Jonathan Alter: If Romney Had Won, 'Things Would Be So Much Worse

Appearing as a guest on Friday's PoliticsNation show, MSNBC political analyst Jonathan Alter -- formerly of Newsweek -- asserted that, if Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan had won the 2012 presidential election, "things would be so much worse," as he took relief in President Obama's ability to veto Republican-supported legislation. He also echoed the liberal rhetoric of labeling Republican efforts to…
Brad Wilmouth
June 10th, 2013 3:49 PM

Philly.com Boss Endorses Democrat on Twitter, Will Lefty Media Critics

Of late, many left-wing media critics have been ostensibly interested in protecting the independence of journalism from hypothetical conservative media ownership. Unfortunately, as Howard Kurtz pointed out over the weekend, these people are remarkably cavalier when the left-leaning billionaires like Warren Buffett start buying up media outlets. Another example of how such critics are not very…
Matthew Sheffield
June 10th, 2013 3:19 PM

Allergies Caused By Global Warming According To Newsweek

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffer from airborne allergies you should start by blaming “global warming” for your sneezing and itchy eyes. This according to an online piece by Newsweek/The Daily Beast’s Josh Dzieza who claims that “global warming “could be to blame” for increased allergy symptoms. After hyping “First the heat…Then the storms…Now the…pollen?” Dzieza claimed…
Jeffrey Meyer
June 10th, 2013 2:51 PM

Guardian's Glenn Greenwald Schools NBC's Guthrie on NSA Snooping

Updated with video Appearing on Monday's NBC Today, Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald corrected co-host Savannah Guthrie on her framing of the NSA phone and email surveillance controversy after she inaccurately cited government leaker Edward Snowden: "Snowden makes what I consider to be a rather remarkable claim stating, quote, 'I, sitting at my desk certainly had the authorities to wiretap…
Kyle Drennen
June 10th, 2013 2:48 PM

ABC, NBC Ignore Report Alleging 'Endemic' Culture of Drugs, Prostituti

Another week, another scandal, as we learn of more malfeasance at the State Department when Hillary was at the helm, but while CBS is all over the story today, their rivals at ABC and NBC censored the story.  In fact, ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today decided to skip the story entirely. The contents of the documents obtained by CBS outline lurid details of prostitution and sexual…
Matt Vespa
June 10th, 2013 2:40 PM

As George Zimmerman Trial Begins, BET Gets Out the Long Knives

Jury selection in the second-degree murder trial of George Zimmerman began today and there’s no doubt that some people cannot wait for a circus to begin for both political and ratings reasons. While much attention has been paid to the role of long-time race-baiter Al Sharpton and his employer MSNBC in trying to inflame people, another leader in trying to get justice to miscarry is the cable…
Matthew Sheffield
June 10th, 2013 1:52 PM

Video: Media Criticism of Obama a Mere 'Marital Squabble' NB's Gainor

NewsBusters contributing editor Dan Gainor appeared on Fox Business's Varney & Co. on June 7, to discuss the New York Times speaking out against Obama. Gainor argued that, although The New York Times had criticized Obama, they were not siding against him just yet. [Video After Jump]
Mike Ciandella
June 10th, 2013 1:45 PM

New York Times Quizzically Ponders ‘Conservatives as Defenders of th

In Monday’s New York Times, reporter Amy Chozick explored how the James Rosen leak probe has turned the media debate upside down, with "Conservatives as Defenders of the Media." “The press -- often the target of allegations of liberal bias by conservative media -- has found an unlikely ally in right-leaning radio and television hosts who have taken to defending the First Amendment with a…
Tim Graham
June 10th, 2013 11:52 AM

NSA Leaker Snowden a Ron Paul Supporter

We're beginning to learn a lot more about National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. For instance, it was discovered Monday that Snowden supported Ron Paul for president last year.
Noel Sheppard
June 10th, 2013 11:09 AM

Open Thread Monday

Discuss the news of the day and anything else you'd like.
NB Staff
June 10th, 2013 9:29 AM

Intelligence Leaks: Greenwald Accuses Mika Brzezinski Of Using 'Comple

Things got feisty on Morning Joe today, as Glenn Greenwald of the Guardian clashed with Mika Brzezinski over the leak of the NSA phone surveillance program by Greenwald's informant, Edward Snowden. H/t NB reader Jeff M. When Brzezinski alleged that wiretapping or the review by the NSA of emails required an additional judicial review and warrant, Greenwald accused Mika of using "White House…
Mark Finkelstein
June 10th, 2013 8:57 AM

WashPost Still Upset on Page One That Newtown Wasn't 'Transformative M

Sunday's Washington Post seemed to arrive about two months late with a dominating front-page story on mourning Newtown parents Mark and Jackie Barden. Much of the Eli Saslow story was a heart-breaking account about the aftermath of their son Daniel's death in the grade-school rampage. But the Post also wanted to drive home the anger that Newtown did not create a gun-control victory for Obama…
Tim Graham
June 10th, 2013 8:26 AM

NYT Defends Partial Walkback of Editorial's Original Blanket Condemnat

Sometime late Thursday afternoon, an editorial at the New York Times bitterly criticizing President Obama for the expansion of surveillance efforts during his administration contained this sentence: "The administration has lost all credibility." Within a few hours, as seen here, that sentence was changed to "The administration has lost all credibility on this issue," and set off in a separate…
Tom Blumer
June 10th, 2013 12:42 AM

How Odd: Media Bistro Says ABC Evening News Had Year-Over-Year Gains

For the week of May 27, the Big Three networks' evening news broadcasts declined, both compared to the previous week and the same week last year, and garnered an average combined daily audience of just under 20 million. Somehow, Chris Ariens at Media Bistro apparently wasn't looking at the same numbers his readers were when he did his post, and wrote the following while linking back to the…
Tom Blumer
June 9th, 2013 10:14 PM