Pundits—evoking Chicken Little—treated the glitches in the health care website as a historic catastrophe. They look more than a little silly now.
A new book from reporter David Folkenflik details how Fox News’ shady practices have been around since day one.
With its double-barrel attack on New York City Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio, The Economist shows its contempt for unions, evidence, and, ultimately, New York City voters.
The super-rich earn more than $200 million a year and pay lower taxes than the rest of us. The biggest problem they have is the “monster” they helped create: Tea Party Republicans.
History can help us understand our present problems; the Tea Party and its funders are nothing new.
Will the mainstream media ever wise up to the fact that both sides in our political debate don’t play by the same rules?
The debate over the government shutdown and the debt ceiling demonstrates how Tea Party extremists, despite their unpopularity, enjoy a stranglehold on our politics.
American Jews are less conservative and more dovish regarding Israel than the media and certain Jewish organizations would have us believe.
When false equivalence is the aim, facts go out the window.
In their desperation, Bill de Blasio’s opponents in the New York City mayoral race have turned the clock back to his time in Nicaragua, and the media is playing along.
The mainstream media paints an inaccurate and overly rosy picture of sequestration's devastating effects.
Rupert Murdoch is already the most powerful media man in the world, and he is eager to use—and abuse—that power everywhere he can.
The lack of media focus on labor helps ignore the relative paucity of benefits for American workers.
When it comes to global warming, we’re cooked.
Jack Germond was a smart, tough-minded, no-nonsense political reporter. That’s why people called him a liberal.
Neoconservatism’s roots are being pulled up by the likes of Rand Paul and Ted Cruz.
The mainstream media do not ignore right-wing pet issues; they indulge them—just not in the way conservatives want.
There is no "center" in Washington, and the pundits who pretend to be fighting for the middle are misleading themselves and the rest of us.
Purdue University president and former Gov. Mitch Daniels does not trust faculty or students with ideas he doesn’t like.
Republican recalcitrance frames virtually every political issue in Washington these days, except in the reporting of those same incidents by the mainstream media.
America continues to experience exploding inequality that threatens both our democracy and the very fabric of our society, without much attention from the mainstream media.
The fact that media pundit Howard Kurtz, formerly of CNN, has landed at Fox was preordained with the only question being why it took so long.
Journalists and pundits—and even politicians—routinely overestimate the relative conservatism of the American people.
Despite the fact that anyone with Internet access can publish “news” online, we should be more cautious about sources such as the Drudge Report that tend toward the outlandish.
In an age of exploding inequality, it is shocking that we are ignoring a tax system that deliberately makes the inequality crisis in our society far worse than it needs to be.
The general public remains misinformed on the issue of climate change, largely due to deception from the mainstream media.
Fifty years after Betty Friedan’s groundbreaking book, The Feminine Mystique, was published, American society remains in her debt.
A noted Harvard historian’s homophobic rant against iconic economist John Maynard Keynes, in the guise of intellectual exchange, cannot be excused and certainly not condoned.
Many conservatives have been quick to encourage U.S. intervention in Syria, without offering a responsible plan for our involvement.
A recent Politico article rehashes the issue of class warfare and the tax code, but similar to contemporary conservatism, it ignores reality.
Publicly financed elections would be a benefit to our democracy, but the likelihood of campaign-finance reform is small since corporations have so much influence on government regulations and our daily lives.
The mainstream media’s initial coverage of the war should have erased any notion of a liberal media bias.
We need to realize the errors of our ways from the Iraq invasion instead of brushing the topic under a rug, or else we may just find ourselves in the very same position a few years down the road.
Instead of being a government watchdog and fact checking all the assertions politicians feed them, journalists have become prone to the lapdog tendencies of repeating what those in power say without questioning whether it’s true.
Genuine journalism—the kind that allows the evidence to dictate the story—is inconsistent with the conservative worldview.
When politicians say they “didn’t know” about certain consequences or actions, the sad truth is that often they knew and just didn’t care.
Multiple reports now prove that increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans wouldn’t stymie economic growth—it would actually create jobs and boost the economy.
Reporters are too focused on covering the often-mundane daily routine of the president when they should be more attuned to the deeper issues that are affecting society such as conservative funding of anti-climate-change research.
Increasingly outlandish claims by polarizing figures in the Republican Party are not being dismissed by the media. Rather they are being taken seriously and promoted to an unfortunate degree.
In the wild world of Fox News, unbiased journalism isn’t fair and balanced—it’s whining, and it’s discouraged.
Paul Krugman’s ordeal on “Morning Joe” last week demonstrates how many in Washington and the media are so committed to “official doctrine” that they ignore any contrary evidence.
Perhaps conservatives’ biggest disconnect from reality is that they think they have no voice in the media or national dialogue.
The public needs to dig a little deeper to find out the story behind most of the conservative media’s reporting.
