I completely agree. This is my biggest challenge for @democracydocket.com right now. Scaling up to meet the demand for independent, pro-democracy news, information and analysis.
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
How about the Jimmy Carter method ; never lie and double check the information you receive , even from trusted sources . Dare to speak and write the truth !
People keep talking about the MSM capitulating. It's nonsense. The MSM is nothing more than the propaganda arm of the Republican Party. It always has been. It hasn't capitulated. It's achieved it's end goal and disposed of the masks.
Uhm, Marc, what Bari Weiss likely means is that certain media haven't covered the fucking "Twitter files", Hunter Biden's laptop, the lab leak theory or her transphobic friends the way she wanted them to.
Bari Weiss is a clown and a terrible bad-faith actor who absolutely plays to what elites want to hear while pretending to do something else. You are much better — and you do actual hard work — than needing to quote her to make your point.
However much we may dislike the editorial policies of the news media, its decline has little to do with its work the past decade or so. The media business collapsed from the same bad decisions many other industries did: consolidation, private equity, bad management, the inability to change.
Or they clung to “both sides” coverage in the face of rising authoritarianism.
Their bad decisions were unique to the profession—before Trump, our MSM refused to call a lie a lie or a liar a liar. We didn’t need fact-checking. Rather than face reality, they continued apace. Now they’re irrelevant.
Legacy media failed to understand how a policy of "appeasement for revenue" sapped any legitimacy they may have earned. The profit-before-people business model eventually destroys any company.
Let's not shoot the messenger. The NYTimes, imho, could not have done more to expose Trump's corruption and call it out editorially. The problem is that the message either is not getting to too many people, or that too many people have become so cynical they couldn't care less.
Their good one-off reporting was completely overshadowed by their relentlessly bad political "both sides" and republican friendly framing which never referred to it.
The lack of centralization is a double-edged sword sadly.
Instead of going to a handful of TV stations to get what used to be solid news only slightly biased, they'll get grossly entrenched in silos of information with good chances of being severely biased.
No, Marc, please don’t give this grifter attention. Bari is literally one of the reasons the media is crumbling. Her desperation to both-sides everything because she hates trans people and needs to be a pick-me for Nazis is revolting and the fact she considers that “journalism” is laughable.
I think you can especially given how many people were let go, quit, or just were tired of the billionaires that just laid waste to sense. The greatest thing would be to see a lot of smart people sell things that were just traditionally what people want anyways. A free non biased press that reports
As a gay man who values my friends in the transgender community, I have no reason to agree with anything said by Weiss. She may be right, but she sullied the validity of her opinions with her bigotry
Haters gotta hate, but we don’t have to tolerate them.
Disagree with her on some/all/ many of her policies & writing, but references to „30 pieces of silver“ play off antisemitic tropes. Many ppl are not aware of how pervasive these are. I know I didn’t.
It *has been used* by anti-semites in the past, because so many anti-semitic references are about money and greed, but the original reference is to anyone that has sold out for money, a la Judas Iscariot. That said, maybe best not to use it re: someone like Weiss who weaponises her own Jewishness
I wanted to share because as a teacher I assume the best in ppl, and yes, significantly before both our times. I believe it could be traced to Martin Luther in the 16th C. My PhD studies opened my mind to a great deal that I didn’t know.
I disagree with a lot of what she has to say as well.
Old media institutions crumbled when they helped Trump win in 2016; when they refused to refute R lies about Obamacare; when they helped Bush lie us into war in 2003; when they both-sided Newt Gingrich; when they refused to say what they surely knew about Reagan & the Iran hostage October surprise.
This is the cherry on top of your recent, months-long orgy of self-congratulation, self-promotion, self-aggrandizement that has just worn completely thin and tiresome. Previously, you were justifiable in your announcements of success & skill. Now you sound like a carnival barker, endlessly.
Trans people, specifically Brynn Tannehill, told the world that our institutions would not save us during Trump’s first term. She, and other so-called transphobic “liberals” have simply turned a deaf ear to the canary in the coal mine - the trans community.
And now the trans community is telling Democrats something else they don’t want to hear - the United States is already a failed state. Democracy is already dead. The United States won’t survive through the 2040’s and will likely shatter before that time. And I doubt you’re listening either, Marc.
With all do respect, Bari Weiss is not someone I would EVER listen to/read. She put out one hell of a hit piece on the transgender community. Friends of mine and their CHILDREN were taken advantage of and put in danger. All so Bari could publish one trash article.
Kindly intended, but I think the word you were going for is "due" respect, as in what's due to a person. I recognize it could have been an error by the type-by-voice feature.
