Thanks for a great summary. So grateful to you and the Current for offering SB an alternative to the agitprop served up by 95 % of the supposed local sources of “ news”
We live in a truth desert in this city, and the Current is a welcome oasis
Jim- I appreciate learning the word and meaning Agitprop. Being a young boomer, I am constantly amused and embarrassed by the photos of my aging peers holding ridicules anti ICE signs and wringing their hands over the news (propaganda) that is spewed by the local democrat "leaders".
Mike: I don't mind the stupid signs they hold, it's the ridiculous chants they repeat in unison (using that term loosely) over, and over, and over, and over... Aaargh! The only things lacking in most of these "demonstrations" are copies of Mao's "Little Red Book."
You mention The Village Voice. How many Santa Barbarans know that Marianne Partridge, editor and owner of The Independent, worked at, edited at and was schooled in Leftist “journalism” at The Village Voice? That's right, she is merely carrying on the news reporting tradition of a paper that, when I lived in NYC, even my most liberal writer friends rolled their eyes at because it was so by-the-books Marxist. Not just their so-called news reporting, but their culture reporting. Even their food reporting. I knew people who worked at The Voice and they were often very intelligent, likable people. But they were more devoted to Leftist politics than to journalism. Or friendship. Now, all the legacy media is devoted to Leftist politics. They showed in their “reporting” about Russiagate that they were willing to lie to uphold their politics. I saw this when Russiagate began and I'd ask my NYC journalist friends who worked for the big publications how they could demean their profession like this. Their answer? We're no longer “friends.”
But it's too simple to say that the media is doing Agitprop. Because what they've really been doing is protecting their own club. The real reason they hate Trump is because he's an outsider who doesn't play by club rules. The media has always been like this - at least during my lifetime.
When I was a kid, one of my lawyer father's clients was Lloyd Shearer who owned and ran Parade magazine. Parade's gossip column was hugely influential. Their readership was enormous. In the late sixties/early seventies, when Lloyd's kids were at college, starting their careers in journalism, I also saw how The Club worked. Lloyd's daughter was dating Strobe Talbott, a Yale student who precociously translated Krushchev's memoirs. (And the couple stayed at my family's house here in Santa Barbara that I now live in.) He was also the roommate of a student everyone knew was going places politically: Bill Clinton. Strobe became the head of Brookings Institute. All the Shearer kids worked for and with the Clintons. People often ask me why I am a cynical disbeliever in the mainstream press. Why wouldn't I be?
So Agitprop is not just agitation and propaganda for political ideological purposes. It is first and foremost about preserving the power of The Club. Enjoy your Sunday NYT.
Polly: I remember Strobe Talbott (how could anyone forget such a name?), but I don't recall the exact circumstances of the over-sized role he played at the State Department. Please fill me in if you do.
Strobe was the head of Brookings Institute. It's always been my understanding that Brookings played a huge role in Dem policies. And Strobe was considered a Russia expert. Hopefully, we'll find out whether or how much Brookings and/or Strobe was involved in Russiagate.
The "Santa Barbara Independent" is as "independent" as Bernie Sanders (I-VT). That's why I haven't even scanned it in ages. I swear, they even censor the obituaries. It seems as if every deceased luminary was a heavy contributor to Planned Parenthood, or volunteered at P.P.'s annual booksale. They are close to 100% predictable. Just mention an issue or subject and every astute political junkie can tell you in advance what the "Independent's" slant will be. Their political endorsements are a joke. Does anybody expect them to seriously consider a conservative or Republican candidate for an endorsement? For starters, in their universe, only Democrats exist. They won't even waste ink on mentioning who are the people running against Democrats, much less give effort and space to review their ideas, even in a quest to critique or badmouth them. Just ask Dr. Thomas Cole!
ahhh...reconsider....you are missing a steady dose of local entertainment...The Angry Poodle column rivals the best of SNL comedy, almost to the point of wondering if it is not actually "tongue in cheek". Rivals current City Council meetings...hard to believe they are serious...or paid.
Sorry! For entertainment, I watch the monthly rotation of free movies (w/ads) on Youtube. Try "When Harry Met Sally" or "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" - maybe "Vertigo" in August. Santa Barbara City Council and Nick Welsh are a waste of time. Besides, they really aren't funny, or entertaining!
David, TVW: Say what you will, Nick Welsh is a fine writer, nearly as good as PJ O'Rourke. The Angry Poodle's politics are far, far, left so he has become too predictable to expect any surprises from him, but he sure does have a way with words!
