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Brian Stelter reappears on CNN … for a brief moment

Brian Stelter reappears on CNN … for a brief moment

CNN’s former so-called media critic Brian Stelter has recently reappeared for an interview on CNN.  Stelter had used his CNN show, the misnamed “Reliable Sources,” to drive leftwing Democrat narratives – often without any connection to the media issues his was hired to cover.  Stelter was also a first-class whiner in presenting his biased viewpoints.  He has a personality that makes one believe he got a lot of  “wedgies” in his youthful days – and deserved them.

As part of the new CNN owners’ efforts to reverse CNN’s precipitous drop in ratings, they fired Stelter – among others.  All good moves – especially Stelter.  It is ironic that CNN would give their discredited media critic more face time.

Like so many others who lost their national television platforms, Stelter moved from the spotlight to the dim shadow of media irrelevancy.  At last look, Stelter was a “correspondent” for Vanity Fair.

Stelter’s recent appearance on CNN morning show was occasioned by a new book, “Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the Battle for American Democracy.”  Whew!  Stelter packs a lot of his bias baggage into one book title – which he self-describes as an “epic” story. 

It is nothing more than a compilation of opinions about Fox News that he regurgitated for far too long on CNN.  In a desperate attempt to get a “hook” for the latest leftwing propaganda rant, Stelter ties Fox News into the Democrats latest hysterical mendacious narrative about the end of Democracy if Trump and Republicans win any election in 2024.

In his CNN interview, Stelter claims that the American Republic will fall to a fascist dictatorship headed by Trump – who will declare himself President for Life.  This fantastical narrative oozes from Democrat politicians and leftwing newsies at every opportunity.  It is the leftwing’s version of a big lie that needs to be repeated … and repeated … and repeated … and repeated … and repeated … and repeated.

No matter how many times that campaign narrative is repeated, the American Republic is not in danger of ending (any more than it has been due to progressive big government policies for generations).  It was not in danger on January 6, 2021 – and it is not in danger now.

That is not Stelter’s message, however.  He joins the Democrat propaganda chorus by claiming that the 2024 presidential election will decide the future of American democracy.  He even made that mendacious narrative part of the title of his book.

Ironically, Stelter engages in projection in accusing conservative media of using journalism “to advance far-fetched theories in a cloak of legitimacy.”  From my perspective that is a perfect description of leftwing so-called news platforms – and much of what Stelter peddles.

Stelter admits to the left’s use of “virtue signaling” to influence public opinion.  As an expression of optimism, Stelter said that “some people can still be shamed into doing the thing.”  Of course, the “right thing” is determined by his personal viewpoint.

I did get a chuckle when Stelter happily reported that the influence of Tucker Carlson has been greatly reduced by being booted from Fox News.  That is true.  However, Stelter seems to  have missed the irony of his own influence being greatly diminished by being booted off of CNN.

Stelter claims that despite his retirement, Ruppert Murdock will rule over Fox News until the day he dies.  His son, Lachlan, who Ruppert groomed to take over, will guide the media enterprise in the same direction as his father.  When Ruppert has his earthly subscription cancelled, Stelter predicts a fight for control of the company from Ruppert’s other more liberal son, James.

The entire interview with Stelter served as further evidence of the correctness of CNN management in kicking Stelter into the shadows of journalist irrelevancy.

So, there ‘tis.

About The Author

Larry Horist

So, there ‘tis… The opinions, perspectives and analyses of businessman, conservative writer and political strategist Larry Horist. Larry has an extensive background in economics and public policy. For more than 40 years, he ran his own Chicago based consulting firm. His clients included such conservative icons as Steve Forbes and Milton Friedman. He has served as a consultant to the Nixon White House and travelled the country as a spokesman for President Reagan’s economic reforms. Larry professional emphasis has been on civil rights and education. He was consultant to both the Chicago and the Detroit boards of education, the Educational Choice Foundation, the Chicago Teachers Academy and the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts. Larry has testified as an expert witness before numerous legislative bodies, including the U. S. Congress, and has lectured at colleges and universities, including Harvard, Northwestern and DePaul. He served as Executive Director of the City Club of Chicago, where he led a successful two-year campaign to save the historic Chicago Theatre from the wrecking ball. Larry has been a guest on hundreds of public affairs talk shows, and hosted his own program, “Chicago In Sight,” on WIND radio. An award-winning debater, his insightful and sometimes controversial commentaries have appeared on the editorial pages of newspapers across the nation. He is praised by audiences for his style, substance and sense of humor. Larry retired from his consulting business to devote his time to writing. His books include a humorous look at collecting, “The Acrapulators’ Guide”, and a more serious history of the Democratic Party’s role in de facto institutional racism, “Who Put Blacks in That PLACE? -- The Long Sad History of the Democratic Party’s Oppression of Black Americans ... to This Day”. Larry currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

13 Comments

  1. Frank stetson

    He got wedgies and deserved them.

