Why did BS stories like the John Kerry swiftboating and Obama birtherism get into major media? Because news bosses wanted to show their “fairness.” I know this because I edited the Chicago Tribune’s first story on Obama’s birth certificate. We didn’t want to touch it. The higher-ups made us. 9/10 🧵

One thing that doesn’t get enough attention is how the myth of “liberal-dominated media” affects the behavior of mainstream news outlets. The right’s constant complaining – working the refs – has made news execs think they must platform patently false Republican narratives. 8/10 🧵

A Media Matters analysis this year found that 9 out of the 10 top online shows that it assessed (podcasts, streams and other long-form audio and video) are right-leaning. These types of media are increasingly important in influencing voters. 3/10 🧵

Whatever her other faults, Clinton spent her entire political career scheming to find ways to get as close to universal health coverage as possible and took repeated political defeats while trying. Then based on a vague reputation for centrism, people go, "Pfft. Didn't even try."

How dare you imply that our friendship was based on leering at teenage girls, it was based on sorting races into C, B, A and S tiers

I would have been obsessed with this when I was little. Kind of obsessed with it now.