Yeah, Welsh is a professional writer. One needn't be a conservative writer to catch my attention. Last week, I had a beer at Mike Royko's hang-out in downtown Chicago (The Billy Goat Tavern) for inveterate left-of-center journalists. During the Truman and Eisenhower years, "Billy Goat" had a sign hung behind the bar that read "No Republicans Allowed". During Royko's heyday as a syndicated columnist, I read his stuff. I reminisce often of my glory days going to grad school in N.Y.C. and daily consuming the scribblings of the likes of Jimmy Breslin et al. They were much earthier than what came out of "The New York Times" and "The Wall Street Journal" op-ed pages. For the most part, graduating from a reputable J-school wasn't part of their resume, but they were intelligent, very well connected and the word "smart" was preceded by "street". They were men of the left but they weren't "Village Voice" left and probably not even "Dissent" and "Partisan Review" left. They began their writing careers on the graveyard shift and always put their columns together at bars frequented by journalists and working class people. If you drank and were interested in people, the Breslins of Manhattan (who all lived in Queens) could/would talk with you, no matter what your party politics were. That's just not the case today. If you're not loony tunes left, and don't genuflect in the direction of the top J-schools, in their eyes you're nothing. Not even toast - nothing!
I differ with you about Welsh. He's clever-ish, always spinning into the most predictable rant. That's not good writing, that's dressing up garbage. O'Rourke was in an entirely different league.
When The Village Voice was the only "alternative" paper in NYC, it covered events that the mainstream press didn't bother with. It also had some good writers, particularly covering the music scene and off-Broadway stuff, but as the East Village Other and other papers ascended the Voice became extremely doctrinaire and really boring. For awhile it had to compete with the new free papers (they were charging $1.50 per copy!) but very few people bought it by then.
You're right, the Village Voice published some really good critics like Peter Scheldahl, Jim Wolcott, Jeff Weinstein and let them write on art, music and restaurants that wasn't being covered in the mainstream press. I knew those guys, they were great writers. And the Debbie Nathan piece that blew apart the McMartin “satanic” sexual child abuse case was journalism at its best. And you're right, that era of the Voice morphed into a predictably Leftist take on everything which is all Partridge has in The Independent.
elcx: thanks for the compliments. I don't know how the new iteration of the News-Press is going but I haven't seen it since it first launched. I don't believe, however, that it is particularly conservative and in fact from what I did see it seemed to lean left...
This is a very important topic. In addition to the clear coordinated bias of the media in its reporting and commentary is the dangerous and intentional non-reporting of important issues and subjects.
Bernard: You have hit the target dead center! The non-reporting of, for example, the four-year invasion at our southern border was nearly unanimous in any of our major outlets. They solidified their position that Rush Limbaugh correctly defined as "Drive-by media." They would simply drive by and completely ignore anything that conflicted with the "narrative." Both major media and social media were complicit and without Elon Musk stepping up to buy Twitter, we may never have seen/read of their complicity. The Cackler may even have won the 2024 presidential election.
As a high school kid in 1970 I attended several anti-war Vietnam era Teach-Ins at Griffith Park and other places. They were informative, and fun gatherings of colorfully dressed yippies and hippies and even normal folks.
BUT I discovered that once I got home and watched the TV news that night that there had been RIOTS !!! Police rushing the crowd, arrests, misbehavior. All solemnly reported, disappointed in the people who didn't understand the Domino Theory.
Except, of course, I was THERE and none of that happened.
That set up in me a lifelong distrust of manipulative media.
When listed like this it becomes a truth the opposition does not want to see or hear.
At the City Council special meeting the City of Santa Barbara Attorney, gave a clear warning to the Council. Supporting the organization that wants to defend the illegals from the recent ICE enforcement, could lead to the City and employees being held liable for Federal charges.
It was not some nebulous person in the room or audience. It was the City of Santa Barbara Attorney.
Does anyone find it amazing that Sneddon wants to take specifically designated tax money to the tune of Half a Million Dollars to give to this group? At a time when the City is running what amounts to a multi-year deficit? Is it an issue of ethics when Harmon (attorney) states the City can through subterfuge take the money from the Flexible House fund. Then Councilwoman Harmon what amounts to stealing from Measure C tax fund by amending Measure C?
The words and dodging of positions was at the Council Meeting is a microcosm of Jim's article.
Love to see the readers of this article start going down the list of the same type of actions in the City of SB.
it is very true the Dems have mastered the art of propaganda. I just look at it like the Chinese and say that all news is propaganda.
