When IRS supervisory special agent Greg Shapley and agent Joe Ziegler, testified this week, most honest observers were impressed by how they stuck to the details and the facts of their investigation. Even in friendly questioning, they refused to make judgments about motivations or conclusions. They were two of the most credible witnesses that I have seen on the hill. They were also the prototypical whistleblowers, civil servants who tried to raise concerns over special treatment and political interference internally and only came to Congress after all such efforts failed. They were then both allegedly retaliated against by the Biden Administration. Yet, in its coverage, NBC referred to the men as “so called whistleblowers.” That was not the disparaging description given other such witnesses, including figures in the Trump impeachment. They were just “whistleblowers” or “respected public servants.”
On Thursday’s broadcast of NBC’s “MTP Now,” NBC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Ali Vitali discussed the new release of the 1023 form “to bolster these investigations that we saw them do earlier this week with IRS so-called whistleblowers about Hunter Biden.”
Figures like Joe Scarborough on MSNBC joined in the disparagement. In interviewing House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) who actually called the corruption investigation “dangerous,” Scarborough said “we have these so-called whistleblowers who are saying, yeah, we’re really angry … It’s just a clown show with these House Republicans, isn’t it?”
It was reminiscent of how Democrats attacked journalists who came forward to offer detailed records of censorship by the Biden Administration. Del. Stacey Plaskett, D-VI, the ranking member of the House Judiciary subcommittee, attacked the reporters appearing as witnesses as “so-called journalists” and said they were “a direct threat” to the safety of others by reporting the censorship story. Plaskett also later called for the possible arrest of Taibbi.
It is all part of an effort to attack the credibility of those who raise corruption or censorship. Even Special Counsel John Durham was warned by Rep. Steve Cohen that he would end up burning “at the bottom of a pyre” if he did not change his views of basis for the Russian collusion investigation.
I wrote years ago that the media had bought into the Biden spin of the corruption story to the point that they would have a difficult time acknowledging the growing evidence of influence peddling and special dealing. Even after Joe Biden’s discussions of Hunter’s deals were revealed, the media continued to deny it.
Now, when two classic and credible whistleblowers come forward at great personal and professional risk, the media has to tag them with a “so called” pejorative reference.
What is left is so-called journalism where readers are given shaded and shaped accounts to advance a particular political narrative. It has the hallmarks of a new type of state media, where journalists follow an agenda not by coercion but consent.
If other individuals in F.B.I., C.I.A., and I.R.S. had integrity, morals, and honor, such as these whistleblowers, our country would not be in the trouble it is in now.
Sandsgrandmother ,you are very brave , some friends of mine might agree ,but no one will listen,we presume .
When your news people stoop to plagiarizing Caribbean congress people, you know they are both scripted apparatchiks.
Who is supporting these clowns, for what reason, and how much better-off would we be without them? I’ll take the last one, very very very much better off.
Stopped watching the “mainstream media” long ago. All propaganda all the time.
There is a reckoning coming and its going to be very ugly.
only the strong survive. Follow the science™!
🏋🏽♂️
Correct, currentsitguy. And we already know these people will have the nerve to act shocked and insulted when they become the direct targets of The People’s wrath. Looking forward to the show!
OTOH, it may be a very beautiful thing.
Current, my feelings exactly.
Can’t come soon enough.
NBC: National Biden Courtesans. There is no difference between America’’s MSM and RT or any CCP outlet.
“so called whistleblowers”
As good propagandists, the Left understands that words are tools of thinking. And that if you control the meaning of words, you control what people think.
The ‘so-called’ journalists on the ‘so-called’ network news shows have to be kept in perspective. Those outfits are down by half or more in their viewership in the past 15 years. The current leader as of June, 2023 is ABC (NBC is 3rd) but at a given time, the vast bulk of viewers are tuned to non-news channels or local news channels. And the networks are still losing ground…and advertisers will not support that situation.
At some point, one has to ask how a company can support a business segment that either does not pay for itself or is heading in an unprofitable direction. Can being a mouthpiece for the government or other entity be profitable in ways that do not show up as direct revenue? If possible, then one might expect that biased claims, biased inferences and lack of legitimate inquiry on the part of ‘so-called’ journalists on the ‘so-called’ network news engaged in mouthpiece work on behalf of their benefactors would increase despite declining viewership. Does such an entity exist? How about Tass or Pravda? And now you can guess the rest of the story…
Bezos didn’t buy The Washington Post because he always dreamed of being a journalist.
