Scarborough – Once Again – Self-Righteously Trumpets Centrist, Cal

Identifying himself with comedian Jon Stewart and his message against extremist debate , MSNBC's Joe Scarborough praised his own morning show for being a safe haven for different viewpoints and calm debate. This, of course, happened shortly after he interrupted a Politico reporter twice and questioned his story's significance. Comedy Central's Jon Stewart had appeared on Thursday's "…
Matt Hadro
November 12th, 2010 5:31 PM

New York Times Editor Fondly Recalls Covering USSR's 'Federalist Paper

In an interview with his alma mater, Pomona College, New York Times executive editor Bill Keller most fondly remembered his Times career in the 1980s: "Probably, my favorite assignment was covering the final years of the Soviet Union, and the satisfaction was cumulative. The individual stories—examples of a society coming to terms with its history, flickers of freedom and dissent, signs of the…
Tim Graham
November 12th, 2010 5:12 PM

Ted Koppel Compares Cable News to Bernie Madoff, Hypes His 'Nonpartisa

Former Nightline host Ted Koppel will use an op-ed appearing in Sunday's Washington Post to compare the current state of cable news to financial swindler Bernie Madoff and to express "nonpartisan sadness" over the success of Fox News and MSNBC. The veteran journalist touted the suspension of Keith Olbermann for donating to Democratic congressional candidates as "a whimsical, arcane holdover…
Scott Whitlock
November 12th, 2010 4:23 PM

Dennis Miller Chides Newsweek Magazine for Ranking US 11th Best Countr

Appearing on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" last night, comedian Dennis Miller blasted the beleaguered Newsweek magazine for ranking the United States the 11th "best country in the world," behind left-of-center nations like Finland, Switzerland, and Sweden. Performing on Veterans Day for an audience comprised of American military personnel, Miller showed his patriotic stripes: "Hey,…
Alex Fitzsimmons
November 12th, 2010 3:59 PM

Hannity, Bozell Excoriate NBC’s Lauer and MSNBC’s Ratigan in Novem

NBC's Matt Lauer and MSNBC's Dylan Ratigan last night found themselves just two of the targets in the latest "Media Mash" segment on Fox News Channel's "Hannity" show. NewsBusters publisher Brent Bozell appeared on the November 11 program to dissect NBC's biased coverage of former President George W. Bush's new memoir, "Decision Points," an ABC News puff piece on Michelle Obama's fashion…
NB Staff
November 12th, 2010 3:18 PM

AP Howler: BP Spill Handling a 'Stain' on Admin's 'Reputation for Rely

Thursday evening, NB's Ken Shepherd accurately pointed out how little establishment press interest there has been in prominently carrying an Associated Press report about how the Obama administration has been, in the words of the wire service's Dina Cappiello, "downplaying scientific findings, misrepresenting data and most recently misconstruing the opinions of experts it solicited." This is…
Tom Blumer
November 12th, 2010 10:42 AM

Krugman Shows Why Media Will Never Support Social Security Reform

There's little debate in America that with baby boomers retiring, Social Security and Medicare are on a collision course with bankruptcy. Regardless of this inconvenient truth, powerful media figures like New York Times columnist Paul Krugman stand in the way of any meaningful reform to these programs that might lead to their long-term viability. Krugman proved that once again in his…
Noel Sheppard
November 12th, 2010 10:13 AM

Open Thread: 2012 Numbers From Nate Silver

New York Times political statistician and blogger Nate Silver has put together a handy reference chart for potential 2012 GOP presidential nominees. Check out the chart below the fold, and click over to Silver's post for more.
NB Staff
November 12th, 2010 8:59 AM

New York Times Celebrates FDA's Graphic War on Cigarettes, Modeled on

Here's one obvious demonstration of what happens when liberals gave the Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco: prominent, gruesome warnings of death on boxes of cigarettes. Apparently, mere text saying smoking can be fatal isn't enough “telling truth to power.” New York Times reporter Gardiner Harris celebrated this development on the front page of the Times Thursday. The…
Tim Graham
November 12th, 2010 7:21 AM

Jon Stewart Scolds Rachel Maddow and MSNBC for Saying 'Teabagger

Comedian Jon Stewart on Thursday scolded Rachel Maddow for using the word "teabagger" to describe members of the Tea Party movement. Appearing on "The Rachel Maddow Show" for an oftentimes quite interesting interview, Stewart also criticized others on MSNBC for taking this vulgar joke way too far (video follows with transcript  and commentary):
Noel Sheppard
November 12th, 2010 1:40 AM

Media Ignores Pro-Obama Merchandise in Hamas-controlled Gaza

Souvenir shop products could indicate problems with Obama's approach to the peace process.
Alana Goodman
November 12th, 2010 12:00 AM

Matt Lauer Walks Rapper Kanye West Through Bush Apology -- But Utterly

On Thursday's Today, NBC host Matt Lauer played an interview he taped with rapper Kanye West about his charge that President Bush didn't “care about black people.” Lauer began by implying strongly that Bush is strange to pick this out as his presidency's worst moments, when Bush was responsible for so many: “He was a two-term president who ran the country during Katrina, 9/11, wars in Iraq and…
Tim Graham
November 11th, 2010 11:07 PM

Market to Take 'One Hell of a Hit' in Mid-December if Bush Tax Cuts Ex

Tax specialist Rial Moulton tells CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street' investors will pull money out of markets to avoid taxation hit.
Jeff Poor
November 11th, 2010 9:57 PM

Parker Brags: I Led Media Assassination Of Sarah Palin

In the promo fluff for its future flop, CNN calls Kathleen Parker a "conservative" commentator. So what's a "conservative" in CNN's book?  Someone who, when accused of taking part in the media "assassination" of Sarah Palin, brags that she didn't merely take part—she "led it." Supposed conservative Kathleen Parker made her bizarre boast on this evening's Parker Spitzer. It came in…
Mark Finkelstein
November 11th, 2010 9:30 PM