The term Mockingbird Media has also been applied to the Mainstream media if you look at their reporting they all say the same thing the same point at the same time,hence the term Mockingbird Media.
And the left gobbles it up and repeats,repeats and repeats it. Then they all share the same lies on social media and viola we have the talking points of the day.
I believe that the left has somehow become brainwashed,whether it's due to the narcissistic nature or mental illness,that they cannot think for themselves.
I hope with the defending of USAid ,PBS and NPr along with Colbert gone and soon the view,let's hope we can have some real reporting in the future.
Very enlightening article Jim. The notion that our “Press Corp” is bias and in the tank for the Dems is shocking….not!
BTW, don’t you think that the NYT and WAPO should be required to give back their Pulitzer(s) due to phony reporting of “Russia Gate” which was based on a complete fabrication and hoax? It would seem the Pulitzer committee doesn’t want to admit their “Prize” is based on promoting and spreading lefty talking points!
As for our local “Press Corp” (EDHAT, Independent, Newsfakers) it would seem they should have to provide a disclaimer at the bottom of the page, informing readers that they are tools of the local Dem machine, promoting their pack of lies of lefty propaganda and on everything Trump!
Other than that, the “Indy” makes a great liner for my Birdcage!
I was living in NY then and during those days I guess you could call me an aspiring hippie. As you inferred in the article, John Lindsay was the mayor of NYC then. He was also a Republican, however, he was also more liberal than 90% of the radicals in the Dem Party today. Lastly, I wonder how many of your younger readers have ever heard of Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. I would urge everyone to watch the iconic beach scene in the great movie "From here to Eternity" with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr. There is more sensuality in that scene than any of the crap they put out as movies today.
Lou: Well, I guess you're correct in your assumption that Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr wouldn't be the first people to come to mind when discussing "The King and I." In fact, I'd guess that many would think the movie had something to do with Elvis... Presley that is. Or Martin Luther King, Jr., or hey, even Larry King (whose commercials online have kept him alive)!
Excellent article Jim: we’ve no media coverage from our typically left to far left biased propaganda media. Here’s some “truth” reported 2-days after the SB City Council’s Special Meeting on Thursday 7/31/25: Santa Barbara City Council Approves $500,000 to Immigrant Support Services - The Santa Barbara Independent
Vote 5-1-1 only Mayor Rowse opposed: D1 Community Activist Wendy SantaMaria abstains. Sneddon and Friedman expected to run against Rowse in 2026. Who will you be sending your campaign money contribution?
Where do you read that SB Council was put on notice Thursday of its unlawful intentional actions working against federal enforcement? KEYT failed to cover, Noozhawk remains silent, and Independent released above article on Saturday — today.
Apologising is the start of truth, honesty and integrity in reporting. But only a start. The policy of ICE is to deport the bad guys, the criminals. Yet the opposite is what is happening.
Nicole Acevedo of NBC News reported that on June 20 the U.S. was holding more than 56,000 people in detention centers, the highest number in U.S. history. Nearly 72% of those held had no criminal history.
By my schoolroom maths this is over forty thousand " unfortunate mishaps", not one or two.
This is an own goal of monumental proportions, or is it just intentiolnal conduct by ICE?
Wait I have an easy solution, straight from the MAGA playbook. Lets call it fake news, lets dissemble the information, the reporter, for reporting facts that we do not agree with. Where else do I need to do this? Yes, I got it! The jobs report. Let's fire US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner Erika McEntarfer.
Daniel: Please, why anyone would trust numbers or so-called "facts" from NBC News is a mystery. They and the rest of the media make numbers up and choose what seems to work best. I could report that one million migrants have been murdered by white vigilantes and no doubt some liberal a-hole would run with it on his latest blog. Before long some hack at NBC would refer to it as "fact," and if you disputed it you'd be labeled a conspiracy freak.
thank you for your condescending comments. They help me understand you better.
From Fed Reserve Bank of St Loius
Tax revenue has been roughly 17% of GDP since 1980.
Expenditure has been roughly 20% of GDP in the same time frame.
To make up the difference treasuries are issued with an interest payment. The interest goes up when confidence in the government's ability to pay declines.
“Agitprop”, thank you. I knew there had to be a word that describes tacos tactics. He starts his lies and repeats them over and over and over and over, then he gets his minions to repeat the lies, and they do in almost the exact same words he said. Voila! Agitprop.
elcx: Every article in a recent business wrap up in the WSJ was not only downbeat, but also snidely indicated tariffs were to blame. The paper is now shamelessly anti-Trump.
