There are members of the coup who still haven't come out of the closet in every facet of society now. That a few are hiding in the major media outlets is not surprising. What is surprising is the NYT does not have editorial control over what makes it into print. Or, there are coupers on the editorial board?
Well said Eliot. I was trained in old school newspaper journalism and, although we were taught to be open minded and inclusive, our main mission was to farrow out the “truth” beneath the fog and to safeguard the basic mechanisms of democracy.
Your (and my) anger seems to be connected to this neutered corporate “bothsideism” which has no depth or conviction. We are trapped in a maze of propaganda without editing toward the direction of democratic purpose and there is little wonder why frustration and despair are the result. The media needs to reclaim its mandate as the “Forth Estate” of democracy and help us all find direction and purpose for our nation again. We did it once ousting Sen. Joe McCarthy and his thugs and we can do it again when we collectively decide “I’m mad as hell and not going to take it any more.”
BRAVO!!! Elliot. If this is you angry, I love it. If BOTH sides are misbhaving, then maybe Draper would have a point. But, that simply isn't so. The rabid trumpster magats have it all to themselves. Look at Jim Jordan, apparently the only thing he was ever passable at was as wrestling coach - not exactly a sellar sport. But he has the gall to drag Merrick Garland in to see if he can wriggle in another phoney impeachment going no where query before the election.
They refuse to abide by their own code of ethics (remember good old boy Santos was only expelled days after he was indicted by a New York Court, on charges well known to the party for months.
I think its time, We the citizen voters drew up our own code of ethics and refuse to vote for any candidate who does not live up to them. I think we should also draw up the minimum aptitudes a candidate should have to be worthy of our vote - Money isn't one of them.
Thank you Elliot. Your writing renews my hope that America can survive this crisis of truth. Not to be too cynical, I believe Speaker Pelosi was omitted because she is a woman and more effective than her predecessors. Stay safe be strong and keep writing as we need everyone to fix this mess. Solidarity!
As someone who now relies almost exclusively on Substack to get the news, why the spin to begin with? Is it reporter that sets the agenda? Is it the editor? Maybe the owner? And for what purpose?
This reminds me of my local paper, the Milwaukee Journal. In an article about Trumps conviction the reporter brought up the fall election and wrote the contest would be between President Biden, 81, and Donald Trump. Why did he include Biden's age? He did not find it important to note Trumps age, 78. The current president's age had nothing to do with the story and Trumps conviction. May be the article should have said the contest would be between President Biden, 81, and Donald Trump, 78, a convicted felon.
I’m more than disappointed in NYT reporting lately. The MAGA creep has invaded their cubicles. So disheartening to see the conversion of some or new hires trying to masquerade their biases. They really are besmirching the reputation of the paper, the paper of the world, the bastion of truth.
Where is the mainstream press? Sure, we will never hear the truth from Fox. But where are the rest of them? Hiding behind their BS 'report both sides' policies? They have no problem reporting Republican lies. Whatever happened to fact checking, challenging, and reporting the truth? Why aren't they doing their JOBS?
The 'Free Press' in America is a joke. What are we up to now? 7 or 8 'entities' control 80% of the mass media in the U.S.? Not to be too cynical, but I’m guessing that the ‘wants’ of the stockholders are prioritized long before the ‘needs’ of the Republic are even considered. Collusion? Hell, a couple of 4-somes at Pebble Beach will take care of hiding that minor issue.
Thankful that we have the Substackers. Sure wish the rest of America did!
Mr. Kirschner, I am proud of you for this article. It needed to be said. From the highest mountain top. Ignorant journalism may prove to be equally responsible for taking our country from Democracy to a Dictatorship. You spoke out on what should have been a day off for family and personal interest. It appears your personal interest is in doing right as a person and a valid American.
There is a good chance that this kind of reporting is partially due to economics. Just an hour or so ago the NYT reported that Sally Buzbee stepped down as executive editor of the Washington Post ( the Post followed about an hour later). It seems that the Post is hemorrhaging money so they’re bringing in new blood for the transfusion.
Under Ms. Buzbees’s three year tenure the Post won six Pulitzer Prizes, three just last year. But in this world money talks, ethics walk.
