Mastodawn

EllenJS May 12, 2023

If this is true, that prime-time Trump infomercial was an even more shameful act of journalistic malpractice on CNN's part than was previously understood.

Allowing audience members to applaud - but not boo or express disapproval - doesn't report the story, it materially alters it. It creates the false impression that Trump and his odious policies and behavior are more popular than they are.

https://www.mediaite.com/politics/republican-at-trump-town-hall-says-many-in-audience-were-disgusted-or-bewildered-by-ex-president/

Republican at Trump Town Hall Says Many in Audience Were ‘Disgusted’ or ‘Bewildered’ By Ex-President

Many audience members at CNN's Trump town hall were "disgusted" by the president but were told not to boo, according to one Republican who attended.

Mediaite

RevJeber May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren
This deserves the label “political theater”.

Alexander The 1st May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren I'm disappointed that nobody *did* just loudly and visibly boo during the initial showing as a result, or whenever they were live.

Sure, you're likely to be interrupted and taken off set, but if your other option is to watch Trump, I don't see why that wasn't a better outcome.

Lauren Weinstein May 12, 2023

@AT1ST @mattblaze There's a lot of pressure to conform when you're on live TV. Trust me on this one.

Alexander The 1st May 12, 2023

@lauren @mattblaze Sure - but are you saying *none* of the audience decided to break the trend?

At worst, they just do a re-take, which probably means they don't visibly appear on tv like that, but they could have made it harder for the T.V. crew. At the minimum, make fascism unprofitable.

Lauren Weinstein May 12, 2023

@AT1ST @mattblaze It was live so retakes were not an option. It was a quite small audience, which actually makes the pressure to conform even higher.

@AT1ST @lauren @mattblaze

Which of us could imagine the Great Tangerine One doing a retake? Because I can't.

Alexander The 1st May 12, 2023

@mav @lauren @mattblaze I mean, I guess the other option is to watch him try to claim that nobody booed him at the CNN Townhall, even when someone very clearly booed him multiple times.

@AT1ST @lauren @mattblaze

Well that has worked for him several times in the past.

Alexander The 1st May 13, 2023

@mav @lauren @mattblaze Yeah, halfway through writing that I was like "...Wait, he *would* do that, wouldn't he?"

Matt Blaze May 12, 2023

@AT1ST @lauren The risk there is you look like a lone kook, and when you're removed, it sends a clear message for the rest of the audience to toe the line.

Lauren Weinstein May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @AT1ST Yep.

Darryl Ramm May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren Cartoon News Network. If only it was a newspaper it would be useful for lining bird cages.

Sharon Gibson Morgan May 13, 2023

@darryl_ramm @mattblaze @lauren When CNN first started, the idea of a 24-hour news network was considered ridiculous. It was derisively called Chicken Noodle News. I guess that would aptly apply today under its new leadership.

Grumble May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren I can't tell if this reminds me more of "The Emperor's New Clothes" with CNN trying to convince Trump that people still like him, or if this is Leni Riefenstahl making sure that she gets good footage for "Triumph of the Will".

bouriquet May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren But its the laughter at his statements where he’s trying to “entertain” that are the worst.
Those just empower him to think that folks think he’s one of them, which he’s definitely not. It’s a narcissist trick to not appear like a narcissist in public #.

cohomology is FUN!May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren what a disgrace. That is an affront to real journalism.

I can understand having a rule saying no audible reactions except for polite applause at the end. But this is garbage.

I get that Trump might have insisted on these conditions to agree to the event, but that’s even more reason they should have pulled the plug.

Eberg May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren I noticed a lot of people sitting on their hands

Jude May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren

Kathy E. Gill 🇺🇦May 12, 2023

Matt, I have not seen any denials. And it’s the sort of thing someone would do if the goal was strictly entertainment. 🤬

Matt Blaze May 12, 2023

@kegill Yes, very telling that no one has even tried to deny this.

Kathy E. Gill 🇺🇦May 12, 2023

@mattblaze
No shame, there.

I’ve never been an Anderson Cooper fan, but I’m stunned at his monologue. What is Chris Licht holding over his head?

PerryM ✅May 13, 2023

@kegill @mattblaze

Matt, I would point to his $15 Million dollar annual salary except as the son of Gloria Vanderbilt his net worth is at least 20 times that. So frankly, maybe it's more EGO, notoriety and fame as a CNN anchor. I am more curious about Wolf Blitzer, who as a descendant of Holocaust survivors is much more likely to reject the "new" CNN. I have been predicting that he will be the next to go.

Bridget May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren just part of the weird US obsession where manners are prioritised over substance.

The US will censor a swear or a boob rather than an overt theme of otherism that legitimately harms people.

Now they're all have good manners for the people and ideas that will bring about the end of our species.

Michèle St. Clair May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren Did you see Anderson Cooper’s disappointing comments? I like him, but he managed to make me feel a little insulted!

Lauren Weinstein May 12, 2023

@michelestclair @mattblaze As I noted earlier today, it was humiliating both to him and CNN.

Matt Blaze May 12, 2023

@michelestclair @lauren Hostage video, maybe?

(((Cindy Weinstein)))May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren. In other words, #Licht demanded to be siloed. #ThisWasCNN

dibi58 May 12, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren

he had no dissent either in his primetime show:

https://youtu.be/Wnl2IPQujmY

Mussolini Addresses Fascists at Milan

YouTube

@mattblaze @lauren I'm still processing what happened, despite Anderson's attempt at explaining it...

Matt Blaze May 13, 2023

@dntlookbehindu @lauren I think Anderson's explanation is best interpreted as a hostage video.

@mattblaze @lauren I didn't think to look to decode his eye blinks for an XOR key.... Best time to use cyberchef!

John G Fitzgerald May 13, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren CNN stands accused of news manipulation, killing its reputation for honest reporting.

miket330 May 13, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren Yes, it gave this criminal validation!, as if he can be potus... he tampered with the GA. Election, stole sensitive docs..come on, don't belive everything you see on tv...I can't accept the media trying to normalize this fool...

Rojodi May 13, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren I noticed that several women did NOT applaud when he went misogynistic. And, they had "the look". So, yes, it was JUST an infomercial.

Stuart Marks May 13, 2023

@mattblaze @lauren I suspect that if the crowd had wanted to boo someone it would have been Collins and not Trump. You know, enemy of the people and all that. So I think it’s somewhat understandable the crowd was asked not to boo. Still journalistic malpractice overall though.

@mattblaze @lauren

Because Twumpy Dumpy cwies when people are mean to him.

Lauren Weinstein May 13, 2023

I agree that Anderson Cooper's on-air "explanation" for the disgraceful and dishonest CNN Town Hall had the feel of a hostage video. This seems even more the case when we consider that the head of now fascist-friendly CNN reportedly ripped into the CNN reporter who wrote a piece critical of the Town Hall. In a fascist-friendly organization like CNN today, there is no longer any room for dissent. Fascism is as fascism does. It's time to start discussing CNN's owner Warner Bros Discovery in this context, because they're the ones dictating CNN's leadership now.

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈May 13, 2023

@lauren Reminds me of what's happened to the #BBC, any critics are pushed out and the rest think about their careers.

Lauren Weinstein May 13, 2023

@Lazarou I assume that both Anderson and Wolf are keeping their CVs up to date, so to speak.

toxtethogrady May 13, 2023

@mattblaze @[email protected] As it is, they picked an audience of Trumpsters and Trump-aligned types. And Trump left muttering, "If only I could find a jury like this..."