The Tea Party—and the modern conservative movement in general—continues to exhibit a stubborn disdain not merely for honest history but also for knowledge itself.
Eric Alterman has an alternative take on Politico’s top media stories of the past year and what those stories say about the media’s coverage of politics.
As honest journalism has declined, we are more vulnerable to manipulation and distortion of information propagated by powerful interests.
Rupert Murdoch’s actions over the past few days are further proof of his wanton disregard for journalistic ethics.
The New York Times’s well-rounded coverage of U.S. tax policy debunks conservative myths about the rich being the so-called best job creators.
Conservatives continue to believe in and argue for the benefits of tax cuts for the wealthy, even though those claims have been thoroughly debunked.
Initial positive coverage of the general’s biography reflects many journalists’ willingness to suspend their critical faculties when it comes to the military.
Politico encapsulates what’s wrong with inside-the-beltway political coverage when triviality trumps insight and “The Donald” is taken seriously.
Eric Alterman remembers a liberal lion of progressive politics and a statesman of true conviction.
Eric Alterman looks back at Piers Morgan’s career, wonders why CNN hired him as Larry King’s replacement, and questions the network’s future.
Eric Alterman's top 20 rules no mainstream political journalist should ever forget when covering an election.
Eric Alterman observes the pervasive conservative flip-flopping on media bias.
When it comes to climate science, the news we get suffers from either deliberate misinformation or a misplaced desire to give legitimacy to discredited and foolish arguments.
The mainstream media’s silence on these interrelated issues contributes to the starvation of millions both here and abroad.
Intense pressure on mainstream journalists to stick to the same narrative cripples our ability to conduct robust democratic debate.
Eric Alterman puzzles over the departing public editor’s mischaracterization of one of the nation’s foremost newspapers as having a liberal bias when most facts indicate the opposite.
Eric Alterman explains that profit, not politics, is the driving force in modern entertainment.
Eric Alterman discusses an underlying cause of our political dysfunction—the mainstream media’s refusal to take sides and dig deeper.
Eric Alterman takes the mainstream media to task on both sides of the Atlantic for not delving more into the many rich veins of scandal at the News Corp. empire.
Upon the recent death of Gore Vidal and what would have been Milton Friedman’s 100th birthday on this past Tuesday, Eric Alterman offers his thoughts and memories on the two intellectual antagonists.
Eric Alterman challenges the notion that the United States is the most successful liberal democracy in the world by looking at our dysfunctional political system.
Eric Alterman explains how Gov. Christie’s views of “The Boss” reflect the distorted perspectives of contemporary conservatism.
Eric Alterman discusses Howard Kurtz’s habit of not providing adequate background and context in his stories.
Eric Alterman explores the links between the McCarthyist movie industry of the 1950s and modern-day right-wing fearmongers.
Eric Alterman exposes the extent of Rupert Murdoch’s influence in the political sphere.
Eric Alterman explains why labor unions need to be center stage in politics, not sidelined as a special interest.
The far right is vehemently opposed to any evidence that conflicts with its ideology, writes Eric Alterman.
Eric Alterman illustrates how some fact-checking operations aren’t actually getting the facts straight.
Eric Alterman explains how a recent blog post in The Chronicle of Higher Education reflects the incompetence of conservative journalists.
The British Parliament found News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch “unfit” to lead his media empire, but that’s been the case for more than 20 years, writes Eric Alterman.
An excerpt from Eric Alterman's new book, The Cause, attempts to explain the long-asked question: How did classical liberalism transition into New Deal liberalism?
Eric Alterman examines why American Jewish conservatives continually yet wrongly surmise that Jews are moving to the right.
Eric Alterman notes that just like last year, so-called liberal pundits are agog over Paul Ryan’s proposal to gut social programs and balloon the deficit.
Eric Alterman demonstrates why John Bolton defines the problem of on-the-one-hand objectivity in the so-called liberal media.
The real story this election season is the wealthy buying up our political system, writes Eric Alterman.
Eric Alterman fears the void left by the news media’s demise is already being filled by people who aren’t interested in telling the truth.
Eric Alterman muses that a recent BBH Labs advertising project would be great at all conferences for the super rich, to show them just how out of touch they are with the real world.
Eric Alterman examines the reasons for the declining strength of labor unions and considers whether workers have a civil right to organize.
Eric Alterman looks at the widespread alleged illegal activity at Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation.
Eric Alterman on Pat Buchanan’s long, odd, and controversial career in Washington.
Eric Alterman debunks claims from the right that our nation is becoming more conservative.
Eric Alterman gives a prime example of the mainstream media’s commitment toward amnesia: their coverage of Charles Murray’s new book.
The disappearance of book culture from the mainstream media will allow propaganda to triumph over truth, writes Eric Alterman.
