did the Harris campaign not ask for a recount in at least some of the swing states? Why did she concede the next day?
I am one of those who is exhausted, sick, and heartbroken over where we find ourselves. We can analyze forever about why we’re here, and the corporate media focusing only on the trump dumpster fire for the last decade is a large part of it. They refused to report *at all* on the enormous accomplishments of the Biden/Harris administration. Garland refusing to investigate Trump, and Biden not pressuring him to resign, is also why we’re here. And, the fact that Biden decided to run for a second term instead of being a one-term president as he promised. I love Joe Biden, and I believe he will be remembered as one of the most consequential presidents of our lifetime. But both these things were serious errors and will cloud his legacy.
Our government was founded on white supremacy and has always been stacked against liberalism and the forces of good. The Democrats have always had to fight so much harder to even keep our heads above water. And the Republicans have always gotten a complete pass. Justin Rosario (The Opinionated Ogre) wrote a brilliant piece about this yesterday. The democrats have to be the adults in the room, while there is no standard ever applied to republicans.
“A young 74.” 😬 Thank you. So much. It’s one of my husband’s favorites. He said it to a coworker (I work part time at Lowe’s), and when she and a couple others asked what it meant and I told them, they were hysterical laughing
Much of the media is the enemy of the people, and swung the last election to Trump via daily barrages that overlooked a felon, a sexual abuser, a grifter, a noted crook as if equal to the other candidate. This was criminal, and they should be treated as such. Boycotted. ABC has pointed Trump to a very lucrative market where people obey in advance. Sue the media, a brand new market for the grifter. Graft is Donald Trump’s agenda and intention. Legal graft is best, but not the BIG buck$. That is a distraction from what is really in play. How about privatizing the post office? An illegal graft pipeline. How about privatizing schools? An illegal graft pipeline. How about building and operating detention centers? An illegal graft pipeline. Kickbacks that you will never see: the bitcoin exchange, the Kushner-Saudi lashup, etc. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/rape-the-us-treasury?r=3m1bs
Who is going to keep the books on the grift and graft? I hope I live long enough to read the books and watch the movies. Until then, I can opt to try and get the through the entirety of Idiocracy in order to preview the future.
HOW DO WE STOP THE IMPLODING AND THE SLIDING INTO THE MUCK AND MIRE OF FACISM? ????? We should start a class action suit on behalf of the American People against all the
turncoats that are kissing his ass and are afraid to the Monster!!!! SO sad ...so frightened...so anxious...
Good question Gail. I would suggest people need to stop being lazy and start fact checking and making sure their sources are legitimate. Google everything. Accept nothing and share nothing unless you've read it, understood it (not just the headline) and agree it matches the point you are trying to make.
Know thine enemy! Exactly who does own the papers you like to read online? How are they financed? Are they using AI to write stories or do they pay real journalists to do it? What are their political affiliations? Are they balanced media (centrist, left or right). Can you find an alternative to their position reported across ALL media left and right or is it just being repeated on the right wing media channels?
So true, Earl. ABC's folding like origami has set a dangerous precedent. Disney caving in because of worry over profit is actually not surprising in that light. We just had hoped that they would show backbone for what is right rather than be so craven. Well, we were sadly mistaken. Thanks for giving us a shove down the fascism cliff, Disney.
I had just gotten off the phone with my son, who is an attorney in VA, after about 50 minutes of me dumping on him pretty much of a duplicate of your post. Different words, same frustrations.so when I read your words, expressing my feelings, I could no nothing other than cry!. I will not say he is not frustrated. But he does not have the fire in his belly and the fury in his soul that some of us here have. I think he may be part of the problem along with the rest of Americans that are going on with their daily life on automatic pilot.
Your last sentence sums it up, Veronica. America has shut their eyes and ears to truth, ugly as it may be. But about to become even uglier! America now has the honor of joining countless other countries that have succumbed to dictatorships! And we thought we were so smart and above that drivel. Sad to say, most people don't like to think for themselves, and gladly read on the good stuff that anybody promises them - just look at all the junk that is being advertised daily to be something you NEED in your life and/or house. An instant "fix it" for anything you wish for. So now we are about to reap what the majority (others) have wished for!
And the tragedy of it all is that ABC will continue to be a target of the trump administration regardless of its groveling and protection money payments.
