This is why so many of us started switching to online blogs and independent sources in the early 2000s.

Having said that, I would add that Rachel's show and Lawrence's show on MSNBC are almost miraculous, in the sense that they are (mostly) good despite the horrible environment they have to function in.

But nothing can compete with reading online and learning from subject experts about particular news stories.

Is talking about this exact thing.

and I don't need to spell it out.

Not too many people would work for free and that is how the system has been set up for a while now.

the 6 o'clock news was not set up as a money maker. It was to deliver information to the people.
And that's the way it is.

We should go back to that.

Back when broadcasting on the public airwaves was the only game in town, broadcasters were required to devote so many hours per week to public interest programming as a condition of their license because the airwaves belonged to the American people. We also had the Fairness Doctrine that encouraged both sides of every issue got airtime.

News programming was done as part of their public interest obligation. Sometime in the '80s greedy executives wanted to turn it into a profit center like their entertainment programming. Less news and more "human interest" segments were offered to increase viewership and ad revenues. News became less informative. Revocation of the Fairness Doctrine opened the door for right wing radio and TV.

The American public "owns" the broadcast airwaves (because the spectrum is limited) but it doesn't own cable. Cable was all private investment so government cannot require public interesting programming or other regulations.

Outrage sells so that's where we are now. I am grateful that Rachel and others shine a light on the current disaster but have to admit they sensationalize from time to time to keep viewers hooked just like Fox News does. I blame all media for getting us into the mess we are in now.

we can go to get fact based news. Right now for me is Ari, Rachel and Lawrence. Our media is terrible during campaign years, they don't go far enough to call people out. But then again we got other news sources Washington Post, NY Times, BBC news.

True people are reacting and not thinking. Some people that is. Manipulation and brainwashing are key components.

And it proved my point 100%. I'm not going to go meta so if you have questions pm me.
Eko.

Television news used to be run at an expense to the networks for providing a public service.

That scenario is now completely flipped. Money drives it, and it shows.

For example - Santorum on CNN. He's a regular Trump water carrier and the stuff he says is just absurd. Other regulars may try to call him on it, then there's arguing and confusion and Santorum just laughs. He's on the CNN payroll and he gets away with it.
That's not news.

Yes factual news gets reported, but that's not dramatic.