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U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to members of the press during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 30, 2023 in Washington, DC.
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Don't Be Taken by Corporate Media Both-Siderism: The GOP Alone Manufactured This Debt Ceiling Disaster
The “both sides” reporting by mainstream news outlets is misleading the public and giving a free pass to McCarthy and his MAGA extremists who have taken the U.S. economy in name of savage austerity and more tax cuts for the rich and corporations.
May 26, 2023
The credit-rating agency Fitch on Thursday morning put the nation’s AAA rating on a watch list, citing “increased political partisanship” over the debt ceiling. Later, I heard ABC News attribute the standoff on the debt ceiling to “polarization” in Congress. NPR blames the fight on “hyper-partisanship” in American politics. Reuters blames the stalemate on lawmakers “digging in on partisan positions.”
“Partisan standoff” is the way most of the media is now characterizing the fight.
Hello?
Enough with the “both sides” reporting on the debt ceiling.
I admire Joe Biden, but he should not have allowed the media to so badly mischaracterize what’s happening.
The current fight over raising the debt ceiling — and the growing possibility the United States might default on its debts — is not because of partisanship. It’s not due to political polarization. It’s not because lawmakers are “digging in” to “partisan positions.”
Republicans alone manufactured this looming disaster.
In order to become speaker, Kevin McCarthy made a deal with right-wing MAGA House Republicans to use the debt ceiling as a way to hold America hostage and force the Biden administration to come begging.
McCarthy and his band of MAGA crazies don’t give a fig about the national debt. Hell, they had no problem raising the debt ceiling three times under Trump — while providing trillions in tax cuts for the rich.
This current fight is entirely theirs.
The “both sides” reporting is misleading the public and giving a free pass to McCarthy and his extremists.
I admire Joe Biden, but he should not have allowed the media to so badly mischaracterize what’s happening. He never should have begun negotiating with McCarthy. Biden has the bully pulpit; he should have addressed the nation by now, pointing out that this fight is manufactured entirely by House Republicans.
The media’s reporting is inexcusable.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
© 2021 robertreich.substack.com
Robert Reich
Robert Reich is professor emeritus of public policy at Berkeley and former US secretary of labor. His latest book is the No. 1 New York Times best-seller, "Coming Up Short."
corporate mediadebt ceilingdebt limitgophouse gopjoe bidenjournalismkevin mccarthymagarepublican partyrobert reich
The credit-rating agency Fitch on Thursday morning put the nation’s AAA rating on a watch list, citing “increased political partisanship” over the debt ceiling. Later, I heard ABC News attribute the standoff on the debt ceiling to “polarization” in Congress. NPR blames the fight on “hyper-partisanship” in American politics. Reuters blames the stalemate on lawmakers “digging in on partisan positions.”
“Partisan standoff” is the way most of the media is now characterizing the fight.
Hello?
Enough with the “both sides” reporting on the debt ceiling.
I admire Joe Biden, but he should not have allowed the media to so badly mischaracterize what’s happening.
The current fight over raising the debt ceiling — and the growing possibility the United States might default on its debts — is not because of partisanship. It’s not due to political polarization. It’s not because lawmakers are “digging in” to “partisan positions.”
Republicans alone manufactured this looming disaster.
In order to become speaker, Kevin McCarthy made a deal with right-wing MAGA House Republicans to use the debt ceiling as a way to hold America hostage and force the Biden administration to come begging.
McCarthy and his band of MAGA crazies don’t give a fig about the national debt. Hell, they had no problem raising the debt ceiling three times under Trump — while providing trillions in tax cuts for the rich.
This current fight is entirely theirs.
The “both sides” reporting is misleading the public and giving a free pass to McCarthy and his extremists.
I admire Joe Biden, but he should not have allowed the media to so badly mischaracterize what’s happening. He never should have begun negotiating with McCarthy. Biden has the bully pulpit; he should have addressed the nation by now, pointing out that this fight is manufactured entirely by House Republicans.
The media’s reporting is inexcusable.
From Your Site Articles
- Let's End The False Debate Over the Debt Limit ›
- It’s Time For Democrats to Declare War Over the Debt Ceiling ›
- Corporate Media Continues to Blow It on Coverage of Debt Ceiling Hostage Situation ›
- Opinion | For Corporate Media, Caving to GOP Debt Limit Blackmail Was a Triumph of Bipartisanship | Common Dreams ›
- Opinion | Inequality: The Biggest Story Corporate Media Isn’t Covering | Common Dreams ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Robert Reich
Robert Reich is professor emeritus of public policy at Berkeley and former US secretary of labor. His latest book is the No. 1 New York Times best-seller, "Coming Up Short."
The credit-rating agency Fitch on Thursday morning put the nation’s AAA rating on a watch list, citing “increased political partisanship” over the debt ceiling. Later, I heard ABC News attribute the standoff on the debt ceiling to “polarization” in Congress. NPR blames the fight on “hyper-partisanship” in American politics. Reuters blames the stalemate on lawmakers “digging in on partisan positions.”
“Partisan standoff” is the way most of the media is now characterizing the fight.
Hello?
Enough with the “both sides” reporting on the debt ceiling.
I admire Joe Biden, but he should not have allowed the media to so badly mischaracterize what’s happening.
The current fight over raising the debt ceiling — and the growing possibility the United States might default on its debts — is not because of partisanship. It’s not due to political polarization. It’s not because lawmakers are “digging in” to “partisan positions.”
Republicans alone manufactured this looming disaster.
In order to become speaker, Kevin McCarthy made a deal with right-wing MAGA House Republicans to use the debt ceiling as a way to hold America hostage and force the Biden administration to come begging.
McCarthy and his band of MAGA crazies don’t give a fig about the national debt. Hell, they had no problem raising the debt ceiling three times under Trump — while providing trillions in tax cuts for the rich.
This current fight is entirely theirs.
The “both sides” reporting is misleading the public and giving a free pass to McCarthy and his extremists.
I admire Joe Biden, but he should not have allowed the media to so badly mischaracterize what’s happening. He never should have begun negotiating with McCarthy. Biden has the bully pulpit; he should have addressed the nation by now, pointing out that this fight is manufactured entirely by House Republicans.
The media’s reporting is inexcusable.
From Your Site Articles
- Let's End The False Debate Over the Debt Limit ›
- It’s Time For Democrats to Declare War Over the Debt Ceiling ›
- Corporate Media Continues to Blow It on Coverage of Debt Ceiling Hostage Situation ›
- Opinion | For Corporate Media, Caving to GOP Debt Limit Blackmail Was a Triumph of Bipartisanship | Common Dreams ›
- Opinion | Inequality: The Biggest Story Corporate Media Isn’t Covering | Common Dreams ›
Related Articles Around the Web
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