Jimmy, the Montecito Journal, which you sold/cashed out, to a group of wealthy, liberal, residents primarily residing in Montecito, is also “shamelessly anti-Trump”.
WSJ's roots were...and remain...open borders...motivated in no small part by endless advocacy for cheap labor wherein the profits are privatized and the costs are socialized.
TVW: You are right about that. I am a WSJ subscriber but I always bypass their "coverage" of the border and tariff negotiations. I know what their biases are and realise I'm not reading objective reportage. I've avoided Peggy Noonan's pieces for years now too. She's still a very good writer, but she has been won over by the dark side of the DC crowd and can't be taken seriously any longer.
Daniel: You have it backwards: it's Yes to tax cuts for taxpayers and No to free health care to able-bodied individuals too lazy to look for or find work.
there are many hardworking people not benefiting from todays society. The middle class is hollowing out is a common refrain. So yes there are some who free load on the system and there many genuinely needing help. To dismiss all for a few is very simplistic. And the cuts only come after the 2026 elections, cute, the party knows it too.
Want to help "hardworking" and the middle class??? let them keep more of their paychecks...not shuffle those legitimate earnings to federal bureaucracies to redistribute inefficiently and selectively to pet partisan programs...including to people in this country illegally...that includes SB City Council.
We could spend the rest of our lives cherry picking sources to quote. The source you site is a left of center globalist organization that seeks to re-distribute the world's wealth. That's fine if that's what works for you and of course, you and your cohorts are free to promote that. The good news is that most Americans reject that mentality as evidence by the results of the last election and the current polling of the entire electorate.
I am amazed at the lack of knowledge or understanding surrounding the creation of capital and so called "wealth". The left seems to treat it as a finite pie that is not being distributed fairly. In reality that pie is continually growing...with exceptions of course. An example would be Leftists like George Soros, Reid Hoffman and Bill Gates, etc. Their wealth didn't come from the pockets of other people. They CREATED that wealth (all while being Leftists) and are entitled to the fruits of there "labors"...just as they entitled to give it away if they so choose.
Because there has been enormous wealth created in the last decade or two doesn't mean it was at the expense of others who were not as "successful"....which includes the major majority of us. I don't covet their wealth or success.
The data is clear that the lower economic rungs of our society have done very well during that same period of time. The Left always has to have a boogie man...it is part and parcel of their ideology. If the goal is take (confiscate) the fruits of another's successful efforts...then what comrades? I think the world has been down this road. Perhaps our schools need to do a better job of teaching history.
A little simplistic Daniel...a talking point without substance.
I can't think of a better group of people to get a tax cut than the wealthy...they're the ones paying the taxes. You're not going give a tax cut to a poor person ...they're not really paying taxes and certainly not net contributors. Not sure when it became popular to speak of the"wealthy' as a negative or pejorative...however I have no doubt about its' origin.
yes it is simplistic. And the wealthy do not need a tax cut, tax rates here in the US are the lowest in the west. US tax revenues do not support the expenditures, there fore debt will rise and at some point interest rates will rise too. I am approaching this from it is poor accounting and nothing to do with left of centre socialist views. I find it interesting the left is the assumed bogeymen. Pure Mcarthyism once more and a facile shallow critique.
Your childish and silly "McCathryism" comment aside, you might want to review a chart of both the massive increases in federal spending (expenditures; debt) side of the ledger for the past 50-60 years as well as the attendant increases in taxes to feed that insatiable monster. Then I suggest you revisit your comment about rising interest rates, etc., ad nauseam. So much for public school.
Thanks for a great summary. So grateful to you and the Current for offering SB an alternative to the agitprop served up by 95 % of the supposed local sources of “ news”
We live in a truth desert in this city, and the Current is a welcome oasis
TRUMP SHOULD SEND ALL THE LYING "JOURNALISTS" AT THE SOCIALIST SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT TO ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY FROM COMMUNISM
Jim- I appreciate learning the word and meaning Agitprop. Being a young boomer, I am constantly amused and embarrassed by the photos of my aging peers holding ridicules anti ICE signs and wringing their hands over the news (propaganda) that is spewed by the local democrat "leaders".
Mike: I don't mind the stupid signs they hold, it's the ridiculous chants they repeat in unison (using that term loosely) over, and over, and over, and over... Aaargh! The only things lacking in most of these "demonstrations" are copies of Mao's "Little Red Book."