He added no caveats about her, so either he forgot about her perfidity & collaboration with Muck, or he chose to allow the impression he thinks of her as a worthy example of journalistic expertise. It's either tone-deaf, ignorant, or clueless. Marc's gotten high on his own ego's supply lately, too.
just saying, attack Weiss, but Elias is not Weiss. part of the problem on the left is that if someone isn’t *perfect* they get lambasted. and not even for anything Elias said
My biggest issue with the news today is that it is all so demoralizing. No one dares publish anything uplifting because they would be trolled mercilessly.
I’ve been struggling to find independent media that fully meets my needs. I’ve come to realize that I need to put together a cornucopia of outlets as independent media develops and matures. It’ll just take some time and patience. I’d rather struggle a bit for truth than accept lies.
It's important to not say you agree with someone when what happened was that they emitted a string of words you might emit. Agree, at least to me, implies a shared worldview from which the string of words follows.
I just hope that those with money and means are looking at opportunities to buy up media space just like #PresidentMusk is always threatening to do. We need to have options, yes, but we also need those options to be well known and in ppls faces. Whether it’s SM, paper, tv or podcasts.
I don’t agree with her statement to “meet reader demand”. It’s more about making an impact. Hate will always win out over good when it comes to attracting reader attention. So, for me it’s a need to create reader demand to grow. How can this be done?
you make your own good points, no need to cite someone that only leans far enough left to include her girlfriend while excluding everyone else she doesn't agree with
Question is, how do you and others get the news out to those who have only heard msm or the Putin propaganda media? The choir appreciates the message…but others need the message too 🤔
How about Happy New Year?
I was moved in privilege to look at his papers and diaries and private papers that are open to the public.And in many we're ready to travel to all sorts of unsavory characters out of the world asking for the release of
Everyone’s talking about the midterms. I have concerns. Remember when Trump was in office after losing the 2020 election. He wanted to seize all voting machines. That seems that it could be the end of voting here in America.
I pass on the need to rid our news feeds of “Cwhoreporate Media” every chance I get. We need you, Marc, in and out of the court room. Thank you from one little old lady 🙏🏾👵🏻🙏🏾
The speed of their blitzkrieg will be breathtaking. By 1/22, you won't recognize the place. Government takeover of media. Sealed border. Open season for the KKK. The possibilities are endless. Disappearing opposition figures. The greatest hits of rusha, North Korea, and the Confederacy.
Bari Weiss is horrible and she has built a media empire telling elites what they want to hear but packaging it as "harsh truths." It's all style no substance and worse yet, she's made it her mission to go after trans people.
Because recognizing the truths of a single, unrelated message doesn't "associate" someone with all the other unrelated messages of someone who is otherwise contemptible.
Otherwise, that's just leaning into a tribalist echo chamber.
You've missed the major point which is both Marc and Bari have realized legacy media is crumbling and they need to adapt quickly. Faster than many expected. Not like he agrees with Bari on issues.
A neighbor remarked that she was distraught after the election, yet in the same conversation said she liked The Free Press as a source of news and information.
So many people are just unaware of how deep the rw influence operation goes.
The difference? Bari can, because that’s what she cares about. You can’t, because you’re constrained by truth and values that include “people not like me”.
Keep on truckin’, Marc!
We're not gonna just roll over on our bellies.... We have a mid term to plan for so start the clock now we got two years to take back the house and senate chambers.
I recommend everyone read or listen to “Fever in the Heartland” to see the frightening parallels between the KKK in the 1920s and what is happening with Trump and his minions now.
Except this Bari woman is a horrible person and part of the right-wing propaganda echo chamber, pushing distortion, lies and deception. I absolutely do not want to have anything to do with her or read from her 🤷♀️
What gives me hope is that there is such demand. The cynicism of MSM types is not all-powerful. Enough people know, intuitively, that we are being spoonfed bullshit whenever we turn on cable news. It is sadly (or hopefully) one thing that seems more accepted across the political spectrum.
As is now obvious, independent news is vital to the well being of a democracy. Dictators stomp on people by controlling the information & justice of democracy. Those who know truth are dangerous to those who lie.
Resistance isn't futile & revolution is necessary.
🌊🇺🇸🇺🇦🌈🟧🏞️💙
Democratic leaders must stop bringing pillows to a knife fight. Use the tools available to protect the American people from the Trump-Musk MAGA fascists. Voting, donating, volunteering, peacefully protesting has not worked. Sign the petition.
Full statement here: https://www.change.org/WeThePeople-DemandActionNow
Rolling Stone is surprisingly good.
There's The Guardian; they're mostly good.
@mswmediapods.bsky.social, Allison Gill & her various pods & associates, are great too.
