Latest news with #Let'sGoBrandon
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Like, share, collapse: The curious case of manufactured modern consent
Excerpt: We agreed to everything. Even the crash. Especially the crash. That's the magic of consent in the age of capital: you won't even notice when you're nodding your way into ruin—with a selfie filter and a 'Let's Go Brandon' mug in hand. There's something perversely elegant about a society that can manufacture both iPhones and ideologies with the same ruthless efficiency. Yanis Varoufakis [a Greek politician and economist], riffing off Chomsky's Manufacturing Consent, tosses us a neat little paradox wrapped in economic angst: that the more financialized our lives become, the more agreeable we get—and the more spectacular our breakdowns. Consent, it seems, isn't what it used to be. Once upon a time, it had to be extracted—with religion, kings, or gulags. These days, it's delivered via push notification and monetized outrage. Capitalism doesn't just want your labour; it wants your belief system bundled in prime-time infotainment and Facebook Lives. All dynamic societies, Varoufakis says, thrive on two processes: the making of surplus and the making of consent. The former fills your wallet (or used to). The latter convinces you that it's okay the neighbour got a fatter wallet for doing the same job. But somewhere along the way, as finance ballooned and factories vanished, this little duet hit a remix. Consent stopped being coerced and became curated. The age of propaganda gave way to the era of the podcast. Enter Trump, stage right—red tie flapping, indictment count rising. A real-estate mogul-turned-cable news messiah who understood early on that if you can't manufacture consent, just manufacture chaos and sell it in trucker hats. His genius wasn't policy; it was narrative ownership. He turned politics into pro wrestling and got half the country to cheer the heel turn. The other half? They rage-tweeted, which was basically a form of engagement. The algorithm doesn't care why you're angry, only that you are. And it's not just America. From Modi's WhatsApp bhakts to Europe's Hungary Games, the playbook is being photocopied at scale. Financial precarity? Blame the migrants. Sky-high inequality? Distract with culture wars. It's cheaper than redistributing wealth, and it polls better in the suburbs. So we scroll. We shop. We 'stand with' whatever the feed suggests today. We nod along to leaders who promise to make things great again—no one quite asks for whom. And then, once every few years, the scaffolding collapses and we wonder how no one saw it coming. Maybe we didn't need to. Maybe deep down, we agreed to the fall too. Late capitalism doesn't knock. It slides into your DMs with a 20% coupon, a righteous cause, and a man in a suit yelling on TikTok or those Meta platforms. All it asks for is your consent—and your complicity when the crash comes dressed as patriotism.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - The Cost of Arrogance: NPR's undoing is a cautionary tale for the media
This week, President Trump signed an executive order that seeks to restrict public funds to NPR and PBS. Since appropriations are made two years in advance, the immediate impact of the order is debatable. However, it is a moment the media should use for long-overdue self-reflection. I have been critical of some of the administration's attacks on the media, from barring the Associated Press from some White House events to lifting protections of the media from subpoenas regarding their sources. However, if these objections are going to have any legitimacy, the media must take a serious look at what it has become. This coming week, I have the honor of giving the keynote address for the Center for Integrity in News Reporting at the Library of Congress. For many of us who have been part of the media for decades, these are precarious times for the American press. The damage done to the press in the last decade would have been unimaginable when I started. The most chilling fact is that it is almost entirely self-inflicted. The state of American media was captured recently when the president of the White House Correspondents' Association (and MSNBC correspondent) Eugene Daniels declared, 'We are not the opposition.' Given the controversy that had occurred over the association originally booking a vehemently anti-Trump comedian for the dinner, it seemed more like a punchline than a plausible claim. As if to bring that comedic point home the next day, the New York Times published its collection of essays titled, 'A Road Map of Trump's Lawless Presidency.' A recent study showed that media coverage of the Trump Administration has been 92 percent negative. The undoing of American journalism began in 'J-schools,' where young reporters were taught that the touchstones of neutrality and objectivity were no longer viable. At schools like the University of Texas, students are told that it is time to 'leave neutrality behind.' Stanford journalism professor, Ted Glasser, has insisted that 'journalists need to be overt and candid advocates for social justice, and it's hard to do that under the constraints of objectivity.' Editors soon picked up on the change and declared that 'Objectivity has got to go' in hiring reporters committed to what I have called 'advocacy journalism.' The result has been a transformation of American journalism into a type of echo chamber that amplifies liberal and often partisan Democratic talking points. That includes framing the news in overtly biased ways — for example, describing rioting as 'fiery but mostly peaceful.' The public were treated as clay to be shaped by an enlightened media in what they would see and hear. It was insulting and alienating. Recently, Trump noticed a wounded veteran with a Let's Go Brandon! sticker and President Donald Trump jokingly asked 'who is that?' That was a far more profound question than he may have intended. 