It's so disheartening. I'm truly disgusted with the Americans who ignorantly voted for that fat orange bastard and the other idiots for the reps and senators. I don't know how much more of this nightmare I can withstand. 😢
I’m so glad I have you everyday telling the truth. I am flattened by this horrible election and done with the electoral college. Enough is enough of that antiquated system. Thanks for always being a light in the darkness, Earl. 💙
This feels like the start of a sickening slide that’s suddenly going much faster. The press and media today, which institutions and individuals tomorrow? I suppose the fear and dread is just as much the point as control by using the law as a weapon. It’s the willingness to crumple when threatened that’s most disturbing. Revolting actually.
I'm still mad as Hell and have deleted all of my news apps, unsubscribed from the 3 newspapers I used to read and am limiting my time on social media. I don't know when I'll be ready to reengage with society, but for now, I've unplugged. My mental health has greatly improved and I'm keeping myself busy with projects I've put off. Maybe I'll continue to disengage, maybe not. For now, I'm happiest just living my life without all the noise...
I'm getting off Facebook before January 20th. We aren't shopping Amazon and we will be canceling our Disney+ account. I am on here and bluesky. I'm worried they'll try to shut platforms down, but for now that's where I am connecting.
Yep, sad but true. I'm still going through the stages of grief. I think I'm through it as I am just annoyed and disgusted. All we can do is pick up our shattered dreams and fight for a way to rebuild our country. We must rise like a Phoenix from the asses.
Be - Aware of the price of groceries, fuel, electronics, medications etc.
DJT didn’t win 50% of the vote. He just won more than Kamala Harris.
He may not have won at all if a certain very wealthy man didn’t get in the game on DJT’s side to protect his business interests from Fed investigations.
Those voters who were lukewarm about trump but didn’t want to vote for a black woman (especially after the ugliness of the rich misogynistic ads took effect) will sour quickly when those lower prices aren’t happening and EVERYTHING is getting more expensive.
Add to that - the information used to target those voters is now turned against them by hackers.
It's a nightmare of epic proportions. As Jeff Tiedrich (I believe) pointed out, Dump has filed over 4000 lawsuits and lost 93% of them. I hope he loses this one too because as everything he attempts, it's a reflection of his needy, narcissistic personality and destined to fail. I was gratified that Judge Merchan stood his ground, BTW. But the corporate press has failed us and independent journalism needs to be encouraged and lifted up. Don't stop, D. Earl. 👏👏👏
We are all targets now, and the least we can expect out of the media is for them to do their damn jobs.
(And I am NOT going anywhere, Susan.)
I predict 2025 will be a very interesting year for the media. Rupert Murdoch losing his court case to try to disinherit his 'liberal leaning kids' was a sure sign of a desperate move of an old - and probably sick and dying - man. It was a case quite literally brought to court because they watched a TV programme about a fictional family in just the same scenario based on his life. (Succession). The word on the street here in Blighty is once Rupe goes to his grave, his media empire goes with him. And then its the wild west all over again. Meanwhile in other news The Onion will be strirring a hiliarious pot next year in its bid to buy disgraced Alex Jones' infowar s station; yeah it is a legal tussle but the Trustees want it, even if Alex Jones doesn't.
https://news.yahoo.com/news/onion-wants-buy-infowars-legal-193038319.html?guccounter=1
Here in the UK there are tussels to buy the Telegraph and the Observer by right wing foreign influencers. But the Labour (democrat you would say) Government looks set to ban news sales to overseas buyers especially in the light of the ongoing Chinese-Spy-among-the-Royals Scandal, Putin and Ukraine, and so on. This is money did an excellent story covering the whole lot.
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-14124239/Why-British-newspapers-demand-New-owners-circle-Telegraph-Observer.html
"Historic printed media titles may find themselves under financial pressure and in search of long-term online future.
But there is no shortage of finance, much of it American (as with Premier League football clubs) ready to colonise the digital media future.
In this universe, traditional titles such as the Telegraph and Observer have become the new honeypots for busy bees seeking to revolutionise media finances, lift performance and gain a voice on UK domestic and geo-political events."
"once Rupe goes to his grave, his media empire goes with him."
Yes, please.
I'll bring the popcorn :o)
Excellent summary about media, thank you! And on a lighter note, thanks to Ted Lasso, I know what Premier League football clubs are now.
LOL! Merry Christmas, Rain :o)
Susan: you are absolutely correct!
ME AGAIN...Why isn't Biden Or Harris or Pelosi or Jeffries or????? getting on the TV, calling press conferences and giving their version of what is happening???? There are also so many things that Biden put in place...and immigration is down by 75%>..does anyone know that? We are without spokespeople at this time....are they also afraid?If they are how can WE fight back without any leaders rising up and leading the battle? #WTF!
