348 Comments

Thank YOU for your powerful writing, Sasha. Yours was one of the first Substacks I subscribed to during the COVID madness. We are the media now!

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Sounds like Sasha Stone is the gateway drug for Substack.🤣

She was my 'first' too.😘

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Yes, same here.

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Sasha was my first substack subscription ever and its the best $$ I ever spent on media. Love you, girl

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founding

"You are the media now." --Elon Musk (7:17 AM Nov 6, 2024)

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Agreed! This should be shown to kids day 1 of school to open their eyes.

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Never hire a reporter who has a journalism degree. Never hire a reporter right out of college.

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Some of the best reporters I ever worked with never saw the inside of a college.

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Probably better off for it.

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You need reporters with a wide general knowledge, not a narrow journalism degree.

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That's exactly how my J school approached it in the 80s: only 25% J courses. They wanted to allow time for you to take as many other classes as possible, expand your knowledge of the world. I learned about anthropology, geology, logic, and yes, public administration ~ all kinds of things that helped build a hella-strong Bullshit Detector. Came in handy the past 5 years.

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Nov 7·edited Nov 7

I'd settle with a simple 11th grade comprehensive test score and basic facts finding:

who, what, when and how? leave the summary conclusion for the reader.

As I'm sure you're aware, "Advocacy Journalism" started to show its head in the late 1990s when academics pushed concepts of imaginary realism promoting narrative over focus on factual reporting, thus acceptance of literary journalism. But one must note Hunter S Thompson's groundbreaking model. And Ben Rhodes behind Obama also used these tools! lol

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I think I heard something about the attributes of people that Elon Musk evaluates to join his companies.

They must have lots of curiosity and also must be ready and willing to work really hard. I guess these attributes might work for journalists.

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I'm in awe of my grandfather, who started out on a Chicago newspaper as an immigrant errand boy with a third grade education and ended up writing for it and later owning his own newspaper. He rode the rails for 50 years, looking for the story about his fellow immigrants and ended up decorated by the king of his birth country. His son followed in his footsteps but with a baccalaureate and was a successful journalist, but not nearly as celebrated as his autodidact father.

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Agreed. I’ve read that many years ago they did not usually have journalism degrees, but just got a job at a local paper, usually after knocking around a bit. Post WW2 many had been in the service, and general knowledge and life experience were important. A necessary first lesson was “don’t let them snow you.” I think that when TV network news first began the networks insisted on many years as a reporter at a major city paper, but it sort of slowly changed into looking good on the tube.

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I had a student years ago who wanted to become a journalist. I was her academic advisor and recommended that she take literature, history, and political science classes as part of her undergraduate work in part so she would have a context for her work. I also advised her against majoring in journalism. She decided against that approach and majored in journalism. I've lost track of her but I imagine she's an advocate now and not an actual journalist.

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There may be exceptions (I don't doubt that there are), but your concerns are quite valid.

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Truthfully, it shouldn’t be “never',” but it makes for a good sound bite.

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NPR just did a story on health insurance. The reporter didn't know the difference between a deductible and a co-pay. Probably had a J-degree.

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Agreed always hire far right people who will never be anything but GOP puppet.

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What are you talking about, dude? Trump? Was RFK Jr. a far right hire? Tulsi? Elon?

I pity you living and suffocating in this world of make believe bubble detached from reality. Try an anger management class...it might put a smile on your face.

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Nov 7·edited Nov 7

RFK Jr always had far right ideas on health care, opposed ACA and did not agree with climate change.

Tulsi switched EVERY single stance besides antiwar within one year after being hired in a multi millon dollar deal with Fox

Elon is a bitter oligarch all because Democrats snubbed him for Boeing and he doesn't even believe in Climate change just uses the sales from gullible customers.

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I hope you're not wondering why you lost Tuesday.

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He seldom wonders about anything.

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See Biden on why Democrats lost 2024 same results of 1972 Democrats run the worst elections sometimes.

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uh...are you afraid if you just say Kamala was a terrible candidate, you would be called a sexist and a racist? For crying out loud, don't you know if you run her again, she will lose again???

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Cry moar! Liberal tears are the conservatives' adrenochrome...lol. Effing moron.

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founding

Yes, the absurdity of his claims is oddly comforting.

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Elon is bitter? I hardly think so.

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For losing out on that contract he sure was and never forgave Democrats because once that happened he sharply moved to the GOP on all issues.

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One thing I am sure of: mono -causation to explain why anything happens is rare. Musk has a ton of government contracts, losing one doesn’t sound like enough to bother switching parties over. Most of his business with the US gov is through the DOD, not Congress anyway. He switched when Trump was shot. In any case, business is better off supporting Republicans than Democrats at the moment. Just look at how the market is reacting to Trump’s victory, after all. All that said, his support for free speech is better served by Republicans than Democrats.

