Category: Media

Media, Politics

NPR’s CEO Just Made the Best Case Yet for Defunding NPR

Below is my column in the Hill on the effort to end the federal subsidy for National Public Radio, an effort that was greatly advanced by the testimony of its Chief Executive Officer. After imploding at a House hearing, NPR’s Katherine Maher even lost HBO’s Bill Maher who now supports defunding NPR. The Democrats hope to peal off a couple Republicans like Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to continue to fund the outlet. The pitch is to again mouth “assurances” that NPR will adopt more balanced coverage, the same assurance given for over a decade as the liberal bias at the outlet only became more pronounced.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “NPR’s CEO Just Made the Best Case Yet for Defunding NPR” →

Media, Politics

Dinner Takeout: White House Correspondents Association Dumps Anti-Trump Comedian for Dinner

I have written repeatedly about the shockingly bad judgment shown by Eugene Daniels, the president of the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) and a Politico correspondent, in selecting an anti-Trump comedian for the dinner. Soon after her selection, Amber Ruffin declared that no one wanted President Donald Trump to attend or even be in the same room with him. For months, Daniels and the WHCA ignored the objections, but on Saturday issued a statement that Ruffin was unanimously sacked. The decision is welcomed, though belated. More importantly, there is no indication of any serious reflection on the poor judgment used in the original selection. Continue reading “Dinner Takeout: White House Correspondents Association Dumps Anti-Trump Comedian for Dinner” →

Free Speech, Media

Turley to Speak at the National Press Club on his Book “The Indispensable Right”

I have the pleasure this morning of speaking at the National Press Club on free speech and my book, “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.” The event with the Free State Foundation will explore the book’s discussion of free speech as a human right and our long struggle with the meaning of free speech.

Continue reading “Turley to Speak at the National Press Club on his Book “The Indispensable Right”” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Courts, Media, Politics

McCaskill: Trump is Trying to “Disappear” People Like “his Buddy Putin”

MSNBC analyst and former Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill has long been criticized for unhinged rhetoric. That was evident on “Morning Joe” recently when McCaskill said that the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members was akin to Putin “disappearing” people. It is not the first such analogy by McCaskill, who has called those opposing the censorship under the Biden Administration “Putin lovers.” However, just for the record, Putin does not generally disappear people by putting them on flights back to their countries. He tends more toward nerve agents than immigration agents to remove people. Continue reading “McCaskill: Trump is Trying to “Disappear” People Like “his Buddy Putin”” →

Media, Politics

Eat and Get Out: Two Traditional Press Dinners Adopt Hostile Positions Against Trump

As expected, the relationship between the Trump White House and the media resumed where it ended in the first term in outright warfare. The mutual disdain has become open contempt as was evident this week when, reportedly for the first time in its 140-year history, the Gridiron Club journalism dinner omitted the toast to the U.S. president. This follows the selection of a comedian for the White House Correspondent’s Dinner who promptly declared that no one wants Trump to come because no one wants to be in the same room with him. The media is doubling down on its identity as part of “the resistance.” In the meantime, the public is rushing to new and alternative media for their information. Continue reading “Eat and Get Out: Two Traditional Press Dinners Adopt Hostile Positions Against Trump” →

Lawyering, Media, Politics

Hunter Biden Claims Financial Distress in Seeking to Drop Lawsuit Against Ex-White House Official

There is a notable filing this week in Los Angeles where Hunter Biden is seeking to dismiss one of his many lawsuits against individuals associated with disclosing or discussing the contents of his infamous laptop. While Hunter spent years suggesting that the laptop images and emails might be Russian disinformation (with the help of obliging mainstream media), the contents were found to be authentic by courts and agencies. In seeking to drop his lawsuit against an ex-White House aide, Garrett Ziegler, Biden claims to be, again, in financial ruin. Continue reading “Hunter Biden Claims Financial Distress in Seeking to Drop Lawsuit Against Ex-White House Official” →

Columns, Congress, Free Speech, Media, Politics

“Which Country is he Loyal to?”: Democrats Go Full McCarthy in Attacks on Musk

Below is my column in The Hill on the disgraceful Democratic attacks against Elon Musk over his status as a naturalized citizen. For years, some of us have raised concerns over the adoption of McCarthyite tactics and rhetoric by the left to demonize those with opposing viewpoints, including critics of the massive censorship system under the Biden Administration.  Those attacks are now reaching a dangerous crescendo after the 2024 loss in the presidential election.

