Media Thread (non Faux)

[GoCubsGo]

He's right and I can't begin to describe how much idgaf.

[Vrede too]

He's right and I can't begin to describe how much idgaf.

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lswmn5quzs2q

Not that I'm paying any attention at all , but my guess is that they found him guilty on the 4 straightforward charges, but are struggling to reach consensus on the more complex and difficult to prove conspiracy to run a criminal enterprise charge. ICYMI

[GoCubsGo]

I missed it.

[Vrede too]

He's right and I can't begin to describe how much idgaf.

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lswmn5quzs2q

Not that I'm paying any attention at all , but my guess is that they found him guilty on the 4 straightforward charges, but are struggling to reach consensus on the more complex and difficult to prove conspiracy to run a criminal enterprise charge. ICYMI

Nope. It was 2 guilty - 2 not guilty on the 4 straightforward charges, and now finally not guilty on the conspiracy charge. The convictions were on the least serious charges.

[O Really]

He's right and I can't begin to describe how much idgaf.

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lswmn5quzs2q

Not that I'm paying any attention at all , but my guess is that they found him guilty on the 4 straightforward charges, but are struggling to reach consensus on the more complex and difficult to prove conspiracy to run a criminal enterprise charge. ICYMI

Nope. It was 2 guilty - 2 not guilty on the 4 straightforward charges, and now finally not guilty on the conspiracy charge. The convictions were on the least serious charges.

Somebody - I think it was I, along with others, said they had overcharged him and should have stuck with the violent assholery line. Given what he actually has done, and what an unlikeable and unsympathetic fellow he is, I'd say this is the best he could have hoped for and his side ought to consider it a big win.

[Vrede too]

Nope. It was 2 guilty - 2 not guilty on the 4 straightforward charges, and now finally not guilty on the conspiracy charge. The convictions were on the least serious charges.

Somebody - I think it was I, along with others, said they had overcharged him and should have stuck with the violent assholery line. Given what he actually has done, and what an unlikeable and unsympathetic fellow he is, I'd say this is the best he could have hoped for and his side ought to consider it a big win.

I could only handle about 5 minutes of the analysis while I was reading the sidebar on the tally, but that's my impression. Prostitution? Massive searches (cases of baby oil), years of investigation, years of incarceration, 2 month trial - all for convictions that are rubber-stamped through night court by the thousands every month. Diddy should walk with a 'time served' sentence and the U.S. Attorney should be fired.

He's had so many name changes. Will it be 'Pimp Diddy' now?

[O Really]

OK, prepare to groan, but here's a bit of humour tangentially related to the Combs trial:

There was a scientist in North Carolina who had discovered that on a diet of a special type of seagull, porpoises could live forever. But his lab and porpoises were in Wilmington, and the special seagulls only lived around old landfills north of Greensboro so he had to make frequent trips in a refrigerated truck to pick up some seagulls. On one such trip, he got lost in the fog and found himself in the NC Zoo. As he tried to get out, he felt two big bumps and shortly thereafter was pulled over by several cops. He apologized for being on Zoo property, explained about getting lost in the fog, and thought he was OK. But the cop said, "Oh, no, we're not talking about trespassing here - you're in big trouble. You're in violation of the Mann Act.

Spoiler:

You transported gulls across state lions for immortal porpoises
bada boom

[O Really]

So the "rest of the story" of the CBS sellout is, maybe depending on ones perspective, better or worse than you think. I had thought it was about corner office suits at CBS being intimidated by Trump, tucking their tails and throwing their highly acclaimed journalists under the bus. As it turns out, that was not the case. It wasn't CBS at all, but their corporate owner, Paramount. Sure there was under-bus throwing, and travesty was wreaked on journalism and First Amendment protections, but it appears Paramount wasn't particularly intimidated, they just made a financial decision and threw a $16mill bribe. Why would they do that? Paramount is preparing for a $8bn merger with Skydance Media, which requires approval from the US Federal Communications Commission. $16mill is nuisance money to them. Bribery, payoff to the protection mob, extortion, whatever, it was sleazy and probably illegal somewhere along the line, but won't ever be prosecuted since the prosecutor would be working for the bribe recipient.

[Vrede too]

So the "rest of the story" of the CBS sellout is, maybe depending on ones perspective, better or worse than you think. I had thought it was about corner office suits at CBS being intimidated by Trump, tucking their tails and throwing their highly acclaimed journalists under the bus. As it turns out, that was not the case. It wasn't CBS at all, but their corporate owner, Paramount. Sure there was under-bus throwing, and travesty was wreaked on journalism and First Amendment protections, but it appears Paramount wasn't particularly intimidated, they just made a financial decision and threw a $16mill bribe. Why would they do that? Paramount is preparing for a $8bn merger with Skydance Media, which requires approval from the US Federal Communications Commission. $16mill is nuisance money to them. Bribery, payoff to the protection mob, extortion, whatever, it was sleazy and probably illegal somewhere along the line, but won't ever be prosecuted since the prosecutor would be working for the bribe recipient.

Since we've lost all ability to prosecute corruption in office, especially with the SCOTUS deemed immune P*OTUS, why didn't Paramount just pay a bribe directly instead of throwing CBS and its highly acclaimed journalists under the bus?

