283 Comments

Independent media like Robert Reich, MeidasTouch Touch, and Bryan Tyler Cohen.

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I subscribe to Robert and Meidas. I have recommended that they consider merger.

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I found Meidas to be sensationlist and honest. Strange combination. It works. They have a lot of varied prodemocracy speakers. Its always a 5 alarm fire over there so be wary of your blood pressure. The fact that 60min spoke poorly of them and then had MTG on with Lesly Stall speaks volumes. Ie the powers that be at CBS are afraid of a youtube channels influemce, wild!

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Bill Reitz : If they,

(CBS) can't stand the heat let them get out of journalism.

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Hah I figured out who you were talking about before the edit. 60 min in australian is like a tabloid. When they do get serious about something its not half bad 60min US has fluff pieces instead of the Tabloid stuff. Their reporting on the serious stuff...seems selective. What wont offend management? This, sure lets go with that. It has turned into a schizoid version of its own self. Im done with 60min, for that stuff I will go to Frontline. Frontline can be depressing, but the reporting cuts deep.

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I avoid depressing as much as possible, Bill.

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Medias Touch is on the peoples side ! GOP is for trickle down fascism ✌️

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I appreciate honest news reporting with Sacasm.

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Add "The Ring of Fire" to that list!!! Mike Papantonio is THE biggiest and most successful progressive lawyer IN AMERICA and Farron Cousins is AMAZING.

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Nope.

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Why? Farron Cousins is known as one of THE best progressive journalists!

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I don't watch entertainers for the news.

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Sorry but Papantonio IMHO is a major disappointment. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1375037699949807

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He was THE first lawyer to start prosecuting child sex traffickers! I still like the guy.

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He started about 20 years after prosecutions of motorcycle gangs in the 60's. His law firm was involved in the tobacco litigation, and the law school at UF bears the name of his mentor. Fred levin school of law.

I did not like RT, and he shouldn't have stuck with them.

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Group 😁

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The biggiest and the bestiest!

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Love that groups

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Group and Amy Goodman!

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I trust The Onion: https://youtu.be/vm1U5E44W90 LOL!

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TYT The Young Turks along with RR, MT and BTC

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Same! I accidentally selected The Times, not seeing PBS/NPR. Oops!

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founding

I trust The Guardian, US Version; they have a bit of perspective on US issues and news and seem both more neutral and more encompassing. Dr. Reich is a columnist there too.

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CNN seems to be in a metamorphic state of change and I'm not certain it's for the better. After watching Trump's tirade on that Town Hall thing, which really wasn't, I question the thinking processes that weren't in place when that mess was thought up in the first place. It was more of a Trump campaign add then it was a Town Hall. It seems the insanity that infected Fox had spread.

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In one of Michael Moore’s movies, someone remarked that “a capitalist will sell you the rope that you’re going to use to hang him with“. That kind of myopic, short-term thinking seems to increasingly pervade the culture these days.

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Michael Moore has been exposing the greedy trickle down for years ! Love the guy for trying!

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Bill--It will continue to do so as long as there is rope.

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It has to be the money. The craziest-clown in the 2016 car won the election because people were fascinated and amped up the attention.

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Beginner--That and a broken election system where the people don't get to elect who they want to represent them. The popular vote count should be the only way for the people to choose their President. The electoral college system is out dated.

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Curious what a Buddist is. Anything to do with Herman Melville's novel "Billy Budd"?

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My spell checker…I hate that shirt.

Anyway, clearly not an expert Buddhist, I said beginner🤣

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I think it was a cynical attempt lure disenchanted Fox viewers to CNN. There is no justification for giving *Rump an hour of free prime TV time on a national platform. What did anyone expect to happen beyond the predictable? Everyone knows his schtick by now. It was journalistic malpractice.

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Richard--I totally agree.

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I agree re The Guardian. On the ball. For example, they frequently have a California story before it shows up anywhere else.

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years ago I trusted NPR and the public broadcasting. but they've become much like their commercial counterparts. Although they persist in featuring articulate, highly intelligent, and accomplished commentators and guests which we would never see on commercial. however one can't take money from corporations without quid pro quo. Commondreams.org, truthout, propublica, democracy now, are ones I use now, but commondreams falls prey to confusing opinion with fact. what really galls me is that we don't see the information on public tv that we get here on Dr. Reich's substack.

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I trust MSNBC the most because they fact-check everything, and when they make a mistake, they're the first to correct it - an action that most media won't do. Trouble is, I've recently gone off cable and onto the various apps you can get via Amazon fire stick, and have yet to find live MSNBC.

