Boo NPR?

[thistlechaser]

I'd like to be angry about NPR, I'd like to disagree with them. They're refusing to use the word "lie" when reporting about Trump lies, second story about it.

Definition of a lie: a false statement made with intent to deceive.

They make the point that, without looking into Trump's head, they can't know that Trump intends to deceive.

But what option does that leave? When Trump claims he won the popular vote, if that's not an intent to deceive, that leaves him being insane. (He cannot just be wrong about something so big.)

So, while NPR isn't incorrect in this, I think they're splitting hairs and doing a disservice in doing so. Call a lie a lie... or report Trump as being insane. One of the two.

Comments

[voidmagus.livejournal.com]

Trouble with calling someone 'insane' is similar to calling someone a 'liar.' Requires knowing what's going on in their head, otherwise its wild-ass speculation. IMO, I recognize in the POTUS all the signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, but I'm not a psychiatrist nor have I had the opportunity to test him directly against the DSM criteria.

News should play no role speculating. President said X; This evidence shows Not-X. That, in my opinion, is the limit of their obligation.

Though, frankly, I feel the implication is stronger for having not been said: the POTUS is not a stable person. I mean, how much do they need to call him "liar" when the man contradicts himself every breath? Seems obvious to the point of petulance to keep saying it -- he clearly isn't going to listen. His die-hard supporters stop listening at the very suggestion. The people I know who voted for him (i live in a deeply red state) who have changed their opinion are increasing every day, strictly based on his actions. Report on the events, report what was said directly, and report on any facts that may contradict. Leave the listener to determine the lie of it.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

News should play no role speculating. President said X; This evidence shows Not-X. That, in my opinion, is the limit of their obligation.

Yeah, that's their exact reasoning for it as well.

The people I know who voted for him (i live in a deeply red state) who have changed their opinion are increasing every day, strictly based on his actions.

That's good news. The only people I know who voted for him are my sister and her husband, but I wouldn't bring it up with them at risk of hurting relationships over it.

[xxmadsenxx.livejournal.com]

He's a liar AND he's insane.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Ha! Yes, why pick just one?

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I saw the first article but not the second so I'm going to read that now. I actually don't have a problem with it because "lie" is a very confrontational word and so many journalists are getting slammed right now for not being objective and reporting just the facts. People from both sides are talking about the tone of articles. I was listening to "Midday" today and someone called in and was concerned about the sensational headlines he felt the NY Times and Washington Post were using, even though their articles and reporting were solid. It feels like far too many news outlets are trying to emulate Fox News and their constant state of panic.

That doesn't mean Trump isn't a liar - I think most can agree he is. He's also delusional and a narcissist and paranoid. But there is always that debate over whether reporters should just give people the facts and let them draw their own conclusions or if they should interpret them for us. I can respect either journalistic decision.

Also, the rest of NPR's coverage has plenty of commentators and opinion pieces where people say "omg Trump is an insane liar!" so it's not like they don't say it at all. They just avoid that in the more "reporty" pieces? LOL. I just read the annotated transcript from Thursday (omg I didn't realize he was giving a press conference when I got in the car to drive to a meeting and I was ready to drive off a bridge about 10 minutes into the thing!!) and plenty of the NPR people call bullshit without straight up saying "BULLSHIT!" and I respect them for that restraint. The problem with Trump and his people is that they do just say "That's untrue" and don't back things up, so I'm fine with NPR drawing this line in the sand to keep things professional.

The sad part is, those of us that know Trump is a liar, we don't need them to tell us. And the other half of the country that supports him doesn't want to hear it anyway, so does it even really matter? Trump supporters will call it "fake news" and these kind of debates distract from the real issues going on - like the times Trump told the truth about wanting to build a wall and deport people. :\

NPR is still my first stop for news right now. Especially since Trump has personal vendettas against so many other news outlets right now (that press conference was so disgusting).

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

The more I think about it, the more I can see that side of it. I don't like it, I wish they'd call him a lying liar, but I can see the benefit of just reporting the facts. "He said this today, yet yesterday he said the opposite" and let others connect the dots.

Was the news conference you watched the one where he asked the black reporter about the Congressional Black Caucus? That'd be enough to make anyone want to drive off a bridge!

Agreed though. NPR is still my first source for news.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Thankfully, I arrived at my meeting location before the questions from the Jewish paper and Black reporter thing happened because my head might have exploded. I just got to listen to him NOT answer any questions. Anytime a reporter asked him something, he would ramble on like a crazy person about his ratings or the new network's ratings or how they were fake because they said mean things about him and his staff blah blah blah. It was awful. I was trying to be good and fair and just listen to him rather than wait for the analysis but OMG NO! It's like watching 'Twilight' - I can't do it without the Rifftrax.

Also, I want my news outlets to avoid that kind of language because it reminds me too much of FOX News are their mean spirited "reporting" over the years. (Though even FOX news has had enough -- saw a clip last night of one of their anchors telling Trump he needs to just answer the damn questions).

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

It's probably for the best that that videos won't load for me. Just reading the text had me holding my head.

Smith’s reference to “ridiculous throwaway lines” may not have just referred to Trump’s “fake news” and “fake media” catchphrases, but his fixation on the size of his electoral college victory. When Trump boasted that his 306 electoral votes (actually 304) was the largest since Ronald Reagan, reporters corrected him. Barack Obama got more in 2012 in 2008, as did George H.W. Bush in 1988 — facts that are easily verified by a Google search.

“I was given that information. I don’t know. I was just given it. We had a very, very big margin,” Trump explained.

Yeah, IT'S NOT LIKE HE WAS THERE OR ANYTHING.

Ugh, just ugh.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Yeah, so much ugh. I did seek out the NPR transcript + notes this afternoon to read their comments and I think the must upsetting part was how much I had to scroll before he said anything with enough value for them to comment on. Just huge amounts of time of him babbling about nothing or starting shit with the reporters. It's so disgusting and childish and I just get sick to my stomach hearing his voice.

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

I really think "lie" should be expanded to mean "repeat information you know is false, or which you are negligent of your position for not knowing is false". Intent is super difficult to prove (nearly impossible without an admission of intent) but journalists should be able to hold people accountable for their actual jobs, if nothing else.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeeeep. Like his latest lie: "Fox news said so! I was just saying what they reported!" You're the president... I'd really hope you have better sources than that.