Why I stopped reading the NYT
I’ve been a bit baffled recently by comments by friends expressing anxiety about NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Yeah, I ignore the right-wing wind machine over at Fox. But since I stopped reading the gray lady, I missed the propaganda and misdirection she’s been pumping out.
“The Times has it out for Zohran Mamdani. The record is clear. It is time to examine receipts.
“The latest attack on him is journalistically unconscionable, and so is the editors’ reaction to legitimate criticism. In a story played by its editors on its home page and boosted by its reporter as his scoop — when it was obviously planted by the right-wing based on the theft of documents from Columbia — The Times said teenaged Mamdani ticked boxes for Asian and Black or African-American on his application, implying he was trying to cheat — to DEI — his way in.”
*snip*
“Of course, this comes after The Times’ anti-endorsement of Mamdani. After The (former New York) Times said it would no longer endorse candidates in local elections, it was stuck, wanting to throw its weight after sexual harasser Andrew Cuomo against the Muslim socialist. It couldn’t endorse Cuomo but said many New Yorkers would be voting for him because of his strong policy record and many endorsements: the non-endorsement-endorsement.
“The Editorial Board’s policy of no longer telling New Yorkers whom to vote for did not stop The Times from telling them whom to vote against. “We do not believe that Mr. Mamdani deserves a spot on New Yorkers’ ballots.”
*snip*
“The Times speaks with real estate executives as well as campaigners for tenants’ rights, but the headline says only that Mamdani “strikes fear in the real estate industry.” The piece does not point to The Times’ own interview in which the candidate said he has learned the importance of private-sector development in solving New York’s housing crisis. He advocates zoning more housing around public transit and reducing requirements such as parking. But fear makes for better headlines, as apparently does emphasizing the concerns of the rich. I’d like to read a report about what tenants themselves have to say.”
*snip*
“The Times chooses to focus on “a fractured Democratic Party.” Sure, there are fractures; there always are in democracies, for that is the point of them. The Times could have instead focused on the remarkable unity shown between a Democratic Muslim, Mamdani, and a Democratic Jew, Brad Lander, that made this victory possible. But unity doesn’t sell newspapers.”
*snip*
“The list-addicted Times tells us that these are the five things voters should know about Mamdani as presumptive nominee. The first is that he has a short track record; the second, his views on a controversial issue far from New York — Israel and Gaza; the third, he’s Muslim; the fourth, he is the supposed creation of that odd thing The Times still cannot grok, social media.
“Only at the end, at the fifth of the five things New Yorkers should know about the leading candidate to be their mayor, is there mention of his “pithy policy solutions” — cheaper food, free buses, free child care.
“The Times dismisses what Mamdani stands for and what brought out voters (from the “Commie Corridor”) in his favor as simplistic and unrealistic.”
OK, I’m trying not to exceed fair use. Read the whole thing at the link below.
NYT vs Zohran Mamdami
Isabella Weber, James K. Galbraith, Ha-Joon Chang, and others–
“An open letter from prominent economists who say that Mamdani’s mayoral platform is a practical blueprint to tackle New York’s most pressing problems: We write, as economists from across the world, to support Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral platform as a bold yet practical blueprint to tackle some of New York City’s most urgent challenges—above all, the cost of living. His platform proposes targeted, responsible interventions that would immediately improve millions of lives while building a fairer and prosperous New York.”
Economists Support Zohran Mamdani’s Plan for New York City
Of course, these are exactly the kinds of challenges that the NY Times and most establishment economists would prefer to ignore, focusing instead on GDP growth for the top 10%.
The Guardian has a piece up now titled “Is the New York Times trying to wreck Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral bid”.
Is the New York Times trying to wreck Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral bid? | Margaret Sullivan | The Guardian
According to this article the source of Mandani’s Columbia University college application came from a white supremacist hacker.
@Jim,
Yes. From the link I provided:
“Jamelle Bouie, just about The Times last saving grace, criticized the story, suggesting on the socials that journalists should inform readers when their anonymous source is a Nazi. He obviously was chastised by editors, for he soon deleted what he dared say.”
News Flash: NYT has been PMC and globalist garbage for years. Yes, there are glimmers of real reporting here and there, but overall – a waste of time.
Nor is Fox, “conservative”. Fox is merely the right hand of the globalist mafia just as the NYT is the left hand.
@c1ue,
Agree that Fox is not conservative–it is the right-wing propaganda outlet for the Trump GOP, like Breitbart and Infowars. The NYT is conservative, like the WaPo.
If the NYT can distort Mandan, how much distortion goes on about Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, Iran etc? How much distortion goes”free speech” is there really in US media, or does “free” mean freedom to distort and mislead?
@Kien,
For now, there’s lots of free speech in US media if you’re willing to look beyond the big brands. I certainly don’t have a problem finding out what’s going on about Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, Iran, etc.