Oliver Willis, having witnessed the latest example of the corporate media rolling over for fascists in the form of Lesley Stahl's tongue- bath of Rep. Marjorie "Traitor" Greene on last Sunday's 60 Minutes, is convinced there's no hope in expecting that media to change. Instead, he offers two responses for progressives:
Stop holding fire on the media. Criticizing the press isn’t the same as Donald Trump declaring them the “enemy of the people.” Press criticism is a long-held American tradition and while it is unlikely to produce real change in the underlying dynamic, it at least educates others about the media that is being consumed. Most politically active Americans are terrible at media literacy and don’t understand that a lot of this coverage is bad. They wrongly view the press as neutral and give the people pushing Greene and Trump and the rest too much of a benefit of a doubt.
Promote progressive media and progressive breakthroughs in the mainstream media. Liberals don’t need the equivalent of Fox News, digital cults devoted to worshipping Republican politicians. But there isn’t anything wrong with a fact-based news outlet with a progressive point of view (and yes, I work for one). Similarly, it is worth it to reward progressive breakthroughs within the mainstream media with attention, showing political leaders that their messages can work while showing mainstream media gatekeepers that it isn’t only right-wing coded stories that can add to their bottom lines (the only thing they really care about)...
We would only clarify that Democratic elected leaders at all levels need to be much more aggressive in calling out Republican- friendly media malpractice. There are worse things than not being invited back on a program or to a reception -- like losing your democracy. They should take a cue from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who knows how to deliver an appropriate, timely punch.
The corporate media is not going to challenge the burgeoning fascism being offered by the Republican/ Seditionist Party; we know that from the last 8 years, and that the only thing that matters is getting eyeballs on the product and money in the bank (and Fox "News" isn't alone -- see Moonves, Les). They're going to give the fascists as much print and air time as they need as long as the profits go up.
We don't usually quote Lenin here, but what he purportedly wrote rings true, to the effect that capitalists will sell you the rope to hang them with. Problem with that today is that all our heads, and democracy's, would be in the noose.
