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Matt Taibbi's essay, "It's official: Russiagate is this generation's WMD"

GrundleStiltzkinGrundleStiltzkin Member Posts: 61,499 Standard Supporter
It's been mentioned here a tim or two, and it's all over media, uh, social media. I know next to nothing about Matt Taibbi but seems doubtful he's #TeamMAGA. In fact, on a subject intrinsically about Trump, his essay says little about Trump the man or president. This is an absolute scouring of press practices. I found little I disagreed with, which is somewhat troubling.

https://taibbi.substack.com/p/russiagate-is-wmd-times-a-million

Read the whole thing. Here's some choice cuts.

Nothing Trump is accused of from now on by the press will be believed by huge chunks of the population, a group that (perhaps thanks to this story) is now larger than his original base. As Baker notes, a full 50.3% of respondents in a poll conducted this month said they agree with Trump the Mueller probe is a “witch hunt.”





There will be people protesting: the Mueller report doesn’t prove anything! What about the 37 indictments? The convictions? The Trump tower revelations? The lies! The meeting with Don, Jr.? The financial matters! There’s an ongoing grand jury investigation, and possible sealed indictments, and the House will still investigate, and…

Stop. Just stop. Any journalist who goes there is making it worse.





In January of 2017, Steele’s pile of allegations became public, read by millions. “It is not just unconfirmed,” Buzzfeed admitted. “It includes some clear errors.”

Buzzfeed’s decision exploded traditional journalistic standards against knowingly publishing material whose veracity you doubt. Although a few media ethicists wondered at it, this seemed not to bother the rank-and-file in the business. Buzzfeed chief Ben Smith is still proud of his decision today. I think this was because many reporters believed the report was true.





The Steele report was the Magna Carta of #Russiagate. It provided the implied context for thousands of news stories to come, yet no journalist was ever able to confirm its most salacious allegations: the five year cultivation plan, the blackmail, the bribe from Sechin, the Prague trip, the pee romp, etc. In metaphorical terms, we were unable to independently produce Steele’s results in the lab. Failure to reckon with this corrupted the narrative from the start.

For years, every hint the dossier might be true became a banner headline, while every time doubt was cast on Steele’s revelations, the press was quiet. Washington Post reporter Greg Miller had a team looking for evidence Cohen had been in Prague. Reporters, Miller said, “literally spent weeks and months trying to run down” the Cohen story.

“We sent reporters through every hotel in Prague, through all over the place, just to try to figure out if he was ever there,” he said, “and came away empty.”

This was heads-I-win, tails-you-lose reporting. One assumes if Miller’s crew found Cohen’s name in a hotel ledger, it would have been on page 1 of the Post. The converse didn’t get a mention in Miller’s own paper. He only told the story during a discussion aired by C-SPAN about a new book he’d published. Only The Daily Caller and a few conservative blogs picked it up.*





In its FISA application, the FBI included both the unconfirmed Steele report and Isikoff’s September 23, 2016 Yahoo! story, “U.S. Intel Officials probe ties between Trump adviser and Kremlin.” The Isikoff story, which claimed Page had met with “high ranking sanctioned officials” in Russia, had relied upon Steele as an unnamed source.

This was similar to a laundering technique used in the WMD episode called “stove-piping,” i.e. officials using the press to “confirm” information the officials themselves fed the reporter.

But there was virtually no non-conservative press about this problem apart from a Washington Post story pooh-poohing the issue. (Every news story that casts any doubt on the collusion issue seems to meet with an instantaneous “fact check” in the Post.) The Post insisted the FISA issue wasn’t serious among other things because Steele was not the “foundation” of Isikoff’s piece.





This has been a consistent pattern throughout #Russiagate. Step one: salacious headline. Step two, days or weeks later: news emerges the story is shakier than first believed. Step three (in the best case) involves the story being walked back or retracted by the same publication.

That’s been rare. More often, when explosive #Russiagate headlines go sideways, the original outlets simply ignore the new development, leaving the “retraction” process to conservative outlets that don’t reach the original audiences.





Years ago, in the midst of the WMD affair, Times public editor Daniel Okrent noted the paper’s standard had moved from “Don’t get it first, get it right” to “Get it first and get it right.” From there, Okrent wrote, “the next devolution was an obvious one.”

We’re at that next devolution: first and wrong. The Russiagate era has so degraded journalism that even once “reputable” outlets are now only about as right as politicians, which is to say barely ever, and then only by accident.

Early on, I was so amazed by the sheer quantity of Russia “bombshells” being walked back, I started to keep a list. It’s well above 50 stories now. As has been noted by Glenn Greenwald of the Intercept and others, if the mistakes were random, you’d expect them in both directions, but Russiagate errors uniformly go the same way.





Russiagate institutionalized one of the worst ethical loopholes in journalism, which used to be limited mainly to local crime reporting. It’s always been a problem that we publish mugshots and names of people merely arrested but not yet found guilty. Those stories live forever online and even the acquitted end up permanently unable to get jobs, smeared as thieves, wife-beaters, drunk drivers, etc.