[O Really]

Since we've lost all ability to prosecute corruption office, especially with the SCOTUS deemed immune P*OTUS, why didn't Paramount just pay a bribe directly instead of throwing CBS and its highly acclaimed journalists under the bus?

My guess is that to the extortionist, the public semi-grovel was as important or more than the $16mill. There's a fine line between extortion and bribery, depending somewhat on who initiates. We're not likely to find out how the negotiations went, but I doubt just an upfront cash payment would do it.

[Vrede too]

Since we've lost all ability to prosecute corruption office, especially with the SCOTUS deemed immune P*OTUS, why didn't Paramount just pay a bribe directly instead of throwing CBS and its highly acclaimed journalists under the bus?

My guess is that to the extortionist, the public semi-grovel was as important or more than the $16mill. There's a fine line between extortion and bribery, depending somewhat on who initiates. We're not likely to find out how the negotiations went, but I doubt just an upfront cash payment would do it.

Ah, the "fake news/Dems cheat" myth had to be given its due. Thanks.

[O Really]

I don't know which is worse - that CBS News was made a sacrificial lamb just as a cold financial decision, or if it was through weak-spined lily-livered cowardly fealty to Trump. Of course, the worst would be if Paramount actually believed that CBS News really did something wrong. But they had a choice: (1) get the nuisance suit dismissed, which they almost certainly would have been able to do, and deal with an uphill revenge fight over their multi-billion acquisition or (2) tell the emperor his new clothes look great and breeze through the approval process for their merger. Sadly, most corporations would probably have made the same choice as Paramount - character or ethics was never a real part of CEO job descriptions.

[GoCubsGo]

Sounds about lot like the current congresscritters.

[Vrede too]

... character or ethics was never a real part of CEO job descriptions.

Nor shareholder demands or expectations.

[O Really]

I saw the best summary of the Combs trial, stated by one of the alternate jurors. When asked about the evidence and "reasonable doubt", etc., he addressed the Cassie hotel beating video: "That was a horrible graphic video, but he wasn't charged with domestic violence." Prosecutors thought they could just paint Combs as a bad guy and the jury would just convict him of anything they asked. They were badly mistaken, paid the price, and should lose their jobs and go write a book a la the OJ fumblers.

[O Really]

One thing I like about reading digital newspapers is that they still usually know how to write a headline that gives you real information instead of just being click bait to compel you to go to the rest of the article.

Still have to be careful, though. The headline below is truthful, and generally accurate. But do you get the idea that Amazon is doing something sleazy or fraudulent? Or is it reader bias to take a factual statement and turn it negative? And is it an issue deserving of an article and headline?

For years, Amazon has been overcharging for sales tax in areas throughout San Diego County. Here’s where.

Rest of the story: Understandable error. The guy who was overcharged lives in the community of Del Mar Heights, a part of San Diego. It borders on the town of Del Mar, that is a separate town with an additional penny of sales tax. The two areas share a zip code. So maybe Amazon could have known there was a difference, but it's not clearly obvious. Anyway, big whoop.

[1 CAT FAN]

[supesalemgr2]

I sent you a PM.

[Vrede too]

I saw the best summary of the Combs trial, stated by one of the alternate jurors. When asked about the evidence and "reasonable doubt", etc., he addressed the Cassie hotel beating video: "That was a horrible graphic video, but he wasn't charged with domestic violence." Prosecutors thought they could just paint Combs as a bad guy and the jury would just convict him of anything they asked. They were badly mistaken, paid the price, and should lose their jobs and go write a book a la the OJ fumblers.

The jury suffered through an ugly trial and returned a thoughtful and measured verdict that I am okay with. Now, Dementia Don is threatening to negate all that with a pardon - one sexual abuser helping another . I'm not sure what constituency he's pandering to.

[Vrede too]

Corporation for Public Broadcasting says it's shutting down

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the conduit for federal funds to NPR and PBS, announced on Friday that it is beginning to wind down its operations given President Trump has signed a law clawing back $1.1 billion in funding for public broadcasting through fiscal year 2027.

The announcement follows a largely party-line vote last month that approved the cuts to public broadcasting as part of a $9 billion rescissions package requested by the White House that also included cuts to foreign aid. While public media officials had held a glimmer of hope that lawmakers would restore some of the money for the following budget year, the Senate Appropriations Committee declined to do that on Thursday.

, GQP.

"Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations," CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison said in a statement. "CPB remains committed to fulfilling responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care."

"Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country," Harrison said.

... Earlier this summer, some stations began laying off staff in anticipation of federal funding cuts. On Wednesday, WQED — which runs a TV station and classical radio station in Pittsburgh — announced plans to lay off 35% of its staff.

Other operations, including Nashville Public Media, Louisville Public Media and KUOW in Seattle, say they are seeing a big surge in donations in response to the cuts.

Americans.

... "The ripple effects of this closure will be felt across every public media organization and, more importantly, in every community across the country that relies on public broadcasting," NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher said in a statement.

... While Republicans in Washington have accused public media of bias, most Americans still support public broadcasting. A Harris Poll last month found that 66% of Americans support federal funding for public radio, with the same share calling it a good value. Support included 58% of Republicans and 77% of Democrats.

You're doing a heckuva job, RepuQs.