'Let's Go Brandon!' became a familiar political battle cry not just against former President Joe Biden but also against the mainstream media. It was first heard during an Oct. 2021 interview with race-car driver Brandon Brown after winning his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race. When NBC reporter Kelli Stavast's questions were drowned out by loud and clear chants of 'F— Joe Biden,' the reporter quickly and inexplicably declared, 'You can hear the chants from the crowd, 'Let's go, Brandon!'' 'Let's Go Brandon!' instantly became a type of 'Yankee Doodling' of the political and media establishment. The response of the public itself has been deafening. Readers and viewers have left mainstream media in an exodus. Despite falling revenues and ratings, most of the media seems entirely clueless or, at least, unyielding. Even as media outlets plummet in revenue, editors and reporters continue to saw at the branch upon which they are sitting. When Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos brought in Robert Lewis, a British media executive, to try to restore profitability and readership to the paper, he was met with a virtual mutiny. Lewis nevertheless dropped this truth bomb in the middle of the newsroom: 'We are going to turn this thing around, but let's not sugarcoat it. It needs turning around. We are losing large amounts of money. Your audience has halved in recent years. People are not reading your stuff. Right. I can't sugarcoat it anymore.' It did not matter. The Post has been writing primarily for itself and a minority of the population for years. The staff seemed shocked that Bezos actually wanted for the paper to sustain itself rather than treat it as a liberal billionaire's vanity project. That brings us back to NPR. Some of us have objected for years to the government subsidizing one radio outlet. It only made it worse that NPR was overwhelmingly Democratic in both its staff and its coverage. For years, NPR ignored complaints over its bias. It had a lock on federal funding to subsidize operations, even though its audience was shrinking. One editor finally had enough. Uri Berliner went public, pointing out that NPR's Washington headquarters has 87 registered Democrats among its editors and zero Republicans. NPR and its CEO, Katherine Maher, were dismissive and frankly arrogant. They attacked Berliner, who ultimately resigned in disgust. Maher recently had a disastrous appearance before Congress in which she attempted to walk back her own biased public statements against Republicans and Trump. Some of us oppose NPR's funding as a form of state-sponsored media — a fundamental contradiction with principles of freedom of speech and the press. However, this is a moment the rest of the media should not let pass. NPR was ultimately undermined by its own arrogance. Editors and journalists did not have to worry about the fact that its shrinking audience was overwhelmingly white, liberal and affluent. Due to its support in Congress, it could make the vast majority of the country, which does not listen to its programming, help pay for its programming. It will now have to choose between sustaining its bias or expanding its audience. It certainly has every right to be a left-leaning outlet (as do right-leaning outlets), but it has to sustain itself in the marketplace. It is the same question that other media outlets must face as more Americans turn to new media. With polls showing the press at record lows in trust, media companies are increasingly writing for each other rather than most of the public. The choice now rests with the media and, more importantly, the public. American journalism will either re-embrace greater neutrality or continue toward insolvency and irrelevancy. Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of 'The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
The Cost of Arrogance: NPR's undoing is a cautionary tale for the media
This week, President Trump signed an executive order that seeks to restrict public funds to NPR and PBS. Since appropriations are made two years in advance, the immediate impact of the order is debatable. However, it is a moment the media should use for long-overdue self-reflection. I have been critical of some of the administration's attacks on the media, from barring the Associated Press from some White House events to lifting protections of the media from subpoenas regarding their sources. However, if these objections are going to have any legitimacy, the media must take a serious look at what it has become. This coming week, I have the honor of giving the keynote address for the Center for Integrity in News Reporting at the Library of Congress. For many of us who have been part of the media for decades, these are precarious times for the American press. The damage done to the press in the last decade would have been unimaginable when I started. The most chilling fact is that it is almost entirely self-inflicted. The state of American media was captured recently when the president of the White House