Slanted

1. The Narrative: Shaping Reality Through Selective Facts

The Narrative refers to a story line that influential people want told in order to define and narrow your views.

Defining the Narrative. The Narrative is a carefully constructed storyline, promoted by influential figures, designed to shape public opinion by selectively presenting information. It often involves presenting multi-sided issues in a distinctly one-sided fashion, suspending logic, and applying double standards. The goal is to embed chosen ideas so deeply within society that they are no longer questioned.

Truth as a Narrative. Truthful information can also qualify as narratives in three ways:

• When presented in a biased fashion to confuse or overwhelm other facts.
• When amplified beyond its independent news value to promote a broader storyline.
• When couched in terms that present an issue as a closed case, implying contrary views are illegitimate.

The Psychology of The Narrative. Doublethink, as described in Orwell's 1984, is essential to understanding the psychology of The Narrative. It involves knowing and not knowing, being conscious of truthfulness while telling lies, and holding contradictory opinions simultaneously. News reporters and consumers must accept doublethink to service The Narrative with a guilt-free conscience.

2. Media's Role: From Reporting Facts to Pushing Narratives

Slanted tells the story of what happens when reporters convince news consumers that the reporters’ own opinions are more valuable than facts.

Devolution of Journalism. The emergence of Donald Trump as a political figure accelerated the media's shift from objective reporting to pushing narratives. Reporters now frequently inject their opinions into stories, rely on dubious anonymous sources, and suspend ethical standards to further anti-Trump narratives. This has led to a crisis state in the news, where context is manipulated, and distrust is rampant.

The "Two Sides" Fallacy. Seeking diverse viewpoints is often ineffective because opinions surround the same limited topics, reinforcing The Narrative. Special interests recruit, train, and supply the news with media commentators who are carefully schooled on how to deflect inconvenient facts and promote specific talking points. This saturation of political operatives transforms the media into propaganda tools.

Media Self-Censorship. News organizations and social media companies increasingly act as curators, determining what information the public should access. This "curation" is often driven by political demands and corporate interests, leading to censorship of certain facts, stories, and opinions. The result is a narrowing of the universe of available information and a chilling effect on free speech.

3. Weaponizing Narratives: #MeToo and Political Destruction

The most insidious use of The Narrative is when it is weaponized to destroy.

The Dark Side of #MeToo. While the #MeToo movement aimed to fight sexual harassment and assault, it has been perverted into a tool for destruction. The narrative that "she must be believed" has led to unsubstantiated claims and the destruction of individuals' lives and careers. This weaponization of #MeToo undermines due process and creates a climate of fear.

The Trevor FitzGibbon Story. Public relations professional Trevor FitzGibbon was targeted by multiple #MeToo accusations, some of which were later recanted. Despite the lack of criminal charges, the accusations destroyed his career and reputation. This case highlights the dangers of a #MeToo narrative that lacks nuance and conflates inappropriate behavior with criminal acts.

The Jeff Fager Case. CBS executive Jeff Fager was swept up in the #MeToo narrative, with vague and unsubstantiated claims of tolerating harassment leading to his firing. The weaponization of the #MeToo narrative was used to settle old scores and accomplish his professional destruction. This case demonstrates how the #MeToo narrative can be exploited to target individuals based on personal vendettas and power struggles.

4. Narrative Collisions: When Truth Becomes a Casualty

The more people you can cram on the set at one moment to express themselves in very short sound bites, and the most sharp-pointed, then you’ve scored big in the current environment. But it’s superficial because they don’t get to talk for more than a few seconds at a time.

MSNBC's Math Mistake. MSNBC anchor Brian Williams and New York Times editorial board member Mara Gay promoted a false claim that Michael Bloomberg could have given every American a million dollars with his campaign spending. This incident highlights the media's failure to fact-check information that fits a desired narrative. It also demonstrates the dangers of relying on social media for news without proper verification.

The Evolving Earmarks Story. CBS Evening News assigned Sharyl Attkisson to cover Congress’s “earmarking” taxpayer money for various projects and interests, circumventing the normal budget checks and approvals. As powerful interests began to apply pressure on CBS, the internal philosophy about what we should and should not report changed. One manager told me I should focus only on earmarks of at least a million dollars. Not long after that, another manager raised the bar. He said we should probably report only on earmarks that were “tens of millions” of dollars. And then, as popular as the feature had been among our viewers, it faded away.