I hope I’m wrong. Too many things are being destroyed by money.
And there, you nailed it! Since Citizens United, we have a more "bought" government than ever. It seems the (primarily) Republicans around today are more interested in entertainment of a passively violent audience/populace. It reminds me of cage-fighting. While they fiddle. America burns. Or, rather, withers away.
I don't want to be entertained, I want to see thoughtful, purposeful debates that serve the good the county, for ALL Americans.
Well put, Eliot. "Bothsideism" reporting has not only infected journalists (and entire news organizations - hello CNN), but it is the cry by all my Republican friends and family members to excuse and compare the outrageous behavior of Trump versus that of Biden. There is no comparison and to make it seem fair to report otherwise is journalistic malpractice, as you noted!
I wonder if the lack of function is considered a plus in the Republican realm where bills mean laws and laws mean meddling in America’s essential ruggedness.
So many good points! I especially like the topic of what the Dems have accomplished when they in the majority. For example, we all know that from 1933-1981, the house, senate and presidential office were almost always Dems. In those years, we helped win a WW, introduced excellent supportive programs such as GI Bill, Social Security, Medicare and made advances in Civil Rights. From 1981 to now, we have been living mostly under Reaganomics, which cuts back on social support programs (or threatens to constantly) and favors the wealthy. This is not the America that our founding fathers envisioned, in my opinion.
This article is why I became a paid subscriber. To express anger without dehumanizing or foul language promotes discussion better than debate. Clarity of language without abuse of emotional language is important in this battle…it is a battle.
Trump has promised that he is taking names, and that on day one of his presidency, whether he's in the White House or Sing Sing, those belonging to the names are going to feel pain. Draper's thinking might be that it's best to keep his name as far away from that list as possible, i.e. good food for the elephant, scraps for the donkey.
There are members of the coup who still haven't come out of the closet in every facet of society now. That a few are hiding in the major media outlets is not surprising. What is surprising is the NYT does not have editorial control over what makes it into print. Or, there are coupers on the editorial board?
Well said Eliot. I was trained in old school newspaper journalism and, although we were taught to be open minded and inclusive, our main mission was to farrow out the “truth” beneath the fog and to safeguard the basic mechanisms of democracy.
Your (and my) anger seems to be connected to this neutered corporate “bothsideism” which has no depth or conviction. We are trapped in a maze of propaganda without editing toward the direction of democratic purpose and there is little wonder why frustration and despair are the result. The media needs to reclaim its mandate as the “Forth Estate” of democracy and help us all find direction and purpose for our nation again. We did it once ousting Sen. Joe McCarthy and his thugs and we can do it again when we collectively decide “I’m mad as hell and not going to take it any more.”
BRAVO!!! Elliot. If this is you angry, I love it. If BOTH sides are misbhaving, then maybe Draper would have a point. But, that simply isn't so. The rabid trumpster magats have it all to themselves. Look at Jim Jordan, apparently the only thing he was ever passable at was as wrestling coach - not exactly a sellar sport. But he has the gall to drag Merrick Garland in to see if he can wriggle in another phoney impeachment going no where query before the election.
They refuse to abide by their own code of ethics (remember good old boy Santos was only expelled days after he was indicted by a New York Court, on charges well known to the party for months.
I think its time, We the citizen voters drew up our own code of ethics and refuse to vote for any candidate who does not live up to them. I think we should also draw up the minimum aptitudes a candidate should have to be worthy of our vote - Money isn't one of them.
Thank you!!!!
Thank you Elliot. Your writing renews my hope that America can survive this crisis of truth. Not to be too cynical, I believe Speaker Pelosi was omitted because she is a woman and more effective than her predecessors. Stay safe be strong and keep writing as we need everyone to fix this mess. Solidarity!
Mary, that's not cynical! It's a fact. Strong, intelligent women are not revered in this America, in this climate.
As someone who now relies almost exclusively on Substack to get the news, why the spin to begin with? Is it reporter that sets the agenda? Is it the editor? Maybe the owner? And for what purpose?