You mention The Village Voice. How many Santa Barbarans know that Marianne Partridge, editor and owner of The Independent, worked at, edited at and was schooled in Leftist “journalism” at The Village Voice? That's right, she is merely carrying on the news reporting tradition of a paper that, when I lived in NYC, even my most liberal writer friends rolled their eyes at because it was so by-the-books Marxist. Not just their so-called news reporting, but their culture reporting. Even their food reporting. I knew people who worked at The Voice and they were often very intelligent, likable people. But they were more devoted to Leftist politics than to journalism. Or friendship. Now, all the legacy media is devoted to Leftist politics. They showed in their “reporting” about Russiagate that they were willing to lie to uphold their politics. I saw this when Russiagate began and I'd ask my NYC journalist friends who worked for the big publications how they could demean their profession like this. Their answer? We're no longer “friends.”
But it's too simple to say that the media is doing Agitprop. Because what they've really been doing is protecting their own club. The real reason they hate Trump is because he's an outsider who doesn't play by club rules. The media has always been like this - at least during my lifetime.
When I was a kid, one of my lawyer father's clients was Lloyd Shearer who owned and ran Parade magazine. Parade's gossip column was hugely influential. Their readership was enormous. In the late sixties/early seventies, when Lloyd's kids were at college, starting their careers in journalism, I also saw how The Club worked. Lloyd's daughter was dating Strobe Talbott, a Yale student who precociously translated Krushchev's memoirs. (And the couple stayed at my family's house here in Santa Barbara that I now live in.) He was also the roommate of a student everyone knew was going places politically: Bill Clinton. Strobe became the head of Brookings Institute. All the Shearer kids worked for and with the Clintons. People often ask me why I am a cynical disbeliever in the mainstream press. Why wouldn't I be?
So Agitprop is not just agitation and propaganda for political ideological purposes. It is first and foremost about preserving the power of The Club. Enjoy your Sunday NYT.
Polly: I remember Strobe Talbott (how could anyone forget such a name?), but I don't recall the exact circumstances of the over-sized role he played at the State Department. Please fill me in if you do.
Strobe was the head of Brookings Institute. It's always been my understanding that Brookings played a huge role in Dem policies. And Strobe was considered a Russia expert. Hopefully, we'll find out whether or how much Brookings and/or Strobe was involved in Russiagate.
I enjoy reading the Independent...my weekly dose of comedic satire...including its name....a literary gift to our community...literally.
The "Santa Barbara Independent" is as "independent" as Bernie Sanders (I-VT). That's why I haven't even scanned it in ages. I swear, they even censor the obituaries. It seems as if every deceased luminary was a heavy contributor to Planned Parenthood, or volunteered at P.P.'s annual booksale. They are close to 100% predictable. Just mention an issue or subject and every astute political junkie can tell you in advance what the "Independent's" slant will be. Their political endorsements are a joke. Does anybody expect them to seriously consider a conservative or Republican candidate for an endorsement? For starters, in their universe, only Democrats exist. They won't even waste ink on mentioning who are the people running against Democrats, much less give effort and space to review their ideas, even in a quest to critique or badmouth them. Just ask Dr. Thomas Cole!
ahhh...reconsider....you are missing a steady dose of local entertainment...The Angry Poodle column rivals the best of SNL comedy, almost to the point of wondering if it is not actually "tongue in cheek". Rivals current City Council meetings...hard to believe they are serious...or paid.
Sorry! For entertainment, I watch the monthly rotation of free movies (w/ads) on Youtube. Try "When Harry Met Sally" or "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" - maybe "Vertigo" in August. Santa Barbara City Council and Nick Welsh are a waste of time. Besides, they really aren't funny, or entertaining!
David, TVW: Say what you will, Nick Welsh is a fine writer, nearly as good as PJ O'Rourke. The Angry Poodle's politics are far, far, left so he has become too predictable to expect any surprises from him, but he sure does have a way with words!