With Russiagate the national press abandoned any pretense that there’s a difference between indictment and conviction. The most disturbing story involved Maria Butina. Here authorities and the press shared responsibility. Thanks to an indictment that initially said the Russian traded sex for favors, the Times and other outlets flooded the news cycle with breathless stories about a redheaded slut-temptress come to undermine democracy, a “real-life Red Sparrow,” as ABC put it.

But a judge threw out the sex charge after “five minutes” when it turned out to be based on a single joke text to a friend who had taken Butina’s car for inspection.
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Comments

  • MariotaTheGawdMariotaTheGawd Member Posts: 1,441
    edited March 2019
    I thought about posting it here yesterday but I knew none of you plebs would actually read it because it's longer than a tweet

    Plus I'm not sure how you wouldn't know who he is if you follow politics. Unless you just live in an echo chamber.
  • YellowSnowYellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 35,437 Founders Club
    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.
  • MariotaTheGawdMariotaTheGawd Member Posts: 1,441

    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.

    I think it's more a symptom of profit-driven media than of any political agenda, although obviously there is some of that. He's talked about it in other places. The New Yorker infamously wouldn't even allow sales people on their editorial floor. Now tv news networks brag about being the most watched.
  • YellowSnowYellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 35,437 Founders Club

    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.

    I think it's more a symptom of profit-driven media than of any political agenda, although obviously there is some of that. He's talked about it in other places. The New Yorker infamously wouldn't even allow sales people on their editorial floor. Now tv news networks brag about being the most watched.
    This is a valid poont. Everyone thinks that internet content should be free (hi Hondo) so if you have a model based on clicks to drive ad revenue the incentives are all fucked up.
  • YellowSnowYellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 35,437 Founders Club

    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.

    We've come full circle back to the paper baron days of yellow journalism. What's old is new again.

  • GrundleStiltzkinGrundleStiltzkin Member Posts: 61,499 Standard Supporter

    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.

    We've come full circle back to the paper baron days of yellow journalism. What's old is new again.
    The primary marketed value proposition of the mainline media organizations—in the social media era—is their commitment to real journalistic principles. They've whored that away.
  • RaceBannonRaceBannon Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 105,986 Founders Club

    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.

    I think it's more a symptom of profit-driven media than of any political agenda, although obviously there is some of that. He's talked about it in other places. The New Yorker infamously wouldn't even allow sales people on their editorial floor. Now tv news networks brag about being the most watched.
    You would

    If it was profit driven CNN and MSNBC would be like Fox who kicks their ass

    They were anti Trump all the time because of their political views. They hired hacks like Brennan and the rest to echo that view day and night

    They deserve all the shame and mockery they get. From wherever it comes
  • 2001400ex2001400ex Member Posts: 29,457

    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.

    I think it's more a symptom of profit-driven media than of any political agenda, although obviously there is some of that. He's talked about it in other places. The New Yorker infamously wouldn't even allow sales people on their editorial floor. Now tv news networks brag about being the most watched.
    You would

    If it was profit driven CNN and MSNBC would be like Fox who kicks their ass

    They were anti Trump all the time because of their political views. They hired hacks like Brennan and the rest to echo that view day and night

    They deserve all the shame and mockery they get. From wherever it comes
    And you don't care that Fox was anti Obama? Turns out there's a lot of conservative dicksuckers who want the message that liberals are coming for all that is right in America. And that's what Fox sells very well.
  • 2001400ex2001400ex Member Posts: 29,457

    2001400ex said:

    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.

    I think it's more a symptom of profit-driven media than of any political agenda, although obviously there is some of that. He's talked about it in other places. The New Yorker infamously wouldn't even allow sales people on their editorial floor. Now tv news networks brag about being the most watched.
    You would

    If it was profit driven CNN and MSNBC would be like Fox who kicks their ass

    They were anti Trump all the time because of their political views. They hired hacks like Brennan and the rest to echo that view day and night

    They deserve all the shame and mockery they get. From wherever it comes
    And you don't care that Fox was anti Obama? Turns out there's a lot of conservative dicksuckers who want the message that liberals are coming for all that is right in America. And that's what Fox sells very well.
    Obama fucked up healthcare so bad no one is able to make a decent push for anything new for like 10 years after the ACA. What a fucking disaster. He can suck it.
    Republicans had complete control of all three houses for two years. It's clear they have no solution to health Care other than to keep the current shitty system in place.
  • Pitchfork51Pitchfork51 Member Posts: 26,954
    2001400ex said:

    2001400ex said:

    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.

