Great discussion today. With my albeit limited media diet, I’m committed to pointing out the lies which will undoubtedly come from this new administration. It’s already started with the confirmation hearings, and it’s so fast and furious that unless everybody on “our side” responds to these prevarications our democracy will be on a downward spiral into what could be the abyss of a dictatorial, fascist country. By speaking up we give voice to those who cannot speak or understand how all of this affects them.
We need a MUCH BETTER dissemination vehicle. People won’t go to Politifact (those who need it) or to any of the truthful sites. We need BILLBOARDS. We need to get off the notion that we can win the social or general media war. The demagoguery is much too advanced. Simple messages on billboards all over the country. Change them every week to address critical facts.
Politifact is an excellent place to look for facts on a subject that is not given substance when put out there by someone who knows nothing but speaks anyway. The Felon made himself look like the fool he is -- AGAIN! If the Felon's mouth is moving he is lying. No need to guess.
These pieces with you and Mark are some of my favorite things you do. You are both so knowledgeable and make news easy to understand. Thanks for doing this.
Among the facts needing clarification are that the 1st Amendment was meant to allow TRUTH TO POWER, not lies, propaganda and conspiracy theories to mislead and confuse; the Second Amendment was to allow militias (government sanctioned and commanded entities like the National Guards Units in each State) to exist to be called up in national crises like invasion or disasters, Not private armies organized by politicians, wealthy oligarchs, or private citizens to be on call for insurrections and to allow guns for sport, and protection of family and home, not weapons of war that can kill and maim hundreds in minutes.
Good discussion guys, but I would like someone with facts approach the question of capability to fight a fire of the type and size of Pacific Palisades. I would approach it by asking these questions about the fire. Assuming that there was NOT a problem with delivery of water through the existing system, then considering the size of the fire, the number of fire locations, and the wind speeds, how much water would it take to fight this fire? My questions are to evaluate the possibility that NO volume of water would be sufficient to fight this fire.
Without such high winds they can ‘scoop’ water from the ocean for fires and they have other ways to spray fires. In those winds none of that works.
A firefighter said typically 20 firemen report to a house fire. An entire community is a whole different ballgame.
More than one community on fire with residents and fire departments all accessing water at the same time … I can’t imagine a community that could handle all this.
Amy Cohen’s core insight of needing to reach people "where they are" rather than expecting them to seek out fact-checking websites is astute. The current model of expecting people to proactively visit fact-checking sites does create an echo chamber problem - often only reaching those already inclined to seek fact verification.
How do we expand the size of the choir we are preaching to . Does one try to reach right wing media, where do we focus on so-called centric media with both traditional and social?
My recommendation is to work with journalism schools at our colleges and universities across the country. Those skilled in independent fact, checking should be guest speakers at the schools where future generalist are being produced.
It’s a 2-fold issue audience because some will only pay attention to what agrees with their views & others ‘stumble’ across social media news absorbing without seeking it out. My guess is they were targeted with surges of content driven by algorithms.
“… those who self-identified as reading “none at all” were only 32% likely to vote for Harris with Trump at 51%.”
While we are considering where to reach people we need a method for cutting through the noise. Humor is good for that.
thank you. I agree. For a retired person, I am fortunate to have good hearing—and I think I am a good listener as well. However, my friends and spouse tell me that I think I am funnier than I am.
We need to keep describing specifics about what Hitler and other dictators did, showing parallels. Just watched Inside the SS, which pointed out things I didn’t know despite reading and watching so much. It will be easier to reach his idolizers pointing these similarities out as we see them.
This was all very good, but Mark Jacobs makes the most important point at 6:50. At this point in our country's history, the default position about anything Donald Trump says is that he is lying. Nothing that he says is in accordance with observable reality. Steve's comment that "his lips are moving' is exactly correct. This is the answer you give to your MAGAt cousin.
Thank you to the self-proclaimed “Journalistic Nerds” for suggestions and inspiration for each of to fight, one lie at a time, the torrent of dangerous disinformation from Trump and his minions.
Great discussion today. With my albeit limited media diet, I’m committed to pointing out the lies which will undoubtedly come from this new administration. It’s already started with the confirmation hearings, and it’s so fast and furious that unless everybody on “our side” responds to these prevarications our democracy will be on a downward spiral into what could be the abyss of a dictatorial, fascist country. By speaking up we give voice to those who cannot speak or understand how all of this affects them.
