MSNBC is so locked into the far left, that they are devoid of any journalistic objectivity. They are a 24/7 propaganda outlet for those on the left, in general, and the Democratic Party specifically.
Their weekly schedule presents only one side on all matters of public interest. Every host is a spokesperson for the left-wing agenda. Even worse, every guest, contributor, pundit and panelist presents the same perspective. They advance the same biased narratives. They offer up the same talking points hour-after-hour, day-after-day.
There is no diversity of opinion. Even their stable of “Republican strategists” and “Republican contributors” read or recite from the same script. Characteristic of the faux Republicans is former Republican National Chairman Michael Steele. I have watched him evolve from a sort-of counterpoint to the drumbeat of progressive pablum to a guy who has drunk the Kool-Aid. I think it is no coincidence that Steele’s evolution to the left was cash on the dresser – as he evolved from guest … to paid contributor … to paid host. He is one step away from getting his own show.
But even in the face of all that extreme bias, I have never referred to MNBC as disgusting. That changed over the Independence Day weekend. I thought the network had reached the nadir or respectability when they used their holiday airtime to re-run Speaker Pelosi’s kangaroo on January 6th Select Committee. That was just another example of their pounding the propaganda in hope of influencing the 2022 midterm election – to put the network thumb on the scale for the Democrats.
In keeping with the title of Chris Hayes evening program, MSNBC is “all in” for the Democrats – abandoning all semblance of a legitimate news service. The NBC offspring makes both CNN and FOX look like the paragons of journalistic objectivity, fairness, and integrity.
It seems to me that in the spirit of Independence Day, it would be appropriate to temporarily suspend the divisive approach to cable broadcasting and celebrate the meaning of the holiday. It would be a time to remind ourselves of the things we have in common – to promote a moment of national unity. But noooooo. MSNBC opted to drive the chisel of division to the nation’s most vulnerable fault line.
One might hope that the Independence Day schedule at MSNBC was the low point of journalistic integrity, but they managed to dig a bit deeper into the slime of spin and propaganda.
It occurred during the reporting of the mass shooting at the Highland Park, Illinois Independence Day Parade. It was one of those “little things” that is fraught with significant meaning. Into the text of the reporting, the back studio scriptwriters added an element to the reporting that was gratuitous, baseless and potentially provocative. We know it was scripted because it was repeated by several anchors.
Without any information about the shooter or his motives, MSNBC reported that Highland Park is a “predominantly Jewish community” — intimating that it may have been an act of antisemitism. They were quick to say “of course, we do not know if that was the motive.”
My first reaction as a long-time resident of the neighboring community of Evanston, I never heard Highland Park characterized as predominantly Jewish. That description would more appropriately be ascribed to another nearby Northshore community … Skokie. Nothing about the shooting – time, place or occasion – would logically lead to the reporting of a possible antisemitic motive. It was scurrilous speculation of the worst kind – designed to foment political tension.
The mantra of news reporting is to NOT jump ahead of the facts – to not give false misleading information that can only exacerbate public tension and division. Some may not see MSNBC’s speculation as a big deal – but that is because the standard of journalistic ethics and integrity have become so terribly corrupted. It is the reason why most Americans have such a low regard for the Fourth Estate.
Finally, MSNBC continued to push their mendacious left-wing political narratives – including their coverage of the Highland Park, Illinois Fourth of July Parade as a gun control issue – as both CNN and FOX took a time out to celebrate the birth of America. They did not allow an act of violence and terrorism achieve its goal.
MNBC has used (abused) the rights they enjoy under the Constitution to censor the most important celebration of those rights. And that is why I find MSNBC to be utterly disgusting as a so-called news service.
So, there ‘tis.