National media yawn when millions protest peacefully NO KINGS PEACEFUL PROTESTS that CORPORATE MEDIA IGNORED!

Welcome to Stop the Presses, a weekly newsletter about how right-wing extremism has exploited the weaknesses in American journalism and what we can do about it. National media yawn when millions protest peacefully Journalists gravitate toward conflict, but civilized engagement matters too. Mark Jacob Jun 16 One of the largest protests in American history occurred over the weekend, and it was overwhelmingly peaceful. The national news media covered the “No Kings” rallies and marches dutifully, but not particularly loudly. The protests were mostly useful to the media as visuals – big crowds, clever signs, cute costumes. By one estimate, about 5 million showed up to Saturday’s protests, a big jump from the 3 million tally at the April 5 “Hands Off” demonstrations. After that resistance event against the Trump regime, the New York Times ran a photo below the fold on the front page; this time, the photo climbed above the fold. Which is some type of progress, I suppose. Nonetheless, the overall national coverage was underwhelming, considering the scope and significance of the event. There were some good reasons why, including competition from other breaking news. A right-wing extremist’s assassination of the former speaker of the Minnesota House understandably eclipsed the “No Kings” protests as the biggest political story of the day. In addition, there was the increasingly dangerous Iran-Israel conflict and Donald Trump’s own public event – a military parade on his birthday. What was disappointing to me was how quickly the “No Kings” protest story went away. By Sunday, it was barely mentioned on the homepages of many major news websites. Where were the “follow” stories about what 2,000 protests in 50 states might mean for Trump's public support and whether the resistance is gaining traction? What about a story on the non-confrontational tactics of the protest organizers? Maybe those are coming soon, but I haven’t seen them yet. While this past weekend’s protests maintained an overall peaceful vibe, there were a few exceptions: A man drove a car into a “No Kings” crowd in Virginia, and police used tear gas against alleged “outside agitators” at the end of an otherwise positive Los Angeles demonstration. That Los Angeles clash got media attention – a reminder that news coverage often tacks toward the negative. It’s a journalism fact that good news is often no news. You don’t see headlines reading, “Millions Not Mugged.” But peacefulness should be newsworthy amid our bitter political divisions, and this past weekend’s coverage reminds us of the challenge that the resistance faces in getting its message out. The national media are operating on a sliding scale: the more peaceful the anti-Trump movement is, the less coverage it gets. Which means the only time it gets major coverage is when that coverage is negative. This is not only unfair to democracy defenders but is also a boon to a would-be dictator and his propagandists, who dishonestly refer to protesters as “rioters” and want the public to think any form of dissent is a threat to public safety. One of the causes of our current crisis is lack of engagement. So it should be celebrated when 5 million people come out to express their political views in a civilized manner. It would be nice if major news organizations shared that view, but corporate media seem to have other priorities. The local emphasis of the anti-Trump protests – not just a few events in major cities but protests in many small towns too – seems like a smart strategy. When people on their way to the supermarket see their neighbors protesting, it makes an impact. It’s harder to demonize people when they come across as perfectly normal members of your community. And the widespread footprint of the protests allows the anti-Trump movement to become highly visible even without strong news coverage on the national level. Local news outlets have generally covered the protests aggressively. Studies show that local news is considered more credible than national news, so these local reports have an outsized impact. Which leads us to a familiar conclusion: We’re going to have to defeat fascism without much help from the national mainstream media. Advertise in this newsletter Do you or your company want to support COURIER’s mission and showcase your products or services to an aligned audience of 190,000+ subscribers at the same time? Contact advertising@couriernewsroom.com for more information. That’s it for this week! If you enjoyed reading this week’s issue, consider forwarding this email to a friend or colleague. 🙏 Stop the Presses is a product of COURIER, a civic media company. ARCHIVES Karoline Leavitt is a professional liar Trump’s press secretary is paid by the taxpayers to hoodwink the taxpayers. Apr 14 •  Mark Jacob 7,648 482 Trump is mentally unfit. Why won’t major media say so? As well as being a would-be dictator, he’s unhinged and incompetent. Mar 3 •  Mark Jacob 2,880 187 We’re not helpless! Here are 10 ways to defend democracy The right played the long game and won big this year. We can play the long game too. Nov 25, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 1,559 69 Here’s what we WON’T do when Trump takes over We won’t shut up and give up – we’ll stand up and power up Dec 16, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 1,204 77 WaPo should apologize for endorsing Pam Bondi There were plenty of red flags before she became Trump’s fascist enforcer. Apr 