We all should consider ourselves journalists where ever you can speak truth to lies. I’m here in this friendly, like minded community honing my skills of communicating in a loving, supportive, and uplifting environment so I can go out beyond my comfort zone to engage when out and about during the day. “Make each moment an occasion to live deeply, happily in peace.” Thich Nhat Hanh ✨ Peace, love, light: keep shining your light bright lightening the path for others to find their way home 💖 Reminds me of the Joan Osborne’s song “One of us” exploring the idea of God experiencing life as a human being. The song invites listeners to consider how they would treat God if s/he were just an ordinary person, emphasizing themes of empathy and humanity. “What if God was one of us. Just a slob like us on the bus tryin’ to make her/his way home . . . “
As a former journalist who ended his 44-year career covering Covid-19 and now hearing Republicans calling it a hoax or exaggerated, I sympathize with reporters who have a large segment of the population brainwashed by Fox, Trump’s minions and wanna-be’s. Most try hard to do their job amidst constant cries of fake news by Republicans. Honestly, if I were covering this White House, I would have been fired within a week for my questions and challenges of these liars who pretend to represent our government.
I woke up late, it wasn’t worth sleeping in while our democracy is being obliterated at every opportunity. I’m slowly becoming conscious again and following my truth: to the greater good for ALL 💖✨
The loss of “mainstream media” journalism means it is much harder to get reliable news, so many independent journalists can only cover one aspect of news and not all follow standards for fact-checking.
So crazy to be blaming this incident on NYC, considering that the guy drove there al the way from Nevada. From what I’ve read, it sounds like the ultimate culprit could be American football—the shooter suffered brain damage from his years as a high school football star, his apparent intent in coming to NYC with an AR-15 was to shoot up NFL headquarters.
Good point & I definitely agree that there are 'oligarch' / 'authoritarian' / '45 year long failed economic system' problems involved in media failure today ... and there's a compliance problem (threat) ... and more ... and I believe we can acknowledge all ... and I believe it'll be to our peril if we fail to manage that.
“ The idea that Democrats are somehow responsible for every tragedy in a major city is a lie that conservative media has been pushing for years. ”
It’s not a lie, it’s a distortion of the truth. The truth is that most big cities are blue or leaning blue. The truth is that in the city, people of many different backgrounds have to learn about each other, to live with each other, to live in peace with their neighbors. And that’s why they are blue or leaning blue.
The truth is that the reason you find more crime in cities is that that’s where all the people are. The lie is that it has something to do with the leadership of those cities. If I’m recalling the statistic properly, the violent crime rate in New York is much lower than the crime rate in Houston. Houston is in a red state. New York is in a blue state.
Here is another truth. If you have one crazy person among 100 normal people, 100 normal people can manage it. If you have 100 crazy people in a population of 10,000, the 10,000 can manage that as well. But if you have 10,000 crazy people in a population of 1 million, and give them a means to communicate and organize, they may well be beyond the capability of the 1 million to manage. And give that 10,000 crazy people guns with no means to control or manage it, and you are asking for trouble.
And each and every case, we’re talking about one percent of the population.
Our problem right now is this problem. Fully half of this country seems to be intellectually, morally, spiritually, and empathetically bankrupt. They will believe anything that is told to them as long as it feeds them. So we’re not talking about one percent of the population, but considerably more.
Very interesting. Although I read that only about 30 something percent actually voted for DT, it's still considerably more than 10%. And with the growing extremist right media feeding their dopamine, I fear for us.
Much thanks for sharing. Ignoring the folks on the right who can not seem to bother with inconvenient facts does not make those folks go away and does not provide their viewers and listeners with facts they would prefer to ignore or deny.
While I respect the gist of your view, I would call out the breakdown in social connections and sense of shared communal purpose. Basic stuff like time in nature, physical exercise or work, and time in face to face friendships all aid resiliency. Hate of “others” has always been, but the current ease of living in both internet and social idea silos is killing us. Access to guns makes sick impulses actionable. We do need more access to mental health care, absolutely, but what is making it so necessary for so many of us?
Barbara, for some odd reason every time I attempted to reply to you, the page went somewhere else, I’m new. I heard late last year conversations about Starlink, down ballots, thongs didn’t add up. Kamala and/or the Democratic Party should have paid for a recount in a few counties; but, no one made the claim. Hasn’t the time frame to protest the election results in Pennsylvania expired?
Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and the chronically indifferent have always cherry picked facts to comport with their world view.But in recent years, informed opinions have increasingly morphed into opinionated assertions resulting in a cacophony which tends to turn up the emotional heat and generate aggressiveness. It is clear that we must work harder to find common ground if we are to go on as a nation which, in turn,will require us to become better listeners and deeper thinkers.
Mike, you are spot on. When Steve ever going to address our gun problem with data and facts?!? Leadership is not about blame & division. Leadership is finding solutions.
I am a 30-year law enforcement officer. You are 100% right - being pro-reform and pro-accountability does not make one anti-police you and I are examples of that. When my MAGA mother starts in with her “Democrats are pro-criminals” I ask for specific examples and she has none. Then again, when I tell her I’m liberal her response is, “No you’re not.” When I tell her that my husband, raised Catholic, and I, raised Pentecostal, are now atheists who display more Christ-like behavior than people that call themselves Christians, she tells me it’s because we were raised in church. There is no logic with them. None at all.
You nailed the 24 hour/eyes on the screen problem. There’s no time to pursue nuances; projection is a successful optics MAGA elevated to high art from their predecessor gop degenerates.
Crazy how journalists are not doing their best anymore to keep us informed on the truth
Very few actual journalists left, sadly.
You are so correct. I started following you this year and I am glad I did thank you for everything you do
I’m not a journalist but thank you!
We all should consider ourselves journalists where ever you can speak truth to lies. I’m here in this friendly, like minded community honing my skills of communicating in a loving, supportive, and uplifting environment so I can go out beyond my comfort zone to engage when out and about during the day. “Make each moment an occasion to live deeply, happily in peace.” Thich Nhat Hanh ✨ Peace, love, light: keep shining your light bright lightening the path for others to find their way home 💖 Reminds me of the Joan Osborne’s song “One of us” exploring the idea of God experiencing life as a human being. The song invites listeners to consider how they would treat God if s/he were just an ordinary person, emphasizing themes of empathy and humanity. “What if God was one of us. Just a slob like us on the bus tryin’ to make her/his way home . . . “
🏡
As a former journalist who ended his 44-year career covering Covid-19 and now hearing Republicans calling it a hoax or exaggerated, I sympathize with reporters who have a large segment of the population brainwashed by Fox, Trump’s minions and wanna-be’s. Most try hard to do their job amidst constant cries of fake news by Republicans. Honestly, if I were covering this White House, I would have been fired within a week for my questions and challenges of these liars who pretend to represent our government.
Journalist are being silenced by the ultra rich who own the news, try a more reliable source of info before media is silenced.
I follow a lot of people on substack and YouTube only independent media for me. Haven’t watched the news on tv since February
I woke up late, it wasn’t worth sleeping in while our democracy is being obliterated at every opportunity. I’m slowly becoming conscious again and following my truth: to the greater good for ALL 💖✨
So sensible to get news/info from multiple sources, but too much effort for many.
The loss of “mainstream media” journalism means it is much harder to get reliable news, so many independent journalists can only cover one aspect of news and not all follow standards for fact-checking.
So crazy to be blaming this incident on NYC, considering that the guy drove there al the way from Nevada. From what I’ve read, it sounds like the ultimate culprit could be American football—the shooter suffered brain damage from his years as a high school football star, his apparent intent in coming to NYC with an AR-15 was to shoot up NFL headquarters.
It isn't journalists who are the problem but the asshat oligarchs who have taken over the media.
Possibly becoming both?
Good point & I definitely agree that there are 'oligarch' / 'authoritarian' / '45 year long failed economic system' problems involved in media failure today ... and there's a compliance problem (threat) ... and more ... and I believe we can acknowledge all ... and I believe it'll be to our peril if we fail to manage that.
Well said!😡
“ The idea that Democrats are somehow responsible for every tragedy in a major city is a lie that conservative media has been pushing for years. ”
It’s not a lie, it’s a distortion of the truth. The truth is that most big cities are blue or leaning blue. The truth is that in the city, people of many different backgrounds have to learn about each other, to live with each other, to live in peace with their neighbors. And that’s why they are blue or leaning blue.
