Chris Hayes sums it up

[senseandsensibility]

"There's a real attentional trap that all protest movements face and have faced for a long time. If you pull off protests that are polite and civil, even if large, they will struggle to get coverage. Reporters will dismiss them as not newsworthy. But if a few people start lighting stuff on fire? Then you have news. This creates an *enormous* attentional advantage towards the most violent and chaotic kind of protest."

Yes, absolutely. And the depressing part, to me at least, is I don't think there's much soul searching about this, if any, going on in today's newsrooms. The media will continue to let themselves be used in this way instead of doing the kind of in depth on the scene reporting that is required.

If you are as sick of this as I am, consider watching Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC. He does not let maga manipulate his coverage. For instance, last night he did not air on scene from the protests because as he put it (paraphrasing) nothing was happening. And by that, he meant nothing to warrant the overreaction of the administration. Basically, the protests were and are the equivalent of a sports celebration in any major city. Instead, he concentrated on what the administration is trying to distract from.

[Silent Type]

1. Seem to remember news exposure 50501 protests, march on Washington, MLK, etc. Nowadays, violence plays into trump's

hand. Not coverage we need, IMO. Not that it will stop anything.

My red town had a big protest in February by our large Hispanic population (good people and neighbors who might be missing a paper or two).

Protest leaders walked between protesters and police lines to keep the two 5 feet or so apart. Consequently no violence happened, and I believe that has contributed to relatively little ICE or police action since Feb.

[proud patriot]

2. Yes , Lawrence would have none of it last night

Last edited Tue Jun 10, 2025, 09:52 PM - Edit history (1)

he is a national treasure

[stillcool]

3. people believe that if it's not on the tv

it isn't worth doing. Maybe they just don't like going to protests? I've had my share of boringish events but never regretted going. Being around like-minded people creates its own energy and has a lasting effect. Especially now when fear is all around. This one for me seems a lifesaver. My birthday is Saturday, my husband of over 30 years died last year. I'm in a new town, all alone. What a great present!

[senseandsensibility]

4. Happy Birthday

and I hope you spend it in a way that brings you peace and joy!

[stillcool]

11. ah...thank you!

[niyad]

15. An early Happy Birthday, with my very best wishes.

[stillcool]

18. aw...thank you.

[et tu]

5. i always like

the historic and personal insights
that l o'd brings to the table and of late,
c h is not afraid to 'tell it like it is' either.

[senseandsensibility]

6. His show should be good tonight

[et tu]

7. same

[PatSeg]

9. Lately, both Lawrence O'Donnell and Chris Hayes

have been my favorites.

[PatSeg]

8. Yes, Lawrence has become my favorite

I watch much less TV news these days, but I usually try to watch O'Donnell, especially least his opening segment which is often brilliant. He doesn't waver, he doesn't compromise, and he always makes sense.

When pretty much everyone else was dumping on Biden, O'Donnell was steadfast in his support for our president and didn't cave to the popular opinions of his fellow newscasters. And to think not that long ago, MSNBC almost didn't renew his contract.

[Paladin]

10. Chris nails it: the media are allowing themselves to be used.

And God bless Lawrence O'Donnell.

[wnylib]

12. There are other ways to get attention besides violence.

Anything offbeat can be attention getting, e.g. the way people dress for a protest; the stated purpose and name of the protest; a prominent guest speaker, especially if controversial or known to speak blunt truths. The symbols worn by protesters on shirts or jewelry can draw attention to them.

[W_HAMILTON]

13. For most of the media, they are happy """being used""" because it is the same narrative they would manufacture anyway.

Just look at the Terry Moran/ABC News story.

If it wasn't obvious already, the sheer number of so-called """journalistic""" organizations that have been all too willing to kowtow to this fascist administration should be an eyeopener for everyone.

Referring only to the big national/international media types in this country, you literally need no more than one hand to count the number of those with integrity and that actually adhere to true journalistic standards anymore. So many have shown just to be servants to their rightwing corporate/political overlords, whether it be NYT, WAPO, LA Times, CNN, CBS, ABC -- the list goes on and on.

They have shown us who they are.

Instead of constantly attacking our Democrats for being """poor at messaging""" when these are the sorts of biased filters all their messages are being run through, maybe we should start putting pressure on the media, just like Republicans have done so successfully in recent decades...

[niyad]

14. "if it bleeds, it leads" still their operating principle.

[spike jones]

17. And on April 16, 2002, at a protest against the IMF in Seattle.

On that day there were 100,000 people protesting in DC and 2000 in Seattle. The DC protest had no real conflict, but in Seattle a tripod was set up at an intersection with a woman sitting in a sling at the apex. There was pepper spray and tear gas, and guess which protest was on national news that night.

[BidenRocks]

16. Jon Stewart nailed it last night.

What was going on before the ICE raids?
Oh yeah! THE EPSTEIN FILES!