    I think it's more a symptom of profit-driven media than of any political agenda, although obviously there is some of that. He's talked about it in other places. The New Yorker infamously wouldn't even allow sales people on their editorial floor. Now tv news networks brag about being the most watched.
    You would

    If it was profit driven CNN and MSNBC would be like Fox who kicks their ass

    They were anti Trump all the time because of their political views. They hired hacks like Brennan and the rest to echo that view day and night

    They deserve all the shame and mockery they get. From wherever it comes
    And you don't care that Fox was anti Obama? Turns out there's a lot of conservative dicksuckers who want the message that liberals are coming for all that is right in America. And that's what Fox sells very well.
    Obama fucked up healthcare so bad no one is able to make a decent push for anything new for like 10 years after the ACA. What a fucking disaster. He can suck it.
    Republicans had complete control of all three houses for two years. It's clear they have no solution to health Care other than to keep the current shitty system in place.
    Yeah no shit. But his entire platform the 2nd term was healthcare. It was the one thing everyone cared about.
  • pawzpawz Member, Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 20,962 Founders Club
    edited March 2019
    2001400ex said:

    2001400ex said:

    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.

    I think it's more a symptom of profit-driven media than of any political agenda, although obviously there is some of that. He's talked about it in other places. The New Yorker infamously wouldn't even allow sales people on their editorial floor. Now tv news networks brag about being the most watched.
    You would

    If it was profit driven CNN and MSNBC would be like Fox who kicks their ass

    They were anti Trump all the time because of their political views. They hired hacks like Brennan and the rest to echo that view day and night

    They deserve all the shame and mockery they get. From wherever it comes
    And you don't care that Fox was anti Obama? Turns out there's a lot of conservative dicksuckers who want the message that liberals are coming for all that is right in America. And that's what Fox sells very well.
    Obama fucked up healthcare so bad no one is able to make a decent push for anything new for like 10 years after the ACA. What a fucking disaster. He can suck it.
    Republicans had complete control of all three houses for two years. It's clear they have no solution to health Care other than to keep the current shitty system in place.
    #aclockworkshill #rightontim #HondoBros #lapdog

    @Pitchfork51 you can't besmirtch Obamacare without the chief lapdog nibbling at your balls.


    As always its special to watch Hondofaggot move the goalposts after hearing for years how great Obamacare would be. The totally predictable failure it is
  • MariotaTheGawdMariotaTheGawd Member Posts: 1,441
    edited March 2019

    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.

    I think it's more a symptom of profit-driven media than of any political agenda, although obviously there is some of that. He's talked about it in other places. The New Yorker infamously wouldn't even allow sales people on their editorial floor. Now tv news networks brag about being the most watched.
    You would

    If it was profit driven CNN and MSNBC would be like Fox who kicks their ass

    They were anti Trump all the time because of their political views. They hired hacks like Brennan and the rest to echo that view day and night

    They deserve all the shame and mockery they get. From wherever it comes
    If you don't think profit-driven news is a major problem and was a major factor in the way this was covered, you truly can't be saved.

    Not that you care because you have zero credibility or self-awareness, but there's some irony in you denying this after upvoting the op, which is a chapter from a book intended to be a follow-up to Manufacturing Consent
  • GrundleStiltzkinGrundleStiltzkin Member Posts: 61,499 Standard Supporter

    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.

    I think it's more a symptom of profit-driven media than of any political agenda, although obviously there is some of that. He's talked about it in other places. The New Yorker infamously wouldn't even allow sales people on their editorial floor. Now tv news networks brag about being the most watched.
    You would

    If it was profit driven CNN and MSNBC would be like Fox who kicks their ass

    They were anti Trump all the time because of their political views. They hired hacks like Brennan and the rest to echo that view day and night

    They deserve all the shame and mockery they get. From wherever it comes
    If you don't think profit-driven news is a major problem and was a major factor in the way this was covered, you truly can't be saved.

    Not that you care because you have zero credibility or self-awareness, but there's some irony in you denying this after upvoting the op, which is a piece from a book intended to be a follow-up to Manufacturing Consent
    Are you one advocating for state-funded media?
  • MariotaTheGawdMariotaTheGawd Member Posts: 1,441

    I read it yesterday. I've also listened to his pod with Sam Harris. He's definitely not team #MAGA.

    While I will continue to disagree with many here on "attempted coups" , I would agree that many in the media got way out ahead of evidence being collected and have a shit ton of egg on the face.

    I think it's more a symptom of profit-driven media than of any political agenda, although obviously there is some of that. He's talked about it in other places. The New Yorker infamously wouldn't even allow sales people on their editorial floor. Now tv news networks brag about being the most watched.
    You would

    If it was profit driven CNN and MSNBC would be like Fox who kicks their ass

    They were anti Trump all the time because of their political views. They hired hacks like Brennan and the rest to echo that view day and night

    They deserve all the shame and mockery they get. From wherever it comes
    If you don't think profit-driven news is a major problem and was a major factor in the way this was covered, you truly can't be saved.

    Not that you care because you have zero credibility or self-awareness, but there's some irony in you denying this after upvoting the op, which is a piece from a book intended to be a follow-up to Manufacturing Consent
    Are you one advocating for state-funded media?
    nice gotcha attempt
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