CBS News

Happy 30th Anniversary Of MS NOW (MSNBC)!

Ronald 2 Comments

This week, specifically July 15, marked the 30th Anniversary of the creation of MSNBC, now reorganized in the past year in mid November 2025, as MS NOW–“My Source News Opinion World”.

Clearly the most progressive-liberal news channel, it has produced amazing journalism, and had top notch people in its lineup of shows and correspondents.

Among the present lineup of individuals involved with the channel, in no special order, and not necessarily a complete list, are:

Joe Scarborough
Mika Brzezinski
Willie Geist
Ali Vitali
Rachel Maddow
Chris Hayes
Ari Melber
Stephanie Ruhle
Katy Tur
Alicia Menendez
Nicole Wallace
Jen Psaki
Ali Velshi
Luke Russert
Lawrence O’Donnell
Eugene Daniels
Jacob Soboroff
Jonathan Capehart
Ayman Mohyeldin
Vaughn Hillyard
Michael Steele
Symone Sanders Townsend
Al Sharpton
Jonathan Lemire
Elise Jordan

While this author and blogger watches other news channels, and specifically, CNN, the sense of confidence in the coverage of news on MS NOW is much higher than CNN or the regular networks (NBC, ABC, CBS).

MS NOW has done very well in ratings, much improved during the second Presidency of Donald Trump.

Along with the regular reading of the NY Times and Washington Post, watching MS NOW gives one a sense of total, thorough, reliable coverage of news of the nation and the world.

A Salute To The Major News Media, Resisting Trump Presidency Efforts To Intimidate Truth And Facts!

Ronald 12 Comments

America is blessed with a basic set of freedoms, as stated in the First Amendment to the US Constitution–the right to freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and to petition the government for redress of grievances.

Tragically, the Trump Presidency has massively violated the First Amendment, leading to legal and judicial challenges, many which have been won, but at great financial and emotional cost.

Now, the Trump Administration is investigating and suing NY TIMES journalists for exposing the dangers of the new Air Force One “gift” from the Middle East nation of Qatar, showing how unsafe the plane is for protecting the President, other government officials, and news reporters that travel with the President.

Crazily, Trump wants to prosecute these reporters, despite the fact that their exposure of the issue about the plane involved protection not only of him, but of national security in a broad sense.

So this blogger and author, once again, as often in the past, salutes the major news media that will NOT bend to Trump, and will continue to commit themselves to exposure of truth and facts without any ideological basis.

Specifically, although not only, these pathbreaking and great news media include:

NY TIMES
WASHINGTON POST
LOS ANGELES TIMES
CABLE NEWS NETWORK (CNN)
MS NOW
NBC NEWS
ABC NEWS
CBS NEWS

Already, there is a challenge to the independence of CBS News, controlled by Larry Ellison and his son, David Ellison, who is trying to gain control of CNN, as part of a massive merger, being resisted by 12 Attorneys General of states in court.

“SIXTY MINUTES” Controversy Emblematic Of News Media Crisis!

Ronald 28 Comments

A free unlimited news media is essential for a democracy to survive, but the Donald Trump Presidency has been working full time to destroy freedom of the press.

Allowing CBS News to be “destroyed” by Paramount SkyDance owner David Ellison and his father Larry Ellison, in the name of “pleasing” Donald Trump and his aim of destroying the truth and the facts of history and current affairs, is a disaster, a tragedy of massive proportions. Their interference with the flagship show, SIXTY MINUTES, is a disgrace!

Scott Pelley, the highly regarded journalist who was the leading “star” of SIXTY MINUTES, denounced what is going on, and now has been fired, and the future of the landmark show, that has been part of the heritage of outstanding journalism, is in crisis after 58 years longevity since 1968.

If the Ellisons get their way, they will gain control of CNN as well, and further destroy honest, factual journalism.

Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos has undermined the Washington Post, with his machinations at that reputable newspaper, and the right wing tilt of its editorials.

And there have been controversies surrounding ABC News and the Los Angeles Times as well.

All this, as well as the manipulative, deceitful, lie based Fox News Channel and the New York Post, owned by Rupert Murdoch and his right wing empire.

So honest, accurate journalism is in a massive crisis.

Attacks On First Amendment Escalating As Donald Trump Seeks Retribution

Ronald 13 Comments

The Donald Trump attacks on the First Amendment are escalating as retribution is sought against all critics.

