We’re at Day 7 on Sharpitegate with no end in sight. Here’s the latest from Brian Stelter:
Did the language used to cover President Trump’s false tweets about Hurricane Dorian and Alabama end up helping him? @brianstelter digs into #Sharpiegate pic.twitter.com/omMS3BTbm9
— Reliable Sources (@ReliableSources) September 8, 2019
He’s mad at this meme the president tweeted showing CNN as a cat chasing a laser pointer:
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 8, 2019
The Federalist’s Mollie Hemingway rightfully called Stelter’s clip “tedious” (to say the least):
This video is tedious, but it's fascinating to watch. In response to Trump saying the media are his primary political opponent, CNN's @brianstelter says that the media must ramp up their politicized language and framing in opposition to him. https://t.co/xO5FjIozPD
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) September 8, 2019
And that set Stelter off:
If stating the truth about Trump's Alabama claims leaves you thinking that a journalist sounds like an opponent, that's because his position opposes reality. Unless we've gone full Orwell, there's nothing political about stating the truth plainly and fully.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) September 8, 2019
But Mollie fired right back:
Redefining the media's absurd performances this week as "stating the truth" is preposterous. Even if you put the very worst construction possible on story, a hyperpartisan gloss as opposed to straight reporting, still wouldn't have merited 1-gazillionth the coverage or framing
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) September 9, 2019
Keep in mind, this was all over a tiny flub that only one news station by our count even bothered to point out on Sunday. Granted, the president went scorched earth, but when will the media move on?
The problem is now the media obsession (well, and yours) has been so delusional and petty versus people's lives ruined or ended by the hurricane https://t.co/yljYUpJvuB
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 8, 2019
Oh, and to justify his criticism of the president, Stelter presented this NOAA forecast from 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 1:
This was the forecast at the time of Trump's false claims. Everyone who looked at this map knew that Alabama was not at risk. It's as simple as this map. pic.twitter.com/BOoI9lg6zM
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) September 8, 2019
And guess what he left out? That’s right. He left out the 120-day wind speed projection that clearly showed a small risk to Alabama for tropical storm winds. If you zoom in, you’ll see that Key West, FL is about the same risk as Alabama and Key West had its Labor Day holiday ruined because of the storm threat. Yes, it was small and yes the president misspoke on Sunday, but the risk to Alabama was never zero:
Here are the latest Key Messages on Hurricane #Dorian. Storm surge and hurricane watches have been issued for portions of the Florida east coast. The latest full advisory is available at https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/d6VjAX38lA
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 1, 2019
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