Gotta speak up.
We need a MUCH BETTER dissemination vehicle. People won’t go to Politifact (those who need it) or to any of the truthful sites. We need BILLBOARDS. We need to get off the notion that we can win the social or general media war. The demagoguery is much too advanced. Simple messages on billboards all over the country. Change them every week to address critical facts.
AMEN!!
Politifact is an excellent place to look for facts on a subject that is not given substance when put out there by someone who knows nothing but speaks anyway. The Felon made himself look like the fool he is -- AGAIN! If the Felon's mouth is moving he is lying. No need to guess.
These pieces with you and Mark are some of my favorite things you do. You are both so knowledgeable and make news easy to understand. Thanks for doing this.
That’s so nice to hear, Sharon. Thanks. Glad you find it valuable.
Among the facts needing clarification are that the 1st Amendment was meant to allow TRUTH TO POWER, not lies, propaganda and conspiracy theories to mislead and confuse; the Second Amendment was to allow militias (government sanctioned and commanded entities like the National Guards Units in each State) to exist to be called up in national crises like invasion or disasters, Not private armies organized by politicians, wealthy oligarchs, or private citizens to be on call for insurrections and to allow guns for sport, and protection of family and home, not weapons of war that can kill and maim hundreds in minutes.
Thank you for spreading facts!
Good discussion guys, but I would like someone with facts approach the question of capability to fight a fire of the type and size of Pacific Palisades. I would approach it by asking these questions about the fire. Assuming that there was NOT a problem with delivery of water through the existing system, then considering the size of the fire, the number of fire locations, and the wind speeds, how much water would it take to fight this fire? My questions are to evaluate the possibility that NO volume of water would be sufficient to fight this fire.
Without such high winds they can ‘scoop’ water from the ocean for fires and they have other ways to spray fires. In those winds none of that works.
A firefighter said typically 20 firemen report to a house fire. An entire community is a whole different ballgame.
More than one community on fire with residents and fire departments all accessing water at the same time … I can’t imagine a community that could handle all this.
Steven, tried to watch … but no captions. So whatever wisdom, lost to me.
Hi David--There is a transcript and you can turn on the subtitles if they don't come on automatically. All best.
Thanks! Couldn’t find the caption option;? I looked. Will try again … found it! My apologies.
No problem.
Amy Cohen’s core insight of needing to reach people "where they are" rather than expecting them to seek out fact-checking websites is astute. The current model of expecting people to proactively visit fact-checking sites does create an echo chamber problem - often only reaching those already inclined to seek fact verification.
How do we expand the size of the choir we are preaching to . Does one try to reach right wing media, where do we focus on so-called centric media with both traditional and social?
Here is one compilation of right wing websites. https://news.feedspot.com/conservative_news_websites/
My recommendation is to work with journalism schools at our colleges and universities across the country. Those skilled in independent fact, checking should be guest speakers at the schools where future generalist are being produced.
It’s a 2-fold issue audience because some will only pay attention to what agrees with their views & others ‘stumble’ across social media news absorbing without seeking it out. My guess is they were targeted with surges of content driven by algorithms.
“… those who self-identified as reading “none at all” were only 32% likely to vote for Harris with Trump at 51%.”
While we are considering where to reach people we need a method for cutting through the noise. Humor is good for that.
https://www.thewrap.com/harris-trump-voters-political-news-consumption-data-for-progress/
thank you. I agree. For a retired person, I am fortunate to have good hearing—and I think I am a good listener as well. However, my friends and spouse tell me that I think I am funnier than I am.
We need to keep describing specifics about what Hitler and other dictators did, showing parallels. Just watched Inside the SS, which pointed out things I didn’t know despite reading and watching so much. It will be easier to reach his idolizers pointing these similarities out as we see them.
This was all very good, but Mark Jacobs makes the most important point at 6:50. At this point in our country's history, the default position about anything Donald Trump says is that he is lying. Nothing that he says is in accordance with observable reality. Steve's comment that "his lips are moving' is exactly correct. This is the answer you give to your MAGAt cousin.
Thank you to the self-proclaimed “Journalistic Nerds” for suggestions and inspiration for each of to fight, one lie at a time, the torrent of dangerous disinformation from Trump and his minions.
We must stand together