@hcrichardson.bsky.social, Heather Cox Richardson, is an absolute beacon in these dark times.
Disagree on HCR. She's simply a smart propagandist. Over 4 years, I saw not one criticism of the Biden administration. Not even when he shredded his credibility supporting genocide. I used to read her daily. Not any more. I want analysts opposed to bad policies no matter whose they are.
Used to read HCR every time she sent an email. Her writing then seemed to evolve into DNC talking points. I don’t remember her ever disagreeing with Biden.
An excellent political podcast/activist is @ecmclaughlin.bsky.social #ResistanceLive normally M-F, (she’s on break until 1/3)free on YouTube, or $5 a month on Patreon you get an extra weekend broadcast & ability to ask questions which she’ll answer. I’ve followed her for almost 8 years. Informative
Couldn't agree more about @hcrichardson.bsky.social Informative, fact based reporting and historical context. Getting just about all I need from her work every day. Thank you!
You mean a lot to so many of us. However, the Scott Dworkin's of this world and others who so adroitly and factually report politics can't hold a candle to the budget of big MSM. If they can buckle under bogus lawsuits, what makes individuals think THEY can? I worry for Medias Touch and the like.
A) It’s not a binary choice. Legacy media’s reach still matters. However flawed, the solution will be and/or, not either/or.
B) Bari Weiss is the last person you should consult or emulate, as outlined above. Really, cut and run or lose support.
You're making a big mistake getting in bed with this woman.
Reasonable, centrist, forward-thinking, blah blah... and then when she's gotcha, you'll discover that all you've accomplished is to beef-up her stealth Libertarian cred.
Know her by the company she keeps: Bill Maher? Seriously?
This is the example you want to use, as if you are modeling your decent work after her bigoted nonsense? Seems like a poor example to voluntarily associate yourself with.
This is a depressingly vile person to take notes from. There are SO many others (Rachel Gilmore? Christopher Curtis? Abby Martin? David Pakman? The list is extensive) who say the same, only more articulately & with actionable points.
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer 🎵🎶🎶🎵🎶🎶🎶🎶🎵
Sorry one of those days I Associate everything with music😁✌️
They crumbled because they were sold to people who are only interested in money and power. GOP shows they have the power, the media is right there to support them.
Yes, there seems to be more startup investigative reporting journalism out here so as long as it’s based on truth and facts we’ll support it. Many of us are done with legacy media.
I have been depending of independent journalism since the end of 2019. Social media is how I learned of COVID in November 2019. Hardly a mention in main stream media until February 2020. Useless MSM, absolutely useless. The only one I picked up was WAPO, NPR, and BBC. None of which remain in 2024.
Democracy Docket is exactly the new voice we need to hear. Shamelessly self-promoting hypocrite Bari Weiss is exactly the old voice no one needs to hear ever again.
But have you missed Marc's months-long devolution into shameless self-promotion? Check out his tediously excessive self-praise about his creation of DemDocket's "independence", yada yada yada. He's morphing into a Bari Weiss clone.
He gets a pass for attempting to launch a new platform. He needs to promote to attract people. So far, I haven’t witnessed any Bari Weiss style hypocrisy.
She is horrible, but Marc is correct. I'm a former journalist/editor who toyed with this about 15 years ago and it was just too much without a good support system.
Marc, while I appreciate your insights on the realities, I am still waiting to see your recommendations beyond subscribing to Democracy Docket. People need to effectively channel energy to solutions that extend beyond more problems and fights without a meaningful way for them to participate.
Want to figure out how to operate in a new information universe. Great we are trying to develop independent media, but don't like the idea of sharing credit card info to many separate creators. We need a platform that can offer us cafeteria plans where under one price we can choose many creators.
I fear the answer is not building new news sites that, in the end, manage only to reach people predisposed to believe honest journalism. Our efforts need to be finding ways to reach people who only learn about the world from Rupert and Elon. New sites, I fear, won't accomplish that.
There has been such a betrayal of trust by mainstream news. Their slanted “Entertainment “ rather than actual news reporting has caused their own downfall. When they gave up their ethics to follow the will of their billionaire GOP donating owners, did they not think we’d catch on??
Yup. Intentional disinformation has destroyed the trust they were supposed to have maintained with the public. Now they can't be relied upon at all. I do hope the very few corporate publications and stations that do maintain trust don't get swept up into the full MSM ruin.
And here's a thought - can independent news do just news? Corporate media abandoned the 5 Ws years ago to fill the 24-hour news cycle. Somebody needs to do real news or we're gonna end up with a zillion little tabloids and no basic reporting.
Let’s hope so and beginning now. I don’t want our voices silenced nor our choices of information. United we stand against tyranny in power the next 4 years.