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moronic. how about Manchin and Sanders, too? they didn't meet your virtue signaling standards for (your shrinking) party, too?

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Manchin knew he was going to lose however I will give Sanders my sympathy because Democrats have the ideals of socialism the very thing Sanders wants but as soon as a candidate says he is one they chicken out and nominate easily controllable trash.

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If it weren't for the ultra corrupt DNC, Bernie might have been our Trump. You know he doesn't care a whit about the woke/trans/pronouns stuff...

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GOP puppets? I get you're having a bad week, but put down whatever you're using to cope.

The actual GOP is being swept away almost as decisively as the DNC. The people that blew this all up - NONE of them are the actual GOP. Many of the "GOP" stalwarts were actively endorsing the Manchurian Kamala.

The team that won the support of the electorate on Tuesday don't even refer to themselves that way - they call themselves the Unity Party. They raised their own money, they did their own work - the GOP party apparatus hates Trump and the rest of them probably more than they hate their counterparts on the Blue team.

The copium is WILD, here. But keep on arguing the same failed garbage - you'll keep reaping the same failure.

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GOP hasnt been swept away the apparatus you mentioned died 2012 after Romney lost and note most Democrats hate their guts even more than Trump hates them. But back to my comment yea GOP media are nothing more than puppets to Trump has been since he won 2016. You will never see them post negative remarks on him or the MAGA party. They squelch any bad news on the MAGA GOP or call it fake news and like MSM are never unbiased or remotely neutral.

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so offensively paternal, speaking on behalf of the working class, about how much you know better what's good for them that they do. Maybe they just got tired of your stuck-up obliviousness...

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I take it you've never seen National Review. One of the most consistently anti-Trump conservative publications out there. To a lesser extent--but not much--you could say the same about the conservative Wall Street Journal Op-Ed page too. Far more criticism comes from so-called "GOP media" than has ever come out of Democrat state media about Biden, Harris or Obama. You think "GOP Media" is literally only Fox News.

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Even Fox News is no cheerleader for the new team - they fired Tucker Carlson, a wildly successful asset, because he strayed from their establishment narrative.

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They still have an evening stacked of nothing, but Democrat haters and the big Democrat defender left his Sunday show.

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What “GOP media” Trump puppets are you talking about? Your insight into the GOP is formed by looking through muddy, scratched, low power binoculars. The Romney loss was nowhere near an internal reckoning. Just like 2016 didn’t transform the DNC.

There are still geriatric power brokers throughout both parties. They work intimately together - like stage fighters. To fantasize anything different is ridiculously naïve.

There’s the establishment uniparty, and then there’s the outliers. (Note, Bernie is an outlier. That’s why he was removed in favor of Hillary. Read what he has said this week.)

When Kamala celebrated a Cheney endorsement, that should have blown the blinkers off even the most committed partisan. I didn’t see a lot of hating Cheney guts (or any of the other deep establishment “republicans for Kamala”.

Take off your partisan blinders.

Or don’t; you can scream at the rain clouds forever, no problem. There are millions of puppets doing just that on both “sides”.

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1. I lived during 2004 and GOP media kept saying how great the occupation was and never ever criticize Bush and GOP for their nasty attacks on Kerry even Sen McCain was furious.

2. Harris was desperate for GOP endorsement to give her any chance.

3. If I had partisan blinders you will not hear me attack Biden or Harris

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For the majority of people (judging by this election) all we want is the facts: who, what, when, where, why. We don't want a reporter's or journalist's ideology or political preference to enter in the reporting. We don't want the news producer, who is in the pocket of a corporation or with a strong political stance, to tell us what to think. We have put up with that bs for way too long. And that does not make us far right or puppets. Watch it HL3, you're bordering on insults.

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People dont want the facts its very clear they dont. I have seen what passes as facts on the internet and news outlets. MSM are the current punching bags since they proclaimed they were truth talkers but look at the state of news who is better than them?

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Who is better than the MSM? LOLOLOLO This is the point of Sasha's post above.

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Its very obvious what she thinks is better and she doesnt even hide her outright hate and disgust for anything remotely liberal now.

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So leave. Go find your ilk.

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Have you considered a suicide protest? I mean words are one thing, but what if you doused yourself with gas and lit a match? boy, that would show your convictions (of being a poor loser)...

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Hate and disgust which is richly, richly deserved.

Especially since liberalism has become illiberal.

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yeah, there is goes. people are so stupid, they don't just do what you demand they do, cause, huh, you are so smart, and should tell them what to do. I would ask HL3, if you are prepared to accept the results of a fair democratic election, but it's clear the answer is no.

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Democrats accepted the losses within 24hrs little bitch GOP have yet to concede in many of their elections yet.

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GOP is center left

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GOP is not center left on most issues, and they are still the pro-guns, relgious and free speech as long as they benefit from it.