There once was a profession called journalism which practiced high art and informed the American public and was a significant pillar of our Republic. Now that amalgamation of yellow “journalists” and “muckrakers” have switched sides and became part of industry that they so often used to expose and denigrate. These “so called journalists’s” are a pox on the land. We need a total shutdown and reboot of the entire “so called profession”.
Maybe it is time to credential and license “journalists”. GASP! Just to think about it. Just think of a board of professional ethics and responsibility right up there next to the nursing board, medical board and dental board. You only are allowed so many libel complaints then you face the board with your license in peril.
Obviously that would be insane and break all rules of democracy and free speech but we can dream.
Maybe the legal profession should search for a good case to push to the SCOTUS to loosen the libels and slander rules so that “so called print and media journalists” are more easily brought to task. That might be more than just a dream. They are almost able to act without consequences (except Fox News).
I’ve been calling them: “Fake News Narrative Nazis”
“Maybe it is time to credential and license “journalists”.”
That is a hideously awful idea.
The power to license is the power to control and destroy.
As a practical matter, have you looked at what many of those licensing agencies do to competitors and dissenters?
If you want to save journalism, promote objectivity — especially in the journalism schools.
Sam, Maybe you should read the whole statement. The author says how bad such an idea would be. It’s called hyperbole and making a point. Learn to read the whole articles for a change and then think through the points the author is making or not making. It’s called thought and problem solving. Most primates have even rudimentary skills in this area. Although some of the higher ones have not mastered reading part well.
“Most primates . . .”
Your hostility is exceeded only by your inability to write clearly. Next time, try making clear the perspective you’re expressing. And learn how to craft a sentence and use punctuation.
P.S. A decent human being with a modicum of self-esteem would’ve said: I think you misread my statement. It was intended as sarcasm.
Those aren’t bad ideas, GEB. Sounds like it’s time to sue government’s stenographers, from reporters to CEO – including every position along the way, to the point where their employers say, ‘enough already, we can’t afford to be shamelessly biased AND in court 24/7, regardless of our *Freedom*.
GEB, the legal protections afforded the media are a double-edged sword. Loosening them would expose both ethical and unethical journalists to an existing bureaucracy that is hostile to the former and partnered with the latter. The root of the problem is we have a large segment of the population that are apathetic to the veracity of the information they receive. If that doesn’t change, then “so called” journalism will simply find the path of least resistance.
Professor Turley,
FD-1023’s release by Grassley would have been a perfect time to at least feign a sense of political neutrality, but instead you focus on NBC’s TV commentary (note: Scarborough is opinion not news) and the reporter was offering her “analysis” which clearly ventures into opinion, not news) rather than the bigger picture which is the GOP’s release of unverified, raw intelligence.
When the steele dossier was released, Republicans attacked Democrats for the release of unverified raw intelligence, which was the correct position. Releasing unverified data, especially without context regarding the FBI’s evaluation of that data, is dangerous and does not (despite claims to the contrary) promote transparency. However, Grassley has done exactly that in releasing this document. Shameful hypocrisy.
But, no, let’s critique the addition of “so-called” in front of “whistleblower.” That’s definitely the main takeaway here.
Professor Turley didn’t say what you would have said. Boo hoo, cry me a river.
“Anonymous”, when Republicans “attacked” Democrats for release of the Steele Dossier it was because they were right, the Dossier was fraudulent. Now tell us one time where claims against Biden have been wrong as opposed to in all cases when the attacks on Trump have been wrong. Not ALL cases against Trump, just ALL of the Russian collusion attacks.
How about a claim regarding this specific topic?
Here is Grassley saying back in June the audio recordings referenced in this document “Now, maybe they don’t exist” after claiming earlier in the week that the they exist.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/15/politics/republican-reaction-alleged-audio-recordings-biden-bribery-scheme/index.html
Releasing unverified data, especially without context regarding the FBI’s evaluation of that data
This is a longtime FBI paid informant. His cred ability has been proven by past performance.