Here's my advice:
Be the news people need.
Be local.
Link prodigiously.
Cite studies.
Cite journals.
Cite legislative records and law codes.
Eschew gore.
Let people cooperate in their exposure to ads, and fund authors directly
Give credit, facts, dates.
Buy 'Ink' by the shipping container.
This week I found myself agreeing with the likes of Laura Loomer, Steve Bannon, and Ann Coulter on H1B Visas.
Doesn't mean I don't loathe them, I'm just willing to acknowledge that they happen to have the right position on one issue, if for the wrong reason.
It's one thing to agree with a few random view points here & there from these people. It's quite another to share the thoughts of those people on your own profiles/pages. Absolutely no way would I put ANY of these people in my posts. It's possible to make the point without them.
I'm not sure who is best equipped to do it, but we need someone to cover non-political news too. It's difficult to fully eliminate MSM until that happens.
Comments
Their bad decisions were unique to the profession—before Trump, our MSM refused to call a lie a lie or a liar a liar. We didn’t need fact-checking. Rather than face reality, they continued apace. Now they’re irrelevant.
Legacy media failed to understand how a policy of "appeasement for revenue" sapped any legitimacy they may have earned. The profit-before-people business model eventually destroys any company.
Perhaps just the opposite is true.
Instead of going to a handful of TV stations to get what used to be solid news only slightly biased, they'll get grossly entrenched in silos of information with good chances of being severely biased.
And that's no good. We're kinda there.
Haters gotta hate, but we don’t have to tolerate them.
I disagree with a lot of what she has to say as well.
This is a terrible person to amplify.
https://bsky.app/profile/donnerkay.bsky.social/post/3lekgwal43c2n
We already lost. The USA is dead. It’s time to prepare for the unraveling that will occur as the far right tries to create Gilead.
Bari Weiss is a grifter who parrots right wing talking points (espcially anti-trans propaganda) under the guise of being center-left.
Please clarify.
Who you platform matters.
WAKE UP!
Join us: https://justweighing.com/blogs/lifes-fiction/a-celebrity-is-a-product-not-a-person
I was moved in privilege to look at his papers and diaries and private papers that are open to the public.And in many we're ready to travel to all sorts of unsavory characters out of the world asking for the release of
All news reports should come with reading materials.
This interaction reading/watching is what we need!!
We need this information at our fingertips too.
Otherwise, that's just leaning into a tribalist echo chamber.
But I had the same reaction.
So many people are just unaware of how deep the rw influence operation goes.
Keep on truckin’, Marc!
Resistance isn't futile & revolution is necessary.
🌊🇺🇸🇺🇦🌈🟧🏞️💙
Full statement here:
https://www.change.org/WeThePeople-DemandActionNow
The Lever by David Sirota is great.
MeidasTouch is doing great stuff.
The Bulwark has good things.
MotherJones is solid.
There's The Guardian; they're mostly good.
@mswmediapods.bsky.social, Allison Gill & her various pods & associates, are great too.
@hcrichardson.bsky.social, Heather Cox Richardson, is an absolute beacon in these dark times.
Rolling Stone and The Guardian are staples for me.
Checking out the others and will add them to my mix.
B) Bari Weiss is the last person you should consult or emulate, as outlined above. Really, cut and run or lose support.
Reasonable, centrist, forward-thinking, blah blah... and then when she's gotcha, you'll discover that all you've accomplished is to beef-up her stealth Libertarian cred.
Know her by the company she keeps: Bill Maher? Seriously?
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer 🎵🎶🎶🎵🎶🎶🎶🎶🎵
Sorry one of those days I Associate everything with music😁✌️
"Objects in mirror
Are nearer
than the appear"
[In my dialect, those are exact rhymes]
Was that ever really the phrase on the mirror
Anyone involved in the "twitter files" is permanently tainted as a journalist, and cannot regain credibility.
You’e saying you want to establish a more trustworthy means of news as legacy media fails.
I don’t think you completely agree.
Her goal is to bilk the ‘both sides’ guys who are put off by human decency.
🦋 is our hub for now and let’s use it to propel new media with our support.
#Resist
#Democracy
#NoOligarchy
Be the news people need.
Be local.
Link prodigiously.
Cite studies.
Cite journals.
Cite legislative records and law codes.
Eschew gore.
Let people cooperate in their exposure to ads, and fund authors directly
Give credit, facts, dates.
Buy 'Ink' by the shipping container.
Doesn't mean I don't loathe them, I'm just willing to acknowledge that they happen to have the right position on one issue, if for the wrong reason.
Agreed with you. I usually refer to these moments as the time Hell froze over and Satan skated to work.