Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

You come for women, you’re gonna get your ass kicked.

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

When you’re in more danger from the IDF than from Russian shelling, that’s really bad.

Quote tweet friends, screenshot enemies.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Speaker Mike Johnson is a vile traitor to the House and the Constitution.

Our messy unity will be our strength.

Republicans got rid of McCarthy. Democrats chose not to save him.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

Let the trolls come, and then ignore them. that’s the worst thing you can do to a troll.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

Giving in to doom is how we fail to fight for ourselves & one another.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires Republicans to act in good faith.

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

You are here: Home / Politics / Media / The New York Times Is An Arm Of The Trump Campaign

The New York Times Is An Arm Of The Trump Campaign

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I’ve tried to persuade myself that the problems at the Times were more those of a herd instinct that an explicit preference for Trump and Republican control (read, slaughter) of American democracy.

Then Michael Crowley published a truly revealing piece on Biden as a war-driven, perhaps even war-seeking president. It contains a catalogue of the tools available to a bad faith journalist.

The New York Times Is An Arm Of The Trump Campaign

Worst, to me, is the way Crowley (and his editors–this piece exists because the masthead wanted it) handles quoting Biden vs. the way Trump’s statements are treated.

Everyone of the comments from Biden is challenged, interpreted (to a certain end), often slyly derided.  Trump’s claims are just stated: presented as facts, rather than claims to be assessed. So, of course, Biden  is the source of conflict in the world, and Trump is allowed to say that he will bring peace.

There is plenty of other just wretched journalism in the service of a constructed, false narrative. One of the ways you can tell if a reporter has their thumb on the scales is by their choice and use of sources.  Crowley quotes only two interviewees, one GW Bush staffer and a “grand strategist” academic. Both declare that Biden has presided over conflict and is the person in charge as the world descends into chaos.  (Crowley (in his own voice) argues that the parallel is Roosevelt coaxing us into war in 1940 and ’41.)

No other voices need apply. No one with any contrary view, or praise for any Biden national security action, etc. Crowley can certainly say his piece is “accurate.” His sources said what they said and all that. But it isn’t true–because none of the rest of reality is allowed past his shutters.

If you couldn’t tell, I’m frothing with rage. I want to break things. I’ve done journalism on and off since 8th grade. These fuckers are taking a vital craft, one that is so vital to human flourishing, and are turning it into one more casualty of the billionaires’ war on civic space.

Feh.

PS: below the fold find the comment I posted at the NYT’s site itself. Feel free to pile on yourself, and maybe even write to the reporter directly. His email is listed with his bio.

Image: Circle of Rembrandt, Judas receiving the 30 pieces of silver, 17th c.

This piece is a train wreck, a mini-catalogue of the ways a reporter can be factually safe and yet apply a giant thumb on the scale.

From the top: Crowley concedes that US armed forces are not at war anywhere in the globe. He does not add that this hasn’t been so from 2001 to 2021, which might be useful context. The article then turns on the assertion that despite this unchallenged fact, it “seems” as if Biden is a wartime leader. As, in we’re not at war but the vibes feel like we are so we are.

Crowley argues that because Biden has led public opinion to oppose Russia’s war, we’re at war. This reasoning was not applied to Reagan’s direct interventions  during the Soviet Union’s own Afghan war. IOKIYAR indeed! Another thumb: Crowley’s distaste for the way Biden talks about conflict.

I’ll run out of space before the article runs out of errors. So, quickly: see the careful & thin selection of sources. Crowley quotes just 2: a grand strategist (an often-in-error-never-in-doubt discipline) & a ex-GW Bush staffer. No thinker who could offer a contrary view need apply.

Then Crowley challenges and interprets every Biden quote. Does he do the same for Trump’s self-aggrandizing statements. He does not.

And finally, a last reminder of the tissue-thin evidence adduced here, the piece ends with a source saying, again w/out evidence, that it “seem[s] to be a general sense (sic!) that the world is out of control.

I teach journalism. I’d show my students this piece as a how-not-to.

Reader Interactions

104Comments

  5. 5.

    BR

    Sounds like we need a name to call them that sticks. Like The New Trump Times, or something like that. They will get self conscious if prominent people are publicly dismissing them that way, as opposed to arguing with them.

  6. 6.

    lollipopguild

    Trump has become the touchstone that reveals people’s true feelings and opinions. Everyone in the Public Square has to talk about him sooner or later and you can usually tell exactly what they think of him even when they are trying to sound “neutral”.