This reminds me of my local paper, the Milwaukee Journal. In an article about Trumps conviction the reporter brought up the fall election and wrote the contest would be between President Biden, 81, and Donald Trump. Why did he include Biden's age? He did not find it important to note Trumps age, 78. The current president's age had nothing to do with the story and Trumps conviction. May be the article should have said the contest would be between President Biden, 81, and Donald Trump, 78, a convicted felon.
I get the feeling that Trump supporters are running what used to be my favorite newspaper
I’m more than disappointed in NYT reporting lately. The MAGA creep has invaded their cubicles. So disheartening to see the conversion of some or new hires trying to masquerade their biases. They really are besmirching the reputation of the paper, the paper of the world, the bastion of truth.
I have canceled my NYT subscription for just those reasons.
Where is the mainstream press? Sure, we will never hear the truth from Fox. But where are the rest of them? Hiding behind their BS 'report both sides' policies? They have no problem reporting Republican lies. Whatever happened to fact checking, challenging, and reporting the truth? Why aren't they doing their JOBS?
The 'Free Press' in America is a joke. What are we up to now? 7 or 8 'entities' control 80% of the mass media in the U.S.? Not to be too cynical, but I’m guessing that the ‘wants’ of the stockholders are prioritized long before the ‘needs’ of the Republic are even considered. Collusion? Hell, a couple of 4-somes at Pebble Beach will take care of hiding that minor issue.
Thankful that we have the Substackers. Sure wish the rest of America did!
Mr. Kirschner, I am proud of you for this article. It needed to be said. From the highest mountain top. Ignorant journalism may prove to be equally responsible for taking our country from Democracy to a Dictatorship. You spoke out on what should have been a day off for family and personal interest. It appears your personal interest is in doing right as a person and a valid American.
We vote 💙💙💙 or we’ll be locked in concentration camps because a MAGA government won’t trust anyone, even old friends.
There is a good chance that this kind of reporting is partially due to economics. Just an hour or so ago the NYT reported that Sally Buzbee stepped down as executive editor of the Washington Post ( the Post followed about an hour later). It seems that the Post is hemorrhaging money so they’re bringing in new blood for the transfusion.
Under Ms. Buzbees’s three year tenure the Post won six Pulitzer Prizes, three just last year. But in this world money talks, ethics walk.
I hope I’m wrong. Too many things are being destroyed by money.
And there, you nailed it! Since Citizens United, we have a more "bought" government than ever. It seems the (primarily) Republicans around today are more interested in entertainment of a passively violent audience/populace. It reminds me of cage-fighting. While they fiddle. America burns. Or, rather, withers away.
I don't want to be entertained, I want to see thoughtful, purposeful debates that serve the good the county, for ALL Americans.
And lets not forget Trump gave a huge tax break to further fund monetized journalism.
Well put, Eliot. "Bothsideism" reporting has not only infected journalists (and entire news organizations - hello CNN), but it is the cry by all my Republican friends and family members to excuse and compare the outrageous behavior of Trump versus that of Biden. There is no comparison and to make it seem fair to report otherwise is journalistic malpractice, as you noted!
Elliot
I wonder if the lack of function is considered a plus in the Republican realm where bills mean laws and laws mean meddling in America’s essential ruggedness.
I should have put that in quotation marks. (About the perceived ruggedness of American people).
So many good points! I especially like the topic of what the Dems have accomplished when they in the majority. For example, we all know that from 1933-1981, the house, senate and presidential office were almost always Dems. In those years, we helped win a WW, introduced excellent supportive programs such as GI Bill, Social Security, Medicare and made advances in Civil Rights. From 1981 to now, we have been living mostly under Reaganomics, which cuts back on social support programs (or threatens to constantly) and favors the wealthy. This is not the America that our founding fathers envisioned, in my opinion.
This article is why I became a paid subscriber. To express anger without dehumanizing or foul language promotes discussion better than debate. Clarity of language without abuse of emotional language is important in this battle…it is a battle.
Trump has promised that he is taking names, and that on day one of his presidency, whether he's in the White House or Sing Sing, those belonging to the names are going to feel pain. Draper's thinking might be that it's best to keep his name as far away from that list as possible, i.e. good food for the elephant, scraps for the donkey.