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Fiorina Parries Failure to Register .org Domain by Buying SethMeyers.org Just Before Her 'Late Night' Appearance
By Tom Blumer | May 7, 2015 | 11:36 AM EDT

In what is certainly not the most consequential development in presidential politics but nonetheless a fun moment, recently declared Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina decisively one-upped NBC Late Night host Seth Meyers, who seems to have thought he could inflict a bit of harm on the former tech CEO's credibility.

In an era where dot-whatever domains have proliferated, Fiorina's failure to register CarlyFiorina.org really isn't the snafu it would have been several years ago, but it's still embarrassing. Not, however, as embarrassing as how Fiorina turned the tables on Meyers.

Not News: Obama Education Secretary Threatens to 'Step In,' Plays Race Card Over Common Core Testing Opt-Outs
By Tom Blumer | April 29, 2015 | 9:27 PM EDT

Well, this is awkward — or rather, it would be if the press cared about the federally-driven tyranny which is in the process of capturing the nation's public and private K-12 schools.

Common Core's proponents have insisted and still insist that "it was and will remain a state-led effort" (italics is theirs). Yet when faced with the "problem" of too many parents opting out of its intrusive testing regime — something they are supposedly free to do without penalty or reprisal — guess who steps in with threats and smears? You guessed it: Federal Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Not News: Baltimore Mayor Says 'Protesters' Who Wish to Can Have 'Space' to 'Destroy'
By Tom Blumer | April 27, 2015 | 10:53 AM EDT

At a Sunday press conference, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake told reporters that she and the law enforcement in the city she runs have a de facto responsibility, in the name of "balance," to give "space" to "destroy" to "protesters" who have such a desire.

This obviously newsworthy pull quote condoning property destruction is not present in coverage at the Associated Press's main national site, in several stories where her comment could have been mentioned at the wire service's "Big Story" site, or in two additional stories at the New York Times containing Sheryl Gay Stolberg's byline. Video and a transcript follow the jump.

Reid: No Regrets Lying About Mitt's Taxes Because 'Romney Didn't Win, Did He?'
By Tom Blumer | March 31, 2015 | 1:57 PM EDT

So Harry Reid knew he was lying about Mitt Romney not paying taxes for ten years when he made the claim in 2012 from the lawsuit-free zone known as the floor of the U.S. Senate, but didn't care.

That's what one must conclude from Reid's response to CNN's Dana Bash about that statement. Asked on the network's New Day program if he regrets what he said, Reid responded: "Romney didn't win, did he?" Rather than question Reid's outrageously cynical "end justifies the means" mentality, Bash's edited interview moved on to another topic.

CNN Panelist: Suggestion That 'Jackie' Made Up UVa. Rape Story 'Flies in the Face of Statistics'
By Tom Blumer | March 24, 2015 | 11:13 AM EDT

On CNN yesterday, after the network cut away from the press conference where Charlottesville, Virginia Police Department announced that it "found no evidence to support claims in a Rolling Stone article that a University of Virginia student was gang raped at a campus fraternity in September 2012," network panelist and CNN legal analyst Sunny Hostin bizarrely resorted to "statistics" to defend "Jackie," the student-fabulist involved.

The panel discussion which followed the press conference seemed to be all about telling viewers that "Despite what everyone says, it's really not over." Hostin's major contribution to that meme was to essentially contend that because "only about 2 percent of rapes that are reported are false," any allegation that "Jackie" was making things up is unfair and likely incorrect because it "flies in the face of statistics." Video and a transcript follow the jump:

Hillary's E-Mail Press Conference Inspires Comedy
By P.J. Gladnick | March 13, 2015 | 10:11 PM EDT

One fringe benefit, from an entertainment POV,  of the Hillary Clinton e-mail scandal is the comedy it is inspiring. Last Saturday, SNL presented Katie McKinnon performing an hilarious sketch of Hillary discussing her e-mail. Hillary's e-mail press conference at the United Nations on Tuesday, has inspired yet more comedy on YouTube.

HLN's Latest Programming Gimmick: 'News and A Movie'
By Matthew Balan | February 14, 2015 | 10:15 AM EST

On Thursday, HLN – the network formerly known as CNN Headline News – premiered a new program: News and a Movie. A Tuesday press release from CNN detailed that "each News and a Movie presentation...features a dedicated celebrity media panel primed to explore issues sparked by the film, its place in pop culture, and the current creative and critical climate of Hollywood."

Heart of Darkness: Randy Quaid Goes on Bizarre Rant Against Rupert Murdoch
By P.J. Gladnick | February 4, 2015 | 3:39 PM EST

Randy Quaid took a long trip up a mental river into the very heart of darkness and ended up with an incredibly bizarre rant against Rupert Murdoch. Although Quaid seems to have gone over the edge, perhaps he should be remembered for the terrific acting roles he has performed in the past.

Daily Kos: Obama Talked With YouTube Personalities In Order to Bypass Hostile Mainstream Media
By Tom Johnson | January 28, 2015 | 12:01 PM EST

Egberto Willies claims that Obama “gave the traditional mainstream media carte blanche for six years,” but that “they failed to report truthfully, accurately, and in an unbiased manner” on issues including Obamacare and the economy. Therefore, Obama now “is effecting a paradigm shift. He is unshackling us all from a type of slavery to the traditional mainstream media.”

FNC’s Kurtz Pans Obama’s YouTube Interview; Maybe Its How He Wants the ‘WH Press Corps to Act Around Him’
By Curtis Houck | January 23, 2015 | 4:45 PM EST

Appearing on the Fox News Channel (FNC) program The Kelly File on Thursday, MediaBuzz host Howard Kurtz gave his critique of President Obama’s interviews with three YouTube personalities by describing it as “beneath the dignity of the office” and “maybe” the way that “the President wants the White House press corps to act around him.”

Host Megyn Kelly first asked Kurtz what he thought of the whole stunt and admitted that GloZell was “funny” and didn’t have a problem with Obama appearing on other talk shows like “Ellen, The View, or [The] Colbert [Report],” but thought this went too far.

Obama Apparently Unaware of Past Mockery by Comedian Interviewing Him
By P.J. Gladnick | January 22, 2015 | 9:19 PM EST

Barack Obama chose three YouTube stars to interview him at the White House following his State of the Union Address. One of those chosen was comedian Glozell Green. What makes this choice especially hilarious is that the White House vetters were apparently unawaware that Glozell performed some dead on mockery of faithful Obama supporters as well as Obama programs in the past.
 

Lena Dunham Doesn’t Care 'What Conservative White Men Think'
By Matt Philbin | January 14, 2015 | 2:59 PM EST

Lena Dunham is blissfully untroubled by self-awareness. It’s a quality that might be endearing in someone less repulsive. But in a recent interview with Grantland’s Bill Simmons it comes off as the obnoxiousness of a spoiled brat.

Take, for instance, when the 28-year-old, who’s currently flogging her memoir (even Obama had the decency to wait until his early 30s), and much of who’s work in “Girls” is at least somewhat autobiographical said, “I never want to become someone where like what’s happening to me becomes the entirety of the reality of the world.”