The truth is that the reason you find more crime in cities is that that’s where all the people are. The lie is that it has something to do with the leadership of those cities. If I’m recalling the statistic properly, the violent crime rate in New York is much lower than the crime rate in Houston. Houston is in a red state. New York is in a blue state.
Here is another truth. If you have one crazy person among 100 normal people, 100 normal people can manage it. If you have 100 crazy people in a population of 10,000, the 10,000 can manage that as well. But if you have 10,000 crazy people in a population of 1 million, and give them a means to communicate and organize, they may well be beyond the capability of the 1 million to manage. And give that 10,000 crazy people guns with no means to control or manage it, and you are asking for trouble.
And each and every case, we’re talking about one percent of the population.
Our problem right now is this problem. Fully half of this country seems to be intellectually, morally, spiritually, and empathetically bankrupt. They will believe anything that is told to them as long as it feeds them. So we’re not talking about one percent of the population, but considerably more.
Very interesting. Although I read that only about 30 something percent actually voted for DT, it's still considerably more than 10%. And with the growing extremist right media feeding their dopamine, I fear for us.
And I think you are doing well to do so. I don’t have a solution for this though.
I blame Republicans. They are in bed with the gun lobby
They’re in bed with everyone that they benefit from allegedly.
And with all of Trash and Co's Nazi goons
Much thanks for sharing. Ignoring the folks on the right who can not seem to bother with inconvenient facts does not make those folks go away and does not provide their viewers and listeners with facts they would prefer to ignore or deny.
So very excellent, timely, on point, and admirable. Rock on. Please.
Blame the rapacious corporate health system as the root cause. We need to do something effective about it.
Like single payer medical coverage like other countries enjoy?
While I respect the gist of your view, I would call out the breakdown in social connections and sense of shared communal purpose. Basic stuff like time in nature, physical exercise or work, and time in face to face friendships all aid resiliency. Hate of “others” has always been, but the current ease of living in both internet and social idea silos is killing us. Access to guns makes sick impulses actionable. We do need more access to mental health care, absolutely, but what is making it so necessary for so many of us?
Like Single Payer! I'm sick to death of the " it's socialist " B!💩
people often find safety in “their” group. We and them.
Thank you for today’s message.
Joy Hockman
I was streaming Rachel Maddow on an app. I give Kudos to MSNBC for her coverage. It was spot on journalism.
Barbara, for some odd reason every time I attempted to reply to you, the page went somewhere else, I’m new. I heard late last year conversations about Starlink, down ballots, thongs didn’t add up. Kamala and/or the Democratic Party should have paid for a recount in a few counties; but, no one made the claim. Hasn’t the time frame to protest the election results in Pennsylvania expired?
Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and the chronically indifferent have always cherry picked facts to comport with their world view.But in recent years, informed opinions have increasingly morphed into opinionated assertions resulting in a cacophony which tends to turn up the emotional heat and generate aggressiveness. It is clear that we must work harder to find common ground if we are to go on as a nation which, in turn,will require us to become better listeners and deeper thinkers.
Possibly becoming more of a mixture of both?
Mike, you are spot on. When Steve ever going to address our gun problem with data and facts?!? Leadership is not about blame & division. Leadership is finding solutions.
Sorry about the typo: when “are we ever” is the correct verbiage
I got you, Susan. :)
(I typo often. Eventually discovered that clicking on 3 horizontal dots on the right offers "edit" option. Personal life saver for me!)
I am a 30-year law enforcement officer. You are 100% right - being pro-reform and pro-accountability does not make one anti-police you and I are examples of that. When my MAGA mother starts in with her “Democrats are pro-criminals” I ask for specific examples and she has none. Then again, when I tell her I’m liberal her response is, “No you’re not.” When I tell her that my husband, raised Catholic, and I, raised Pentecostal, are now atheists who display more Christ-like behavior than people that call themselves Christians, she tells me it’s because we were raised in church. There is no logic with them. None at all.
You nailed the 24 hour/eyes on the screen problem. There’s no time to pursue nuances; projection is a successful optics MAGA elevated to high art from their predecessor gop degenerates.
Well stated Mike. Thank you.