  13. 13.

    Princess

    I don’t know how you can use the NYT for any news given this. What’s the principle by which you can say “Although that story is an in-kind contribution to Trump, this story over here is honest reporting.” It taints the whole operation.
    We’ve already lost so much. The highest court in the country is captured by billionaires and Catholic-fascists, and the most respected newspaper is gone too. It’s really bad. Harris is right when she says we’re underdogs.

  15. 15.

    Redshift

    Crowley (in his own voice) argues that the parallel is Roosevelt coaxing us into war in 1940 and ’41.

    Wait, so Roosevelt coaxing us into war against the Nazis is now a bad thing?

  19. 19.

    David 🐝KHive🐝 Koch

    Walz is on fire at the Phoenix rally.

    The arena is packed to the rafters and its rocking.

  20. 20.

    Kathleen

    Spirited discussion of the media on the regular Friday night 5/8 Podcast hosted by Greg Olear and Stephanie aka “LB” (Lincoln’s Bible) happening now or can view at your convenience :

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGVunI2BO8Y

    Frank Figliuzzi is the guest. They’re talking about LOD’s commentary among other things.

  23. 23.

    twbrandt

    And yet despite the Times best efforts to campaign for Trump, he just won’t let them. He angrily denounced a story in the Times debunking his claim that he was on a helicopter with Willie Brown that almost crashed, and threatened to sue.

  24. 24.

    Splitting Image

    @Redshift:

    Wait, so Roosevelt coaxing us into war against the Nazis is now a bad thing?

    I’m so old I remember when the bad thing was Winston Churchill coaxing everyone into war. (h/t Pat Buchanan, of course)

  26. 26.

    KatKapCC

    @MagdaInBlack: I presume back then, they called him Mr Hitler like they do with everyone else. I assume they would no longer do so, but I wonder when the change happened.

  27. 27.

    JPL

    @Baud: Thanks.     CNN is saying trump is going to sue because his Willy Brown story is true and he (trump) has proof.   hahaha   Willie Brown is now on CNN saying he’s wrong.

  29. 29.

    VFX Lurker

    I’ve done journalism on and off since 8th grade. These fuckers are taking a vital craft, one that is so vital to human flourishing, and are turning it into one more casualty of the billionaires’ war on civic space.

    I can’t put it better than this. Thank you for writing this.

  33. 33.

    David 🐝KHive🐝 Koch

    Crowley was one of the biggest cheerleaders for the Iraq invasion.  Back in 2006 I wrote a satirical post for Big Orange comparing Lieberman to Saddam Hussein.  Crowley, then writing for The New Republic, was so outraged over my obvious farce, he attacked me by name on TNR.

    Hit dogs holler.

  34. 34.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I just read the piece, though it was a supremely unpleasant experience, and then read a bunch of the comments until I came to yours, Tom (I gave it a “Recommend,” BTW). I would say the great majority of the comments are critical of the FTFNYT editors and/or Michael Crowley, but none of those comments provided the visceral dissection you did. Still, it’s refreshing to know that a not-insignificant number of the Times’ readership are willing to push back against this combination of political bias and journalistic malfeasance.

    Thank you for speaking out.

  36. 36.

    KatKapCC

    @JPL: His proof will be a map of California with a helicopter drawn on it with Sharpie and a big flaming arrow pointing from it to the ground.

  38. 38.

    Mr. Bemused Senior

    @JPL: OMG, is he going to fax his credentials?

    [P.S., thanks WaterGirl for the trip into the past.]

  41. 41.

    MagdaInBlack

    The other candidate has a rally tonight in Montana. His plane had to divert because of a mechanical issue. Not paying the maintenance crews either?

  51. 51.

    Hilbertsubspace

    @Steve LaBonne: NYT licking the boot that kicks them.  It’s a sickness.

    Also, I have always felt that there are elite/wealthy individuals who are unhappy that WWII made fascism look bad.

  57. 57.

    Citizen Alan

    @Redshift: It is if you work for a historically pro-Nazi paper and are writing in support of a presidential candidate who openly admires Hitler.

  58. 58.

    Lyrebird

    @BR: I like “New Trump Times” – maybe it’ll catch on with people who don’t follow the reference in the “Vichy Times” – which works painfully well but maybe many don’t learn enough WWII history.

    People not well versed in that history might not know what “fishwrap” means either,  since it’s pretty archaic by now.

    No matter what, I am thankful Tom and DougJ are on their case – that article and its title reek to high heaven.  WORSE than rotten fish.