Eric Alterman explains that despite the media coverage one more aspect of how today’s conservatives betray the president they profess to revere is their embrace of unfair and unequal tax rates for “unearned income.”
Eric Alterman explains why we should’ve seen the struggles of the Tea Party coming a long time ago.
Eric Alterman explains how the mainstream press almost always defends Defense Department R&D spending.
Eric Cantor’s flub on “60 Minutes” is yet another example of conservatives ignoring evidence contrary to their ideology, writes Eric Alterman.
Eric Alterman recalls the Bush administration’s dishonesty and manipulation of the media concerning the war in Iraq.
Eric Alterman wonders why The New York Times would use outdated data to lead its readers to believe that inequality in the United States is over.
President Obama and his successors would do well to ponder the examples of past presidents and make honesty a priority in all matters of war and peace, writes Eric Alterman.
The mainstream media consistently puffs up the Tea Party. Much of the Occupy Wall Street coverage, however, is sheer mockery, writes Eric Alterman.
It’s no surprise the megawealthy owners of at least two New York newspapers applaud the ousting of Occupy Wall Street protesters from Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park, writes Eric Alterman.
Eric Alterman examines the moral bankruptcy of conservatives, which is wrapped inside the impossibly intertwined nature of big money and politics.
Maureen Dowd should be ashamed for quoting Ann Coulter so respectfully in The New York Times, writes Eric Alterman.
Too many "liberals" in the media aren't really liberal after all, writes Eric Alterman.
The refusal of many in the media to even bother with the question of truth and falsehood is hurting American journalism, writes Eric Alterman.
Right-wing smear journalism is on display again as an American Spectator editor infiltrates the Occupy Wall Street movement in D.C., writes Eric Alterman.
The megawealthy are tightening their grip on politics and power, writes Eric Alterman. How will progressives respond?
Conservatives in both countries are more concerned with short-term political victories than long-term stability, writes Eric Alterman.
The network’s decision to co-host a Republican presidential debate with the Tea Party Express is just another in a long line of concession to conservatives, writes Eric Alterman.
Former New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller’s explanation of why he supported the Iraq war doesn’t inspire much confidence in our punditocracy, writes Eric Alterman.
Caution and scrutiny are needed to avoid another disaster like the Iraq invasion, writes Eric Alterman.
Billionaires such as the Koch Brothers continue to game the system to enrich themselves and avoid paying their fare share in taxes, writes Eric Alterman.
The 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks is a reminder of the Bush administration’s many missteps, writes Eric Alterman.
NPR needs to look at whether its decision-making processes are driven more by public relations concerns or journalistic ones, writes Eric Alterman.
Ombudsman Patrick B. Pexton’s lame and self-indicting defense of conservative blogger Jennifer Rubin’s prejudice-laden post on the Norway attacks provides yet another sign of the demise of the paper’s journalistic standards, writes Eric Alterman.
The rush to blame Norway’s attacks on Islamic terrorists is yet another example of how little contemporary conservatives like the Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin care about truth, writes Eric Alterman.
The Murdoch empire is more evil than we allowed ourselves to imagine, as evil as we might have imagined it to be, and it ain’t over yet, writes Eric Alterman. (Also, why are conservatives such whiners?)
We’re just now getting a glimpse into how corrupt Rupert Murdoch’s operations were, says Eric Alterman.
The New York Times columnist’s recent statements about conservative austerity measures are unsupported by evidence, writes Eric Alterman.
Wall Street bankers should stop complaining about their hurt feelings and instead marvel at their good fortune, writes Eric Alterman.
The fact that Fox News propagates lies and misinformation was lost in the media coverage of Jon Stewart’s appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” writes Eric Alterman.
The FCC’s report on the disappearance of local news offers few solutions to the multifaceted crises facing American journalism, writes Eric Alterman.
Eric Alterman explains that a recent Economist attack on one of his magazine articles illustrates the problem of intellectual laziness in the media.
Roger Ailes's powerful position at the head of Fox News—and the Republican Party—is dangerous, writes Eric Alterman.
The newest columnist at The New York Times doesn’t have much to say about substantive issues, writes Eric Alterman.
Andrew Ferguson’s depiction of playwright David Mamet’s conversion from liberal to conservative is flawed by overenthusiasm, writes Eric Alterman.
The Washington Post has not only lost its journalistic compass but also its self-confidence, writes Eric Alterman.
The annual Time 100 is a prepackaged series of lies and public relations exercises, writes Eric Alterman.
Jacob Heilbrunn proves that one can write opinionated conservative journalism in a fashion in which truth counts, writes Eric Alterman.
The “liberal” media is full of praise for Rep. Ryan’s budget plan, which attacks many programs liberals typically support, says Eric Alterman.
Right-wing groups are growing bolder in intimidating those who express differing opinions, writes Eric Alterman.
