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Media Worst: Some Pro-Palestinian Protesters Did Something

(Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Drew Holden
November 19, 2023

Happy Sunday. Let's check in on the media this past week.

Nothing to see here: News outlets hid the purpose of a violent pro-Palestinian demonstration at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., referring to the crowd in generic terms, like "anti-war protesters."

CNN, Nov. 16: "Top House Democrats Evacuated From DNC Headquarters as Police Clash With Protesters Calling for Gaza Ceasefire":

Law enforcement clashed with protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war outside of the Washington headquarters of the Democratic National Committee Wednesday night after authorities said the demonstration turned violent and lawmakers were evacuated from the building.

ABC News, Nov. 15: "1 Arrest Made After Capitol Police Clash With Protesters Outside DNC":

One arrest was made for assault on an officer Wednesday night outside of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., according to Capitol Police.

Capitol Police said they had to "keep back" 150 people who were "illegally and violently" protesting.

Six officers sustained injuries from encounters with the demonstrators, "ranging from minor cuts to being pepper sprayed to being punched," according to Capitol Police.

The protest did not make the print edition of the Washington Post the next day.

The prior week's pro-Palestinian protest in D.C. got plenty of hype, but the anti-Semitic vandalism was largely ignored.

By contrast, when hundreds of thousands of Israel supporters rallied on the National Mall, the media understated the size and generally gave the event short shrift.

Associated Press, Nov. 14: "Tens of Thousands of Supporters of Israel Rally in Washington, Crying ‘Never Again’":

Supporters of Israel rallied by the tens of thousands on the National Mall under heavy security Tuesday, voicing solidarity in the fight against Hamas and crying "never again."

NPR, Nov. 14: "Thousands Took to the Streets in Washington During Pro-Israel March":

Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered on the National Mall here in Washington today. The rally was billed as a march for Israel. It was intended to show solidarity as Israel wages war in the Gaza Strip in response to the October attack by Hamas.And that's if outlets covered the pro-Palestinian violence at all.

Thanks, Bidenomics: News outlets were in a festive mood as the price of a Thanksgiving meal ticked down from last year's record high, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1725033456407658793

USA Today, Nov 17: "Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner May Be Cheaper as Inflation Gives Up Its Seat at the Table":

As Americans complete their Thanksgiving grocery shopping, they might thankful their final tabs aren't much larger than they were last year.

The consumer price index rose at a 3.2% annual rate in the October inflation report released this week. But, most important in the report to America's home chefs: Food prices are up 3.3% from 2022. Compare that to last year when prices jumped more than 10% from 2021.

While food prices are in general a bit higher, your bill for a traditional thanksgiving dinner may actually be lower than last year's.

Axios, Nov. 15: "Thanksgiving Dinner Prices Falling From Record High":

The survey is another sign that inflation is cooling. It comes a day after the Labor Department released the Consumer Price Index for October which showed slower increases.

CNN, Nov. 15: "Thanksgiving Dinner Will Be Less Expensive This Year. You Can Thank Turkeys (And Cooling Inflation)":

Going for seconds this Thanksgiving won’t be so painful–for your wallet.

But turkey still costs 25 percent more than it did on the Thanksgiving before Biden became president.

Fair and balanced: The Israeli government released new evidence—and even showed CNN—that Hamas is operating in and around hospitals. The White House confirmed Israel's claims that Hamas is once again using Gazan civilians as "human shields."

https://twitter.com/YaariCohen/status/1725231074224005254

Nevertheless, news outlets continued to imply that Israel is indiscriminately targeting hospitals in its war with Hamas.

Many suggested more evidence is needed to disprove that the lying terrorist group's denials.

Washington Post, Nov. 16: "Israeli Troops Scour Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital for Evidence of Hamas Presence":

The search of Israeli forces of Gaza’s largest hospital stretched into its second day Thursday amid the wait for more concrete evidence of extensive Hamas infrastructure at the facility that precipitated the raid.

New York Times, Nov. 16: "Israel Seizes Gaza Hospital That Became Symbol of the War Itself":

Hamas and the hospital’s leadership have denied the Israeli assertions. Al Shifa, they say, is nothing other than a medical center and sanctuary for thousands of people uprooted by Israel’s strikes on Gaza. For Palestinians, the Israeli military’s focus on a major hospital, when such facilities are typically off-limits during times of war, is proof of its disregard for Palestinian life. ...

Should the Israelis in the end be unable to come up with compelling evidence that the hospital was used to house troops, store weapons and command fighters, they may find that the time left to achieve their stated goal—removing Hamas from power—has been curtailed. Israel’s targeting of Al Shifa has already drawn global concern; a failure to prove the raid’s necessity could make Israel’s international partners less supportive of further Israeli operations in Gaza.

CNN, Nov. 15: "Israeli Troops and Tanks Raid Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital":

Israel is under significant international pressure to prove its claims about Hamas’ infiltration of the hospital, in order to justify some of its military decisions, which could otherwise constitute a possible serious violation of international humanitarian law.

It was unclear what more the media need to see.

Climate files: News outlets hailed Biden's climate deal with Chinese dictator Xi Jinping as a "breakthrough," a "major step," and a "crucial signal for the world."

Washington Post, Nov. 15: "In a Breakthrough, US And China Agree To Restart Climate Talks":

The United States and China, the world’s two largest greenhouse gas emitters, have agreed to restart formal climate change talks that had been on hold for more than a year, in a breakthrough that could inject momentum into international climate negotiations that begin later this month in Dubai.

Associated Press, Nov. 15: "China and the US Pledge To Step Up Climate Efforts Ahead of Biden-Xi Summit and UN Meeting":

A climate expert described the agreement by both countries to include methane in their next climate action plans as "a major step."

CNN, Nov. 15: "US And China Pledge To Ramp Up Renewables in Place of Planet-Warming Fossil Fuels Ahead of Biden-Xi Summit":

The statement marks the first time China has officially stated its intent to control the release of all greenhouse gas emissions–not just carbon dioxide as outlined in its current climate goals, said a Chinese climate scholar in Beijing, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as he did not obtain approval to speak to the media.

NBC News, Nov. 14: "US and China Pledge To Cooperate on Climate Ahead of Biden-Xi Meeting":

The announcement is a crucial signal for the world, much of which takes its climate cues from the U.S. and China.

The media's enthusiasm was undimmed by Beijing's long record of backing out of or failing to live up to international agreements, particularly on the climate.

CBS News brought on an expert from the anti-interventionist Quincy Institute to point out that at least China isn't as anti-American as Russia or Iran.

The segment made no mention of China's deepening alliance with those states or of the Quincy Institute's recent advocacy for rolling back U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Stay safe out there, and see you next week.

Published under: DNC , Israel , Media , Palestinian Authority

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