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C Hubbell's avatar

Another excellent article, Dave. Walter and Eric must be agitating in their graves. I would say, “Be afraid. Be very, VERY afraid.” But fear doesn’t get us anywhere. What we need is a march on Washington. (On the other hand, what would their goons do to marchers who got a little out of line or who carried signs DJT didn’t like?) Very concerning.

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Dave Busiek's avatar

Right, fear doesn’t get us anywhere. Organizing and voting - that gets us somewhere.

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Ed's avatar

We need to March to the ballot box next year!

RINO -- ED

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C Hubbell's avatar

I wish I felt confident we are going to have elections next year. Or that Republicans won’t “buy” them, AGAIN! Vance is just as bad on policy. May not have the charisma of DJT, but he can do just as much damage. And Thiel will be there to support him all the way.

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Beverly Davis's avatar

Totally on point Dave. Make good trouble!

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RHW's avatar

Who needs development officers when you can extort millions from universities and media networks with a few “truth” posts and a snarky aside? In the old days, this was done at gunpoint by thieves wearing masks. Now it’s done in the Oval Office by men with titles wearing expensive suits.

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Dave Busiek's avatar

Seems those who stand up to the bully are faring better than those who seek appeasement.

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Jacques Natz's avatar

Your posts about this are spot on. I’ve shared it in LinkedIn crediting you.

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Dave Busiek's avatar

Thanks, Jacques. Never thought I’d live to see the day when CBS throws in the towel. It’s not the news folks, of course.

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Joan's avatar

Thank you for the truth!! What a frightening time we live in. I’m convinced that Trump just isn’t intelligent enough to arrange all of this. The Heritage Foundation is pulling the strings and Trump is just a useful tool…so far. We are the frogs sitting in the water and it’s boiling. Thank you again for the truth!! We need to make some good trouble!!!

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Dave Busiek's avatar

Maybe. He may not be the smartest guy but I think he’s quite skilled at bullying people into submission. He and his family have done it for decades. They ran their business that way and now they’re using the same tactics on our country.

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Joan's avatar

That is true….he knows how to bully. And He’s really never been told no…and he needs to be liked/admired by all. You are correct he may not be very intelligent but he is wily! He’s a person who says the quiet part out loud….and somehow some people think that’s refreshing….of course, those are mostly the people who want him to stick it to the libs….which he does….but they haven’t caught on as yet that he’s really sticking it to everyone…including them…unless they are wealthy!

And sad to see what CBS has become. Here in Iowa we’ve been celebrating 70 years of your tv station as you know.

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Connie Taylor's avatar

Thank you, Dave. I have completely turned to independent media now on Substack: Jim Acosta, Katie Phang, Norm Eisen/Jen Ruben, and Meidas. They are "owned by no one" and report what they see.

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Dave Busiek's avatar

That’s kind of you, Connie. No big corporate interests here on Substack.

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Tina Schmidt's avatar

I've stopped watching all TV and get my news mostly from Substack, where the independent nature of articles is the exact kind of news I want to read. Just the facts, ma'am.

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Dave Busiek's avatar

I would just say this is not the fault of local TV newsrooms. They are owned and managed separately from their networks (with the exception of big city owned and operated stations, like New York, Chicago and LA where the networks own their local affiliates.) Local station journalists by and large come to work everyday focused on tough but fair coverage.

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Thea's avatar

On guard but also completely aware. How can this be stopped?

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Dave Busiek's avatar

I wish I knew. It’ll take corporate owners who stand up. They need to care more about their integrity than their paychecks.

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Dennis W. Linderbaum's avatar

Very frightening, Dave. Trump wants to control the media’s narrative and that would be a disaster for free speech and political debate. CBS should be ashamed of what they’ve done. Cronkite is rolling over in his grave. Keep up your great reporting and analysis!

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Dave Busiek's avatar

Thanks, Denny. CBS and Skydance will rue this decision someday when they realize what they had to sell advertisers was integrity and trust. Now that that is lost, they have little left to sell once

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Dennis W. Linderbaum's avatar

What is wrong with these folks? Have they lost their integrity and their backbone out of fear of Trump and his thugs?

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Dean Lerner's avatar

Thanks, Dave, for your continued fact based warnings! Tip of the iceberg, irreparable damage being done, shame on our congressional delegation for their total capitulation.

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Dave Busiek's avatar

Not sure how they look themselves in the mirror. I suppose they’ve convinced themselves they’re doing the right thing. Not one backbone between the six of them.

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Andrea Dorn's avatar

Every day I grow more frightened, but I still think that if we all fight for our rights, for the country we know, we will get through this. There are more protests coming. Some of the Dems are fighting for us as well and more are coming in the next election. Have faith, everyone.

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Dave Busiek's avatar

Good message, Andrea. Polling would indicate more Americans are waking up to what’s happening to our country.

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Tim Grover's avatar

CBS sold out for 9 cents/Amerian citizen. Even less if you dont include the "PSAs".

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Cliff Gold's avatar

I’m not sure that you should lump “most local” media outlets in that category. First, you have to throw out the Sinclair-owned stations, then the Fox-affiliated outlets, then the O & Os of CBS and ABC. Are the other CBS and ABC affiliated stations able to hold Trump acolytes accountable if the reporters have any promotion ambition? It’s remarkable to me how easily and quickly journalism has disintegrated. I’m not sure that there are any major US-based national media other than The New York Times, The Atlantic and a handful of others that the public can truly trust.

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Dave Busiek's avatar

True. I don’t know the percentage, but I’ve got to think the majority of stations are run by responsible owners who care about serving the public interest. I would add the Associated Press to your list of those that haven’t caved. The AP ultimately lost its court fight with Trump over the Gulf of Mexico but at least they fought. (Too many judges are facilitating Trump’s wrecking ball). And, a lot of us on Substack are doing our best to speak truth to power.

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Linda Powers's avatar

Excellent column

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Terri Hale's avatar

Very scary and frustrating. And I agree the fear is motivating to get out and work harder for the unbiased truth and to elect people who are truly on the side of real democracy. Thank you for being one of those essential voices.

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Lyle Muller's avatar

Grrrrr

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