    How old is this guy? Were his best buds Potsy and the Fonz?

    No one DESERVES a wedgie Horist unless you live the Animal House life.

    Why do you believe picking on, demeaning, dehumanizing, and physically abusing people is OK as long as you don’t like what they say.

    What part of free speech extremism does wedgie fall under?

    • Tom

      Well Frank, he’s low 80’s.He is pre-Potsy. LOL He’s more like BC gen, and I’m not talking “Before Christ”, I mean Beaver Cleaver gen. I do not know a thing about Brian Stelter but this seems like a typical opinion piece from Larry. Debasing an individual is a favorite topic for him. I guess its just the way he chooses to use his free speech right. And we all need to respect it but not like it. Most people that I knew from back then that thought of, or did, wedgies had a personality problem. Most of them were some form of bully.

      • larry Horist

        Tom … LMAO. Debasing an individual is my favorite topic????? LOL. The vast majority of my commentaries are NOT about individuals — debasing or otherwise — but issues. While you and your bromantic partner Frank spend a great portion of your time debase me –or at least the me you create as a straw man. I understand that when you put yourself out there, you expect to get attacked. That is why I do not let it bother me — even your irrelevant and classes age sarcasm. I rate you a fairly thick skinned, but I fear your buddy Frank is an open wound. That is why he goes on his looooong nasty childish rants about me. But you are getting more like him as you age. Makes me wonder if you two were the recipients of wedgies in your younger days ….LOL

        • frank stetson

          Mr Horist: I bet you do spend your days wondering about wedgies. It’s a Trumplicant thing to play the victim while getting your ya’ ya’s out by putting pain in a stranger.

          Look, wedgies, purple nurples, bra snapping, you name it —- it’s all physical abuse, bullying, and meant to demean.

          WHY WOULD YOU SUPPORT THAT??????? that’s the question dude. The rest is bullshit.

          Answer the question why you would support abusing Mr. Stelter based on his looks and actions? What did he do that deserves your approval of physical abuse?

      • frank stetson

        Tom, agreed and you’re funny.

        Outside of Buffalo, we suffered the “fairy loop” phase where guys would yank the shirt hanger loop on the back to rip it off. Sometimes, the entire shirt would go…… What fun!

        I was five years younger than my sister, attended her High School in 7th grade, I was quite small, like 5th grader small, unknown, and invisible, and while walking down the hall my first day, some GIANT senior, wanted to impress sis, picked me up, slammed be against the lockers, screamed —– YOU”RE STETSON, I KNOW YOUR SISTER and dropped me to a crumbled mess on the floor. I was voted Class President that year, the kids were really impressed, I was a star to be listened to.

        We moved that year and I ended up with MD GIANT farm boys, small, unknown, and invisible again —– life is certainly a funny duck. Did not grow until the summer before college, 17, and then ——– women of the world beware, I am now taller than you and ready for love! Luckily for the world, it only lasted a few years when I decided to settle down before arrest, injury or worse…… But having lived in the shadows for so long, I even buddied up to room with a perennial senior to learn “the ropes.” A yoda of love, he showed me the force, and my dating improved incredibly. Hippies, cheerleaders, sorority girls, a good part of the ladies soccer team, and there was the ethnic period covering five continents and many countries. My 21st birthday was a script right out of Risky Business. And that was that. I was honest to fault, never dumped anyone, think I only hurt one person but that was enough for me to change my ways. Time to grow up, find a sweet person to share a lifetime, make some money, and have a family. And so I did.

        I used to live next to WV and told WV jokes because they are funny. A few decades ago I realized they are not funny to all, and hurtful and demeaning to some. And so freakin easy to create. Cavemen told them. And no, it was not due to moving back to NJ….. Part of woke is the avoidance of all this crap, as minor as some of it, like wedgies or fairy loops, might be. Some say, come on snowflake, grow a pair, how else can you be funny. And I say —- you can and it’s even funnier. Sure, demeaning folks is an ez laugh, but to get a laugh without demeaning someone else is priceless. Hopefully, Horist can grow up someday and quit taking the easy joke at someone else’s expense.