Two weeks ago, the day that King Charles reminded America about checks and balances, and need for restriction of executive power, the Trump Administration proceeded to indict for the second time the former head of the FBI, James Comey, claiming wrongfully that Comey had threatened the life of President Trump.

Also, ABC was faced with a federal lawsuit due to the humor and comedy of Jimmy Kimmel, once before literally fired for his commentary on Donald Trump, but restored a week later.

The First Lady, Melania Trump, also condemned Jimmy Kimmel as promoting violence, pure hypocrisy, as it is her husband who is provoking terror and violence through his rhetoric and actions as President.

The growing threat against all in the federal and state governments across America are due to the provocative and divisive language and actions of the President, who cannot tolerate humor or criticism.

And the Trump Administration is pursuing legal action against news media, including even the conservative Wall Street Journal, owned by conservative Rupert Murdoch, as well as the NY Times, and undermining CNN which soon will likely be owned by David Ellison, of Paramount Skydance Media, which already has undermined CBS News since they gained control of that once great media institution.

Additionally, Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, has done great damage to that newspaper, turning it editorially into a right wing direction, while the regular news coverage is still considered reliable.

The Decline Of Honest Journalism: Washington Post, CBS, And Potential Threat To CNN!

Ronald 17 Comments

American Democracy is in dire danger, with the decline of honest journalism, and with major news sources compromised.

The Washington Post, owned by Amazon tech entreneur Jeff Bezos, has just cut one third of its staff, including such departments as sports, local news, international news, and previously moving opinion columns toward a right wing slant. This was the newspaper which exposed the Watergate Scandal under President Richard Nixon, and has won the second most Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism, only behind the New York Times.

CBS News has become a disaster under Bari Weiss, no longer a beacon of decent, honest journalism, and if Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow were still alive, they would be in shock, as retired 94 year old Dan Rather, most assuredly, is now.

CNN is in danger of being taken over by the same Billionaire Larry Ellison family that now controls CBS News, and could lead to the destruction of the original, award winning cable news channel, created in 1980 by Ted Turner.

With the decline of so many reliable news sources, and Donald Trump interfering with freedom of the press, the future looks gloomy for upholding truth and facts, and maintaining the Constitution and the rule of law in the future!

CBS And CNN Are On The Road To Destruction!

Ronald 6 Comments

CBS News and CNN, two landmark news organizations that inform Americans and the entire world of the reality of every day news that affects hundreds of millions of lives, are now in what could be the death knell of their years of dedicated, non biased coverage.

Donald Trump has worked to undermine both organizations, as part of his war on journalism and the truth and reality of his destruction of American democracy and the rule of law.

CBS News has been taken over by Bari Weiss, a totally unqualified executive, who is doing the bidding of her employer, Paramount Skydance, and its multi billionaire owner, Larry Ellison and his son David Ellison, both good friends and associates of Donald Trump.

Weiss has interfered this past week in the show SIXTY MINUTES, preventing the airing of a story on the abuse of Venezuelan immigrants at the El Salvador Terrorism Confinement Center known by the acronym CECOT, including mostly non criminal immigrants deported by the Department of Homeland Security under Secretary Kristi Noem. This has caused an uproar over interference that is unacceptable, to cover up truth and facts.

Paramount Skydance is in the process of attempting to gain control of Warner Brothers Discovery, which would mean future control of CNN, creating a massive monopoly that would undermine CNN, alongside the present manipulation going on at CBS News.

So if this horrendous acquisition is permitted by the federal government with the support of Donald Trump, the value of two prestigious news organizations will be destroyed, as they will become propaganda organs, rather than reputable news sources, as they have been for many decades!

The Threat To Truth In Journalism

Ronald 8 Comments

A very significant part of any democracy is a free, uncontrolled journalism and news media that promotes accountability and truth by government.

Sadly, and tragically, there are danger signs that a free, unbridled journalism is rapidly being eviscerated.

Examples are ABC News and CBS News reacting to lawsuits pursued by Donald Trump by caving in, and paying financial damages, when they should have fought it out in court.

Also, CBS News has been compromised by new ownership, catering to Donald Trump and firing many on their staff.