The Triangle Shirtwaist fire in 1911 led to major changes in our labor laws, writes Eric Alterman. But many of those gains have been rolled back.
The mainstream media again allowed themselves to be fooled by conservative scam artist James O’Keefe, says Eric Alterman.
Money is at the bottom of many of today’s major stories, writes Eric Alterman.
The Wisconsin union battle represents a turning point in American politics, writes Eric Alterman. The question is whether the media can report what’s really going on.
The media’s self-hatred is on full display with its sympathetic Tea Party coverage, writes Eric Alterman.
Eric Alterman debunks the recurring argument that liberal dominance of academia is detrimental to society.
Elliott Abrams shows some serious cojones lecturing the president on democracy in Egypt, says Eric Alterman.
CNN’s airing of Michele Bachmann’s alternative State of the Union was spineless, writes Eric Alterman.
Invoking blood libel may be Sarah Palin’s gaffe for the history books, writes Eric Alterman.
Glenn Beck’s particular brand of madness may be inspiring a far more dangerous kind of outrage, writes Eric Alterman.
The Economist doesn’t consider the possibility that a country’s happiness could be a result of the choices its leaders make to favor some people over others, writes Eric Alterman.
The mainstream media were asleep at the switch on the 9/11 bill until Jon Stewart shamed them into paying attention, writes Eric Alterman.
Recently released memos show Fox News’s deliberate attempts to misinform, writes Eric Alterman.
The Bush-Gore election illustrates three key points about today’s political and media environment, writes Eric Alterman.
The Washington Post continues its desperate attempts to appeal to conservatives by hiring writers who can’t get their facts straight, writes Eric Alterman.
We need to find ways to preserve investigative journalism and well-informed discourse as a public good, writes Eric Alterman.
Perhaps the most important role money can play in politics is to maintain the status quo, and not many in the media know how to cover “nothing,” writes Eric Alterman.
Eric Alterman asks why media “rodeo clowns” like Glenn Beck get away with unabashed hate, ignorance, and lies on the air without as much as a comment from the mainstream media.
Washington Post pundit David Broder’s recent suggestion to wage war to improve the economy belies his reputation of level-headedness, writes Eric Alterman.
The media is slow to realize that outside groups are spending hard to tilt the balance of our democracy in their favor, explains Eric Alterman.
The need to repair our nation’s crumbling infrastructure is news, says Eric Alterman. It's just not the kind so many in the mainstream media appear to think it is.
It’s hard to pin down what Fox News really is, writes Eric Alterman. But it sure isn’t journalism.
Stephen Colbert’s testimony may have gotten a negative reception, but it certainly appears to have drawn attention to the plight of migrant farm workers, writes Eric Alterman.
Concentrated wealth and an anachronistic system of political representation threaten our democracy, writes Eric Alterman.
Journalists and pundits like to pretend they’re moralists when it serves their purposes, writes Eric Alterman.
Conservatives cling to tax cuts—which increase the deficit—while complaining of out-of-control deficit spending, writes Eric Alterman.
Eric Alterman looks back on the life of Ted Kennedy on the first anniversary of Kennedy’s death.
The reach of the News Corporation’s propaganda machine is wide and vast, writes Eric Alterman.
Today’s skewed political spectrum allows The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page to get away with falsifying facts, observes Eric Alterman.
The mainstream media pretends that the left is equally at fault for the dishonesty and character assassination that pollutes our debate these days. This is false, writes Eric Alterman.
A conservative filibuster ensures corporate coffers will harm our democracy by financing political attack ads anonymously, notes Eric Alterman. This isn’t about partisan politics.
Economists need to make more of an effort to understand politics and their place in it, writes Eric Alterman.
Many readers missed the point of my recent Nation piece, says Eric Alterman.
The forcing out of Dave Weigel at the Washington Post raises several issues about The Post and journalism's future, says Eric Alterman.
The Washington journalistic establishment’s reaction to Michael Hastings’s Rolling Stone piece on Gen. McChrystal is nearly as impressive as the article itself, writes Eric Alterman.
McChrystal’s Team America isn’t alone in its mundane and unsubstantive criticisms of the Obama administration—take a look at Mortimer Zuckerman.
Female legislators are conspicuously absent on Sunday morning talks shows, observes Eric Alterman.
Federal neglect leading up to the BP spill was matched by a lack of investigative reporting on the topic, says Eric Alterman.
Conservative pundits are drawing far-fetched comparisons between progressive policies and Nazi Germany, writes Eric Alterman.
Chafets’s new book provides a comically skewed look at Rush Limbaugh and a cautionary tale to journalists gone astray, writes Eric Alterman.
The Tea Party’s surge in the midterm election primaries may lead to its peak on Election Day, writes Eric Alterman.
