By Hunter Walker 2/20 6:16pm

Punditry

Councilwoman Tish James (Photo: Facebook)

Tish James Takes on Fox News

Councilwoman and candidate for Public Advocate Tish James wants an apology from the Fox News host who suggested rapes do not occur on college campuses during an appearance on the roundtable show The Five.

“Questioning whether rapes happen on college campuses is deeply offensive to all, especially those who have suffered irreparable harm as a result of these vicious crimes,” Ms. James said in a statement. “Furthermore, when the very existence of rape is challenged in a public forum, such as a widely-viewed cable news channel, it discourages the reporting of an already under-reported crime.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 1/30 5:42pm

Abracadabra

Megyn Kelly (Photo: Getty)

Fox Anchor Says Bill de Blasio Has ‘Special Power to Silence Viewpoints’

According to Fox News’ Megyn Kelly, Bill de Blasio has a special power, and it’s not his son’s afro.

Mr. de Blasio, the city’s public advocate and recently-announced mayoral candidate, faced a barrage of criticism from Ms. Kelly over his position that New York City should divest its pension funds from the gun industry. Needless to say, the host viewed Mr. de Blasio’s advocacy in rather authoritarian terms.

“Why not go out there and say, ‘World, this is how I feel,’” she inquired. “Why go to a law-abiding company that employs thousands of American citizens and say, ‘You’re blacklisted. You’re done, no relation should be had with you  because I don’t happen to like the right you’re exercising.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 8/30/12 4:43pm

Seeking Asylum

Piers Morgan manning his Twitter feed at the RNC.

Piers Morgan Says Sarah Palin’s Welcome at CNN if Fox Won’t Let Her on Air During RNC

TAMPA, FL – Sarah Palin took to Facebook yesterday to accuse Fox News of canceling all of her scheduled appearances on the network during the Republican National Convention, but CNN host Piers Morgan said he’d be glad to have her on his show during the RNC festivities. However, Mr. Morgan said Ms. Palin, who has a contract with Fox News through January, has yet to take him up on his invitation.

“I’m serious, if she’s fallen out with Fox, I’d love to get her on. It’s the one reason we haven’t had her since I’ve been on air, because of her contract with Fox,” Mr. Morgan told Politicker at the CNN Grill at the RNC last night. “Clearly, if she’s had an issue with them and can now do us, I’d love to interview her.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 7/05/12 8:15pm

Barhopping

President Obama having a beer at Ziggy's (Photo: Getty)

President Obama Advised Patrons to Turn Off Fox News in Ohio Pub

President Barack Obama’s bus tour of Pennsylvania and Ohio made a stop at Ziggy’s Pub and Restaurant in Amherst, Ohio this evening where he mingled with the patrons. According to the press pool report filed by The New York Times’ Mark Landler, the president suggested one of the bargoers ask for the channel to be changed on a pub TV that was showing Fox News:

“As he thanked the group for their support, one of them, Jeff Hawks, gestured to one of the TV’s and said, ‘You’re in a building that has Fox news on.’

Obama suggested that Hawks ask for it to be changed. ‘The customer is always right,’ he said.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 6/06/12 6:30am

Green Party

Illustration by, Drew Friedman

Roseanne In The Rose Garden?

“I’m loving it,” said Roseanne Barr, recently announced presidential candidate. “I find that I can be more honest in politics than in Hollywood.”

Not that she’s ever been accused of demurring in either realm.

Seeking to run on the Green Party line, Ms. Barr’s presidential bid, she said, is primarily motivated by her dissatisfaction with both major political parties—in particular their candidates, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, whom she referred to as “total buffoons.”

“That’s what I say: I’m the only serious comedian in this race,” Ms. Barr added.

In a career spanning more than 40 years, including rollicking standup performances, a watershed sitcom and a memorable performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Ms. Barr has been at turns provocative, endearing, innovative and combative. As of February, she has turned her considerable personality toward the interests of the American electorate. In a pair of lengthy interviews with The Observer, she outlined not only her political aspirations, but the possibility of returning to television—and not necessarily in the way you would expect. Read More

By Hunter Walker 9:27am

Media Criticism

Fox News President Roger Ailes (Photo: Getty)

Roger Ailes Calls Jon Stewart ‘A Socialist’ And Says New York Times Is ‘A Cesspool of Bias’

Fox News head honcho Roger Ailes gave a commencement speech at Ohio University yesterday in which he accused MSNBC, the AP and The New York Times of left wing bias and described Daily Show host Jon Stewart as a “socialist.” Media blogger Jim Romenesko compiled Tweets describing the content of the speech that were written by media lawyer Media lawyer and Harvard Law & Policy Review blogger Jonathan W. Peters, who witnessed the address and posted quotes from Mr. Ailes’ remarks.

“Jon Stewart is a comedian. He wouldn’t do well without Fox. And he basically has admitted to me, in a bar, that he’s a socialist,” Mr. Ailes said, according to Mr. Peters. “The New York Times is a cesspool of bias.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/02/12 4:16pm

Second Acts

Herman Cain (Getty)

Herman Cain Lives!

Herman Cain was knocked out of the presidential race after a series of sex scandals, but he’s not going quietly. As the other candidates duke it out in Iowa today, Mr. Cain sent an email to supporters promising big plans ahead. “I will soon be announcing a major new initiative. This is a crusade so critical to the long term health of our American economy that we simply must prevail,” Mr. Cain wrote.  Read More