28 •  Mark Jacob 832 87 CNN is flailing between facts and fascism Sucking up to right-wing disinformation is a foolish strategy. Feb 3 •  Mark Jacob 764 105 Defeat Trump by concentrating on consequences AP breaks the partisan frame by focusing on Trump policies, not Trump himself. Jun 2 •  Mark Jacob 403 30 Mainstream media on a path to irrelevance Instead of carping about TikTok, news outlets need to fix themselves Aug 26, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 438 57 Why won’t the media call fascists ‘fascists’? Vague descriptions help the people trying to overthrow our democracy. Feb 18 •  Mark Jacob 338 72 The New York Times is failing our country A great news organization would care more about democracy than entertainment. Sep 30, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 356 54 How people power can beat MAGA money and meanness Join a protest, support quality media, and back politicians who fight. Mar 24 •  Mark Jacob 263 17 What journalism isn’t We see lots of examples of how news should not be covered. Sep 3, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 348 41 We can fight off Trump’s onslaught The situation is dire, but some people (even in the media) are stepping up. Jan 27 •  Mark Jacob 295 42 On Trump’s birthday, tell him: ‘No Kings’ Major peaceful protests are planned across the country on Saturday, June 14. Jun 9 •  Mark Jacob 292 28 Is the New York Times neutral on the future of democracy? And other pointed questions about the nation’s leading newspaper Feb 20, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 294 49 When the media take MAGA liars at their word Whether it’s cluelessness or complicity, it’s toxic to democracy. Mar 10 •  Mark Jacob 198 31 A half-century of horrible Republican behavior This timeline is a reminder that GOP awfulness didn’t start with Trump. Jan 13 •  Mark Jacob 260 39 Nuzzi, Haberman, and becoming the story It’s better for journalists to cover the famous than to be the famous. Sep 23, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 256 25 How to know if you’re living in a dictatorship We're already seeing signs of creeping fascism, and it could get much worse. Jan 20 •  Mark Jacob 238 19 Good news: Not all journalism outlets suck Legacy media are failing us, but ProPublica and others give us hope Aug 12, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 287 54 Useless Democrats: Schumer, Newsom, Emanuel You’re not defending democracy if you’re catering to the right. Mar 17 •  Mark Jacob 177 43 The New York Times is on the wrong side of history A newsroom built on “Neutrality Island” doesn’t serve democracy. Mar 31 •  Mark Jacob 195 51 The fascists want us to shut up. Don’t. Amid the cowardice of legacy media, let’s find brave journalists and support them. Nov 6, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 242 42 20 ‘rude’ questions the media should ask Trump and his MAGA henchmen get away with way too much. Apr 7 •  Mark Jacob 185 36 5 ways major media can seek redemption It’s getting late, but there’s still time to repair some of the damage. Apr 21 •  Mark Jacob 167 29 The political media are entertaining us to death MAGA fascism wins when storytelling gets in the way of truth-telling Jul 29, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 241 38 Trump will keep lying as long as journalists enable it News outlets need better countermeasures to defend the public from disinformation. Oct 15, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 230 21 Trump pollutes our courts to punish the press If major media surrender to legal intimidation, we’re all losers. Feb 10 •  Mark Jacob 145 10 Gathering facts to confront the Musk coup The media must keep revealing how Trump and his criminal gang are vandalizing our government. Feb 4 •  Mark Jacob 142 14 8:12 This fascist nightmare brought to you by Rupert Murdoch The Fox News founder undermined our democracy. Now all TV networks are under pressure. Nov 12, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 190 38 Can political media break the addiction to access? Trump’s ban on AP could be an opportunity for greater independence. 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May 5 •  Mark Jacob 116 18 How Republicans dodge questions and get away with it A guide to spotting the right wing’s favorite rhetorical sidesteps Aug 5, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 202 17 The Trump family monetizes the presidency Foreign real estate deals and cryptocurrency are opportunities for influence peddling. May 6 •  Mark Jacob 116 11 6:02 It’s not the ‘deep state’ – it’s the deep dedication of public servants “Bureaucracy” isn’t a dirty word. In fact, it might help us resist Trump’s corruption. Nov 18, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 152 22 What do you call a blatant lie? It’s a ‘Lutnick’ Trump’s Commerce secretary showers us with snake oil. May 27 •  Mark Jacob 119 15 Trump’s tariffs promise a major car wreck He doesn’t seem to grasp that no vehicles are 100% American-made. Apr 2 •  Mark Jacob 106 14 5:55 Why won’t media sound the alarm that Trump is unhinged? If you normalize Trump, you’re helping your crazy uncle get the nuclear codes Jun 24, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 197 83 Fighting for democracy with facts PolitiFact provides strong response to Trump’s lies about the L.A. wildfires. Jan 16 •  Mark Jacob 140 11 8:15 Heroes and villains of the 2024 campaign Media cowardice is a primary theme of this year’s politics. Oct 28, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 161 30 