        • larry Horist

          Frank Stetson … You narcissism is showing. Do you really think anyone besides Frank finds you bragging autobiographic postings interesting. Actually, you must. And why so many posts about how much money you made? You claim to abhor demeaning jokes — except the constant flow of childish demeaning jokes (as you call them) and ad hominin attacks on me and others. That makes you an Oxford Dictionary hypocrite. Put it all together and you come across as a failed Donald Trump . As you enjoy Thanksgiving, you should be thankful to PBP for publishing your braggadocios look-at-the-wonderful-me crap — and for bringing you together with Tom in a mutual admiration society (a society with very few other members BTW). Happy Thanksgiving to you both.

          • frank stetson

            You are so funny, Mr. Horist. Tell us more about your working with Nixon or travelling the US espousing Reagan’s failed economic plan or maybe all those adoptions you have accomplished.

            You basically call me a dick, but rarely responsibly respond factually to anyone contradicting you.

            This is no difference: you have been called for seemingly enjoying the physical abuse of another, albeit via the low-pain wedgie, being that the victim is someone you don’t like. And your only response is the other guys are wrong, Tom and Frank are in love, and other dickwaddian slams.

            Bragging about money and love — not really. You may be showing some envy old man. If you call that bragging, come to NJ and we will show you the real thing.

            Look in the mirror old man, you are not without sin.

            Too bad you can’t handle a discussion, can’t handle the debate.

            And yes, I am glad for PBP to offer some amount of free speech except for your writers that seem to censor based on length.

          • larry Horist

            Frankie … Frankie … Frankie. LMAO You are so easily wounded. I never called you a “dick” — basically or otherwise. You must have gotten that from the imaginary Larry Horist who occupies your mind. First, I would challenge your claim the Reagan economics program was a failure. He inherited the worst inflation in decades and left with the strongest economy since the 1950s. I excuse your mischaracterizations because you are not the most knowledgeable person in these matter. Too biased and too obsessed with being the counterpoint to that mythical LH who haunts your aging grey matter on every point and at every turn.

            -I have not called for physical abuse on anyone … period. Not my thing. I made a rhetoric allusion. Again, I forgive you for not getting it since your reading and comprehending skills are rather elementary. I did not say you and Tom were “in love,” but were engaged in a bromance. It is a colloquialism (look it up) that means a special male friendship. It also does not mean gay … just so you do not get confused on that point, too.

            You will have to take this as a reply to your other two recent ad hominin attacks. One reply fits all since your insults and comments are not only looooong … and wrong … they are soooooo repetitious. That is why I do not respond to most of your garbage. Perhaps you should judge the relative importance we place on our exchanges by word count. You do invest many times more words in the exchanges — with negligible impact on me or the world you seem to think you are addressing. You cannot control yourself. That is the obsesion.

            You also need to get some new material. You have worn out the “old man” and “Spanky the Clown” themes. I cannot count the times you played whataboutism by listing … and relisting… your same old grievances against Trump as a distraction from the issues you cannot defend.. They say you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, but you seem to be having trouble even dealing with old tricks.

            And always remember that your right to free speech does not come with an obligation to be taken seriously. The sound you heard was the mic hitting the floor. LOL

  2. JoeyP

    Tell BRIAN to go to Barnum and Bailey’s for a JOB . . . He’d FIT right IN! And DON’T the SHOVEL to SCOOP up all the POOP.

    • Keith

      Frank you should spend more time studying turds. And then you would have more information about turds that’s worth talking about. Don’t miss out on a good opportunity. I’ve never met anyone who was not interested in turds.

      • Frank stetson

        Keith, did that make you day? Did you show your girl what you did? Big guy. Bid bad anonymous guy.

        When will people realize that anonymous slams over the internet have about as much value as Keith.

        Meet me on the issues. Debate with facts. Make your point, politely, with support and sources.

        Or make a meaningless gesture like Keith.

        Alrhough, Keith, as your clear social security, turds do become more meaningful. Fiber too.

        • Jim lucas

          Lol. Keith made you mention turds

  3. Mike f

    I know things are pretty tight for retirees like you in florida, what with the high inflation in florida compared with the rest of the country, and since you are paid by the word, I am sure that you are glad to supplement your income, but you really should try to pick something more of interest to your readers. I could suggest maybe how Kevin kidney paunches the reps he doesn’t like, or perhaps how mullin wants to take the Union boss out behind the Capitol to engage in fisticuffs? Or more currently, how Netanyahu must be getting senile for all the praise he gave Biden regarding the deal Israel and Hamas reached to free hostages? (You recall, the guy everyone on the windbag post says can’t find the Oval Office?). Any of those are infinitely more interesting than your comments on seltzer, and his book promotion tour (oh, and by the way, his book is a lot more factual than most of your posts. Fox does lie, as does the guy you have voted for President the last two elections-pretty bad when the commentators email each other saying the stories they are promoting on their programs are total bullshit)

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