Chuck Todd speaks a truth that Americans must understand when watching ‘the news’
Chuck Todd had a very interesting segment featuring comedians/satirists Lewis Black W. Kamau Bell, and Laura Krafft. He was trying to examine the influence and impact of comedians in the body politic.
“I think when people watch Jon Stewart or John Oliver they feel like they at least are getting that person’s perspective,” W . Kamau Bell said. “But I don’t think people believe with the news, I think they feel like they are, you know you are getting a corporation’s perspective. You are not getting that individual’s perspective”
Chuck Todd then asked if the satirists/comedians should be held responsible for American cynicism. In other words, should these comedians be held responsible for the feelings Americans have (know) that government is broken? He references an article that pretty much attempted to take down Jon Stewart and the Daily Show.
Lewis Black said that part of the cynicism is a great feeling of disenfranchisement felt by most Americans. He said he was surprised over the last 25 years that Americans were angrier than he was. He stated correctly that like Hollywood, Washington politicians live in a bubble.
Lewis Black had a backhanded stab at Chuck Todd and the traditional mainstream media news that caused Chuck Todd to tell an inconvenient truth.
“I have watched you and everybody else where somebody comes on,” Lewis Black said. “I don’t know how you do it. Because I would be barking at them. Because they sit there and go ‘glib glib [blah blah]’ and you sit there.”
Chuck Todd then interjected. “We all sit there because we all know the first time we bark is the last time we do the show,” Chuck Todd said. “… All of a sudden, no one will come on your show.”
W. Kamau Bell came in with an interesting point. He said that many times the traditional mainstream media uses the comedian’s satire to say what they dare not say. In effect, comedians get to bark. He points out an interesting exception.
“The weird thing is that Fox News also gets to bark,” W. Kamau Bell said. “And I think sometimes the left leaning media is afraid of barking.”
In other words, if you are touting the narrative of the plutocracy, rules do not apply to you. It is imperative that Americans understand how to process our so called news in the context of what the talking heads are allowed to say. We will make better electoral decisions then.