Here is the column: Continue reading ““Which Country is he Loyal to?”: Democrats Go Full McCarthy in Attacks on Musk” →

Media, Politics

The Press Falls to Another Record Low in Public Trust
We have previously discussed polling showing the media at record lows in public trust. Well, the latest survey from Gallup shows that the media hit another all-time low. What is most impressive is that plummeting readers, revenues, and layoffs have done little to convince the mainstream media that the problem is not the public but themselves. The only institution with a  lower level of public trust is Congress, and that says a lot. It is like beating Ebola as the preferred communicable disease. Continue reading “The Press Falls to Another Record Low in Public Trust” →
Free Speech, Media

Mississippi Judge Orders Newspaper to Remove Editorial Criticizing City Council
Free Speech, Media, Politics

Bravo, Mr. Bezos: Post Owner Calls for Newspaper to Champion Individual Freedom and Free Markets

There was another meltdown at the Washington Post after owner Jeff Bezos moved again to moderate the newspaper’s message, which has plummeted in readership. Bezos told the editors that he wanted the newspaper to advocate for individual liberties and the free market. The message sent the left into vapors and led to the resignation of Washington Post opinion editor David Shipley. Outside the paper, another round of calls for boycotts and subscription cancellations followed. Continue reading “Bravo, Mr. Bezos: Post Owner Calls for Newspaper to Champion Individual Freedom and Free Markets” →

Media, Torts

The “Damages Collector”: MSNBC Settles Defamation Lawsuit with Doctor Labeled as the “Uterus Collector”

We have previously discussed the defamation case involving Georgia gynecologist Dr. Mahendra Amin who was allegedly defamed by MSNBC, including by host Rachel Maddow, as the “uterus collector.” Now, not long after a settlement of CNN of another defamation case, MSNBC appears to have forked over damages to Dr. Amin to avoid a trial.

Continue reading “The “Damages Collector”: MSNBC Settles Defamation Lawsuit with Doctor Labeled as the “Uterus Collector”” →

Courts, Media

“We’re Winning Across the Board”: Raskin Takes a Premature Victory Lap Just Before a Slew of Court Losses

On CBS’s Face the Nation, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D., Md.) repeated the talking point of Democratic politicians and pundits that the courts are stopping President Donald Trump’s lawless actions taken after his inauguration. Raskin declared “we’re winning in court…we’re winning across the board.” The boast was dubious at best on Sunday given earlier losses, but became embarrassing on Monday and Tuesday as additional courts ruled in favor of the Trump Administration in major cases.

Continue reading ““We’re Winning Across the Board”: Raskin Takes a Premature Victory Lap Just Before a Slew of Court Losses” →

Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, Media, Politics

“Taking Away Everything We Have”: Democrats and Unions Launch an Existential Fight Over Buyouts

Below is a slightly modified version of my column in USA Today on the apoplectic response of Washington to the efforts of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to reduce the size of government. Democrats have declared the effort to be pure “evil” and responded with rage rhetoric and profanity in public demonstrations. In a town with only one industry, reducing government is a sacrilegious act. It is one thing to run on reducing government and quite another thing to actually mean it. However, the deferred buyout shows how both members and unions are working against not only constitutional powers, but the desire of the employees themselves.

Here is the column: Continue reading ““Taking Away Everything We Have”: Democrats and Unions Launch an Existential Fight Over Buyouts” →

Media, Politics

“Break Some Sh*t”: Democrats Find Relief from Sanity and Reality in Profanity and Hyperbole

Teddy Roosevelt once said, “profanity is the parlance of the fool.” Democrats appear to be increasingly finding relief from both reality and sanity in profanity. Democratic members have been complaining that left-wing groups have been targeting them to be more aggressive and “fight harder” in the face of the fast-paced actions of President Donald Trump. Their response appears to be ratcheting up “rage rhetoric” with profanity and violent language. Last week, Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) captured the new norm by yelling at a rally that “I don’t swear in public very well, but we have to f**k Trump. Please don’t tell my children that I just did that.” Continue reading ““Break Some Sh*t”: Democrats Find Relief from Sanity and Reality in Profanity and Hyperbole” →

Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, Media, Politics

Democrats Jump the Shark: The Latest Claims of a Constitutional Crisis Will Not Lead to “Happier Days”

Below is my column in the New York Post on the growing claim of a “constitutional crisis” over the Trump reforms. It is the latest political jump scare to see if it will rouse the public. It seems, again, to be backfiring as polling shows Trump with record approval levels and widespread support for reducing government.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Democrats Jump the Shark: The Latest Claims of a Constitutional Crisis Will Not Lead to “Happier Days”” →