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Oh yeah, keep forgetting about that frickin' constitution and it's pesky bill of rights.

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Give ONE example of the GOP trying to remove constitutional speech rights when they "don't benefit" from it. Because considering the entire American cultural and political establishment is against them, they would have to be suppressing an awful lot of speech.

On the other hand, I could give many examples of the Democrats and their henchmen in said establishment doing the very same when THEY don't benefit from it. (The Twitter files ring a bell?)

You're out of your depth here HL3.

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Never said the violated the 1st amendment did I? But they have done very underhanded things to subvert other powers for their gain like doing the same thing Democrats did in 2020 opening up an investigation this time with Stacey Abrams headed by the same person running for office ie Gov Kemp.

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All you have to contribute is cynicism and scorn? Unfortunately, the world is full of those things already. Maybe try to develop a broader talent and skill set.

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If all others have to give me is that I give it right back. GOP for 4 rans ran a cynicism and scorn at everything. Notice not once did they commend democrats for anything good including the stock market and notice right after they are praising the stock market.

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Good for you! I so admire you.

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The Democrats and the Left are the new Right. Fact. Tuesday was a huge defeat for the new right.

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Yeah democrats are now the neocon Cheney party

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I support proxy war I will not support troops going there. Israeli is just as much a proxy war as Ukraine.

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Proxy wars are for cowards

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America won its independence from a proxy war think on that...

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I believe in something so much I’m willing to let others die for my beliefs.

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Troll

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I am in good company then...

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I don’t think you want that.

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What I don't understand is how the legacy media (I won't call them "mainstream" anymore because they are not), has not figured that to survive it just has to report the truth without favoritism. I think there is a huge appetite for that, but it is not being met. Legacy is far left, and new conservative outlets are to the right. Sometimes the Right is in the wrong and should be called out. Much more often, IMO, the Left is in the wrong and almost never gets called out. Just give us the unvarnished truth. Most Americans are smart enough to figure it out. Remember when a newspaper had 30 pages of news, weather, ads, and sports and 2 pages of editorials? Now it's shrunk to 16 pages of leftist opinions disguised as news.

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I’m surprised that no owners besides Bezos have at least gotten the hint. Those media people make a ton of money and have next to know viewers/readers anymore. And there are a LOT of them saying the same thing. At some point, some exec who actually has to look at the bottom line is going to have to make big changes or just cut the whole “newsertainment” segment loose.

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Can you say, Big Pharma? The advertising owns the company and therefore the content is moderated to keep the $$ flowing. Follow the money.

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They went in that direction for purely financial reasons. With so many media properties suffering, they decided that catering to a base of true believers was a way to turn a profit again. Some call it the Fox model, and it worked for The NY Times. I hate that the world is moving in that direction, because I value truth, but it remains to be seen whether those trying to push the news organizations back to the middle, people such as Bezos, are successful. If they were, I might even consider giving them another try.

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How I wish.

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There is a legacy Right media centered in Salem Media which is almost as bad but a lot smaller than the leftist media. Alt media is the true conservative platform.

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Spot on again. Beautifully written.

Legacy media is dead.

But watching clips online of their meltdown, they did not learn a thing.

They either don’t see it or don’t care.

I say they don’t care.

They will never change.

Younger generations do not get their news from legacy media.

They will soon be placed on the ash heap of history.

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Agree!

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Legacy media is the only outlet for the liberals its not dead but only half the country listens to them.

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My opinion: I am happy that the msm has gotten to this point in time. Because now they have fully revealed themselves to be not only biased but active promoters of the democrat party. Everybody now sees it, based on the latest polling of trust in the media, which is below that of congress. My thanks to them for exposing themselves right out in the open. No more hiding in the shadows. They have entered the spotlight for all to see.

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PRADA/Pravda. Genius.

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Also, in this context it's Twitter, not X. Otherwise great article!

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And yet it’s still there.

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I saw someone's hat recently, "Make 1984 Fiction Again". I see nothing that indicates a Mea Culpa from the Main Stream/legacy Media. They just don't care and are completely impervious to any kind of outside criticism such as what you have written or any type of self-reflection. They think they are smarter than everyone else, but they are not. Thanks for another great piece.

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I have that shirt. 👍

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Mamala said she'd bring joy to America and for once, she delivered.

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🤣 Good one!

My husband woke me up this morning by yelling from downstairs: "Joy cometh in the morning!"

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😂

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They still don’t understand.

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I'm not sure they have the capacity for self-reflection that would be needed to ever understand.

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Their capacity for self-reflection is DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO their love of money💰.

The root of all evil.

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They right there. Watch them change fast once the pharma ad $$$$$ disappears.

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I think you mean indirectly proportional. They don’t examine their shortcomings because they don’t want to lose their jobs in a dying field.

