A Response to the Editor of the New York Times
The 2024 election depends on us, and Message Box is a resource for those attempting to persuade the people in their lives to move off the sidelines and vote against Donald Trump and MAGA extremists. I offer political analysis and targeted advice on engaging in political discussions with friends and family who are skeptical of Biden and curious about Trump. If you wish to support this work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. A Response to the Editor of the New York TimesThe Executive Editor of the New York Times kinda, sorta asked for my opinion and misrepresented my critiqueLast night, Semafor’s Ben Smith published an interview with Joe Kahn, the Executive Editor of the New York Times. Here’s the first question Ben asked Kahn:
The quote comes from my recent post discussing the tension between the Biden White House and the Times over the President’s unwillingness to sit down for an interview. Ben asked the question provocatively and fairly (and I appreciate the mention/traffic), but Kahn is not a Message Box subscriber and almost certainly not a Pod Save America listener. Therefore, he missed my broader point and conflated my views on the New York Times with the general Internet critique of the paper. Kahn’s answer is quite long. You should read the whole thing, but here are the key parts:
It’s not often the Executive Editor of the most influential media organ in the world asks my opinion (even sarcastically), so I will avail myself of an opportunity. Besides, now that my name is tangential to a raging online debate about the interview, I feel compelled to clarify my point of view on the New York Times. 1. The Point I Tried to MakeOne of the main points Ben Smith quoted from my post was my attempt to level-set Democratic expectations about the media in general (and the New York Times in particular). When Trump began attacking the media in a way no American politician had done before, Democrats jumped to the media’s defense. The idea of a free and independent press is integral to American democracy. Supporting and subscribing to the targets of Trump’s derision became an act of “resistance.” In the us vs. them politics of the Trump era, we viewed the press as “us.” The media leaned into this notion in part to juice subscriptions. The Washington Post adopted the slogan “Democracy Dies in Darkness” and spent millions of dollars to run this Tom Hanks-voiced Super Bowl ad: 'Democracy Dies in Darkness': Super Bowl commercial (2019) All of us who spent the last decade (And yes, it’s almost been a decade) pushing back against Trump and Trumpism view the struggle as a fight for democracy or, as President Biden would put it, “a battle for the soul of the nation.” Joe Kahn clarifies in the interview that the New York Times does not see it that way and they have no intention of picking a side in that fight. They view their job as reporting fairly on the race and then letting the chips fall where they may. We can debate whether they are meeting that standard. I have plenty of quibbles with various stories and journalistic choices. I remain frustrated that the Times and the rest of the media too often prioritize balance over accuracy. However, on the whole, I think the NYT does a pretty damn good job. They have done great work reporting on what a second Trump term would look like. They broke more big stories about Trump than anyone else; and I agree with Kahn’s contention that they have written much about Biden’s policy accomplishments. Would I like more coverage of the good that Biden and Democrats have done? Absolutely. Do I want even more tough coverage of Trump? Definitely. But the NYT is a large enterprise. Some of the stuff they do is great, some is bad, and the rest is fine. While I will periodically pick this bone or that one with traditional media coverage (I am human, after all), I don’t think raging at the media is always a constructive use of our time. Working the refs can be effective. Every once in a while, they will change a story or a headline. They might cover a topic that we think isn’t getting enough coverage. I just think we can never win the war because they have no interest in being who we want them to be. 2. A Frustrating False ChoiceI have one bone to pick with this particular part of Kahn’s response to my criticism:
I haven’t argued that the New York Times or anyone stop covering negative stories about Biden or become a state-owned propaganda outlet (not that Kahn knows my argument). No one else has argued that either. What most people want is for the media to spend less time on the horserace and more time on the stakes of this election; and to specifically call out the threat that is a second Trump presidency. There have been a lot of very good stories, but there could always be more. In general — and this is a complaint I have had about the New York Times that is two decades old — I wish they would take good faith criticism from the Left with as much seriousness as they take bad faith criticism from the Right. 