  59. 59.

    David 🐝KHive🐝 Koch

    @Baud: Mostly bourbon

    Truman liked to start his days with a nice, brisk walk and a shot of Old Grand Dad (bourbon)

  60. 60.

    geg6

    Great message, Tom.  They will not hear what you say but maybe someone skimming the comments will and question the wisdom of accepting whatever propaganda FTFNYT vomits up.

  61. 61.

    KatKapCC

    @Baud: I always feel bad saying it because I don’t think people’s looks should matter, but…dang, she’s gorgeous.

  65. 65.

    p.a.

    @Hilbertsubspace: Also, I have always felt that there are elite/wealthy individuals who are unhappy that WWII made fascism look bad.

     

     

    Stormfront in The Boys, “People love what I say.  They just don’t like the word Nazi.”

  69. 69.

    Pittsburgh Mike

    That piece in the NYT was a disgrace.  I too felt I had to leave a comment dissing it, though I’m not sure they’ll publish it.  Almost all the comments they’ve posted already point out how out-to-lunch the article is.

  70. 70.

    Another Scott

    Thanks for pushing back, Tom.  It seems hopeless sometimes, but it’s important.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  72. 72.

    stinger

    Biden gets no credit for the expansion of NATO membership? Sweden and Finland? He worked hard on that.

  73. 73.

    Bill Arnold

    Has the appearance of a America First Committee V2 (hypothetical) member. Not particularly interested in digging into the publications. (A lot of them require a login to view, with no public abstract; annoying; am used to arxiv professionally.)
    Stephen Wertheim’s publications, sorted by most-recent-first
    Three most recent titles:
    “Strategic Change in US Foreign Policy”
    “The United States Stepping Back From Europe Is a Matter of When, Not Whether”
    “How Strong Are US Interests in Defending Countries Across Europe?”

  74. 74.

    tam1MI

    @BR:Sounds like we need a name to call them that sticks. Like The New Trump Times, or something like that. They will get self conscious if prominent people are publicly dismissing them that way, as opposed to arguing with them.

    I call them, “Newsmax for people who pretend to have large vocabularies” but I guess that might be a bit of a mouthful…

  75. 75.

    Ramona

    @Baud: She is Comely Kamala!

    P.S. Pronounce the Kam like Come and then say La…

    That’s how we pronounce her name in India

  77. 77.

    Geminid

    @stinger: Biden did a good job bringing Turkiye around on Sweden’s Nato membership. Nato Secretary General Stoltenberg did much of the heavy lifting but Biden’s meeting with Turkish President Erdogan at last July’s Nato summit played a key role.

    That meeting also marked an inflection point in US/Turkiish relations which have been conflicted ever since George Bush invaded Iraq in 2003. Both nations really nedded a reset.

    I guess some credit should also go to the FBI agents who found those gold bars in Robert Menendez’s house. Menendez was determined to block the F-16 sale that Turkiye was holding out for, but he couldn’t stop anything once he lost his Foreign Relations chairmanship.

    I sometimes wonder if Qatar turned Menendez in as a favor to Turkiye. Those two countries are like peas in a pod.

  79. 79.

    Armadillo

     

    @Redshift: this was exactly what I came here to say! How is deciding to support the war against the Nazis a bad thing? With the notable difference that we don’t even have soldiers involved. We are just paying more money to build the American defense industrial base and create jobs

  80. 80.

    Papa Boyle

    Some final thread of hope, faith, misplaced loyalty broke between me and the major media in the last few months. It was their treatment of Biden, and their willful ongoing ignorance of the collossal shortcomings of Trump.

    At best they want the drama and the clicks that comes with Trump. At worst they’re true believers. In either case, they’re not reporting the facts, so why waste any time and/or money on them. I won’t be going back to them.

    I look forward to the day when New York City officials are talking with urban planners and engineers about the feasability of converting the vacant offices of the NYT into affordable housing.

  82. 82.

    different-church-lady

    Well,Crowley’s right: it does feel like the country is at war.

    Except…

    a) It’s a civil war

    b) It’s a cold war

    c) Biden’s not the guy who’s creating it.

  83. 83.

    wjca

    @Ramona: That’s how we pronounce her name in India

    Welcome to American English.  Which borrows words from every language under the sun.  Then tweaks the pronunciation in unfathomable ways.  “Tweaks” being, in some cases, putting very mildly indeed.

