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“Real Time” host Bill Maher had a tense exchange with “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane about the trustworthiness of the media, with MacFarlane trusting news organizations much more.
While discussing the toxicity of social media, MacFarlane began by railing against comment sections on news sites, citing the New York Times as an example where a reader's impression of an article is “radicalized in one way or another.”
“It's as if this reporter took the time to research this, check the facts, under the supervision of an editor,” MacFarlane said. “And if they did something wrong, they have to print out the revocation.”
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“Or it’s just crooked,” Maher chimed in. “What if it was just crooked? What if it wasn't wrong, just crooked? That’s what someone in the report points out.” [comments].”
“Then write to the editor!” exclaimed MacFarlane. “Do your research and formulate your arguments.”
“But that comes out a week later,” Maher replied. “I would have forgotten it by then, otherwise I won’t see it.”
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“Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane and “Real Time” host Bill Maher argued during a panel discussion about the trustworthiness of the media. (Screenshots/HBO)
The “Ted” producer went on to claim, “We take it for granted” when journalists' work is “put on the same level” as “everyone else's spontaneous cops.”
“You seem to trust journalists more than I do,” Maher said.
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“I trust certain journalists, yes,” MacFarlane replied.
“I do some of them – not many,” Maher replied.
“Not much?” asked a shocked MacFarlane.
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“No,” Maher doubled his words. “Everything I read, from whatever source, is only half the truth. They print the narrative. They don’t print the truth.”
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Maher insisted that the media was only printing the “narrative” and not the truth. (Screenshot/HBO)
“That's a generalization, isn't it?” MacFarlane followed him.
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“Well, that’s because it’s generally true,” Maher said, drawing laughter and applause from the audience. “You're printing out the side of the story that-“
“By the way, that’s exactly what Donald Trump wants… ‘Don’t trust the reporters. Don't trust the journalists,'” MacFarlane interrupted.
“Well, Hitler was a vegetarian, that doesn’t mean I like Donald Trump,” Maher replied. “They print out half of what they want so that people like you who are partisan, very partisan, want to read something that's like, 'Oh, that makes me feel good.'”
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“I fucking read John Bolton’s book. I’m not partial,” MacFarlane quipped.
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MacFarlane said denigrating the media is “exactly what Donald Trump wants.” (Portal/Danny Moloshok)
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Fellow panelist Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., further told Maher that people “tune in to the news they want to hear to reinforce the views they already have.”
“They're in the business of pandering to audiences, that's what the media does,” Maher added.