The opposition needs to raise its voice – daily Regular briefings would spotlight what the Trump regime is getting wrong and provide a vivid alternative. Feb 20 105 19 6:50 The AP ban, the press pool takeover, and Bezos’ capitulation Mark Jacob and Steven Beschloss talk on Substack Live about political pressure on the press. Feb 27 •  Mark Jacob 107 7 25:33 What’s scarier than the GOP’s beliefs? The GOP’s lack of beliefs. And the media make it worse by pretending Republicans are sincere Aug 19, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 203 14 Trump’s retribution targets law firms This is the regime's latest act of aggression intended to suppress free speech and undermine our justice system. The response requires courage. Mar 12 •  Mark Jacob 100 5 6:53 One of Trump’s few talents: media manipulation The White House hype machine ran hot over the weekend. May 12 •  Mark Jacob 105 15 Trump’s dangerous demolition of data When it comes to our government, what we don’t know will hurt us. Apr 22 •  Mark Jacob 101 6 6:09 Stupidest new idea in journalism: a ‘bias meter’ MAGA-friendly Los Angeles Times owner wants to make AI the ultimate editor. Dec 9, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 134 37 Law firms and universities must act with courage, not cowardice Fascist bullies like Trump want to create a sense of inevitability. It’s an illusion. 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Jan 23 •  Mark Jacob 103 7 6:33 Musk and Trump's pursuit of unrestricted corruption The demolition of the agency that protects consumers is just the latest effort to enrich themselves and their cronies. Feb 11 •  Mark Jacob 88 8 8:20 Let’s talk about Trump’s lack of patriotism He waves the flag, but he also wants to waive our civil rights. Oct 7, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 155 22 Some journalists seem bored by the biggest story of our lifetimes It’s ridiculous to dismiss this election as a “rerun” of 2020 Mar 11, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 156 33 Today’s media: The ruthless, truthless, and toothless Some journalists are attacking democracy while others fail to defend it Jun 10, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 143 16 ‘Media Misses’ becomes ‘On-Target,’ promoting pro-democracy journalism Our video series pivots to praise of the people showing courage in defiance of Trump. Nov 14, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 121 11 5:51 Here Come the Oligarchs to Undermine Democracy Self-serving, knee-bending billionaires are joining Trump's gravy train Dec 18, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 106 21 6:37 Bribes, lies, and cruelty On-Target spotlights six stories that exemplify the Trump regime's corruption and criminality May 22 •  Mark Jacob 67 9 14:27 Trump’s accelerating plot to steal power from Congress ProPublica examines the right-wing effort to hijack funding authority. Nov 27, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 104 8 6:58 When telling the truth is a fireable offense ABC dumped correspondent Terry Moran, pleasing the “world-class haters” in the Trump regime Jun 12 •  Mark Jacob 90 10 8:25 The 20 most humiliating right-wing excuses for Trump These quotes about the convicted felon would be laughable if they weren’t so dangerous. 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Jan 8 •  Mark Jacob 74 9 6:54 While still in power, Democrats must confront Trump's plans In a new “On-Target,” we highlight Rachel Maddow’s call to defy GOP and vet Cabinet picks. Nov 20, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 93 9 7:28 An IRS chief who wants to abolish the IRS Trump is trying to protect his super-rich supporters from paying fair taxes. Dec 12, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 76 6 6:10 Networks seem poised to normalize GOP extremists this week The media should do truth-telling at this week’s convention to help “lower the temperature” Jul 15, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 129 18 Media must realize a key target of fascism is … media They should act like they know Trump has made them targets Jun 3, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 124 21 NBC stands for Now Boosting the Coup Network gives aid to democracy’s enemies by hiring Ronna McDaniel Mar 25, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 128 13 Let’s be fair to the facts, not to the gullible It’s absurd to say NBC’s firing of McDaniel disrespected election deniers Apr 1, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 129 24 No, Trump is not normal. Stop pretending he is. Politico praises Trump's nonexistent "somber” tone and minimizes his talk of Arnold Palmer's genitalia as an "entertainment-focused" message. Oct 23, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 95 10 4:48 10 ways for political media to fix their failures Here’s a special expanded edition of Media Misses after a campaign full of missteps Oct 31, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 86 9 Obsessing on gaffes is lazy journalism We should be less concerned about minor things politicians do accidentally than major things they do on purpose. Feb 12, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 119 21 Annoying things the media must stop saying right now Here’s some “breaking news”: Everyone is “saying the quiet part out loud” Feb 5, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 118 37 Why the right loves to cheap-shot Kamala Harris And how the mainstream media sometimes go along Mar 18, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 