8 Comments
Apr 12, 2022·edited Apr 12, 2022

David, I don't disagree with your (and colleagues') collective rant about right-wing media and the damage the imbalance is having on democracy and the country's prospects. But I'm old enough to remember a more civil time when responsible spokespersons with opposing viewpoints were required to be given time on the public's airwaves. The solution to media bias is not to construct an additional offsetting biased silo, but to require each silo to allow in opposing viewpoints. Most people don't like to be made fools of, but that appears to be what is happening on both sides of the political spectrum when people live in media bubbles unleavened by critical analysis.

If Ronald Reagan was able to get rid of the Fairness Doctrine with a stroke of the pen, why can't Joe Biden put it back with a stroke of the pen? Fox News was not possible without its repeal. Why isn't restoration of the Fairness Doctrine something the Left is advocating?

Expand full comment

I'm gonna say Democracy Now! does a pretty good job of being Fox of the Left

Expand full comment

I'm about 20 minutes in so forgive me if this is addressed later in the podcast. But I was reflecting on the identity discussion you all were having about the folks of the right (e.g., how tribal identity appears to be an even stronger force than the desire to live). It seems to me that I hear similar arguments from people on the right about people on the left regarding identity, in the form of racial identity, lgbt+, etc etc. I guess my question is, I don't know what to do with that because the basic message from me, who identifies as lefty, would be "you are too strongly tied to your identity and it has gotten to the point where you don't see reality" and "my identity and point of view is the correct one." Which...that messaging will obviously not work. How do you get someone to acknowledge that identity is critical but that their identity (usually white, male, hetero, cis...which is me), how it is privileged, and how it creates tribalism is the problem? Not sure I'm being clear, I think my point is that I think that I could hear the same things you all were saying about identity on a right wing podcast, with the specifics of who the problem is reversed.

Expand full comment

Your comments on PBS for clean electrification, needed for electric vehicles, buildings, and industrial energy usage was good to hear before a national audience. And then you spelled out electrification coming from Wind and Solar energy, batteries, and electrolysis of green hydrogen. Finally, you said that BBB legislation was imperative to help meet the above goals. This was all a fantastic answer to the PBS commentator.

Expand full comment

the PBS appearance is concision personified. A well-used couple of minutes!

Expand full comment

I noticed a brief cameo when they showed the electric vehicle with its hood open of V2G pioneer Dr. Willett Kempton from the University of Delaware. Great guy.

Expand full comment

Encouraging to see PBS has reach and yields activity...and wise of them to share the rights for you to share.

Expand full comment