I should add that I grew up reading the NY Times but grew disenchanted with their coverage of the war in Vietnam, including the warhawks in DC who were pumping out false, biased information. The Times has only grown worse since then.

I agree with Benjamin that the US version of The Guardian is pretty darned trustworthy and does an excellent job of reporting truth, and subjects that the NY Times and Washington Post have missed..

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I dislike the NYT's reporting of the Israel Palestine conflicts. Very much one sided reporting. And PBS reporting, I am sick of the red tie, blue tie guys mouthing off for their side. Just give us the information we need. Amna and Jonathan Capeheart are much appreciated!

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As an American Jew who studied in Israel 'back in the day' when Labour ran the show, I truly dislike the ultra-right-wing government now in power, would prefer to see Bibi in jail, and feel for the Arabs in the West Bank who are suffering through occupation. But there's no equal coverage and so we have 'Israel good, Arabs bad' which has next to no truth to it.

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Mr. Beginner: if you're going to complain about one-sided reporting, you should at least tell us which side you think is being favored.

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If you have a smartphone or tablet, you should be able to download an MSNBC app from Google Play or the apple store.

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Thanks for your suggestion, but all I get is 20 minutes to a half hour of MSNBC, followed by a note on the screen that says if I want more, to contact my service provider, whom I recently kicked to the curb when I cut the cable.

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Oh... sorry about that.

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I don't have cable, wouldn't have time to watch if I did. If you think audio-only msnbc would satisfy you too, you might try tuning in to https://radiostationusa.fm/online/msnbc. It doesn't have a time limit, does have—just like conventional tv—too many commercials..

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Democracy Now with Amy Goodman

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I totally agree with you on the topic of democracy now with Amy Goodman.

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She's on it

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I try to read daily much of NYT, WP, Guardian and Public Radio, Heather Cox Richardson and Robert Reich, and distill.

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Heather Cox Richardson is outstanding and one of a kind.

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Yeah. Distilling is the best part!

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May 13, 2023Liked by Heather Lofthouse

Thank you Professor Reich and Heather Lofthouse for summarizing the latest news! The Saturday coffee klatch helps me know that I am not alone in my thinking and frustration with the direction of our country. As far as getting a good night sleep, I recommend chamomile tea to help with sleeping well. Add peppermint tea if plain chamomile is too bland. Sleep and rest is so important and we need you both to continue to soldier on and stay healthy!!

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May 13, 2023Liked by Heather Lofthouse

Show a photo of your highlighted annotated Constitution. Would love to see that.

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Oh yes! We forgot to do this! I believe Bob will be back at his laptop later today. Please stay tuned for a behind-the-scenes look at the paperback pocket Constitution he was reciting from! Too good not to include. We'll be sure to upload a photo today (or next week!). Thanks for the reminder, Louis!

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May 13, 2023·edited May 13, 2023Liked by Heather Lofthouse

Awesome! I would like to see that behind the scenes look, Heather.

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May 14, 2023·edited May 14, 2023Author

Done. Front cover and the annotated, underlined, highlighted page referenced! (I am sure we will also be reading the 14th Amendment Section 3 aloud in an upcoming klatch. Will plan to upload the photo again then.) Thanks, Laurie, and Lois!

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May 14, 2023Liked by Heather Lofthouse

Thank you. Heather! and Robert!

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I don't trust ANY mainstream news media. They lie all the time, mostly lies of omission. I try to find out what is going on from multiple sources, keeping my fingers crossed and my BS alarm energized.

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I don't see the value in descending to the level of these people and calling them names (loathsome, horrible, etc.) Outrage and namecalling is not going to get us anywhere. What have you got to say that is constructive? It isn't Trump that is the problem, it's his followers and those in the Republican leadership who are exploiting their fears and prejudices to keep themselves in power. How do we deal with that?

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They are fascist, the lowest form of low. I call Hitler loathsome too. We can stay high while calling a spade a spade.

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It will take more than mere "namecalling" to descend to their level. I refer to the failed former orange guy as "Hair-Red, King of Sodomites." Because, as the prophet Ezekiel described, he is sodomite in his sheer cruelty towards the weak, the poor, and the stranger.

As for constructive, I learned in our US Navy the following: "You get ulcers when you start to worry about how clean to wipe the asses of the people who crap on you." Realize that Trump got to where he is using WORDS.

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I trust YOU, Heather Cox Richardson and Joyce Vance for my news. Thank you!!!!

