So have you ever seen the newest sports activities celebration?
It’s the Trump dance. You realize, it’s that kinda awkward two-fisted factor that Donald Trump does. And it’s popped up just a few instances in NFL video games with gamers celebrating touchdowns by imitating that goofy dance.
For starters, the NFL is OK with this — and I’m OK with that. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy (no relation), “There’s no concern” with gamers doing the dance.
Nor ought to there be.
ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio wrote, “It’s a narrative given the political undertones of the dance. However the dance itself violates no league guidelines. Even when the gamers doing the dance are doing it to make a political assertion, the principles enable it.”
Michael McCarthy reached out to me for his story, and I stated, “I don’t see how the NFL might cease these Trump-dance celebrations. Like every celebration, so long as it’s not considerably disrupting the sport, the NFL ought to enable it. Should you have been to cease this celebration, you’ll seemingly must ban all celebrations. I’m positive the NFL isn’t loopy about celebrations with a political bent, however placing a ban on them would open up a complete different set of issues. My guess is it’s all only a fad that’s going to fade fairly rapidly anyway. The NFL might be considering that, too.”
The opposite query is whether or not networks ought to present the celebrations throughout their sport broadcasts and highlights. McCarthy didn’t quote me in his piece, however I did inform him, “The networks ought to simply proceed to deal with it like every other celebration. Networks usually present celebrations for a second or two after which go to different pictures: the gang, the opposite workforce, and so forth. If I have been directing a sport, I’d proceed to deal with it that approach.”
I felt the very same approach about gamers kneeling for the nationwide anthem. It’s not disrupting the sport. I’ve at all times fully supported Colin Kaepernick and other players for making that political assertion in the event that they select — and wrote about it usually once I was a sports activities columnist for the Tampa Bay Instances.
Now, an enormous distinction is that NFL video games virtually by no means present the nationwide anthems anyway, versus landing celebrations.
Finally, nevertheless, one can not say they’re OK with nationwide anthem protests after which inform gamers they shouldn’t do the Trump dance. However, it’s particularly vital to make this level: You’ll be able to’t argue that gamers can do the Trump celebration however don’t have the correct to make different political statements, together with kneeling for the anthem.
I convey this up as a result of CNN brilliantly pointed out the hypocrisy of many who appeared on Fox Information previously to say gamers ought to follow sports activities. Fox Information prime-time host Laura Ingraham infamously instructed NBA famous person LeBron James to “shut up and dribble.”
But now, some at Fox Information and lots of on the correct appear completely cool with athletes doing the Trump dance. And right here’s the factor — as a lot as there are numerous on the correct who wish to imagine liberals are upset in regards to the Trump dance, the reality of the matter is few, if any, have an issue with it.
As CNN’s Abby Phillip stated on air, “To be sincere, I’m unsure persons are shedding their minds over gamers doing the Trump dance on the sphere. It’s effective. However they did lose their minds when NFL gamers like Colin Kaepernick didn’t take a political stance, however took a social justice stance, there’s a distinction between these two issues. It’s attention-grabbing that there’s been this huge turnaround, it appears.”
Some name it a turnaround. I’d name it being downright hypocritical.
Actually, Fox Information contributor Jessica Tarlov roasted a few of her colleagues by saying, “I assume we’ve gotten to the portion of the Trump period the place now we have moved previous ‘shut up and dribble’ and now it’s implausible for athletes to speak about their politics.”
I discussed this briefly in Wednesday’s publication, but it surely deserves extra follow-up right this moment.
Comcast has introduced it can spin off most of its cable tv networks right into a separate publicly traded firm. The brand new firm will embrace some huge cable names: MSNBC, USA Community, E!, CNBC, Oxygen, SYFY and the Golf Channel.
Comcast is predicted to maintain the NBC Common properties of NBC, NBC Information, NBC Sports activities, the streaming service Peacock and the cable community Bravo.
The New York Times’ Benjamin Mullin points out, “Cable tv, as soon as a juggernaut that propelled the share costs of conventional media corporations, has develop into a monetary albatross. Although they continue to be enormously worthwhile, cable TV channels are in long-term decline as viewers substitute subscriptions with streaming providers like Netflix or YouTube TV.”
The Wall Street Journal’s Amol Sharma wrote, “Comcast is betting that NBCUniversal’s remaining property — together with in broadcast TV, sports activities, films and theme parks — shall be higher positioned for development, and that its sturdy steadiness sheet can soak up the lack of still-healthy earnings from cable networks. The brand new cable enterprise would seemingly want better scale to thrive, media executives say. Comcast’s management sees the potential for it to consolidate different networks throughout the dial over time.”
So let’s dig a little bit deeper into how this might have an effect on the information. Particularly, what does it imply for MSNBC and CNBC if they’re cut up off from NBC?
As Variety’s Brian Steinberg smartly notes, CNBC principally features as its personal standalone community. MSNBC, nevertheless, is a unique story. MSNBC looks as if an extension of NBC Information — with many journalists showing on each MSNBC and NBC Information.
Steinberg writes, “Executives are more likely to deal with this concern over the subsequent 12 months, based on an individual aware of the matter. It’s attainable to have sure business or licensing agreements put in place that may assure utilization of NBC Information reporting, contributors and expertise on the 2 cable networks. On the similar time, the spin off might drive MSNBC to focus much more closely on the progressive opinion programming that’s its bread and butter. And it might free CNBC to go after its core viewers with out having to fret about NBC Information, which has its personal reporters who cowl enterprise and the economic system.”
