Correcting the New York Times' Ezra Klein

Also: 'youngism,' incentive structures, and Pulitzer disasters

You asked for it! Today, at the request of listeners and readers, I look into some wildly false claims by a prominent figure at the New York Times. I take you through how he misrepresents data, mischaracterizes large groups of people, and ignores basic truths. He even goes against his own alleged ethos.

Some of Ezra Klein’s claims are so off, and so offensive, that the Times itself would take action if he was attacking any other minority group (yes, even while declaring membership in said group). You’ll hear why this is such an important message for those who want to believe what Klein says: No matter how they feel, truth exists. They’re not “misunderstood.” What they are is wrong.

Also today, more on the battle involving three former NBC employees: Ronan Farrow, Brooke Nevils, and Matt Lauer. You’ll hear why Farrow’s fact checking failures raise questions about The New Yorker, and how journalists at big news agencies “put their cards on the table” by assigning victimhood. Then, John Ziegler discusses how “incentive structure,” rather than journalistic ethics, determines the way today’s “news” operations handle controversy.

Plus the dangers of “youngism,” why the Pulitzers aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, and more.

Links and more in the next newsletter, so be sure to subscribe. And keep those questions and comments coming! To have your messages shared on the show like the ones you hear each week, message me here or post in the comments.

JL

P.S. Next week’s episode will look at certain conservative media calling out dangerous moves by Trump — part of a profound shift that affects our whole society.