These are great, important questions, Gail.
Absolutely..??? WHY ARE THEY BEING COMPLACENT?????
Well I don't know about the others but Nancy Pelosi is in hospital right now recovering from hip replacement surgery in Germany, was it?
But you are right, the voices have been silent for too long. Maybe, Kamala Harris will become one, if she can regroup following the loss of the election?
Meanwhile, Pelosi tanked AOC’s campaign to become the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee. Democrats instead elected 74-year-old Gerry Connolly. Schumer was re-elected as Senate minority leader. When will these old, white Democratic politicians get the hell out of the way and read the fucking room? How about the 1st of never?
We are feeling abandoned by our Democratic leaders, and stunned and disgusted that Biden invited Trump to the White House just a week after the election. (Earl wrote about both these things in the aftermath of the election.)
I will add that, until the day I die, I will never believe that Harris legitimately lost this election. Trump has cheated at everything he’s ever done in his entire life. Regardless of the outcome, why did the Harris campaign not ask for a recount in at least some of the swing states? Why did she concede the next day?
I am one of those who is exhausted, sick, and heartbroken over where we find ourselves. We can analyze forever about why we’re here, and the corporate media focusing only on the trump dumpster fire for the last decade is a large part of it. They refused to report *at all* on the enormous accomplishments of the Biden/Harris administration. Garland refusing to investigate Trump, and Biden not pressuring him to resign, is also why we’re here. And, the fact that Biden decided to run for a second term instead of being a one-term president as he promised. I love Joe Biden, and I believe he will be remembered as one of the most consequential presidents of our lifetime. But both these things were serious errors and will cloud his legacy.
Our government was founded on white supremacy and has always been stacked against liberalism and the forces of good. The Democrats have always had to fight so much harder to even keep our heads above water. And the Republicans have always gotten a complete pass. Justin Rosario (The Opinionated Ogre) wrote a brilliant piece about this yesterday. The democrats have to be the adults in the room, while there is no standard ever applied to republicans.
This from Axios yesterday had me spraying coffee:
""Gerry's a young 74, cancer notwithstanding," said Beyer."
https://www.axios.com/2024/12/17/aoc-loses-gerry-connolly-democrats-oversight?stream=top
Pardon me? You overlooked a 35 yr old with a following of millions on social media because...? This?! *facepalm.
My heart goes out to you, Paula.
“A young 74.” 😬 Thank you. So much. It’s one of my husband’s favorites. He said it to a coworker (I work part time at Lowe’s), and when she and a couple others asked what it meant and I told them, they were hysterical laughing
The press will ignore them
Much of the media is the enemy of the people, and swung the last election to Trump via daily barrages that overlooked a felon, a sexual abuser, a grifter, a noted crook as if equal to the other candidate. This was criminal, and they should be treated as such. Boycotted. ABC has pointed Trump to a very lucrative market where people obey in advance. Sue the media, a brand new market for the grifter. Graft is Donald Trump’s agenda and intention. Legal graft is best, but not the BIG buck$. That is a distraction from what is really in play. How about privatizing the post office? An illegal graft pipeline. How about privatizing schools? An illegal graft pipeline. How about building and operating detention centers? An illegal graft pipeline. Kickbacks that you will never see: the bitcoin exchange, the Kushner-Saudi lashup, etc. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/rape-the-us-treasury?r=3m1bs
Who is going to keep the books on the grift and graft? I hope I live long enough to read the books and watch the movies. Until then, I can opt to try and get the through the entirety of Idiocracy in order to preview the future.
We could do the Coming Attractions segment together. (I am not a bookkeeper.)
HOW DO WE STOP THE IMPLODING AND THE SLIDING INTO THE MUCK AND MIRE OF FACISM? ????? We should start a class action suit on behalf of the American People against all the
turncoats that are kissing his ass and are afraid to the Monster!!!! SO sad ...so frightened...so anxious...
I strong, independent press should be the first place ...
Gail: I know just how you feel.
Good question Gail. I would suggest people need to stop being lazy and start fact checking and making sure their sources are legitimate. Google everything. Accept nothing and share nothing unless you've read it, understood it (not just the headline) and agree it matches the point you are trying to make.
Know thine enemy! Exactly who does own the papers you like to read online? How are they financed? Are they using AI to write stories or do they pay real journalists to do it? What are their political affiliations? Are they balanced media (centrist, left or right). Can you find an alternative to their position reported across ALL media left and right or is it just being repeated on the right wing media channels?