The media debate over Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan has covered everything about her except her legal views, observes Eric Alterman.
There’s a clear lack of evidence behind the claim that the BP oil spill is President Obama’s “Katrina,” writes Eric Alterman.
Time's curious choices of authors (and subjects) for the "The World’s Most Influential People" have one thing in common: cash, says Eric Alterman.
The media is displaying the same careless coverage of the Tea Party movement that characterized the ACORN scandal, argues Eric Alterman.
CNN once again tries to attract conservative viewers in a moment of ratings panic, writes Eric Alterman.
Don’t look to the media or your local weatherman for accurate information on climate change, says Eric Alterman.
Many contemporary conservatives aren’t accepting responsibility for their actions, which is antithetical to their philosophy’s core values, writes Eric Alterman.
Conservative pundits say they’re worried about liberal promises about the historic health care bill. They should think again, writes Eric Alterman.
America is no stranger to revisionist history, but media claiming victory in Iraq are just comically Pollyannaish in their wishful thinking, writes Eric Alterman.
The impact of conservative talk radio on American politics cannot continue to go ignored, argue Eric Alterman and Danny Goldberg.
Apparently conservatives aren’t the only ones expected to sound like conservatives on TV news—liberals are, too, writes Eric Alterman.
The Washington Post editorial page appears to going down a road toward increasing conservatism and increasing awfulness simultaneously, writes Eric Alterman.
Mainstream science’s concerns are left out of the media conversation on climate change, writes Eric Alterman.
A recent story in The New York Times about karaoke killings illustrates the lax standards of the media, writes Eric Alterman.
Conservative organizations are investing millions to overturn the media’s “liberal bias” and subverting the media’s professional standards in the process, writes Eric Alterman.
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission will open the floodgates for corporate interest, but somehow the media didn’t notice, write Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich.
The Tea Party movement and Fox News teamed up to help elect Scott Brown. Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich wonder if Sarah Palin is next.
Conservatives are quick to use the underpants bomber to make their case on leaving Guantanamo open, but not so fast, say Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich.
Our broken campaign finance system is what’s producing less than satisfactory legislation, write Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich.
Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich give a history lesson on how conservatives control health care costs.
CNBC and the Wall Street Journal are working in tandem to push deceit on several fronts, write Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich.
“Climategate” is the latest conservative conspiracy theory in the age of Obama, write Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich.
Obama’s “spending binge” should be put in context of what he inherited from the previous administration, writes Eric Alterman.
Eric Alterman wonders when The Washington Post will finally address the conflict of interest with its media critic Howard Kurtz.
The embrace of crank politicians and scientists on the right quite possibly signals a conservative intellectual decline, writes Eric Alterman.
Conservative media figures are still trying to connect Obama to ex-terrorist Bill Ayers, write Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich.
The "Balloon Boy" coverage illustrates cable news' continuing obsession with nonevents, write Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich.
Conservative bickering remains in the metaphorical junior high locker room, write Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich.
Dan Rather’s lawsuit is really about a corporate media power failing to stand by its most famous reporter to avoid a battle with the Bush administration, write Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich.
Conservatives are using the same smear tactics against Kevin Jennings that brought down Van Jones and ACORN, write Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich.
The far right’s successful attack on ACORN shows how easily the mainstream media can be manipulated with deliberately distorted information, write Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich.
Media figures and even elected representatives are feeding false claims by fringe groups instead of preventing them from polluting public discourse, write Eric Alterman and Mickey Ehrlich.
Hysterical conservative arguments on health care obscure the facts and prevent a serious debate about our system’s shortcomings, writes Eric Alterman.
Some of the most substantive and most significant pieces on Ted Kennedy were written before his death and highlight his great work for people who needed someone like him to fight for them, writes Eric Alterman.
Not only were mainstream media commentators wrong about the Bush administration, but they remain kinda snotty about those who were right, observes Eric Alterman.
Eric Alterman looks at what constitutes “proof” of liberal bias in the conservative media.
Media conflicts of interest continue and the industry doesn’t seem to care, writes Eric Alterman.
CNN and other popular media sources continue to allow racism, sexism, and other divisive opinions to be freely expressed, writes Eric Alterman.
The reaction to President Barack Obama's comments on the Henry Gates Jr. incident reveal the dismal quality of conservative commentary, writes Eric Alterman.
Eric Alterman debunks health reform opponents’ claims that the United States has the best health care system in the world and that we don’t need health reform.
Eric Alterman on how the crisis in publishing is affecting local and regional reporting.
Funding journalistic conflicts of interest is an expensive business that runs in only one direction: the rich and powerful, writes Eric Alterman.