Yeah, Welsh is a professional writer. One needn't be a conservative writer to catch my attention. Last week, I had a beer at Mike Royko's hang-out in downtown Chicago (The Billy Goat Tavern) for inveterate left-of-center journalists. During the Truman and Eisenhower years, "Billy Goat" had a sign hung behind the bar that read "No Republicans Allowed". During Royko's heyday as a syndicated columnist, I read his stuff. I reminisce often of my glory days going to grad school in N.Y.C. and daily consuming the scribblings of the likes of Jimmy Breslin et al. They were much earthier than what came out of "The New York Times" and "The Wall Street Journal" op-ed pages. For the most part, graduating from a reputable J-school wasn't part of their resume, but they were intelligent, very well connected and the word "smart" was preceded by "street". They were men of the left but they weren't "Village Voice" left and probably not even "Dissent" and "Partisan Review" left. They began their writing careers on the graveyard shift and always put their columns together at bars frequented by journalists and working class people. If you drank and were interested in people, the Breslins of Manhattan (who all lived in Queens) could/would talk with you, no matter what your party politics were. That's just not the case today. If you're not loony tunes left, and don't genuflect in the direction of the top J-schools, in their eyes you're nothing. Not even toast - nothing!
I differ with you about Welsh. He's clever-ish, always spinning into the most predictable rant. That's not good writing, that's dressing up garbage. O'Rourke was in an entirely different league.
When The Village Voice was the only "alternative" paper in NYC, it covered events that the mainstream press didn't bother with. It also had some good writers, particularly covering the music scene and off-Broadway stuff, but as the East Village Other and other papers ascended the Voice became extremely doctrinaire and really boring. For awhile it had to compete with the new free papers (they were charging $1.50 per copy!) but very few people bought it by then.
You're right, the Village Voice published some really good critics like Peter Scheldahl, Jim Wolcott, Jeff Weinstein and let them write on art, music and restaurants that wasn't being covered in the mainstream press. I knew those guys, they were great writers. And the Debbie Nathan piece that blew apart the McMartin “satanic” sexual child abuse case was journalism at its best. And you're right, that era of the Voice morphed into a predictably Leftist take on everything which is all Partridge has in The Independent.
US Constitution is not a set of “club rules”
The powers that seek to destroy our Nation need us angry and lawless to be successful.
The SB Current is our only access to reality.
Thanks Jim.
elcx: thanks for the compliments. I don't know how the new iteration of the News-Press is going but I haven't seen it since it first launched. I don't believe, however, that it is particularly conservative and in fact from what I did see it seemed to lean left...
This is a very important topic. In addition to the clear coordinated bias of the media in its reporting and commentary is the dangerous and intentional non-reporting of important issues and subjects.
Bernard: You have hit the target dead center! The non-reporting of, for example, the four-year invasion at our southern border was nearly unanimous in any of our major outlets. They solidified their position that Rush Limbaugh correctly defined as "Drive-by media." They would simply drive by and completely ignore anything that conflicted with the "narrative." Both major media and social media were complicit and without Elon Musk stepping up to buy Twitter, we may never have seen/read of their complicity. The Cackler may even have won the 2024 presidential election.
As a high school kid in 1970 I attended several anti-war Vietnam era Teach-Ins at Griffith Park and other places. They were informative, and fun gatherings of colorfully dressed yippies and hippies and even normal folks.
BUT I discovered that once I got home and watched the TV news that night that there had been RIOTS !!! Police rushing the crowd, arrests, misbehavior. All solemnly reported, disappointed in the people who didn't understand the Domino Theory.
Except, of course, I was THERE and none of that happened.
That set up in me a lifelong distrust of manipulative media.
When listed like this it becomes a truth the opposition does not want to see or hear.
At the City Council special meeting the City of Santa Barbara Attorney, gave a clear warning to the Council. Supporting the organization that wants to defend the illegals from the recent ICE enforcement, could lead to the City and employees being held liable for Federal charges.
It was not some nebulous person in the room or audience. It was the City of Santa Barbara Attorney.
Does anyone find it amazing that Sneddon wants to take specifically designated tax money to the tune of Half a Million Dollars to give to this group? At a time when the City is running what amounts to a multi-year deficit? Is it an issue of ethics when Harmon (attorney) states the City can through subterfuge take the money from the Flexible House fund. Then Councilwoman Harmon what amounts to stealing from Measure C tax fund by amending Measure C?
The words and dodging of positions was at the Council Meeting is a microcosm of Jim's article.
Love to see the readers of this article start going down the list of the same type of actions in the City of SB.
I am truly dismayed every time Kristen Sneddon speaks, as you refer to as, "amazing." And to think she's going to run for mayor is just awful.
Great article!
Thank you Jim for your article.
it is very true the Dems have mastered the art of propaganda. I just look at it like the Chinese and say that all news is propaganda.
The term Mockingbird Media has also been applied to the Mainstream media if you look at their reporting they all say the same thing the same point at the same time,hence the term Mockingbird Media.
