In case you missed it, Rachel Maddow was on The Late Show last night, talking with Stephen Colbert. Two of my favorite people on tv. Smart, observant, well spoken. If you’re sick of politics, move on. But if you want to hear what these two had to say about the current situation in the US, here it is. As best I can tell, these three segments cover the entire interview. I understand if you don’t want to watch videos; I often skip them myself. If you’d rather read a transcription or a summary, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Rachel talks about the first 100 days of Trump’s second term and the demonstrations against his actions that she says are popping up in all 50 states on a daily basis:
She points out that Trump is bypassing Congress and ignoring court orders in an attempt to neutralize those branches of government and operate without the checks and balances that are outlined in the Constitution. I particularly like what she says about the importance of journalists and journalism:
Sounding hopeful amid the chaos of Trump’s second term, she notes that previous generations of Americans defeated attempts at fascist government takeovers:
I hope she’s right.
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I’m with her line of thinking and see it growing. I do believe we will win.
I agree our democracy and its balance of power is under serious attack. I’m trying to stay positive and hopeful, but it’s not easy.
Like you, I skip these kinds of videos.
Frankly, be they from the left (these two) or the right (anyone from Fox), the issue I have is one of rigid adherence to always condemning the other side while always supporting one’s own side. People on both sides often tie themselves in knots because of it.
Some of Trump’s aims make sense (for example, regulating the border). I can object to the way he’s going about it, but that’s a different argument.
Similarly, I was unhappy with many things the Biden administration did, and I can blame them for what they didn’t do.
Note how similar those two positions are . . . in fact, they are indistinguishable from each other.
A good rule of thumb is to always criticize those in power, pushing them to be better, even when they are on your side. At the same time, one should recognize good ideas even when they come from people on the other side.
Hence, the problem with Maddow and Colbert . . . you won’t catch them giving Trump any credit nor admit any fault to their side.
Their whole position can be summarized as: “They bad; we good.”
In other words, practically worthless. Then again, I didn’t watch the videos . . . maybe their positions have turned to be more nuanced, but I’ll never know (I’m not known for giving second chances).
Disperser, you seem to agree (with Trump) that “there are good people on both sides.” While I admire Maddow and Colbert equally with Pied Type, I hasten to add that not all Trump ideas are bad. The government is too big and there is corruption and fraud. The national debt is out of control. Greenland is important economically and strategically. The problem is not so much his ideas as his dismissal of democratic norms, his authoritarian attitude, his fascist nature, his lack of respect for expertise and planning, and not least, his lack of human empathy. Unless the majority of Americans recognize these things, our system of governance is truly in jeopardy. I recommend you watch the videos, particularly the one about the Oklahoma City family.
Well, Jim, you seem to assume an awful lot about me even as you rephrase what I basically said.
First, my comment was not aimed at discussing Trumps behavior, character, and actions, all of which — if you cared to research me at all — would tell you I find reprehensible and deeply troubling.
Second, my comment stated my position on Maddow and Colbert. Namely, that I have no trust in them — let alone respect — because I have found both to be biased in their reporting and commentary, aiming more to manipulating their audience than informing them. You might admire them, and that’s fine as we are allowed to have diverse opinions.
In that regard, that of trust, I have the same expectation of misleading presentations and reporting from Maddow and Colbert as I do from Fox News. Hence, I stopped reading and watching any of their content because I consider them bad actors. My comment expressed in generalities why I don’t value their opinions.
Third, the Oklahoma City story. Yes. Terrible. But unless you can point to willful intent, all I can say is, “Yes, terrible!” If you want me to tie that incident to specific individuals, then I’d have to wait for the investigation.
Finally, I’ll take issue with your claim that I:
“seem to agree (with Trump) that “there are good people on both sides.””
First, that’s a willful misreading of what I said. I said that there can be good ideas on both sides (which you repeated) and that I have a problem with the execution (which you repeated).
If you were to ask me, I would say, “there are lots of bad people on both sides” which is very different than what you imply. Generally, I have a healthy skepticism about the motives, aims, and actions of any people in power, regardless of their political bend.
Second, respectfully, you highlighting that quote tells me you have, in fact, fallen for the manipulation of the media.
Remember Hillary’s “deplorables” quote? The Right-Wing media/pundits mined that quote for their propaganda. The Left-Wing media/pundits mined Trump’s quote for their propaganda.
