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Kaz Weida

11 Mar, 11 tweets, 5 min read

For our Thursday thread today we’re trying to answer a pretty simple question.

What the hell is wrong with the media and what can we do to stop enabling false equivalences and “both sides” coverage?

(THREAD)

kqed.org/education/5319…

(2) I think there are two things fueling the current infuriating headlines and leading to false equivalences and both sides coverage.

The first is competence.
When government is functioning as it should, outrage clickbait becomes harder to manufacture.

nymag.com/intelligencer/…

(3) The second factor in play here is pure laziness and a reliance on access journalism.

Far too many media outlets have leaned into this problematic approach for far too long. It prioritizes scoops from those in power over independent accountability.

pressrun.media/p/access-journ…

(4) The problem the media has with the Biden administration is the same problem they had with Obama. It’s a competent administration. They run a tight ship.

In the absence of salacious insider info to chase down, reporters create their own scandals.

npr.org/2021/03/09/975…

(5) So what can you do to encourage better coverage and less both sides equivalence?

Like any addiction, recovery starts with awareness. You have to acknowledge the problem.

pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020…

(6) The methods of addressing false equivalences vary and there’s a lot of debate about exactly how to handle both this issue and fake news generally.

But data suggests the answer may be simple. Do nothing.

Yeah. You heard me. Let me explain.

theconversation.com/how-to-reduce-…

(7) We spend a lot of time calling out both sides journalism and false equivalences in coverage, but every time we do we amplify both the article and the account.

The most effective method may be to starve those outlets of oxygen. No clicks. Not one.

technologyreview.com/2020/10/07/100…

(8) Before hitting retweet, ask yourself if this is a source you’d like to amplify. If the answer is no but you still want to draw attention to the problem, you can take a screen shot

Unfollow those reporters and media accounts. Block them if you have to

cjr.org/public_editor/…

(9) In my humble opinion, Politico and NY Times are the gateway drug to false equivalency. Check profiles of checkmarks you retweet to ensure they aren’t working for outlets you’re avoiding amplifying.

It takes some effort. But our democracy is worth it.

billmoyers.com/story/you-dont…

@propublica

(10) And last but certainly not least, you can support independent journalism. One of my favorites that focuses on accountability instead of access journalism is @propublica .

The bottom line? Choose your sources with care and don’t get complacent.

cjr.org/analysis/newsr…

@MajikaZulJin

(END) Thanks to @MajikaZulJin for the #ThursdayThread suggestion. Come back Tuesday and we’ll do this again.

Like threads like this and want to keep them coming? You can support my work here:

paypal.me/kazweida
patreon.com/kazweida

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More from @kazweida

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

9 Mar

This week our high-risk household is celebrating (commiserating?) 365 days in quarantine.

If you’re wondering what it means to go back to “normal,” I share your confusion. In so many ways we’ll never be the same.

Here’s what I think our new normal looks like.

(THREAD)

(2) Because I have two children too young to be vaccinated, one of whom is high risk, our new normal includes wearing masks for the foreseeable future.

There will be no birthday parties. No sleepovers. No family gatherings. That’s the normal this country has left us with.

(3) My new normal likely includes struggling with fierce agoraphobia and anxiety.

Continuing to track our exposure and limit interaction is the only weapon I have in the face of a red state government that insists on dropping mask mandates ASAP.

Read 11 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

25 Feb

(3) After yesterday's hearing, Biden followed up with an announcement that he'll move to appoint three Democrats to fill vacancies on the USPS board of governors. This would give Dems the majority on the board.

Problem solved, right? Not so fast.

washingtonpost.com/business/2021/…

(4) There are two hurdles to jump. The first may not be a big deal but the second is nearly insurmountable at this point. Let me explain.

First, these nominees to fill the board openings have to be approved by the Senate. Sigh.

apnews.com/article/joe-bi…

(5) If we can get all three nominees onto the board without too much fuss, then we can fire DeJoy, right? Yeah, not so fast. One of the Dems on that board is actually a DINO and he's part of the problem.

Democrats would need his support to remove DeJoy.

slate.com/news-and-polit…

Read 9 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

23 Feb

I spent 2019 struggling with health issues that confounded diagnosis. In early 2020 I became convinced I had fibromyalgia & began exploring triggers & treatments.

Here's what I've learned after a year of living with fibromyalgia that might help others who are suffering.
(THREAD)

(2) FIBRO CAN FEEL DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE

For the longest time, I got hung up on the fact that I didn't have spots that were sore to the touch that followed those trigger point diagrams. Those diagrams are a VERY outdated way of diagnosing fibro.

(3) The light bulb went off when I went to see an ortho specialist who could manipulate trigger points in my neck to produce symptoms in various parts of my body.
I started to put the pieces together.

Read 31 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

2 Feb

This morning we're asking why on earth Lindsay Graham is holding up the nomination of Merrick Garland?

Why is Graham still judiciary chair when Dems effectively won control of the Senate?
(THREAD)

thehill.com/homenews/senat…

(2) The short answer is Dems don't have committee control because an agreement hasn't been reached on power-sharing. I know we like to say Dems have "control" of the Senate but for all intents and purposes, the Senate is split evenly.

NO ONE HAS CONTROL

cnn.com/2021/02/02/pol…

(3) It's possible the Senate will pass a rules resolution on how the Senate will work today, but in the meantime, Durbin (the new judiciary chair) has been pushing Graham to schedule Garland's confirmation.

And Lindsey has found all sorts of excuses.

newsweek.com/lindsey-graham…

Read 11 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

2 Feb

Look. As a survivor I still get anxiety attacks on the regular and that shit has been buried and done for me for thirty years.

Fuck anyone minimizing the trauma sexual violence leaves behind to score political points today. #MeToo
(THREAD)

(2) When I was a rape crisis counselor I heard a prosecutor once say that he thought rape was the crime that inflicted the most trauma.

I was kind of floored. What about murder I asked.

He said most of the time you don’t have to live with the trauma of murder. You’re just dead.

(3) But victims of rape and sexual assault have to live with this trauma for the rest of their lives. It’s in the way they have to struggle to stay present or be intimate.

It’s in the anxiety attacks. The eating disorders.

Read 7 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

28 Jan

In today's #ThursdayThread, we're looking more closely at the Dem strategy moving forward. Will Democrats continue to fall for promises from the other side of the aisle or will they govern with the power of the mandate they've been given?

(THREAD)

washingtonpost.com/opinions/democ…

(2) There are some good indications that Schumer and Senate Democrats outmaneuvered Mitch McConnell quite neatly on the filibuster issue earlier this week and that they plan to move forward on stimulus without regard to GOP dissent.

thehill.com/homenews/senat…

(3) It's important to note that as much as the wins in Georgia provided Dems control of the Senate, they hold the slimmest of majorities in both chambers and that hampers their agenda.

Because of the filibuster, passing legislation requires 60 votes.

pbs.org/newshour/polit…

Read 11 tweets

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