Iowan2,
As a Federal Special Agent I learned amongst other things that all informants lie. All informants do not lie all the time. Your duty as an Investigator is to follow up on the information provided to you and do that investigation as necessary to confirm or deny that info given to you. Sometimes that is easy…sometimes it is impossible….usually it is somewhere in between. One key method is to have multiple sources (without them knowing of the other’s being informants) reporting on the same or closely related matters so you can compare their accounts and task them for followup information that will cross reference.
My question for the FBI and CIA is simple…..what did they do to determine the factual circumstances being told to them by the Source and what was the results…..and what did they do with those results.
You can bet your boots it was not pursued and we know exactly why it was not…..and it was not for the good of the American People in general but for the benefit of a very few….those involved and those protecting those that were involved.
The two IRS Agents testified under oath and provided evidence in addition to their testimony…..when will Weiss, the two US Attorneys that refused to prosecute, and Garland do the same?
Unless and until they do….the more they delay and tap dance while playing coy with words…..the more credibility adheres to the IRS Agents and the less those refusing to testify can claim.
Spot on, Ralph Chappell! The inconsistencies must be resolved.
Anon
Nice gaslighting bro. And the irony of you insinuating thats what Turley was doing. This wasnt about the 1023 (although I am sure it really bothers you). It was about the IRS WB hearing. I am sure Turley will get around to the 1023, and equally sure you won’t like what he has to say. Congress demanded to see it because the FBI and DOJ have had plenty of time to do their job and follow this. They apparently did nothing. If they had followed up and determined it to be a crock of horse manure, they would have told Congress that in their letter refusing to release it. Demanding its release to the public was debatable politics, but why don’t you ask yourself, where is the interview of Zlochevsky and the FBI’s offer to pay him millions of dollars for the info he has??? The FBI knew in short order the source of the dossier’s backers, and still moved forward. It wasn’t raw intelligence, it was a bunch of made up SH!T. If the same were true here, they would have said so.
Whether anything is illegal or not, it is a truly sad day watching Democrats treat whistleblowers so shabbily. These two men came to Congress full well knowing their careers are over. That is bravery. Assuming they are telling the truth, it is even more appalling because it does nothing to create an atmosphere conducive to stand up for what is right.
I get it, it is political show and the Democrats are trying to protect their standard bearer. Yet. the first thing they do is demean the messenger. As naive as I must sound, does not the truth matter?
“… These two men came to Congress full well knowing their careers are over. …”
I’d Hire them in a heat beat ! ❤️ 🇺🇸
* Liked by 4
And MSM wonders why the public does not trust them. With so-called reporting we see they are nothing but DNC propaganda mouth piece.
I was in the truck the other day and tuned into NPR to see what so-called reporting by their so-called journalists. It was a piece attacking the movie Sound of Freedom. It was disgusting.
UpstateFarmer, trust me, they know. They simply don’t care. Narcissists never care what others think.
@Upstate
I was privy to that bit of ‘journalism’, too. Ever since millennials’ and their parents decided personal, fleeting feelings are facts, people have been raised thinking editorializing IS objectivity (our joke of an educational system and Silicon Valley wealth and influence haven’t helped). To them, editorialization IS journalism, and that is honestly their deep bones understanding of it, so what’s the problem, Boomer? 🙄 They do not comprehend how clown-like, preposterously ignorant and unskilled, and infantile they appear to everyone else because they are incapable of self-reflection beyond self-pity. This disease has spread to damn near everything as over-grown children have become ‘adults’ (and subsequent generations are even worse!). And then there are those (companies) that are happy to simply feign caring to keep the riches flowing like wine.
None of this is random, it is traceable and trackable, and not due simply to some nebulous breakdown somewhere in our system. WE are the fools that didn’t pay attention to anything when it was all percolating.
I used to get raked over the coals for being independent and not choosing a side; now folks like me may as well not exist. Ah, but we do. 😉
Anyway, the lesson, at least for me: NPR has been a dumpster fire for years. I *over*heard it, wouldn’t tune in myself if life depended on it, you are a brave soul. 😂 Nothing to hear there but more State regurgitation delivered by shills and idiots. And this doesn’t even get into the *additional* rot in our system. It is all reeeeal messed up.
