13 Comments

I regret that I have but one "like" to give to this post.

Expand full comment

And now three. The fourth estate, which was the defender of truth in the past, has been enveloped by the second estate, having sold their collective souls to stay silent. It may be their demise. If donOLD wins, they cease to exist and we citizens will get government run media in its place. Hey, wait a minute, kind of sounds like Russia, China, maybe even North Korea, doesn’t it?

Expand full comment

Insurrections are not valid participants in our democracy. I will not support any media, politician, or organization that acts otherwise.

Expand full comment

I recently heard Bezos met with Trump right before the Washington Post announcement. Can someone validate this here as well?

Expand full comment

I had not heard that but it wouldn’t surprise me at all.

Expand full comment

Mark, you are probably too young to remember a comic strip called "Pogo." A lastingly famous line from that strip is "We have met the enemy, and it is us."

Of course everything you said is correct, including about the "oligarchs" who own the two newspapers you cite, but there's a critically important underlying dynamic. The SCOTUS is what it is today not because of Trump, but because of McConnell. And McConnell's decision making, about the Court or about impeachments, was driven by his understanding that if he didn't toe Trump's line, Trump would appeal to McConnell's voters ("us") to displace him.

As you say, the idea that Congressional action is bipartisan is not true. But occasionally, a bipartisan proposal is made, as it was about the fantasy that we have trouble about our southern border. At that point, Trump swoops in and tells Republicans not to participate in a bipartisan way, which they had been fully prepared to do, and they know that the penalty for not obeying the god-king is an appeal to the voters ("us") to unseat them. Either there are enough of "us" suckers who are willing to do that, or electeds are afraid there are. Look, for example, at Montana. They have been pleased to be represented in the Senate by Jon Tester for 18 years. Until suddenly now.

"Abdicated...responsibility," indeed. The pertinent question is not why owners of the LA Times and Washington Post won't endorse, but why "us" -- all of "us," Democrats and Republicans -- somehow don't recognize the scam. As you alluded to in your "In corporate media..." paragraph, and the next one, the public are willing to opine, or act, or vote, against their own interests. I don't know from where else right wingers get input, other than Fox News, Newsmax, and a couple of other sources, but it's fair to say that Democrats have moved on to "The Lever," Substack, "The Guardian," "The Intercept," "Jacobin," and several or more other sources.

PS: It's interesting, by the way, that the periodicals that suddenly refuse to endorse, claiming that's not their job, haven't apologized for the mistaken and wrong very many endorsements over very many years their periodicals made in the past.

Expand full comment

Big media is signaling their own death knell. They are so crass and transparent in their motivations. I wish everyone would boycott all of the outlets that fetus false narratives. And those that don’t have the courage to stand up for our democracy. I haven’t read a corporate rag or watched corporate TV news in decades. There are many like me, especially among the younger generations. Luckily, we still have independent journalists, like you, who are helping us get the info we need.

Expand full comment

I can’t claim to be a journalist. More of a commentator. But I do try to share accurate and timely information and analysis.

Expand full comment

And that you do!

Expand full comment

Thanks! I really appreciate that.

Expand full comment

Newspapers are not supposed to endorse political candidates. Refusing to endorse a candidate who is currently helping commit genocide is not a "death knell" for mainstream media. LA Times owners are actually standing up to do the right thing. Y'all think the Democrats aren't a cult? Y'all think they actually fight for a protect your freedom? Do you not see bail fund organizers and peace protesters being arrested and doxxed? Do you not see small farmers in the Pacific Northwest being harassed, denied water to their properties, and driven out of business? Do you not see the 69 cop city facilities in various stages of planning and construction around the country? Do you even know how to look? Democrats and Republicans are both cults in service of American empire and militarism, and until Americans unlearn their helplessness within the two party system, none of this will ever improve. As for WaPo, Bezos is just trying to prevent the entire world boycotting his products if he endorses Harris. His decision is 100% financial, and though I think he is an entirely reprehensible person, I can at least support a decision not to endorse an admin that has spent billions of dollars on genocide while Americans are suffering right here in our own country. Your myopia will lead everyone right into the handbasket.

Expand full comment

Great article today, Mark, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍🇺🇸💙🌊

Expand full comment

Now you have two. 😊

Expand full comment