Correspondents' Association (and MSNBC correspondent) Eugene Daniels declared, 'We are not the opposition.' Given the controversy that had occurred over the association originally booking a vehemently anti-Trump comedian for the dinner, it seemed more like a punchline than a plausible claim. As if to bring that comedic point home the next day, the New York Times published its collection of essays titled, 'A Road Map of Trump's Lawless Presidency.' A recent study showed that media coverage of the Trump Administration has been 92 percent negative. The undoing of American journalism began in 'J-schools,' where young reporters were taught that the touchstones of neutrality and objectivity were no longer viable. At schools like the University of Texas, students are told that it is time to 'leave neutrality behind.' Stanford journalism professor, Ted Glasser, has insisted that 'journalists need to be overt and candid advocates for social justice, and it's hard to do that under the constraints of objectivity.' Editors soon picked up on the change and declared that 'Objectivity has got to go' in hiring reporters committed to what I have called 'advocacy journalism.' The result has been a transformation of American journalism into a type of echo chamber that amplifies liberal and often partisan Democratic talking points. That includes framing the news in overtly biased ways — for example, describing rioting as ' fiery but mostly peaceful. ' The public were treated as clay to be shaped by an enlightened media in what they would see and hear. It was insulting and alienating. Recently, Trump noticed a wounded veteran with a Let's Go Brandon! sticker and President Donald Trump jokingly asked 'who is that?' That was a far more profound question than he may have intended. 'Let's Go Brandon!' became a familiar political battle cry not just against former President Joe Biden but also against the mainstream media. It was first heard during an Oct. 2021 interview with race-car driver Brandon Brown after winning his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race. When NBC reporter Kelli Stavast's questions were drowned out by loud and clear chants of 'F— Joe Biden,' the reporter quickly and inexplicably declared, 'You can hear the chants from the crowd, 'Let's go, Brandon!'' 'Let's Go Brandon!' instantly became a type of 'Yankee Doodling' of the political and media establishment. The response of the public itself has been deafening. Readers and viewers have left mainstream media in an exodus. Despite falling revenues and ratings, most of the media seems entirely clueless or, at least, unyielding. Even as media outlets plummet in revenue, editors and reporters continue to saw at the branch upon which they are sitting. When Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos brought in Robert Lewis, a British media executive, to try to restore profitability and readership to the paper, he was met with a virtual mutiny. Lewis nevertheless dropped this truth bomb in the middle of the newsroom: 'We are going to turn this thing around, but let's not sugarcoat it. It needs turning around. We are losing large amounts of money. Your audience has halved in recent years. People are not reading your stuff. Right. I can't sugarcoat it anymore.' It did not matter. The Post has been writing primarily for itself and a minority of the population for years. The staff seemed shocked that Bezos actually wanted for the paper to sustain itself rather than treat it as a liberal billionaire's vanity project. That brings us back to NPR. Some of us have objected for years to the government subsidizing one radio outlet. It only made it worse that NPR was overwhelmingly Democratic in both its staff and its coverage. For years, NPR ignored complaints over its bias. It had a lock on federal funding to subsidize operations, even though its audience was shrinking. One editor finally had enough. Uri Berliner went public, pointing out that NPR's Washington headquarters has 87 registered Democrats among its editors and zero Republicans. NPR and its CEO, Katherine Maher, were dismissive and frankly arrogant. They attacked Berliner, who ultimately resigned in disgust. Maher recently had a disastrous appearance before Congress in which she attempted to walk back her own biased public statements against Republicans and Trump. Some of us oppose NPR's funding as a form of state-sponsored media — a fundamental contradiction with principles of freedom of speech and the press. However, this is a moment the rest of the media should not let pass. NPR was ultimately undermined by its own arrogance. Editors and journalists did not have to worry about the fact that its shrinking audience was overwhelmingly white, liberal and affluent. Due to its support in Congress, it could make the vast majority of the country, which does not listen to its programming, help pay for its programming. It will now have to choose between sustaining its bias or expanding its audience. It certainly has every right to be a left-leaning outlet (as do right-leaning outlets), but it has to sustain itself in the marketplace. It is the same question that other media outlets must face as more Americans turn to new media. With polls showing the press at record lows in trust, media companies are increasingly writing for each other rather than most of the public. The choice now rests with the media and, more importantly, the public. American journalism will either re-embrace greater neutrality or continue toward insolvency and irrelevancy. .'