124 17 Are mainstream media afraid of a vindictive Trump? We need aggressive journalism, not "anticipatory obedience." Oct 8, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 86 14 7:03 12 reasons to be skeptical about political journalism Be aware of oppo, beat sweeteners, data dumps and “fairness signaling” May 13, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 101 16 Where are the Page 1 editorials against Trump? Major newspapers should run front-page editorials declaring clearly that a vote for Trump is a vote to end democracy. Nov 27, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 133 11 5 reasons journalists accept being lied to And why they think they’re blameless when they spread the lies Apr 15, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 117 23 Media must not ignore Trump’s other criminal cases Treat them as election issues despite the defendant’s delay tactics May 20, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 122 18 The media’s Supreme Court coverage is a long-running scandal What’s needed now is accountability for both justices and journalists May 28, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 110 19 Media play dumb and amplify Jan. 6 lies When journalists sidestep the truth, MAGA disinformation wins Jan 8, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 118 15 Fact-checking isn’t enough. We need fact-crusading. The enemies of truth should be called out and confronted, not just corrected. Oct 30, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 111 31 The less people know, the more they like Trump Republican voters find comfort in their intentional ignorance May 6, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 106 13 Disturbing facts about Trump’s VP options For the Republicans, it’s a race to the bottom of the ticket Jun 17, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 99 21 The New York Times should take aim at the real problem: Trump Whether Biden stays or goes, we face the threat of a SCOTUS-backed dictator Jul 3, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 101 24 6:59 When media ‘objectivity’ is dereliction of duty Journalists aren’t bystanders – they’re key players in a democracy Apr 8, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 97 15 The media’s fetishizing of the ‘undecided’ We have no reason to assume learning the “fine print” will end the indecision. Sep 12, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 73 28 5:16 Outrage fatigue is dragging down the news media If MAGA misconduct overwhelms journalists, it will overwhelm democracy too. Jan 22, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 120 13 Fox News is assaulting our justice system Jesse Watters wants us to think jurors may be evil plotters Apr 22, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 109 15 A dozen reasons Trump’s dictator threat is real The short-attention-span media need to dwell on the danger Jan 29, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 107 8 Elon Musk is an information polluter The Twitter/X owner poses as a media critic, but he abuses his massive platform to spread misinformation and blatant lies. Sep 25, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 76 6 7:04 Earth to media: Trump’s a pathological liar After all these years, let’s not be gullible about the GOP’s desire to kill Obamacare Aug 14, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 84 14 4:10 Why headlines matter and news outlets fail at them Out of laziness or fear, some media think small with the big type Apr 29, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 85 22 Politico to Kamala Harris: Can't You Be More Undisciplined? Searching for trouble, Politico hates that the VP stays on message. Sep 19, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 66 10 3:37 Don't believe the hype that Harris-Walz is "far left" In fact, the Democratic ticket is mainstream on major issues, despite what Fox and its GOP friends say Aug 8, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 78 9 6:36 Sometimes government works. The media must say so. Negativity may be fashionable, but it’s far from the truth Dec 11, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 109 8 Trump tramples on soldiers’ graves – and the truth Journalists must resist MAGA spin on the Arlington cemetery story. Sep 5, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 63 8 6:30 CNN is pretty good when it doesn’t suck The network should stop compromising its journalism to please MAGA Dec 18, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 93 6 Remember "Hang Mike Pence"? Coverage of Trump VP pick barely does Too many political reporters miss the stakes while watching the horse race Jul 10, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 61 5 6:28 Does the candidate who generates the most clicks win? The media treat politics as show business because they’re selling the tickets Feb 26, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 73 17 As if unity is a bad thing Democrats enthusiastically coalesce around Kamala Harris, but a writer at The Atlantic would prefer more uncertainty and dissension. Jul 24, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 61 12 6:02 Democracy isn't the top priority at the New York Times The paper's executive editor is more worried about being "impartial" than the dangers of authoritarian rule. May 8, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 67 17 5:30 Normalizing a Trump rally is media malpractice AP stepped around the ugly mess last weekend May 15, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 62 15 6:16 15 ways Tom Cotton is awful And how the press sometimes amplifies his awfulness Nov 20, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 63 5 The media’s momentary fascination with Nikki Haley The GOP candidate is “having a moment,” but media must realize she’s no moderate Dec 4, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 68 7 Why are so many Americans misinformed about the economy? It’s not just the media’s negativity, a Washington Post columnist insists, but the public’s attraction to bad news May 30, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 48 15 6:00 Media Misses: The Washington Post’s guessing game on voter suppression What do voting-unfriendly states have in common? They’re run by Republicans. Say so clearly. Apr 10, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 56 6 5:20 It’s false ‘fairness’ to help right-wing politicians lie. Why do journalists continue to let Donald Trump lie in their stories? Nov 6, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 82 12 Media Misses: Stop the Fuzzy Framing. State the Facts! Too many news outlets let bad guys and extremists off the hook in their reluctance to address them directly Mar 20, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 52 3 5:40 Don’t let the media blame Democrats for the looming shutdown Media pundits demand that Democratic grownups rescue GOP children to make government work Nov 13, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 70 4 Media Misses: Why is 68% better than 81%? The New York Times and other outlets shortchanged Biden in Michigan primary Feb 29, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 44 7 5:01 Media Misses: CNN’s “Nobody wants Biden” nonsense New Hampshire's primary proved that the president is in a good position and Trump isn’t Jan 25, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 48 2 5:07 Media Misses: The Hill’s softball story on Jared Kushner If you’re ignoring the Saudis’ $2 billion deal, you’re missing the real Kushner story Feb 14, 2024 44 3 5:31 Media Misses: Politico minimizes the danger of dictatorship We should all speak out about the damage Trump could do in four more years Feb 1, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 40 5 5:44 Media Misses: It’s a travesty how criminal defendant Trump pushes “law and order” It’s not a “complicated relationship” with police – it’s an exploitative one Apr 24, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 26 3 5:45 Media Misses: The Wall Street Journal Embarrasses Itself By ignoring Trump's own words, the WSJ wants GOP voters to believe Biden is the real dictator Dec 13, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 37 8 6:35 Media Misses: How Fox Uses "News" to Misinform about Trump By avoiding context, a false moment of praise by Trump can appear like he's become "measured." He hasn't. Jan 18, 2024 •  Mark Jacob 27 3 5:15 Media Misses: We need more truth, not more Trump, in this dangerous time A recent New York Times story misses the point Nov 29, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 35 9 8:47 Media Misses: Yes, Rule By Billionaire Bucks is Bad for Democracy. Duh. The Washington Post stumbles on the role of money in politics Dec 6, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 28 7 7:56 The press can’t afford to ignore violent right-wing rhetoric If we lose our capacity for outrage, we’ll lose everything Oct 16, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 30 3 National media yawn when millions protest peacefully Journalists gravitate toward conflict, but civilized engagement matters too. 2 hrs ago •  Mark Jacob 63 13 When all else fails, Republicans turn to crime As Republicans exploit the issue of crime, the press often struggles to put it in context Oct 23, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 24 6 Mainstream media is not going to save us It’s not that most mainstream news organizations are anti-democratic – it’s that they seem frighteningly neutral on the question. Oct 2, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 27 8 Lifting the lid on Fox News propaganda The right-wing outlet was eager to spread false claims of Biden’s absence this weekend Oct 10, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 16 2 6 toxic attitudes that could kill democracy One of our best qualities as Americans is optimism. Sep 25, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 7 The New York Times Has a Serious Headline Problem The New York Times wrote a sharp editorial last week ripping “right-wing extremists” for blocking renewed funding of a U.S. Sep 19, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 4 1 A new idea in political interviews: Ban the liars What if TV news interviewers told their upcoming political guests: “Don’t come on my show and lie. Sep 19, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 3 When News Outlets Hand Megaphones to Menaces If Ann Coulter won the Nobel Peace Prize or scored the winning goal in the World Cup, the New York Times would be compelled to put her in its pages. Sep 19, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 2 The Republican trick to spin straw into gold You may remember the fairy tale “Rumpelstiltskin,” starring a gnome-like character who could spin straw into gold. Sep 19, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 1 12 Ways the Republican Party Became This Radicalized It’s a mistake to think Donald Trump turned the Republican Party into the dangerous anti-democratic movement it is today. Sep 19, 2023 •  Mark Jacob 1