There’s additionally the chance that MSNBC might need to alter its title. In a separate story, Steinberg wrote that Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group who will run this spin-off group, “instructed an viewers that included Rachel Maddow, Chris Jansing and Katy Tur that he was unsure whether or not MSNBC must change its id as a part of the transaction, which is able to cut up the cable community and its business-news sibling CNBC from NBC Information and NBCUniversal. If the 2 networks are not a part of the NBC company entity, attendees wished to know, will they nonetheless be capable of carry marks which can be a part of their former residence?”
Steinberg continued, “MSNBC’s newsgathering course of may additionally be ripe for transformation within the coming transaction, with individuals aware of the assembly indicating the manager didn’t have rapid solutions about whether or not a unit for gathering and verifying information separate from that of NBC must ‘constructed from scratch.’”
For an excellent Q&A, right here’s The Washington Put up’s Jeremy Barr, Laura Wagner and Samantha Chery with “What does the Comcast cable spin-off mean for TV viewers and streaming?”
Pete Hegseth, proven right here in 2016. (AP Picture/Evan Vucci)
The Wall Avenue Journal editorial board, which tends to lean proper, didn’t mince any words questioning President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Fox Information host Pete Hegseth for secretary of protection.
Trump is reportedly standing behind Hegseth regardless of the declare that Hegseth paid a lady in 2020 to settle an allegation of sexual assault in 2017. Hegseth had denied any wrongdoing.
However, the Journal editorial board wrote, “Press reviews say the accusation took Mr. Trump’s transition workforce by ‘shock,’ which may be a lesson about choosing unvetted cupboard secretaries on a whim.”
The board went on to jot down, “Whoever leads the Pentagon must have the President’s belief. If Mr. Trump wasn’t knowledgeable about this political legal responsibility earlier than asserting the nomination, he may moderately marvel what else Mr. Hegseth hasn’t instructed him.”
The editorial went by means of the assorted accounts of what may or may not have occurred. However then the board wrote, “What occurred in Monterey seven years in the past may be unimaginable to show or disprove, however even granting Mr. Hegseth the advantage of the doubt, it raises questions on judgment, together with whether or not he warned the President-elect that this may come out. ‘Mr. Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no costs have been filed,’ Mr. Trump’s spokesman stated. ‘We stay up for his affirmation as United States Secretary of Protection.’”
“Perhaps so,” the board continued, “however the Senate can have additional questions, and nominations impulsively made will also be withdrawn.”
My goodness, what the heck is happening with the “Immediately” present? On back-to-back days, the present wanted to return with an R-rating. (I’m really amused, not offended, so please don’t take it that I’m upset. That is form of humorous.)
Hat tip to The Daily Beast’s Liam Archacki for noting this, however on Wednesday’s present, actor Richard Gere really shocked co-host Savannah Guthrie (and possibly a lot of the viewers) when he gave the center finger throughout an interview.
He wasn’t being imply and even attempting to be offensive. Right here’s what occurred: The present aired a clip of Gere’s newest challenge — a spy sequence known as “The Company.” “Immediately” lower off the clip simply as Gere’s character on the present was about to make use of his center finger. So Gere let Guthrie and the viewers know what his character did by elevating his center finger and saying, “You didn’t present however that’s what I did within the piece. That’s what the clip was.” (Here’s the clip — it occurs within the first minute.)
A shocked Guthrie held her paper up in entrance of Gere’s hand and stated, “You simply did an obscene gesture on this household morning present.”
Gere appeared barely embarrassed and apologized, and in addition stated he didn’t understand he was on digicam. To be truthful, it was a reasonably gentle second between Guthrie and Gere. Guthrie then added, “You realize, Cher was on right here doing an F-bomb yesterday, so I don’t know what’s taking place.”
That’s true. The day earlier than, throughout an interview with “Immediately” co-host Hoda Kotb to advertise her new memoir, Cher dropped the expletive. In her protection, Cher was repeating a narrative from her e-book. She was speaking about what legendary comedic actress Lucille Ball instructed her following her cut up from Sonny Bono. (Here’s the clip. Go to about six minutes in.)
Kotb requested Cher what Ball instructed her, and Cher stated, “I can’t say it on TV.”
However then Kotb stated it was OK as a result of the present would bleep it. So Cher stated Ball instructed her, “(Expletive) him. You’re the one with the expertise.”
You might inform there was a commotion behind the digicam and Kotb began laughing as she stated, “We didn’t have the seven-second (delay), however we are going to get it for the subsequent feed.”
Cher then laughing stated, “Effectively, you stated I might!”
Perhaps an R-rated phrase from time to time on the morning present may very well be a rankings booster. I’m down with that.
The Atlantic is out with an bold new challenge that may deal with well being. It’s known as “Being Human” and can embrace a brand new part and newsletter.
Earlier this 12 months, The Atlantic added 5 workers and contributing writers to arrange for this expanded protection. In a press release, The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg stated, “The Atlantic’s well being workforce produces the neatest, most analytically acute, and best-written tales of any journalism outfit nationally, and with this new enlargement, we’re going to be complete in a approach we haven’t been earlier than. In an age of mass confusion –– not nearly well being, after all –– I believe our workforce is completely positioned to convey readability to this vital protection space.”
Have suggestions or a tip? Electronic mail Poynter senior media author Tom Jones at [email protected].
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