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babylonsister

(170,964 posts)
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 08:18 AM Sep 2021

Eric Boehlert: CNN teams with GOP to concoct new Afghanistan drama

https://pressrun.media/p/cnn-teams-with-gop-to-concoct-an

CNN teams with GOP to concoct new Afghanistan drama
Tale doesn't add up
Eric Boehlert
1 hr ago


In a stunning rebuke of the Biden administration, and proof that legislators are still fuming over the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, a bipartisan group of lawmakers “stormed out” of a classified briefing session because “officials failed to answer their basic questions.”

At least that’s the story CNN and Republicans told this week. But there’s little proof that bipartisan outburst actually happened, and plenty to indicate it did not. The episode seems to be the latest, heavy-handed example of the Beltway press pumping up administration critics in an effort to boost controversy surrounding Afghanistan — to keep treating hollow GOP claims as breaking news, while portraying President Joe Biden as being constantly under siege.

If Republicans and Democrats did collectively storm out of a closed-door intelligence briefing from top Departments of State, Defense, and Homeland Security officials, it would have represented a truly extraordinary news event. That kind of across-the-board protocol breach simply does not happen when high ranking players give national security briefings on Capitol Hill. It would be unprecedented.

There’s no indication the walkout actually occurred though, in part because CNN remains the only news outlet to report on the alleged bipartisan act of Congressional disobedience. If lawmakers had angrily marched out because questions weren’t being answered, news would have spread like wildfire across the Beltway and journalists would have easily confirmed the event.

snip//

Simultaneously, CNN claimed Biden’s long-expected troop withdrawal meant the U.S. was “walking away from the world stage” and “leaving Europe exposed,” even though most European troops left Afghanistan seven years ago.

Bottom line: It’s highly unlikely that Democrats joined forces with Republicans this week to snub high-ranking administration officials and “stormed out” of an Afghanistan briefing.
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Eric Boehlert: CNN teams with GOP to concoct new Afghanistan drama (Original Post) babylonsister Sep 2021 OP
He is correct although the big link is MIC malaise Sep 2021 #1
This message was self-deleted by its author malaise Sep 2021 #2
I noticed Mad_Machine76 Sep 2021 #3
For one month I have turned that Cable shit off. I don't miss it at all. pwb Sep 2021 #4
I've turned it off too and been much happier. Ligyron Sep 2021 #16
Heard 2 Afghanistan vets yesterday at my work Johnny2X2X Sep 2021 #5
Good to know... 2naSalit Sep 2021 #7
Good to know. blm Sep 2021 #8
Thanks for this. But doubt we'll ever see this accout of conditions on the news, not even MSNBC. Fla Dem Sep 2021 #9
K&R spanone Sep 2021 #6
Why does CNN think it will exist as it is if GQP gets back into power ?! This makes no sense, did .. uponit7771 Sep 2021 #10
This Very Important Story! McKim Sep 2021 #11
News outlets miss the drama of TFG, so they're doing their best to create some dlk Sep 2021 #12
They thought Afghanistan was going to be headline news for years. C Moon Sep 2021 #13
I've noticed that I don't follow the news as avidly as I did when Trumplethinskin was Pres. 70sEraVet Sep 2021 #14
We weren't spending enough money in Afghanistan.... Chakaconcarne Sep 2021 #15
I'm off CNN forever. VEGANGTA Sep 2021 #17
CNN has for years been characterized as FOX Lite by serious news consumers. Ford_Prefect Sep 2021 #18
Check Out Aljazeera Today! McKim Sep 2021 #19
yep, hence China's interest. nt TeamProg Sep 2021 #22
How much did 'we' extract? Xoan Sep 2021 #24
CNN had higher ratings during the last administration and made lots of $$$. Jon King Sep 2021 #20
Boring, good news doesn't grab the audience that advertisers seek. n/t TeamProg Sep 2021 #23
Wow, but I really hate to call CNN 'fake news'. Why would they think that reporting anything but TeamProg Sep 2021 #21
Their audience is diminishing in large numbers and they are losing all the ratings wars Bev54 Sep 2021 #25
I guess MSNBC is taking their audience.... ? TeamProg Sep 2021 #26
Yes they are going to the right, trying to get viewers it is not working Bev54 Sep 2021 #28
Cable news viewership: TeamProg Sep 2021 #27

Response to babylonsister (Original post)

pwb

(11,205 posts)
4. For one month I have turned that Cable shit off. I don't miss it at all.
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 08:34 AM
Sep 2021

Cable creates division intentionally. This is good example of no investigation, just always opinion and someone said. That is not news.

Ligyron

(7,592 posts)
16. I've turned it off too and been much happier.
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 10:01 AM
Sep 2021

There’s really not a whole lot one can do about all that nonsense anyway other than recruit others and vote.

Johnny2X2X

(18,745 posts)
5. Heard 2 Afghanistan vets yesterday at my work
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 08:38 AM
Sep 2021

We had an event where 2 Afghanistan vets gave a presentation yesterday. Was an hour long and included questions and answers. Both were officers and led teams there on two different tours. One of them handled teams of Afghani interpreters.