The Swine Flu “Epidemic” In October 2009, I put the finishing touches on what today remains one of my most important and eye-opening investigations. Using hard data, I discovered that there was a relatively negligible number of H1N1 swine flu cases in circulation, despite alarming claims by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that we were being overrun by illnesses and deaths.

5. The New York Times: A Case Study in Narrative Capture

Our most respected mainstream journalism organizations are beginning to recognize the failings of nonpartisanship—its tepidness, its blind spots, its omissions, its evasions.

The Trump Rape Allegation. The New York Times published a dubious rape allegation against President Trump, sparking a debate over journalistic ethics. The decision to publish the story, despite lacking corroboration, highlights the media's willingness to lower standards to advance anti-Trump narratives. The subsequent controversy over the story's placement and the Times' admission that it violated its own guidelines further expose the influence of narratives on news decisions.

The "Trump Urges Unity vs. Racism" Headline. The New York Times changed a factual headline about President Trump urging unity over racism after facing criticism from Democrats. This incident demonstrates the media's susceptibility to political pressure and its willingness to prioritize narratives over objective reporting. The decision to alter the headline reflects a broader trend of news organizations catering to specific viewpoints rather than presenting balanced information.

The "Woke" New York Times. The New York Times has become increasingly captured by left-wing activism, as evidenced by internal controversies and editorial decisions. The newspaper's commitment to forwarding the Trump-as-racist narrative and its embrace of "woke" ideology have eroded its credibility and alienated a significant portion of the public. The New York Times is a case study in how narratives can transform a once-respected news organization into a tool for political advocacy.

6. The Language of Slant: How Words Shape Perceptions

In the past few years, we have experienced a sea change in terms of how the media do their job.

Weaponized Vocabulary. The media's use of specific words and phrases can significantly shape public perception and advance narratives. Terms like "-phobic," "debunked," "fake news," "anti-immigrant," "anti-science," and "denier" are often used to discredit opposing viewpoints and reinforce desired storylines. These terms are often factually incorrect or misleading when examined using a neutral reporter's eye.

"Lies" vs. "Gaffes." The media's selective use of the word "lies" to describe President Trump's statements, while downplaying similar misstatements by other politicians as "gaffes," highlights a clear bias. This disparate treatment undermines the media's credibility and reinforces the perception that they are more interested in pushing narratives than reporting facts. The media’s use of the “L” word is a relatively new phenomenon, and it is often used to describe statements that are exaggerations or misstatements rather than outright falsehoods.

"Without Evidence." The phrase "without evidence" has become a common tool for discrediting President Trump's claims, even when there may be some basis for his statements. This phrase is rarely used against other politicians, highlighting a double standard in media coverage. The media’s use of the phrase “without evidence” is often used to dismiss claims that are not supported by the media’s preferred sources.

7. Hope Remains: Independent Thinking and Resisting Narratives

This book will serve as an enduring resource for independent thinkers.

The Need for Independent Journalism. Despite the challenges posed by narratives and media bias, there is a growing need for independent journalism that prioritizes facts and truth. Consumers are increasingly seeking out alternative sources of information that offer a more balanced and nuanced perspective. The key is to find reporters and news outlets that resist blindly reporting narratives and critically examine all sides of an issue.

The Power of Independent Thought. The ability to think critically and resist the influence of narratives is essential for navigating today's complex information landscape. By questioning assumptions, seeking diverse viewpoints, and relying on logic and reason, individuals can avoid being manipulated by propaganda and form their own informed opinions. The existence of independent thinkers provides reason for optimism.

Recommendations for Finding Reliable Information. The author provides a list of organizations, publications, and individuals who are committed to independent journalism and off-narrative reporting. These sources offer a starting point for those seeking a more balanced and factual perspective on the news. The list includes a mix of mainstream and alternative media outlets, as well as reporters and analysts from various political backgrounds.

Last updated: April 10, 2025