The Lesson Marina Ovsyannikova Offers To Chuck Todd And Lester Holt

[kpete]

Dissidents from Putin's propaganda machine, who risk imprisonment, torture, and even murder by speaking out should be a model for American disinfo-pimps who would risk nothing by speaking the truth.

While Ovsyannikova’s protest will likely resonate for some time, I would hope that complicit journalists in countries where it’s not too late to defend democracy reflect seriously on Ovsyannikova’s shame. Even as Russia rains bombs down on Ukraine, journalists like Chuck Todd and Lester Holt invited Bill Barr onto their TV to tell lies about Russia’s attack on democracy in the United States, to tell lies about Trump’s extortion of Ukraine, to tell lies about his role in an attack on democracy. Like Ovsyannikova, Todd and Holt sit, comfortable, polished, and complicit, as Barr told lies that were a direct attack on democracy and rule of law.

And like Ovsyannikova, they are doing nothing to rebut the lies of authoritarianism before it’s too late.

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=ly_GgpIPEG8DraS05edNJg
https://www.emptywheel.net/2022/03/15/the-lesson-marina-ovsyannikova-offers-to-chuck-todd-and-lester-holt/

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"I would hope that complicit journalists in countries where it’s not too late to defend democracy reflect seriously on Ovsyannikova’s shame. Even as Russia rains bombs down on Ukraine, journalists like Chuck Todd and Lester Holt invited Bill Barr onto their TV to tell lies..."

"...about Russia’s attack on democracy in the United States, to tell lies about Trump’s extortion of Ukraine, to tell lies about his role in an attack on democracy. Like Ovsyannikova, Todd and Holt sit, comfortable, polished, and complicit."

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=ly_GgpIPEG8DraS05edNJg

[gab13by13]

1. There are a hell of a lot more disinfo-pimps than 2 people.

[Happy Hoosier]

2. Chuck Todd is literally one of the worst "journalists" I have ever seen.

I cannot believe he holds the position he does.

Seriously, I've seen better journalists on the local University student paper.

[Traildogbob]

12. And yesterday

Someone posted he was considered to replace Rachel. What a damn joke.

[Rebl2]

13. Hope she vetoed that

[Traildogbob]

15. Right!!

Just hope she gets back.

[hay rick]

3. Tweet says "like Ovsyannikova" when it should say "unlike..."

But the intention is clear and the point taken. I have long believed that cowardice is a core attribute of many talking heads and almost all prominent Republican politicians.

[XanaDUer2]

8. Good catch

That confused me

[gratuitous]

4. But they'd risk losing their access to a bunch of thugs and liars!

As if the likes of Bill Barr could resist going on the air even if they were asked tough questions and subject to humiliating (and possibly actionable) admissions. I just don't know why having access to a straight-up lying cheat is such a valued commodity for our media overlords.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

17. under all the bullshit

fuckers are pushing libertarian anti democratic poison. mixing it in with the asshole du jour

[FakeNoose]

5. I don't put Lester Holt in the same info-pimp category as Chuck Todd

Like everyone else at NBC, Lester Holt has a boss who (sometimes) tells him what he has to do. If he's told he has to interview Bill Barr, well I guess he has to do it. I've been watching Holt pretty regularly in the last several years, and I've never heard him give any type of political opinion either right or left. Chuck Todd is another story because he seeks out the RWNJs with relish, and purposefully books them on his show. Todd is happy to showcase the conservatives and I'm sure he includes himself among their number, when he's not on-camera.

[uponit7771]

6. They can interview these people and demand answers to questions that are credible.

[lees1975]

7. How do we let the execs at their networks know?

I'm all for a barrage of complaints, especially after Barr's appearances. That he was ever attorney general of the United States is an aberration beyond belief.

[yaesu]

9. She was just found guilty of their new demonstration law and fined 30,000 rubles, $280

according to russia news if that can be believed.

[NewHendoLib]

10. Our both sides do it, profit and entertainment media is very complicit

In lots of what has been going on for decades

[Pepsidog]

11. Great point. For the most part our journalists have sold their integrity to make a buck.By today's

journalistic standards had Watergate happened now Woodward and Bernstein probably would have written a book after Nixon was finished his second term. Todd is the worst of both-siderism. I really cannot bear to watch him. Todd was a political analyst and should had stayed in that role.

[KS Toronado]

14. Biggest problem with our MSM is they lean reQublicOn

Probably because of tax breaks & loopholes when Rs are in power.

[live love laugh]

16. "...literally risk nothing..." They risk lucrative jobs and would

quickly be replaced by others waiting in the wings.

The problem is deeper than on air personalities though I despise Todd and while Holt is more of nothing burger — a news reader at best.