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New at CJR: The most poli sci-friendly reporter
My new column at Columbia Journalism Review lauds the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Craig Gilbert for his unusual approach to covering politics, which draws far more deeply on political science than any other reporter working today. Here’s how it begins: One of the most encouraging trends in journalism over the past few years has been the tentative
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New at CJR: That’s not a factcheck!
My new column at Columbia Journalism Review discusses the problem of fact-checkers leaving the realm of verifiable evidence and weighing in on semantics and political process issues. Here’s how it begins: What, exactly, is a “serious” plan to resolve the budget impasse in Congress? It’s not clear how to define adjectives like this, but that
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New CJR: The Green Lantern Theory of Sequestration
My new column at CJR challenges the bizarre mythology among some commentators that the President can somehow make Congress agree with him on a resolution to the impasse over sequestration. Here’s how it begins: One of the recurring themes in commentary on national politics is the demand for the president to change politics as we
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New at CJR: The third party fever dream, revisited
On Friday, I wrote a column for CJR challenging journalistic assessments of the prospects for third parties, which prompted a reply from National Journal’s Ron Fournier this morning. I have a new column up that responds to Fournier and offers five additional points that I think journalists should consider in assessing the prospects for successful
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CJR: State of the Union media prebuttal
In case you missed it, here’s my prebuttal to media coverage of the State of the Union, which includes a new introduction to last year’s edition.
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New at CJR: The third party fever dream
In my new column at CJR, I criticize the tendency for journalists to hype the prospects of third parties and third party presidential candidates. Here’s how it begins: National Journal editorial director Ron Fournier is a respected journalist with years of distinguished service as an Associated Press correspondent and editor. So why is he issuing
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New at CJR: Boosting the Sandy Hook truther myth
In my new column at CJR, I argue that the media should be wary of giving additional attention to Sandy Hook truthers, which may actually help to spread their false claims. Here’s how it begins: In the weeks since the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, fringe conspiracy theorists have suggested
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New at CJR: Putting bargaining positions into context
My new column at CJR covers the need for reporters to be more skeptical about politicians’ expressed commitments to their beliefs during bargaining processes like the current debt ceiling showdown. Here’s how it begins: Insider reporting is vital to understanding what The Wall Street Journal’s Gerald Seib describes as the “‘Groundhog Day’ loop of fiscal
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New at CJR: Covering IPAB, avoiding “death panels”
My new column at CJR discusses the challenges facing health care journalists in covering the Independent Payment Advisory Board without reinforcing the “death panel” myth. Here’s how it begins: One of the most underrated political stories of the next year is the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (also known as the ACA), which continues
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New study on difficulty of correcting death panel myth
For those who are interested, I have a new study out in Medical Care titled “The Hazards of Correcting Myths About Health Care Reform” (gated) with Jason Reifler and Peter Ubel. Here’s the abstract (see also this morning’s press release): Context: Misperceptions are a major problem in debates about health care reform and other controversial