Its insidious nature at times makes me think the modern left are *worse* than the authoritarian powers of the past, and *those* tyrants’ antics led to open global conflict every time. I’ve held out hope as an optimist longer than many, but it’s clear they will not cease, and I do not think as things are we can all come together again. ☹️
NBC is the worst or the worst. CNN is a joke, but NBC and MSNBC have been radically left wing for years and years.
It never ceases to amaze me how the media and the Democrats can overlook Biden and his corruption. I keep thinking the tipping point will arrive, new material emerges, new revelations shock the conscience and yet the party and the media keep denying what we all see with a level of shamelessness that sinks to new lows weekly.
HullBobby,
Well said.
Occasionally I will change the channel to NPR to see what new lows in their so-called journalism have reached. They never disappoint.
It is also why independent media is so important and becoming so popular. I support them whenever I can.
Upstate, NPR thinks the sun is gay and can transition into the moon.
HullBobby,
Thanks for the chuckle!
Joe Scarborough calling the republicans a clown show precisely describes the Morning Joe
Boy, now that is the pot calling the kettle black! They “MSM” have known and do know what is going on. They are purposely deceiving the public.
I had the misfortune to watch “Morning Joe,” for about 5 minutes for the first time in my life.
I want those 5 minutes back.
Fortunately, I will never have to watch “Morning Joe,” again.
2 things come to mind when I see his name
1. Remember When a Dead Intern Was Found in Joe Scarborough’s Office?
2. cheated on his second wife to marry his mistress, Mika Brzezinski, who was cheating on her first husband
This is what the Left considers their presbyters, oracles and diviners of
darknesslight.Following evolutionary principles, these charlatans will be pushed out of the gene pool for the simple reason that they are infertile. No progeny comes from them, thankfully. Give it a couple of generations.
One assumes that the revelations made by the highly credible IRS Special Agents and the allegations contained in the FBI 1023 would scare the hell out of every American . . . but apparently one would be wrong!
“…I wrote years ago that the media had bought into the Biden spin …”
The MEDIA owns it, and the “Spin” it puts on Other situations.
Can anyone tell me why 100 yr. old Henry Kissinger went to China to smooth out the feathers with XI, can anyone tell me why Janet Yellen went to China to smooth out the feathers with XI, can anyone tell me why Jamie Dimon went to China to smooth out the feathers with XI, ….
Because a certain U.S. Deep State’s proclivity have crossed every conceivable line. And the MEDIA has sidelined US with side-shows.
Wake Up – The “Administration” is not running the Show.
Many have speculated that perhaps progressives like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Susan Rice and the Squad are running the WH . . . but it might be far worse!
No, we all know it is Obama behind the wheel.
The regime media looks out for the regime. They are puppets reading a script that has been handed to them by the powers that be. That includes the Biden crime family, big Pharma, the government-censorship complex, and the government-military-industry war machine.
“Yet, in its coverage, NBC referred to the men as ‘so called whistleblowers’.”
I think most people have long ago given up expecting the MSM — particularly MSNBC’s big brother, NBC — to behave impartially. Speaking for myself, I’d be VERY surprise if they impartially presented the news.
So called journalists are calling others “so called” in an Orwellian level of projection.
Democrats naturally react like Dracula to sunlight especially if it shines on them and their corrupt practices…..nothing new under that kind of Sun!
Just what shall it take for the media to start reporting the truth?
Just what shall it take for the guilty to be brought before the Bar if Justice rather than be protected by the very people sworn to uphold the Law?
Congress is finally seeing some backbone….but exactly what can Congress do besides present the facts and pray that the DOJ will prosecute itself and admit to its corruption?
Maybe Ali Vitali should be referred to as a “so-called journalist” or “alleged” journalist. Or politicians as “alleged” representatives of the people from now on,,,from either party.
referred to as a “so-called journalist” or “alleged” journalist.
These people are propagandist. Cheerfully reading from a script of known lies. They don’t even believe the slop they are paid handsomely to deliver. I liken them to the original Cobert Show. Playing a fictional character, as they perform entertainment.
Leftist are just Evil. We only see a small part of it publicly. But, it’s systemic.
Romans 1:28-31
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
You left out 1:18: They suppress the truth in unrighteousness.