And the left gobbles it up and repeats,repeats and repeats it. Then they all share the same lies on social media and viola we have the talking points of the day.
I believe that the left has somehow become brainwashed,whether it's due to the narcissistic nature or mental illness,that they cannot think for themselves.
I hope with the defending of USAid ,PBS and NPr along with Colbert gone and soon the view,let's hope we can have some real reporting in the future.
Very enlightening article Jim. The notion that our “Press Corp” is bias and in the tank for the Dems is shocking….not!
BTW, don’t you think that the NYT and WAPO should be required to give back their Pulitzer(s) due to phony reporting of “Russia Gate” which was based on a complete fabrication and hoax? It would seem the Pulitzer committee doesn’t want to admit their “Prize” is based on promoting and spreading lefty talking points!
As for our local “Press Corp” (EDHAT, Independent, Newsfakers) it would seem they should have to provide a disclaimer at the bottom of the page, informing readers that they are tools of the local Dem machine, promoting their pack of lies of lefty propaganda and on everything Trump!
Other than that, the “Indy” makes a great liner for my Birdcage!
LT: Of course they ought to give back their Pulitzers, but they have no shame nor self-respect, so I don't expect that will happen.
Not a chance they return the "prize"...Pulitzer currently does not occupy a place of respect or dignity...not convinced it ever did.
It also makes a good “fish wrap”
I was living in NY then and during those days I guess you could call me an aspiring hippie. As you inferred in the article, John Lindsay was the mayor of NYC then. He was also a Republican, however, he was also more liberal than 90% of the radicals in the Dem Party today. Lastly, I wonder how many of your younger readers have ever heard of Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. I would urge everyone to watch the iconic beach scene in the great movie "From here to Eternity" with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr. There is more sensuality in that scene than any of the crap they put out as movies today.
Lou: Well, I guess you're correct in your assumption that Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr wouldn't be the first people to come to mind when discussing "The King and I." In fact, I'd guess that many would think the movie had something to do with Elvis... Presley that is. Or Martin Luther King, Jr., or hey, even Larry King (whose commercials online have kept him alive)!
Lol
Excellent article Jim: we’ve no media coverage from our typically left to far left biased propaganda media. Here’s some “truth” reported 2-days after the SB City Council’s Special Meeting on Thursday 7/31/25: Santa Barbara City Council Approves $500,000 to Immigrant Support Services - The Santa Barbara Independent
Vote 5-1-1 only Mayor Rowse opposed: D1 Community Activist Wendy SantaMaria abstains. Sneddon and Friedman expected to run against Rowse in 2026. Who will you be sending your campaign money contribution?
Where do you read that SB Council was put on notice Thursday of its unlawful intentional actions working against federal enforcement? KEYT failed to cover, Noozhawk remains silent, and Independent released above article on Saturday — today.
https://www.independent.com/2025/08/01/santa-barbara-city-council-approves-500000-to-immigrant-support-services/?vgo_ee=Ai%2BCZDmBwaroC18tOfB%2FKzBwoONyIG0ya5hSeVk5evH5%3AOCr695NyLF5n%2Ff0LTpq2Jwq1CzL%2BnJjb
Apologising is the start of truth, honesty and integrity in reporting. But only a start. The policy of ICE is to deport the bad guys, the criminals. Yet the opposite is what is happening.
Nicole Acevedo of NBC News reported that on June 20 the U.S. was holding more than 56,000 people in detention centers, the highest number in U.S. history. Nearly 72% of those held had no criminal history.
By my schoolroom maths this is over forty thousand " unfortunate mishaps", not one or two.
This is an own goal of monumental proportions, or is it just intentiolnal conduct by ICE?
Wait I have an easy solution, straight from the MAGA playbook. Lets call it fake news, lets dissemble the information, the reporter, for reporting facts that we do not agree with. Where else do I need to do this? Yes, I got it! The jobs report. Let's fire US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner Erika McEntarfer.
These are also behaviours taken from 1984.
Daniel: Please, why anyone would trust numbers or so-called "facts" from NBC News is a mystery. They and the rest of the media make numbers up and choose what seems to work best. I could report that one million migrants have been murdered by white vigilantes and no doubt some liberal a-hole would run with it on his latest blog. Before long some hack at NBC would refer to it as "fact," and if you disputed it you'd be labeled a conspiracy freak.
thank you for your condescending comments. They help me understand you better.
From Fed Reserve Bank of St Loius
Tax revenue has been roughly 17% of GDP since 1980.
