Mark Jacob
A Plea to Newsrooms: Get There Faster (Hour 2)
If a powerful elected official announced he was a white supremacist and was going to bully educators into a sharp reduction of teaching about Black history and racism, you would expect media outlets to treat him as a racist, right? But as long as he doesn’t call himself a racist, some newsrooms would prefer to call him an “underdog” who’s “building his brand.” We’ll talk about the frustratingly slow pace of national journalists to recognize actual threats to democracy and American values.
Monday:
- Carlene Bechen, Terry Bell, Kristin Lyerly
Mussolini, On-Time Trains, and the New York Times (Hour 2)
It’s a lie that the Italian dictator actually made sure the trains out of Rome began running on time again, but the myth lives on. It’s a lesson to remember when the New York Times is running with headlines praising Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for “taking on the education establishment”—when he’s really trying to erase Black history from classrooms. We’ll talk to Mark Jacob about media coverage of this week’s top stories.
Monday:
- George Penn of “United to Amend”
Kevin McCarthy Borrows from Joe McCarthy (Hour 2)
House Republicans created a new committee to investigate the “weaponization of the federal government,” which enables them to harass and undercut the people in law enforcement who helped the country learn more about the effort to overturn an election and launch a violent attack on Congress. Another new committee aims to undermine US relations with China. From Joseph McCarthy to Ron Johnson and Mike Gallagher, Wisconsin is at the front lines of actual government weaponization.
Monday:
- The premiere of “Motherhood Mondays” with Kate Duffy and Nicole Slavin
What’s Past is Prologue (Hour 2)
The Jan. 6 attack highlighted the division and dysfunction in the Trump-era Republican Party. We shouldn’t be surprised that on the second anniversary of the insurrection GOP members of Congress are trapped by in-fighting, bringing the US House to a halt.
Crazy Ain’t Dead—Just Taking a Nap (Hour 2)
The midterm elections are finally over. Former President Trump is disgraced. Republicans say they’ll learn some lessons from the carnage. Or will they? We’ll ask Courier Newsroom national correspondent Keya Vakil and Mark Jacob, a former editor with the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times. Also, guest sportscaster Dan Schumacher on the Badgers and Marquette each playing in the NCAA volleyball tournament.
Naz-Ye (Hour 2)
Yet again we have to remind folks that Nazis are bad, even if they’re being praised by celebrities like Ye (formerly Kanye West). We visit with former Chicago Tribune editor Mark Jacob and Courier Newsroom political director Carolyn Fiddler about this week’s news events. Also, a preview of weekend sports with UW-Eau Claire athletic director Dan Schumacher.
Monday
- Former state Sen. Julie Lassa, now the state director of rural development for the US Dept. of Agriculture
Can We Be Normal Now? – Part 2
Trumpers are no longer dominant. Democrats no longer control a large chunk of the congressional calendar. Does this mixed bag of election results mean things can get back to whatever passes for “normal” in American politics? We ask Courier Newsroom political director Carolyn Fiddler and former Chicago Tribune editor Mark Jacob. Also, Sen. Tammy Baldwin on the predatory loan practices of private, for-profit colleges. And UW-Eau Claire athletic director Dan Schumacher previews the weekend in sports.
Next Week:
- “Best Of” episodes Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday as part of Pat’s post-election recovery period.
GOTV: Get Off Television – Part 2
Between political ads and “chase the shiny object” media coverage, you might want to give the TV a rest this weekend and take part in actual GOTV (Get Out the Vote) efforts. Mark Jacob reviews how newsrooms have covered the issues with varying levels of competence. Courier Newsroom’s Carolyn Fiddler reminds us of the important down-ballot races being waged in Wisconsin and across the country.
On Monday:
- Ben Wikler, state chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
- 3rd District Congressional candidate Brad Pfaff
- Courier Newsroom national correspondent Allan Piper
Politics Is Not Sports
National media come under the microscope in our weekly review of how they covered recent events, especially the shameful approach to reporting on the Pennsylvania US Senate debate through the lens of on-stage performance rather than on what the candidates would provide to voters if elected.
Fascism Doesn’t ‘Just Happen. (Hour 2)
Reviewing national coverage of the many major campaigns around the country, a former newspaper editor breaks down the failings of some big-name newsrooms to help audiences understand that the anti-democracy faction in American politics had an origin and is telling lies that need to be called out more explicitly.