Perhaps the following link might help inform you in case you’re tempted to use that quote in the future.
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/tell-me-how-hillary-s-deplorab-RxeiVH1XT_SVYfCzEwe6Aw
Maddow is a respected journalist and author, and commentary is her job. I’ve long wondered why she stays at MSNBC, a proudly self-proclaimed liberal outlet that I abandoned years ago. I suppose she stays because they give her a primetime slot and she draws viewers. I don’t seek her out but she’s intelligent and well-informed; I respect that. Listening to her doesn’t mean I agree with everything she says.
Colbert is a comic. He mines current news for material, and that often means what’s happening in Washington (and whoever happens to be in power). He’s out for laughs and audience ratings and he gets both. That’s his job.
Both are intelligent and well informed. And had they not mentioned the OKC event, I still wouldn’t have heard about it. Even though OKC was my hometown for 60 years and I have three siblings living there. Nor have I come across the story anywhere except in OKC media, after I went looking for it.
Please read and respect my policy on comments.
While I was sitting here contemplating a response, Jim’s comment appeared. He says it better than I would have.
The story about the OKC family appears in the second video, the one talking about the importance of journalists. I found one KFOR report of the incident.
The US was founded as an escape from authoritarianism. Our government was designed to avoid and prevent it. If that’s what Trump wants, he should go someplace that will appreciate and embrace it.
Susan, know that I share the same opinion of the OKC raid as that of anyone with empathy and a respect for the rule of law and human decency.
That said, do you remember being incensed during the Obama administration for its aggressive stance in deportation? Did you even hear about it? How about their controversial raids?
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/ice-raids-during-the-obama-adm-QyYODW95T1e77Ld5netypA
I want to stress that I’m not engaging in “whataboutism” . . . I’m saying that people focus on their expectations. I’m sure the above raids are not what people will remember Obama for, but they sure will remember (and mention) this raid in regard to Trump. And yet, same issue with due process, same stretching of authority, and same result of deportation that put people in life-threatening situations.
Again, I’m not trying to minimize or dismiss the OKC incident. It should be brought to light and investigated. But I’m also saying that these types of incidents are usually only highlighted for political gain. They make good press because they elicit a visceral response by almost everyone.
Should they be reported? Absolutely . . . but I can’t help but smell the stink of political opportunism when pundits profess interest in what plays well to their audience, and only what plays well to their audience.
The key thing is to see how well these supposedly invested pundits follow up on the story once it fades from the public eye.
I will repeat my stance . . . pundits have only to willfully mislead me once for them to lose my trust and respect. The list of pundits I DON’T listen to if very, very long. The list of pundits I listen to is . . . well, I don’t have one at the moment.
And that’s the thing . . . Maddow and Colbert are not reporters. They are pundits. They shape opinions rather than inform.
I don’t particularly remember what either Obama or Biden did about immigration. It’s a problem that’s been mishandled one way or another for as long as I can recall. As for the punditry of Colbert and Maddow, you don’t have to like them or listen to them. Nor do you have to like or listen to those who do. Which would be me and, I think, most of my readers.
Disperser, you appear to be someone without passion. For politics, I mean. You have your absolute beliefs in the right, the correct, the way things should be handled. How everything should be even-handed.
Me, I just know what I FEEL.
And I feel in my heart that if there actually is anything tRump is doing that isn’t vile or wicked, then it’s by mistake. This is a man who set out to destroy government: how can we and why should we view anything he does with acceptance ?
He is there because morons voted him there: but HIS reasons for being there are
(1) he’s a megalomaniac
(2) he wanted to stay out of jail
(3) he knew he could make millions and millions of dollars.
I cannot even begin to comprehend how you think he deserves ANY agreement.
Tsk, tsk, MR. I wouldn’t dismiss Trump’s supporters as mere morons. That insults morons. Many are religious zealots. Many are ill informed about who and what Trump has been all his life (pre-presidential era). Those and others fall into the willfully ignorant category. And while I can appreciate mere ignorance, I cannot abide willful ignorance. Then there is that dangerous category that includes the Jan. 6 rioters — Trump minions willing to trash the Capitol for him, and willing to hang Mike Pence. You can’t be a slack-jawed knuckle dragger and execute a plan like that.
My bad, Colorado: I couldn’t think of a group noun for them. :\
No problem. Obviously I can’t think of a good one-size-fits-all either.