US TV can be pretty poor but one show really I like when I’m over there is the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. For those of you from the UK not in the know it’s the Comedy Central program that every now and again gets a little bit shockingly serious and helps “unspin the spin”. In the link below Stewart interviews CNBC financial advisor Jim Cramer (the guy who screams and shouts at you to buy this and sell that whilst breaking stuff with a baseball bat) and then hands him his ass on a plate by showing him “off the record interviews” about how to spin the truth and lie to people to control stocks and share values. In one instance he talks about encouraging people to highlight fake news about the iPhone to push down AT&T and Apple shares.
This deliberate use of mass misdirection created by the US media is not comfortable to watch but it only leads me to think of the sensationalist reporting we still see in here the UK.
If this doesn’t float your boat watch a few other skits for a definitely the most entertaining way to learn about US political spin at it’s worst.
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If you are in the UK, you can watch The Daily Show at 20:30 on More 4 Tuesday – Friday. And I’d thoroughly recommend it.
Yes, folks, do watch and enjoy! The Daily Show (and the Colbert Report) is our satirical staple here in NorthAm.
I think Cramer looks a little like Derren might in 15 or 20 years. Y’know, if he stops wearing such nice suits and loses his goddamn mind.
yeah, this was fucking amazing. seeing the supposed skeptic called out as an accomplice. righteous.
I watched The Daily Show religiously when I lived in the States. It hasn’t been the same since Vance DeGeneres left, though…