3. Why Does This Matter?Ultimately almost no one in this country cares about a fight between Biden and the New York Times and even fewer people care (My mom may not even care!) about how Joe Kahn responds to my critique. However, to divine some value from this ridiculously insular back and forth, I do think there are a few points worth noting. First, instead of fuming at Kahn’s description of the New York Times’ role and responsibility, we should just take him at his word. They will not change their approach to covering Trump and that’s totally fine. They are not on our team. They don’t want to be on our team and that’s also fine. It’s not their role. If we just accepted that reality, we could find more constructive uses of our time. Second, traditional media outlets like the NYT are the primary way most Democrats communicate with the electorate. This is a fundamental error. You cannot trust your message to entities that do not — and should not — share your interests. The Right has a large media apparatus that can tell their story on their terms to their voters. The proper response to the shortcomings of traditional media is not to scream; it’s to build a response. While Democrats have progressed in recent years, we need a massive investment in progressive media. Democratic voters and activists can help this effort by subscribing to or patronizing anti-Trump outlets like Crooked Media, Courier News, MeidasTouch, or The Bulwark and supporting independent creators like Brian Tyler Cohen, Mehdi Hasan, Kyle Tharp, Jessica Craven, Simon Rosenberg, Parker Molloy and so many others. And if you are not yet a paid subscriber to this newsletter, there is no time like the present. There is an absolute need for an independent press like how Joe Kahn describes the New York Times, but there is also room for a robust pro-democracy media. We shouldn’t have to choose. You're currently a free subscriber to The Message Box. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. |
Older messages
How the Media Environment Helps Trump. and Hurts Biden
Thursday, May 2, 2024
The media has changed dramatically since the last time these two men faced off ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
The Voters Most Likely to Abandon Trump
Monday, April 29, 2024
A new poll shows the fragility of Trumps' coalition ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Why Biden Won't Do a New York Times Interview
Friday, April 26, 2024
The President and the paper of record are feuding over something that makes no sense ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Trump's Trial is Making Him Look Weak
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
For the wannabe strongman, looking weak is worse than looking like a crook ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
How to Talk about Trump's Trial with Your MAGA Curious Uncle
Monday, April 22, 2024
A former President on trial is a huge deal, here's my best advice on how to use it persuade people to vote against Trump. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
You Might Also Like
RI#224 - Digital mine/Fight mosquitoes/Social calendar app
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Hello people ! I'm Alex, the author of the Rabbit Ideas Newsletter. Every week I find useful resources online and share them with you. You can support what I do by upgrading to premium or if you
6-Second Sunday: On humanness, virtue, and mirrors
Sunday, May 19, 2024
6 Ideas. 6 Second Skim. 6 Minute Read. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
"The Excursion" by Tu Fu, translated by Florence Wheelock Ayscough
Sunday, May 19, 2024
How delightful, at sunset, to loosen the boat! Facebook Twitter Instagram Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Your gift today will help the Academy of American Poets continue to publish the work of 260
“WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT” (SHORT STORY)
Sunday, May 19, 2024
The old poet would say hello to everyone. So everyone is shocked when he seems to have simply vanished, disappeared. After a lifetime of living in the city, no one can find him. “Warning: Distressing
Blake Lively Just Wore The One-And-Done Outfit Of Our Dreams
Sunday, May 19, 2024
So chic.
1 Kettlebell. 30 Minutes. Total Body Strength
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Mens Health Shop logo Get shredded all over in just 30 days! No Gym Required: Kettlebells One Kettlebell, Serious Results One Kettlebell, Serious Results Want to build major muscle? Save yourself some
Over 65% Off Tech, Gym Gear, and More From Amazon’s Memorial Day Sale
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Memorial Day sales typically start a few weeks before the actual holiday weekend, which is May 24th through the 27th this year. Amazon kicked off the celebration early with discounts on everything from
The Week in Review
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Week of May 13th — Inflation Eases, South Surges, Construction Cools ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
11 of the Best Methods for Decluttering Your Home
Saturday, May 18, 2024
30 of the Horniest Erotic Thrillers Ever Made. There are many effective methods you can use to declutter—you should choose the right one for you and your home. Not displaying correctly? View this
Joy Annoy
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Why is it annoying when people love things you hate? ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