Nearly Half of All Voters Think Media Make Up Stories About Trump

[Frodo]

And nearly half think the government should revoke their licenses, or are undecided about whether they should do so (including about two-thirds of all Republicans):

You must be logged in to read this quote.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

It looks like there is a large reservoir of Americans who agree with Trump on labeling any negative media coverage as being 'fake news'.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/18/trump-media-fake-news-poll-243884

[Person Man]

The thing I don't get is most of the things he gets ridiculed for doing are said ON VIDEO OR TWITTER and these people still don't believe it.

So people don't even believe things that are readily volunteered?

[Koharu]

This makes me want to cry.

[KingSweden]

The siren song of the Tribe is strong, clearly

[Sirius_]

It must be Trump's ego preventing him from realizing that he's making himself look bad.

[BoAtlantis]

"Only 28 percent think the government should have the power to revoke broadcast licenses of major news organizations that it says are fabricating news stories about a president or the administration, while 51 percent think the government should not be able to do that. Another 21 percent are undecided.

Voters are split along party lines on this question, too. More than two-thirds of Democrats, 68 percent, think the federal government should not have the power to revoke broadcast licenses of those organizations. But more Republicans, 46 percent, think the government should have that power than the third of GOP voters who don’t think so."


Media is part of free speech.

How does anyone reconcile support for free speech while maintaining the belief that the government should be able to revoke broadcast license?

[Bismarck]

The media doesn't make things up but they do go overboard on some stories. Trump gives them a level 5 stupid comment and they turn it in to a level 11 national crisis. i don't like Trump and might even vote democrat against him in 2020 but the idea that the media covers him completely honestly is a joke.

[Middle-aged Europe]

I think that Donald Trump makes up stories about the media.

[JA]

Let's not pretend that the media is some paragon of accuracy, truth, and virtue. Sometimes they ignore particular stories while hyping others, selectively cover certain topics while providing limited coverage for others that are equally or more important, and, yes, they even indulge in fabrication, sensationalism, and distortions. Not only are they humans prone to err, but they often come with a specific political orientation and have the parameters of their coverage set by the media company.

With that said, the media benefited enormously from the Trump campaign. The CEO of CBS loved the ratings and money coverage of Trump brought the company (IIRC). As President, I'm sure they still benefit from continuous coverage of Trump scandals that likely attract or retain the attention of a high number of viewers, thereby increasing their profit margins. Obsessively covering Trump and even hyping stories pertaining to him is simply good business. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean most of what they say is a lie; it's not. Trump says and does more than enough absurd and ignorant things to keep any journalistic organization perpetually busy. But, the media is perfectly happy to indulge in fixated coverage on every little issue and hype each dumb thing he does.

As for the high percentage of Americans willing to restrict journalists' First Amendment Rights, it's disappointing, yet unsurprising. Years upon years of politicized attacks upon the media by the right-wing would inevitably diminish its reputation and the willingness of millions of Americans to defend their constitutional rights. It's just ironic that the same people who for years cried "but the constitution!" were so eager to toss in their lot with a man who clearly has no regard for the Constitution or the Bill of Rights (let alone ever actually read them), and are now supporting a blatantly authoritarian inspired curtailment of Constitutionally guaranteed rights.

These folks are Constitutionalists when it's politically expedient and beneficial to their cause, yet eager to ditch the Constitution when it proves inconvenient. Sounds similar to their approach to the deficit, which Republican Rep. Mark Walker described perfectly...

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Rookie Yinzer]

Most people are idiots who do not know how to think critically, rationally, and will refute fact-based information in favor of their feelings. This is not new or surprising.

[Sirius_]

Most people are idiots who do not know how to think critically, rationally, and will refute fact-based information in favor of their feelings. This is not new or surprising.

I think that Donald Trump makes up stories about the media.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

The media doesn't make things up but they do go overboard on some stories. Trump gives them a level 5 stupid comment and they turn it in to a level 11 national crisis. i don't like Trump and might even vote democrat against him in 2020 but the idea that the media covers him completely honestly is a joke.

Media coverage of Dumb Leader is all about their ratings (and profits). Fair coverage of President Moron would have driven him from the race early on as grossly unfit for office. Good coverage now would not repeatedly hype the fact that he is a terrible human being -something we already know- but his total incompetence and the damage he is doing.

Focusing on Dumb Leader's personal evil is like weeping over lost family pictures while the house burns down.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I mean they literally do so....

[pbrower2a]

Most people are idiots who do not know how to think critically, rationally, and will refute fact-based information in favor of their feelings. This is not new or surprising.

Not until reality hits some people hard do they recognize how wrong they are.

[ProudModerate2]

Most people are idiots who do not know how to think critically, rationally, and will refute fact-based information in favor of their feelings. This is not new or surprising.

Not until reality hits some people hard do they recognize how wrong they are.

[Santander]

Maybe the media should stop making up stories about Trump, then.

[OSR stands with Israel]

The media(especially cable ) have become a joke , and are not trust worthy anymore.


Now does that does not mean the government should revoke their license(that would be unconstitutional)  , but people should not watch them until they change how they cover the news and become more reliable again.

[Dr. MB]

The media(especially cable ) have become a joke , and are not trust worthy anymore.


Now does that does not mean the government should revoke their license(that would be unconstitutional)  , but people should not watch them until they change how they cover the news and become more reliable again.

Absolutely agree.

I don't like Trump but I think the media should cover him fairly.

[IceSpear]

lol

When will people stop making excuses for the willful ignorance of the deplorables? No, it's not muh economic anxiety or muh jobs or muh mills or muh coal or muh liberal elitism or muh hillary bad candidate. Put the blame where it belongs: squarely on the voters. You get the government you deserve.

[ProgressiveCanadian]

Cable news is dying and this is a good reason why. Would like to see the approval of the mainstream media and see if it even makes it to 10% approval. They in part helped elect Trump with all the free media he recieved.

[AtorBoltox]

Maybe if Trump was a better president his coverage would be better?

[fluffypanther19]

The media doesn't make things up but they do go overboard on some stories. Trump gives them a level 5 stupid comment and they turn it in to a level 11 national crisis. i don't like Trump and might even vote democrat against him in 2020 but the idea that the media covers him completely honestly is a joke.

yeah the media and democrats end up overplaying what is a very strong hand already

[OSR stands with Israel]

The media(especially cable ) have become a joke , and are not trust worthy anymore.


Now does that does not mean the government should revoke their license(that would be unconstitutional)  , but people should not watch them until they change how they cover the news and become more reliable again.

Absolutely agree.

I don't like Trump but I think the media should cover him fairly.

ESPN is also starting to become a joke too because they are spending more time discussing the anthem protests and LaVar Ball than actual NFL and NBA games .

[AtorBoltox]

I like how no examples have been provided of the media being unfair to trump. If anything they’re overly deferential and not nearlynharsh enough

[OSR stands with Israel]

Maybe if Trump was a better president his coverage would be better?

The media also covered Bush completely unfairly.