A televised battle between two reporters reveals aspects of a larger battle to define how members of the media define their jobs, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
The United States could really lead by example when it comes to keeping journalists out of jail, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Conservatives have lately branded the United States as the newest socialist republic in an attempt to reprise former scare tactics, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings don't start until July, but her punditocracy hearings are well underway, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Right-wing pundits are casting Obama's Supreme Court pick in racist terms, and it appears to be working, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney is still causing trouble, this time as a pundit, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Maureen Dowd is just the latest in mainstream media figures who are taking cues from the blogosphere, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
The media is obsessing about potential Supreme Court nominees’ sexuality instead of their qualifications, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory. Plus, an update on George Will’s environmental reporting career.
Conservatives already know exactly who Obama will appoint to the Supreme Court, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Conservatives in the media are blaming yet another real crisis on the imagined threats of immigration, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Conservatives fuss over a Bush report on the potential for domestic terrorism while remaining unperturbed by reports of real torture, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
The media seem to have forgotten already that it was President Bush who got us into this recession, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
George Will's standoff on global warming with the Washington Post's news room and the scientific community is troubling for the paper's editorial standards, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Science and health journalists are taking just as many shortcuts as their business reporting peers, and we’d all be wise to watch out, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Cable news may be the only healthy part of the journalism business, but that's bad news for the rest of us, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Journalists risk their lives for democracy every day. It’s time we pause to remember their sacrifices, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Business news is increasingly aimed at investors, not citizens, a problem the industry must address to provide high-quality coverage, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Conservatives gathered last week at CPAC to rediscover their ideological heart, but the result was more identity crisis than true direction, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
The punditocracy's attacks on Obama for the decision to close Guantanamo deserve close scrutiny, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
Developing a climate policy beat has been a nonstarter in the mainstream media, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory, but this is one disaster we can see coming.
President Obama’s FCC will have their work cut out for them in restoring the agency to the side of the citizens and consumers, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
Columnist William Kristol moves to the Washington Post after a year of blurring the line between journalism and political strategy at the New York Times, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
It now appears that the Bush administration was spying on American journalists; so Eric Alterman and George Zornick ask, why’s the media keeping quiet?
After failing to challenge Bush and Cheney's misstatements over the past eight years, it's unsurprising that the press failed to do so during his last interviews.
Eric Alterman and George Zornick wonder why MSNBC gives Joe Scarborough more time on the air than anyone else if it’s as liberal as everyone says?
Not only does the mainstream media ignore critical health policy issues; when it does cover them, it often offers misleading information, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
Eric Alterman and George Zornick take a look at some of conservatives’ most outrageous comments.
In the last installment of a four-part series on Bush’s war on the press, Eric Alterman looks at treatment of press during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Part three in a series from Eric Alterman on the legacy of the Bush administration’s war on the press.
Eric Alterman and George Zornick examine how the Bush administration has used the Espionage Act to dismantle press freedoms.
Eric Alterman posits that a sure Bush legacy will be the administration’s consistent suppression of information and press freedoms.
News coverage of Iraq dwindled in the shadow of the presidential campaign, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
Complaints about the Obama-loving media are emptier than the Biltmore ballroom at midnight Tuesday night. But it’s no surprise they’re being raised, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
A new report puts the United States at 36th in the world for press freedoms, and 119th when it comes to actions beyond our borders, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
A battle raged in 2006 over the president’s ability to deploy troops in the United States, yet it went completely uncovered by the mainstream media, writes Eric Alterman.
The conservatives' argument that progressives, Fannie and Freddie, and minorities caused the current crisis has no validity, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
The mainstream media needs to spend more time explaining voter issues rather than obscuring them, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
White spaces in the broadcast spectrum can spread knowledge and advance democracy, and the beauty of the entire enterprise is that we—the public—already own them.
No wonder Americans were shocked when Wall Street fell into crisis last week. The media had barely been covering economic issues for months.
Earmarks get a bad rap, but they're not necessarily bad and receive more attention than is deserved, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
Months after the offshore drilling debate first intensified, the media has all but forgotten the hard facts that dispute drilling's effectiveness.
The media buries news of an agreement that could end the war, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
The Beijing Olympics dominated American television, but what did we really learn? Eric Alterman and George Zornick investigate.
There are no good guys in the Georgia-Russia conflict, but the media seems hell-bent on simplifying it so that Russia is the only aggressor.
Barbara Ehrenreich's new book received an undeserved and unfair review in the New York Times, writes Eric Alterman.
The mainstream media can’t explain the causes of poverty, and right-wing talking heads say the poor are the problem, say Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
Anonymous sources serve a critical role in journalism and deserve to be protected, but determining the limits of protection is more complicated.
Al Gore's speech last week offered a plan for solving the climate crisis that has been largely misinterpreted and misunderstood.
Increased attacks in Afghanistan have garnered more media attention, but there is still a lack of journalistic manpower in the country.
The coverage of Senator Jesse Helms' death has largely ignored unflattering facts about his life and racial attitude.