American Military News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
Videos/Pic: Trump signs wounded vet's ‘Let's Go Brandon' prosthetic leg
President Donald Trump met with wounded veterans on Wednesday in the Oval Office, including a wounded veteran with a prosthetic leg that featured a picture of the 'Let's Go Brandon' slogan. During Wednesday's meeting with wounded veterans in the Oval Office, Trump asked one of the wounded veterans who was featured in a picture on his prosthetic leg. In a video from the meeting that was shared on X, formerly Twitter, Trump can be heard asking the veteran, 'Who is that picture on there?' 'That is Joe Biden,' the veteran responded. 'And it says, 'Let's go, Brandon.'' The wounded U.S. veteran's response was quickly met with laughter by the other visitors in the Oval Office. In the middle of the laughter, Trump can be heard adding, 'I'm saying, 'What was that picture?' That's great.' A supporter of the President and Wounded Hero shows President @realDonaldTrump his 'Let's Go Brandon' prosthetic 🇺🇸 — Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) April 23, 2025 According to Fox News, the 'Let's Go Brandon' slogan went viral after a sports reporter misheard a crowd of racing fans following a NASCAR race in 2021. The outlet noted that the crowd started chanting 'F-ck Joe Biden' during an interview with Brandon Brown after he won the NASCAR Xfinity Series competition. READ MORE: Medal of Honor recipient reenlists with US Marines At the time, Kelli Stavast, an NBC reporter, claimed that the fans were chanting, 'Let's Go Brandon,' while they were actually chanting against former President Joe Biden, according to Fox News. The 'Let's Go Brandon' chant was repeatedly used to protest against the former president throughout his administration and the 2024 presidential election cycle. In another video from Trump's visit with wounded veterans on Wednesday, the president can be seen signing the 'Let's Go Brandon' prosthetic leg. In the video, Trump can be heard slamming Biden, saying, 'I can't stand this guy. You know why? Cause he did a rotten job.' The president added, '[I] put it right over his mouth, which he didn't use very much.' What do you do when you're the Commander-in-Chief and a wounded veteran wants you to sign his leg? Well, of course you oblige. And President @realDonaldTrump did it right over the 'Let's Go Brandon' image of Biden! — Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) April 24, 2025 Fox News reported that Trump addressed the wounded veterans and their families during Wednesday's visit in the Oval Office. Honoring the U.S. veterans for their service, Trump said, 'These are amazing people, great heroes.' The wounded veteran who showed Trump his 'Let's Go Brandon' prosthetic leg applauded the Trump administration during Wednesday's visit. 'Mr. President, we just, we're very happy with the energy that this administration is bringing, and it's an administration that does what it promises,' he said. 'We're behind you. We believe in you. And I think we all love you.' 'This is an Administration that does what it promises. We're behind you. We believe in you.' — Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) April 23, 2025
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Trump notices 'Let's Go Brandon' sticker during Oval Office meeting: 'Who is that?'
President Donald Trump elicited laughter in the Oval Office on Wednesday after asking a wounded veteran about his "Let's Go Brandon" sticker. While meeting with wounded veterans, the president appeared to notice the sticker, asking: "Who is that picture on there?" "That is Joe Biden," the veteran replied. "And it says, 'Let's go, Brandon.'" Attendees inside the iconic office erupted with laughter. "I'm saying, 'what was that picture?'" Trump said through laughter. "That's great." 'Down To Zero': Veteran Suicide Crisis Targeted In Va Bill By Bipartisan House Coalition The "Let's Go Brandon" phrase was coined during a 2021 NASCAR interview when a sports reporter misheard a crowd chant. Following Brandon Brown's victory at the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, a crowd began chanting "F--- Joe Biden" in the background of his interview. Read On The Fox News App NBC reporter Kelli Stavast apparently misunderstood what people were chanting, claiming they were saying "Let's Go Brandon!" Nascar Driver Brandon Brown Addresses Anti-biden 'Let's Go, Brandon' Chant The video quickly went mega-viral and people have since used the phrase as a way to rebuke former President Biden. Trump's lighthearted Oval Office moment took a heartfelt turn following the sticker exchange. Trump then addressed the group of veterans and their families, many of whom he had previously visited during his first term. "These are amazing people, great heroes," Trump said. Doge Uncovers Massive Va Contract For 'Salary Survey Data And Analysis' – Says It Canceled It, Saving Millions One veteran offered his gratitude to the former president: "Mr. President, we just were very happy with the energy that this administration is bringing, and it's an administration that says it does what it promises. We're behind you. We believe in you. And I think we all love you." Another veteran added: "Thank you for loving America, sir." The event marked the rollout of several new executive orders, including major education initiatives. Among them: reforms to the accreditation system for higher education, new transparency measures to expose foreign influence at U.S. universities, and a nationwide push to enhance artificial intelligence education for American youth. Fox News Digital's Bradford Betz contributed to this report. Original article source: Trump notices 'Let's Go Brandon' sticker during Oval Office meeting: 'Who is that?'