Unsubscribe from Xitter.
I'm sure that Earl will have better recommendations maybe but try researching media bias fact check sites like Adfontaine? https://adfontesmedia.com/interactive-media-bias-chart/
Plenty of blame to go around.
Media,
Feckless Garland
Apathy
Soooo many reasons! More than I can list
At the end of the day the Lions share of blame can be placed at the feet of the American voter.
American apathy. The " I'm just to busy to pay much attention" voter.
How anyone who spent 5 minutes watching a trump speech the last month and still voted for the felon,, well I simply cannot understand.
America will get what we voted for.
Corruption on a scale no one will even be able to comprehend.
Sorry for the rant
No need to be sorry Mike. I could rant for days...
So true, Earl. ABC's folding like origami has set a dangerous precedent. Disney caving in because of worry over profit is actually not surprising in that light. We just had hoped that they would show backbone for what is right rather than be so craven. Well, we were sadly mistaken. Thanks for giving us a shove down the fascism cliff, Disney.
I had just gotten off the phone with my son, who is an attorney in VA, after about 50 minutes of me dumping on him pretty much of a duplicate of your post. Different words, same frustrations.so when I read your words, expressing my feelings, I could no nothing other than cry!. I will not say he is not frustrated. But he does not have the fire in his belly and the fury in his soul that some of us here have. I think he may be part of the problem along with the rest of Americans that are going on with their daily life on automatic pilot.
Your last sentence sums it up, Veronica. America has shut their eyes and ears to truth, ugly as it may be. But about to become even uglier! America now has the honor of joining countless other countries that have succumbed to dictatorships! And we thought we were so smart and above that drivel. Sad to say, most people don't like to think for themselves, and gladly read on the good stuff that anybody promises them - just look at all the junk that is being advertised daily to be something you NEED in your life and/or house. An instant "fix it" for anything you wish for. So now we are about to reap what the majority (others) have wished for!
And the tragedy of it all is that ABC will continue to be a target of the trump administration regardless of its groveling and protection money payments.
It's so disheartening. I'm truly disgusted with the Americans who ignorantly voted for that fat orange bastard and the other idiots for the reps and senators. I don't know how much more of this nightmare I can withstand. 😢
What choices do we have?
Where is opposition leadership? Or more appropriately, who?
Where indeed, Al.
Shinning bright in absentia.
I’m so glad I have you everyday telling the truth. I am flattened by this horrible election and done with the electoral college. Enough is enough of that antiquated system. Thanks for always being a light in the darkness, Earl. 💙
This feels like the start of a sickening slide that’s suddenly going much faster. The press and media today, which institutions and individuals tomorrow? I suppose the fear and dread is just as much the point as control by using the law as a weapon. It’s the willingness to crumple when threatened that’s most disturbing. Revolting actually.
I'm still mad as Hell and have deleted all of my news apps, unsubscribed from the 3 newspapers I used to read and am limiting my time on social media. I don't know when I'll be ready to reengage with society, but for now, I've unplugged. My mental health has greatly improved and I'm keeping myself busy with projects I've put off. Maybe I'll continue to disengage, maybe not. For now, I'm happiest just living my life without all the noise...
I'm getting off Facebook before January 20th. We aren't shopping Amazon and we will be canceling our Disney+ account. I am on here and bluesky. I'm worried they'll try to shut platforms down, but for now that's where I am connecting.
Yep, sad but true. I'm still going through the stages of grief. I think I'm through it as I am just annoyed and disgusted. All we can do is pick up our shattered dreams and fight for a way to rebuild our country. We must rise like a Phoenix from the asses.
That's ashes, not asses
That actually worked!
I read it as ashes without noticing the typo, but this made me go back and read it. Asses fits so much better.
Robin Ervin, the first phrase might just be on point.....there are a lot of asses to contend with. 😉
Right there with you, Robin. These Grief Stages are rough. 🤔😔
The corporate media jumped into bed with a fascist regime. Enemy of the people. QED.
Be - Aware of the price of groceries, fuel, electronics, medications etc.
DJT didn’t win 50% of the vote. He just won more than Kamala Harris.
He may not have won at all if a certain very wealthy man didn’t get in the game on DJT’s side to protect his business interests from Fed investigations.
Those voters who were lukewarm about trump but didn’t want to vote for a black woman (especially after the ugliness of the rich misogynistic ads took effect) will sour quickly when those lower prices aren’t happening and EVERYTHING is getting more expensive.
Add to that - the information used to target those voters is now turned against them by hackers.
Who is going to save you now??