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Rachel Maddow is telling her audience to resist the coming Trump dictatorship. No self-awareness, no self-reflection. She probably thinks Trump will put them in camps, shoot them in the face, or deport them. If she'd listen, she'd hear Trump inviting all Americans to get on the train with the rest of us. Exodus 10:26: "not one hoof will be left behind." All of us now have a way to share in being Americans now.

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And they never will. For them to understand it would require self evaluation and when you already think you know everything there is no reason to look at past actions because you are perfect.

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John - that's my concern as well. My husband and I were discussing the past 36 hours....yes, it has only been 36 hours since Trump's victory was announced....and we both said that when we're wrong, we acknowledge it. The ability to admit that you're wrong is a tremendous part of what makes a marriage/friendship/relationship/work environment successful. We're human and as such, we're faulty. Admit it, amend it, and move on.

But the left seems permanently stuck. They attacked - hard - and they lost in 2016. They dug in deeper and deeper and attacked harder and harder.....and then we had 2020. Assured that of course they must now be vindicated by Trump's defeat and now had a mandate (even though they did not)....they dug in even deeper and continued ruthless name calling and attacks and censorship and abuse. And now in 2024 - they have lost again. But rather than reflect, they're venomously angry and they're planning to double down.

If Trump ends up serving his next term as a fascist and a dictator and the second coming of Hitler, well - then I'll admit I was horribly wrong. But if his first term is any indication of what his second will be, that's highly unlikely. And he's already 78....how long can he possibly stay in the White House past January 2029, when #48 (Vance, please!) would be inaugurated?

Regardless, the point is - if we are wrong, we will admit it. And we'll reflect upon what the Republican Party can do better for our families, and our country. But the left can not seem to accomplish this introspection. The narcissism is startling - it really is all about them. It's abusive, it's vindictive, and it's genuinely unkind to more than half of their fellow Americans.

We've got to get past this, folks. I just don't know how to help people who don't seem willing or able to help themselves. But we have a country to run, and a lot of us have to heal from the past 4, 8, 16 years of non-stop abuse and name-calling and vitriol. We have a mandate now for real, people are sick and tired of the way they're being treated.

Praying some eyes are opened and some peace can be restored.

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This is one of the great benefits of the sacrament of Confession; being able to be forgiven if one is sincerely sorry, sincere about resolving to not to it again, and making amends with anyone harmed.

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I couldn’t agree with you more! Bravo!

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Great comment EL. What is really sad is even now…. When the left has to back off of their “the electoral college is not fair” nonsense because they lost the POPULAR vote… they STILL dig their heals in. Left to their echo chambers and their self-righteousness. Equally sad is the increase in revenue the legacy media will see these next 4 years because nothing sells better than catering to the TDS crowd during a Trump presidency.

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Exactly. And those who disagree with them are dunces.

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People hate to understand anything that threatens their income.

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I couldn’t bear to watch the media for years and now I’ll never ever ever watch it. Even the local channel 9 eyewitness news, the local paper also became infected, and it will never change. Hopefully, it’ll go out of business.

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Common left-wing owners

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Agree and ditto.

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What are the chances that anyone on the Editorial board at the NYT's or WaPo reads this?

They probably should.

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lol

CIA and State memos will still be issued from these front companies.

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I thought NYT's was FBI?

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NYT, you must be kidding !

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Thank you Sasha for being the brave warrior that you are! You are an inspiration.

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founding

Let us not forget to thank the gutless, leftist academics who have nearly ruined a generation of students.

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Thank-you Legacy Media for helping me find real and courageous journalists like Sasha Stone and Glen Greenwald.

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And to this minute the same idiotic media has no true idea why Trump won. Still bringing out racism and sexism as a reason. Haven’t grasped how many ‘non whites’ voted for trump.

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This article is terrific. I am new to this Substack and I'm so happy that I found it this morning! The legacy media has made us all feel half-crazy for 8 years and their current exposure is very, very satisfying! Now we just have to understand or prove the cult-driven editorial or ownership bias of these outlets, whether it is wholly monetary or whether the reporters themselves are just nuts!

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Welcome Sally! Many of us have been here for years, watching Sasha change an go thru plenty of pain as her old friends cancelled her for speaking Truths. Her catalog of posts are worth your time. Sasha also has an original substack called Hollywoodwoketopia.com, as her career was as a Hollywood reporter.

For now, check out Sasha’s past post from Jan ‘24 where she explained why she was rooting for a landslide this election. I remember this one so well because she closed the post (which she often does) w/ a musical selection that fits the theme, and here we stand with her dreams coming true. In this case it was Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks serenading us till yesterday ;)

https://sashastone.substack.com/p/why-im-rooting-for-the-1972-landslide?triedRedirect=true

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It's a great community here. Welcome!

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