A Supreme Court case this fall could weaken the FCC's ability to regulate broadcast standards, including enforcement of indecency laws.
It's still a bad idea to drill offshore for oil, and the issue is distorted when the media gives equivalence to both sides of the issue and repeats industry misinformation.
When Hurricane Katrina first happened, even the most docile reporters began to cover race, poverty, and inequality. But since then everyone has dropped the story.
A look back at statements made by officials and reporters suggests there was not universal agreement about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
Several cable news talk shows are deliberately fueling resentment and anger toward immigrants while citing false claims.
The media continues to ignore Bush administration wrongdoing--and this time, the offender is the administration's own watchdog, writes Eric Alterman.
Conservatives claim to be pro-military, but how has President Bush's conservative administration treated those in the military?
Supporters of military action against Iran continue to beat the drum of war, but the justifications for war remain unproven.
A Texas Monthly study reveals again that abstinence-only education doesn't work, writes Eric Alterman.
The Pentagon's subversion of democratic dialogue is saddening and limits an honest debate about the war, and the media refuses to admit complicity.
Stephanopoulos and Gibson somehow remain blissfully unaware—or worse—unconcerned about the problems facing the vast majority of Americans.
April has seen a series of media revelations about the Bush administration's use of torture at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib.
Network news may still be valuable, but it's also aging with its audience in the era of the 24-hour cable network.
Iraq demands a change in direction, but it's hard for people to demand a change on policies that go unreported, writes Eric Alterman.
The public needs reliable information about the Iraq war, but media coverage of the conflict has dropped off the map.
If Americans overwhelmingly support progressive policies, why are so many of them afraid to call themselves "liberal"? Eric Alterman has an answer.
While primaries and scandals distract the media, the Bush administration's defense of torture doesn't get the attention it deserves.
Looking for evidence of the Bush administration's distaste for oversight and responsible government? Look no further than the FCC.
Almost every one of the 18 benchmarks laid out by the Bush administration have failed, yet the spinning never ends.
It's hard to find one area of the world where the Bush administration's foreign policies have been successful.
We are still in the shadow of a 9/11 presidency, and 9/11 Commission conflicts of interest don't make it easier to uncover the truth.
The Bush administration’s 935 demonstrably false statements in the lead up to Iraq should give reporters pause when covering Iran.
“Ombuds-gal” Laurie Dhue does little to hold O’Reilly accountable. O’Reilly notes, “Why wouldn’t Laurie be on the side of goodness and light?”
While Iraq isn’t Vietnam, America is still America, and comparing U.S. involvement in the two countries provides interesting results.
Media coverage of Iraq declined dramatically in late 2007, just in time for the run-up to the presidential election that could change our policy there.
Reporting on global warming negotiations may not be particularly sexy fodder for The Situation Room, but we cannot live on Paris Hilton alone.
The neoconservatives are at it again, attacking the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran because it doesn’t fit their policy plans.
Many of the best accounts of Iraq from reporters struggle with boiling down death and devastation while acting as their own security detail.
A new postal rate that would benefit media megaliths could spell the demise of many smaller, particularly minority publications.
The Ted Stevens scandal exemplifies how local newspapers and new media can team up on hard-hitting and accessible journalism.
A new G.I. bill would be progressivism at its best; our veterans deserve our full respect, and we can reshape America in this image.
The politics of Mukasey's nonresponse to whether waterboarding is torture has, unsurprisingly, led the media to ask the same question.
Plan from FCC Chair Kevin Martin once again tries to give big companies control of what we see, hear, and read.
It's obvious that the operations of Blackwater Corp. and other private contractors constitute yet another Bush administration scandal.
Fox’s new business channel is, unsurprisingly, another source of biased, unreliable, chatter dragging down the level of the conversation.
Why did the mainstream media shower criticism on MoveOn but find Limbaugh’s plainly anti-military remarks mostly uninteresting?
Conservatives are now spouting the “If you disagree with me, you’re a racist” brand of moral bullying that people rightly criticized liberals for years ago.
If Jena has shown one thing it’s that not only will racism continue on, but some in the mainstream media will always ignore or encourage it.
Rather than make the same mistakes again, Congress should use Judge Mukasey’s confirmation to get straight answers on tough questions.
By claiming that he’s a “man of ideas," Newt Gingrich has gained a following of columnists. But, Eric Alterman asks, what are his ideas?
Believe it or not, some pundits and politicians are still bullish on the surge. One wonders whether they’ve seen its recent failing grades.
We need the press to step up and get to the bottom of the corruption in Iraq, because the Bush administration is clearly uninterested.
Congress’ passage of a new FISA law once again raises the question of whether democracies can “do” foreign policy patiently and competently.
The success of the second Yearly Kos convention bodes well for the future of both the blogosphere and the mainstream media.
