Media top headlines November 17
In media news today, NPR gets slammed over story highlighting 'disappointment over Boston electing Asian woman mayor, PolitiFact doubles down on widely mocked 'fact-check' on Kyle Rittenhouse, and the media gets roasted for coverage of the Steele dossier in The New York Times
Far-left MSNBC host Joy Reid compared the Kyle Rittenhouse trial to the 2018 Brett Kavanaugh hearings in a new TikTok video, claiming both men benefited from their "male, White tears" while defending themselves.
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings were the most contentious in recent history after the nominee was accused by Christine Blasey Ford of sexual assault when they were teenagers. Kavanaugh staunchly denied the charge in an emotional rebuttal, and despite the lack of evidence in the case, Democratic senators declared Kavanaugh guilty and unfit for the court based on Ford's accusation.
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh speaks on the second day of his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 5, 2018. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
KYLE RITTENHOUSE MOCKED BY HOLLYWOOD AFTER TEARFUL DISPLAY ON STAND: ‘TERRIBLE F---ING ACTOR’
Reid argued that at that time, Kavanaugh's tears were "more powerful" than Ford, his alleged victim. The liberal host said she saw the same thing happening in Wisconsin's Kenosha County Courthouse, where 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse is on trial for the shootings of three people during unrest in Kenosha last year. Rittenhouse and his legal team have argued the teenager was acting in self-defense and that he first traveled to Kenosha with guns in order to help keep the peace. Prosecutors argued that Rittenhouse provoked the violence.
Rittenhouse cried on the stand last week while testifying in his own defense, prompting a flurry of criticism from the left.
"In America, there's a thing about both White vigilantism and White tears," Reid said. "Particularly male, White tears. Really White tears in general, because that's what Karens are, right? They can Karen out and then as soon as they get caught, bring waterworks."
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"White men can get away with that too," Reid continued. "Because it has the same effect."
Other liberal pundits and celebrities have accused Rittenhouse of faking his tears in court, or have taken sides by using the word "murder" to describe what happened in Kenosha during the Black Lives Matter protests.
"Kyle Rittenhouse is a murderer. The End," actress Rosanna Arquette wrote on Twitter, while actor Dave Bautista said, "F--- that kid!"
"What tears?????"" NBA star LeBron James asked last week. "I didn’t see one. Man knock it off! That boy ate some lemon heads before walking into court."
Jacob Blake's uncle, Justin Blake, along with others, takes a knee during a march outside the Kenosha County Courthouse, as jury deliberations for Kyle Rittenhouse's trial take place, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Nov. 16, 2021. (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)
Reid has been blasted for several controversial takes as of late, including her painting concerned Virginia parents as racist for caring about education, and lecturing Americans over President Joe Biden's low approval rating as ungrateful.
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The Rittenhouse trial jurors were dismissed Tuesday evening and reported back to the courthouse on Wednesday morning to resume deliberations.
Reid incorrectly referred to Ford as a "friend" of Kavanaugh in the video. Ford testified she did not know Kavanaugh well but had attended the same parties as him. Kavanaugh said he may have met her but did not know her.