CAITLIN JOHNSTONE—Ball is correct that MSNBC doesn’t serve the Democratic party, but she’s incorrect that it serves only money. MSNBC, which is now arguably a more aggressive war propaganda network than Fox News, serves first and foremost the US national security state. And so do all the other western mainstream news networks.
ERIC LONDON—In the text messages, Governor Ricardo Rosselló and his advisers disparage student protestors and plan to crush their demonstrations, discuss using complacent corporate-bought media to silence independent journalists, plan to distribute “fake news” propaganda videos secretly produced by the government to dull opposition, talk about blocking police reform and mock impoverished residents for being forced to use dangerous public infrastructure.
In his intro, Lee dissects the scandalous way in which mainstream media trivialise news, assign top billing to banalities such as sports and political gossip, and generally squander mass communications, a precious resource at a moment when our planet is dying. And then he gets to interview Danny Haiphong, a leading young radical intellectual and historian affiliated with Black Agenda Report.
Jimmy Dore says things—loudly—that despeately need to be said. Shouted by everyone. Hee’s his demolition job on the establsihment momentary favorite (we are certain they are having second thoughts about rigging the primaries to get Biden as head of the ticket). His performance is painful to watch, as the man no only appears clueless and utterly uninspiring, but doddering.