    Compated to many of those tweaks, the (non-hostile) versions of her name I’ve heard are pretty mild.  No idea where popular culture will settle; might even be the way she pronounces it.  Which, to my ear, isn’t the way you describe either.

  84. 84.

    Ramona

    @wjca: you are right. She pronounces the Ka in her own name as the a in “car” . She did grow up in America.

    I like the alliteration and rhyme and truth in calling her “Comely Kamala” but maybe I am trying to make “fetch” happen ;-}

  85. 85.

    ColoradoGuy

    They are cynical fascist-enablers, under the cheerful illusion they can control or manipulate the fanatics behind Project 2025. They seem to think their wealth will shield them … Russian oligarchs have found out that isn’t true. The doormen on the Upper West Side will not protect them against the MAGA mobs.

  87. 87.

    Ramona

    @ColoradoGuy: They should speak to Cheney, Kinzinger, the Arizona Secretary of State (?) who testified to the Jan 6 Committee and countless other Republicans whose office hasn’t protected them!

  88. 88.

    different-church-lady

    So, I have no way of seeing for myself, but I am going to assume this is another instance in an endless series where the barriers between straight reporting, analysis, and opinion have been deliberately violated, and then mis-presented as “reporting”, yes?

  89. 89.

    Ramona

    @wjca: what is funny is that my family and non-Hispanic friends mispronounce my Spanish name “Ramona” by pronouncing the Ram as rum, instead of the correct more open A as most people here pronounce the Ka in Kamala while I would rather I were called RAH-monAH and that she were called Kum-La, that is swap the way most English speaking people pronounce Ra and Ka. Writing this leads me to speculate that she pronounces Kam to rhyme with the correct pronunciation of Ram in Ramona because she comes from California where many speak Spanish.

  90. 90.

    Shalimar

    @schrodingers_cat: Every one of us has a breaking point where we lose all trust in the Times.  Many of us had them a long time ago.  Many more will reach theirs in the future.

  91. 91.

    Glidwrith

    @lollipopguild: I had a co-worker state that we could agree shitforbrains is a good person. I stopped dead in my tracks and flatly stated without compromise, NO.

    He didn’t bring it up again.

  93. 93.

    J

    I read the article. Is it a product of anti-Biden malice? Could be, but I’m leaning toward the theory that it’s pure cretinism. But maybe it’s both.

  94. 94.

    wjca

    @Ramona: Consistency, when converting foreign words into American English, is definitely in short supply.  And, as you note, regional dialect differences withing the US can further muddle the situation.

  95. 95.

    tokyokie

    @Glidwrith: Good lord, if your co-worker’s starting point with Trump is that he’s a good person, then he probably thinks Jimmy Carter is evil incarnate.

  97. 97.

    Chris Johnson

    @twbrandt: That part’s simple, at least. They are both of ’em working for Putin, 100%. The Times are competent and capable of spinning things for Putin as hard as you can possibly imagine, and then harder than that, no matter how ridiculous it looks, which includes being entirely in the tank for Trump.

    Trump is an old decompensating demented asshole AND Putin’s candidate (and puppet, always was), and he’s angrily denouncing them because he’s an asshole and can no longer tell who is actually on the same side as him. He is undermining their pro-Putin cause by his assholery and dementedness.

    So you can expect the Times to be disciplined in supporting Trump and (directly, now) Russia, including glimmering of plausible deniability, but you can no longer expect Trump to read such ‘plausible deniability’ spins for what they are, nor can you expect his lashing out at the Times to be kayfabe. There’ll be times he really does think they are liberal media, when they’re really REALLY not.

  98. 98.

    jlowe

    I thought that the only redeeming thing about sea level rise is it would eventually take out the New York Times building on 8th street. Checked with NOAA’s Sea Level Rise viewer and was disappointed that the Times building will still be on dry land in 2100 even with catastrophic SLR from Antarctic glacier melt. Of course, the building will probably need a mean sump pump to control the rising water table (the SLR viewer doesn’t provide groundwater elevation data).

  99. 99.

    K-Mo

    If anybody knows or cares:

    Does Wertheim even represent the grand strategy viewpoint, or is there a debate among them?

  101. 101.

    brantl

    @Kathleen: Please don’t speak in acronyms, the nearly-normies among us don’t know what you’re talking about, even enough to know whether we’re interested, or not.

  102. 102.

    tommyspoon

    @Splitting Image: Sweet baby Jesus, I haven’t thought about that little fascist toad in years.

    Sounds of Tom scribbling a note to locate Buchanan’s grave to leave an appropriate “offering”.

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