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don't forget about the Meiselas brothers and their Meidastouch Network

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I chose "Other" because I think that we need to take all media with a grain of salt remembering that all are corporations. Even NPR and PBS have to take corporate money to make up for government stinginess and watch out for Republican attacks. That being said, I read the NY Times (always remembering that they were huge boosters of the Iraq War and to this day have not apologized) and watch MSNBC. Since I live in Canada I also read my local paper and the Globe and Mail and I watch and listen to the CBC. I also read and subscribe to outlets such as The Nation and other more progressive magazines and podcasts. Trying to figure out what is the real news requires effort, which is really not the best thing for democracy. Oh, and I have never fully trusted CNN. It is pretty clear that they now want to be a seemingly more respectable version of Fox News, though they gave Trump an awful lot of free airtime in 2016, too.

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Not all media outlets are for-profit businesses. Many of the best are non-profits. Check out (and support) Mother Jones and, of course, Inequality Media.

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I like to read the Canadian papers too. Nice to have another perspective.

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I'm surprised Laurence Tribe's most recent analysis of the 14th Amendment wasn't mentioned in the coffee klatch. In summary, the argument is that the president, Biden, has taken an oath to uphold the laws of the United States. The spending bills passed by Congress are laws that must be upheld by the president. The 14th amendment further reenforces the president's oath with respect to the debts of the US. See https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/laurence-tribe-president-s-duty-is-to-pay-debts-despite-gop-giving-him-an-impossible-choice-173606469979 and https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/-mr-president-if-you-re-listening-laurence-tribe-on-how-to-end-gop-debt-default-crisis-173913157839.

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I always trusted CNN prior to new ownership. Giving Trump not only a soapbox, but a cheering audience packed with MAGA fans was disgusting. I’ve always watched different channels and subscribe to several newspapers. I feel very lucky to be able to subscribe to the Tampa Bay Times, one of the best newspapers in the Country. I’m done with CNN! It’s MSNBC now.

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MSNBC has become my main listen to/watch source with WAPO, NYTimes, Guardian my main in-more-depth reading. NPR / PBS less and less as their (to some extent required) both sides-ism is more and more aggravating. Do I want to hear any Republican apologist blather on at this point? No. Do I need any more knowledge or insight into what the immoral seditionist right thinks? No. "Bipartisan" has become a shill, a masquerade, a cover for cowardice.

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Good coffee Klatch. On the trumpster, who cares? If we elect that orange pile of blubber again, we have lost a free democratic republic and we deserve the plunge into authoritarianism we get. VOTE!

On Santos, of course the retrumplicans won't eject him. What the hell are the Democrats waiting for? I know the bill won't pass, but if they have any backbone at all, the Democratic Representatives to the House MUST write bills (and I mean plural) to oust Santos from the House if found guilty. Next, on the Unconstitutional 'debt ceiling' , it is not just Amendment 14, Section 4, of which you read the first phrase (thank you for that) Article 6, 1st paragraph "All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States as under the Confederation". Obviously the "original" framers of the Constitution had no intention of the United States ever reneging on its debts. Amendment 14, Section 4 simply reinforces this. The only solution President Biden has is to order all debts already passed by the Legislative Branch, and signed into law by the sitting President, to be paid. His only other choice is to break Constitutional Law. I trust Joe Biden to uphold the Constitution. Finally on the poll, I chose Other. I have little to zero trust in any of the so called "Mainstream Media". All the mainstream media are owned by wealthy corporations, their only concern under a shareholder economy is money, money, and more money, screw Democracy. Thanks to whatever, I'm old.

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Thank you for sharing article 6 before the adoption of the constitution. Fay, you are the only one I have found that mentions this. None of the experts i.e. Laurence Tribe have used this to inform the President. This article puts a dagger into the eye of the originalist propaganda they like to spread. I'd like to see them defend their view of the debt limit. It was an eye opener for me, since I have not read all of the Articles, Amendments etc.

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Thank you, Eadie. I love the Constitution. My copy was given to me when I became a citizen in 1967, by my local California Assemblyman, Leroy Greene. It has become my favorite reading over the years, so much so, that it is now held together by scotch tape. It sits on my computer desk. I am also surprised that. while President Biden referred to Amendment 14, he was "concerned" to use it fearing litigation. Come on, this is the Law of the Land. Since 1789 when it was ratified, it is the go to law. It is supposed to be THE law which supersedes all other laws. Even the not so Constitutional current Supreme Court is supposed to pay lip service to the Constitution. Article 6 and Amendment 14, section 4, are written in plain, easy to understand, English.

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