From conflicts of interest to media consolidation, outright corruption, and a loss of credibility, The Wall Street Journal has much to look forward to.
It's getting hard out there for Bush supporters in the punditocracy, says Eric Alterman. Bill Kristol is one of the last Bush supporters standing.
The Wall Street Journal's editorial page predictably fails to acknowledge legal wrongdoings of a presidency that practically beg for investigation.
Libby’s commuted sentence makes you wonder what happened to the days when lying under oath was the worst thing in the world.
It’s not just the mainstream media that’s attacking Al Gore and his new book -- more off-beat sources are making the same misinformed arguments.
This early in the presidential race, voters aren’t paying attention to differences between candidates. So how about the issues?
The Israelites of the Bible offer an interesting lesson to Americans about rejecting the Bush administration’s fear tactics when it comes to present day Iraq.
Rightwing opponents of immigration reform experience personal attacks from Bush and his conservative allies. It is hard to be sympathetic.
The media continues to say progressives are anti-military, but it’s the Bush administration that can’t admit the enormity of its error.
What would really happen if Robert Murdoch took over The Wall Street Journal? Chances are it wouldn’t “even out” the other big papers.
What difference does popular dissatisfaction with the war make in the president’s prosecution of it? So far, looks like none.
Our president is still stubbornly refusing to discuss a reasonable compromise on an issue critical to our future and security—global warming.
Despite Kristof’s recent breakthrough, the media still seems to be suffering from a case of amnesia regarding negotiations with Iran.
As Congress uncovers White House incompetence, the media seems eager to show trials and partisanship rather than examine the issues.
Four months after the “surge,” it’s been damned difficult for even the most diligent Americans to try to figure out how the heck it’s going.
Fact-checking the fact-checkers: a spot-check of four presidential candidates' stories, and the media’s stories about those stories.
Why do journalists focus so fervently on how much money the presidential candidates have rather than on the issues?
Why are journalists spending so much time harping on how much money candidates have rather than how they’re attracting the money, or even better, the issues?
With the scandals piling up daily, the main stream media seems to have a case of Bush Administration Attention Deficit Disorder.
On the anniversary of the invasion, we look back at what has come of the president’s sell four years ago to the American people.
The firing of eight federal prosecutors is now becoming a full-fledged scandal, but if it wasn't for newspapers and blogs, we'd all still be in the dark.
Let’s not forget that it was Robert Novak who played into the White House’s hand by revealing Valerie Plame’s identity in the first place.
What’s news? Well, it depends who you ask. A press spat over Clinton and Obama? Britney’s shaved head? Or critical political issues?
Is more time spent on the substance of the Iraq debate in Congress, rather than on its theatrics, too much to ask of the media?
So far media coverage of Clinton and Obama’s presidential bids seems strikingly reminiscent of the frenzy over Ferraro and Jackson in 1980’s.
Even post-protest, the Sunday talk shows featured pundits peddling the very pro-escalation memes that the majority of Americans disagree with.
Dinesh D’Souza’s new book blaming the left for 9/11 can’t be dismissed, unfortunately, as politically beyond the conservative pale.
Despite all evidence to the contrary, pundits still claim that Democrats need to move to an undefined center in order to govern.
As some reporters question the "surge," it's a welcome sign that Bush no longer controls the terms of the debate without a fight.
The problem isn't that there aren’t pundits who have answers on issues like Iraq; it’s that political talk shows aren’t using them.
Can the Center for Independent Media diversify media voices and help reshape the kinds of stories that local media outlets consider news?
Even with the Iraq Study Group report release and the Gates nominations this week, we’ve gotten no indication that the tides of war are changing.
Experts agree that Iraq is in a civil war, but somehow that doesn’t seem to stop mainstream media and the White House from saying otherwise.
Certainly Rumsfeld isn’t innocent when it comes to Iraq, but has the press forgotten who the commander-in-chief is?
Why hasn’t more investigation been done into 9/11 Commission Chairman Zalikow’s close relationship with Secretary Rice?
During this election season, media frenzy over scandals has once again taken the focus away from the real issues.
Asking the president the tough questions that commentators have been letting slide.
Mainstream media does America a disservice with its misleading and often ignorant political coverage.
Mainstream media mostly fails to hold conservatives accountable for misrepresenting North Korean policy under Bush and Clinton.
Tomlinson is at it again, using taxpayer money to pay conservative journalists to write "politically correct" news and editorials.
The president and his allies once again use national day of mourning for political gain?with the help of the mainstream press.
The press needs to challenge the conservative spin machine on Iraq and al Qaeda. It's best to start with Tony Snow.
There are still times when the press interprets the news with two proverbial feet planted firmly in the soil of what used to be called "reality."
The White House's colossal failure down the road in Iraq is falling through the cracks of mainstream media coverage.