Expenditure has been roughly 20% of GDP in the same time frame.
To make up the difference treasuries are issued with an interest payment. The interest goes up when confidence in the government's ability to pay declines.
Public school has its merits after all.
“Agitprop”, thank you. I knew there had to be a word that describes tacos tactics. He starts his lies and repeats them over and over and over and over, then he gets his minions to repeat the lies, and they do in almost the exact same words he said. Voila! Agitprop.
elcx: Every article in a recent business wrap up in the WSJ was not only downbeat, but also snidely indicated tariffs were to blame. The paper is now shamelessly anti-Trump.
Jimmy, the Montecito Journal, which you sold/cashed out, to a group of wealthy, liberal, residents primarily residing in Montecito, is also “shamelessly anti-Trump”.
elcx: I know, to my everlasting shame. I had no idea they would go that way and shut me out of at least a political column. I hate that it happened.
WSJ's roots were...and remain...open borders...motivated in no small part by endless advocacy for cheap labor wherein the profits are privatized and the costs are socialized.
TVW: You are right about that. I am a WSJ subscriber but I always bypass their "coverage" of the border and tariff negotiations. I know what their biases are and realise I'm not reading objective reportage. I've avoided Peggy Noonan's pieces for years now too. She's still a very good writer, but she has been won over by the dark side of the DC crowd and can't be taken seriously any longer.
tax cuts for the wealthy, health care cuts for the poor, that is real socialism in action.
Daniel: You have it backwards: it's Yes to tax cuts for taxpayers and No to free health care to able-bodied individuals too lazy to look for or find work.
Jim
there are many hardworking people not benefiting from todays society. The middle class is hollowing out is a common refrain. So yes there are some who free load on the system and there many genuinely needing help. To dismiss all for a few is very simplistic. And the cuts only come after the 2026 elections, cute, the party knows it too.
Want to help "hardworking" and the middle class??? let them keep more of their paychecks...not shuffle those legitimate earnings to federal bureaucracies to redistribute inefficiently and selectively to pet partisan programs...including to people in this country illegally...that includes SB City Council.
Daniel,
You might find this “current” link below interesting & clearly supports your point.
https://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/stories/do-the-rich-pay-their-fair-share/
We could spend the rest of our lives cherry picking sources to quote. The source you site is a left of center globalist organization that seeks to re-distribute the world's wealth. That's fine if that's what works for you and of course, you and your cohorts are free to promote that. The good news is that most Americans reject that mentality as evidence by the results of the last election and the current polling of the entire electorate.
I am amazed at the lack of knowledge or understanding surrounding the creation of capital and so called "wealth". The left seems to treat it as a finite pie that is not being distributed fairly. In reality that pie is continually growing...with exceptions of course. An example would be Leftists like George Soros, Reid Hoffman and Bill Gates, etc. Their wealth didn't come from the pockets of other people. They CREATED that wealth (all while being Leftists) and are entitled to the fruits of there "labors"...just as they entitled to give it away if they so choose.
Because there has been enormous wealth created in the last decade or two doesn't mean it was at the expense of others who were not as "successful"....which includes the major majority of us. I don't covet their wealth or success.
The data is clear that the lower economic rungs of our society have done very well during that same period of time. The Left always has to have a boogie man...it is part and parcel of their ideology. If the goal is take (confiscate) the fruits of another's successful efforts...then what comrades? I think the world has been down this road. Perhaps our schools need to do a better job of teaching history.
A little simplistic Daniel...a talking point without substance.
I can't think of a better group of people to get a tax cut than the wealthy...they're the ones paying the taxes. You're not going give a tax cut to a poor person ...they're not really paying taxes and certainly not net contributors. Not sure when it became popular to speak of the"wealthy' as a negative or pejorative...however I have no doubt about its' origin.
yes it is simplistic. And the wealthy do not need a tax cut, tax rates here in the US are the lowest in the west. US tax revenues do not support the expenditures, there fore debt will rise and at some point interest rates will rise too. I am approaching this from it is poor accounting and nothing to do with left of centre socialist views. I find it interesting the left is the assumed bogeymen. Pure Mcarthyism once more and a facile shallow critique.
Your childish and silly "McCathryism" comment aside, you might want to review a chart of both the massive increases in federal spending (expenditures; debt) side of the ledger for the past 50-60 years as well as the attendant increases in taxes to feed that insatiable monster. Then I suggest you revisit your comment about rising interest rates, etc., ad nauseam. So much for public school.
We need Robin Hood.
including from within....