The tendency for centrist and liberal media to give a fair treatment to James O'Keefe ends up validating his controversial reporting. The centrist bias forces them to give him the benefit of the doubt, which leads to right-wing bias.
The host and guest discuss the concept of "going direct" in the media and how it is perceived as an attempt by newsmakers to avoid answering tough questions, but the guest argues that it is not the case as they are willing to submit to tough questions to communicate their expertise, especially as they see the media as becoming an unreliable narrator due to bias and sloppiness.
The end of the Fairness Doctrine allowed for the creation of a separate world of right wing content, as it required broadcasters to present both sides of an issue, preventing the rise of polarized media. Rush Limbaugh was aware that his career depended on the doctrine's death in 1989.
Storytelling is a powerful tool in politics, and some of the most successful politicians and propagandists have used it to great effect. Whether telling the story of a nation or a specific person, the way a story is framed can have a huge impact on how it's received.
The obligation to inform the public with unverified claims attributed to a credible source and specific summaries of claims is a journalist's duty. It is the right of the public to know the information in the document that is circulating at the top levels of the US government.
The media has a bias towards sensationalism and escalation, which is a symptom of the gravitational pull towards narrative and conflict. While this is understandable, it may not always paint an accurate picture of events.