Really well done and informative. The soldiers on the ground there have their eyes wide open. The people who wanted to get out have been leaving for years. Zero surprise among them that the Afghan army gave up so easily, the Taliban was always there and the soldiers were going to do what is best for their families, not warring with the Taliban was what was best for them.

Really cool and collected assessment from these guys. The Taliban aren't as brutal anymore, and they're going to need our help. Things weren't great in Afghanistan the last 20 years, but they were better than they'll be under the Taliban. Both of these vets are happy we are out now and think we should engage the Taliban in diplomacy as they're going to need our help.

Fla Dem

(23,352 posts)
9. Thanks for this. But doubt we'll ever see this accout of conditions on the news, not even MSNBC.
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 09:42 AM
Sep 2021

In fact MSNBC's Richard Engel has to be the worse. He never has a good word about the US. He always seeks out anyone with a negative story against the US. He's been relentless in his criticism of Pres Biden.

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
10. Why does CNN think it will exist as it is if GQP gets back into power ?! This makes no sense, did ..
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 09:44 AM
Sep 2021

... they not see J6 attack ?!

McKim

(2,412 posts)
11. This Very Important Story!
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 09:46 AM
Sep 2021

This is a very very important story. I have noticed a dramatic increase in coverage of Afghanistan with women's rights and hunger issues blasted over and over through the MSM. It seems to be encouraging the US public to get behind a US military reengagement in Afghanistan. I am fed up with it and thanks for calling it out. We can't go back there to waste more war dollars when our own people have such great needs. I am contacting media to say I am sick of it.

dlk

(11,438 posts)
12. News outlets miss the drama of TFG, so they're doing their best to create some
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 09:49 AM
Sep 2021

One major downside of a for-profit media.

70sEraVet

(3,430 posts)
14. I've noticed that I don't follow the news as avidly as I did when Trumplethinskin was Pres.
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 09:58 AM
Sep 2021

Its a little boring to have a competent, level-headed President, who has carefully put together a cabinet of qualified experts in their respective fields.
I'm sure the cable news networks are suffering from a drop in viewership, so it stands to reason that they will employ the same tactics that Fox and OAN have been using with success for years - JUST MAKE SHIT UP!

Chakaconcarne

(2,387 posts)
15. We weren't spending enough money in Afghanistan....
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 09:59 AM
Sep 2021

Already seeing reports of the brutal Taliban heavy hand....amputations, executions... We will be back in soon enough.

Ford_Prefect

(7,830 posts)
18. CNN has for years been characterized as FOX Lite by serious news consumers.
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 10:40 AM
Sep 2021

They have in the past chosen to pretend to be genuine when it suited them and FOX Lite over certain issues and news trends when the money or audience share, or Senior Editors and Owners said so.

I'm not sure how the chain of command works at CNN but they blow hot and cold at some very odd times and occasionally have dabbled in this kind of bizarre propaganda.

McKim

(2,412 posts)
19. Check Out Aljazeera Today!
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 10:45 AM
Sep 2021

Check out Aljazeera today: "Mapping the Mineral Resources of Afghanistan". It turns out there there are a trillion dollars worth of natural mineral resources in Afghanistan. This was the real reason for this war. It was never about "Bringing Democracy" or "Nation Building" or "Women's Rights".

Jon King

(1,910 posts)
20. CNN had higher ratings during the last administration and made lots of $$$.
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 10:53 AM
Sep 2021

For all the lip service that the prime time anchors give to how bad Trump was for democracy, they want him back in the worst way. They had high ratings during all the dramas and their executives made boat loads of money.

TeamProg

(5,788 posts)
21. Wow, but I really hate to call CNN 'fake news'. Why would they think that reporting anything but
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 10:56 AM
Sep 2021

the truth is a good thing?

Is their audience of wingnuts growing and CNN is trying to just keep them on the hook before they can fully reel them in? I could understand that type of 'news marketing', but truth must be at the forefront.




Bev54

(9,963 posts)
25. Their audience is diminishing in large numbers and they are losing all the ratings wars
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 11:24 AM
Sep 2021

They are throwing shit all over trying to find something that works for them. Problem is, they are going the wrong way, just like Trump.

TeamProg

(5,788 posts)
26. I guess MSNBC is taking their audience.... ?
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 12:09 PM
Sep 2021

I'll have to look for some broadcast viewership numbers.

Okay here, found some:

Cable news viewership
In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 394,000 viewers, down 38%, compared to CNN with 191,000, down 58%, and MSNBC with 163,000, down 55%. In total day, Fox News averaged 1.42 million, down 20%, compared to MSNBC with 732,000, down 41%, and CNN with 621,000, down 39%.Aug 31, 2021

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think with Dems mostly running things, lefty voters are watching less news in general so it makes sense that the more left channels are losing viewership.




TeamProg

(5,788 posts)
27. Cable news viewership:
Fri Sep 24, 2021, 12:11 PM
Sep 2021

In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 394,000 viewers, down 38%, compared to CNN with 191,000, down 58%, and MSNBC with 163,000, down 55%. In total day, Fox News averaged 1.42 million, down 20%, compared to MSNBC with 732,000, down 41%, and CNN with 621,000, down 39%.Aug 31, 2021

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think with Dems mostly running things, lefty voters are watching less news in general so it makes sense that the more left-leaning channels are losing viewership.
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