Additionally, the Washington Post under Billionaire Jeff Bezos has changed the nature of editorials and columnists, and many leading figures in that newspaper have resigned.

The Los Angeles Times has also shown signs of conceding to the Trump Administration in many instances, and CNN also has demonstrated willingness to be cautious in its approach to the Trump Administration.

For now, only the New York Times and MSNBC (to be renamed MS NOW on November 15) are resisting pressures by the Trump Administration.

All News Outlets Except One Refuse New Pentagon Media Restrictions!

Ronald 1 Comment

Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense (or War insisted by him and Donald Trump) has pushed out all access to Pentagon information, by forcing all journalists to leave their long determined rights to have ability to question and investigate what is going on in our government, regarding military matters and national security.

Except for the one case of One America News, an extremist right wing MAGA Republican news outlet, ALL other news and journalistic websites and their reporters no longer will be able to gain information, except through outside connections, undermining the idea of a government accountable to the population of the nation. Corruption and abuse will flourish as a result!

So 40 news outlets, from left wing to right wing, including
Fox News
Newsmax Media
Daily Caller
Washington Examiner
(all right wing oriented)
join other, more reputable outlets including
NBC News
ABC News
CBS News
CNN
MSNBC
Associated Press
The Economist
The Guardian
The Hill
Huffington Post
New York Times
Los Angeles Times
NPR
PBS Newshour
Politico
Real Clear Politics
Wall Street Journal
Washington Post,
Washington Times
and numerous lesser known news outlets in their unity against the Pentagon mandate!

This is massive interference with Freedom of the Press!

The Rapid Decline Of Honest Journalism

Ronald 5 Comments

A very sad and dangerous situation exists, where journalism at all levels has been compromised in the time of the Trump Presidency.

We have seen courageous, challenging journalists such as Terry Moran of ABC News and Jim Acosta of CNN forced out of their positions for the “nerve” to challenge Donald Trump and his supporters on their policies and actions.

We have seen ABC News and CBS News making financial settlements after lawsuits by Donald Trump over their coverage of news and interviews that Trump decided to sue, and the settlements leading to contributions to a future Donald Trump Presidential Library in South Florida.

We have seen major newspapers, such as the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post, making changes designed to avoid alienating Trump.

We have seen late night comedians, such as Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, along with “The View” and “Saturday Night Live” coming under attack, as well as the leadership and tone of “Sixty Minutes” being changed dramatically.

The new ownership of CBS by the billionaire Larry Ellison family is in process of destroying the long held, high level, reputation of that news network, that had such courageous journalists in the past as Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, and Dan Rather.

The coverage of White House press conferences and other activities, including the Pentagon, has been compromised by Trump, his Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, censoring who can be present, who can ask questions, and denying freedom of speech and press at every turn.

This is all very alarming, as without a free, uncontrolled media environment, and without the ability to have comedy shows that can make fun of government leaders and policies, we are on the road to a total Fascist authoritarian government, which, once accomplished, will be hard to prevent long term damage.

Scott Pelley Of “Sixty Minutes” Issues Warning On Authoritarianism!

Ronald 10 Comments

Journalist Scott Pelley of CBS’s “Sixty Minutes”, has many years of reputable work at that news source. He gave a scathing commencement speech at Wake Forest University in North Carolina a week ago, against the authoritarian ideology of Donald Trump, which has provoked wild, vehement accusations from Fox News Channel and its disgraceful talk show hosts.

Pelley, rightfully, warned of the threat to freedom of speech and press represented by the Trump Administration’s attack on journalism, higher education, and law firms.

He also condemned the arrest of foreign students on visas for their use of their right of freedom of speech to criticize the Israel-Gaza War, as well as the attacks on voting rights being perpetrated by the federal government under Donald Trump.

Pelley condemned the fear being promoted by Trump loyalists who are working to undermine the Bill of Rights, and his rhetoric was uncompromising, setting an example for Americans who are terrified at the authoritarian bent of Trump and his supporters.

Pelley has been attacked as being “unhinged”, another of a multitude of examples of “projection”, accusing critics of Trump of what Trump and his supporters do regularly, speak and act in an “unhinged” manner.

Pelley is doing a great service in using his reputation to promote opposition to the dangerous trend that is running amuck around Trump, the movement toward authoritarian Fascism.

If Americans lose the First Amendment, then democracy and the rule of law is lost long term.