We’re now almost two weeks out from the most consequential and surprising (to many) presidential election of our lifetimes. In many ways, it was even more dramatic than Trump’s victory in 2016. Right up until Election Day, the U.S. mainstream media, along with social media—except on X/Twitter—was predicting a close race with Democrats likely to prevail. After having drunk their own Kool-Aid, it was a mirage, gaslighting on an unprecedented level.
In the weeks leading up to the Trump-fueled Republican rout, it was obvious who the media industrial complex was pulling for: the Democrats and the monumentally flawed Kamala Harris-Tim Walz ticket. Despite coverage that was more than 90 percent positive for Democrats and 90 percent negative against Republicans, unprecedented election interference from the likes of Jack Smith as part of a lawfare campaign orchestrated by the White House, and the memory-holing of the two Trump assassination attempts the American electorate saw through the leftist media propaganda. Americans went to the polls and delivered a powerful rebuke to Harris, Biden, the Democrats, and especially the media elites, who now have not a shred of credibility left.
And the recrimination as to who was at fault for their stunning defeat comes from every direction. It is the definition and personification of a circular firing squad.
And that brings us to the subject of today’s commentary. With even Fox News having taken swipes at Trump and the Republicans running in 2024, where could one turn for mainstream right-focused, balanced news coverage? Yes, we know that there is News Nation (which is gaining ground on rapidly disintegrating CNN for the number three position in cable news ratings) and One America News. Still, we have a better suggestion: Sky News from Australia.
With a robust online presence, especially on YouTube, Sky News is easy to access. We know because we followed their election coverage during the just-concluded cycle. And among their hosts, who our cousins down under call presenters, four stand out: Rita Panahi (Lefties Losing It), Gabriella Power (The Power Hour), Paul Murray (who has great chemistry with regular contributor Megyn Kelly), and James Morrow (an American living down under).
Of the four, our favorite is Rita Panahi. Panahi has an American connection, born in 1976 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to Iranian parents. After returning to Iran for a brief period, in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, her family migrated to Australia as refugees, and she grew up in Melbourne.
For the past six months or so, Panahi has hosted a highly entertaining segment on Sky News called Lefties Losing It. With one of the most engaging smiles in all of the broadcast media, she has lampooned virtually every leftist progressive icon and talking head, from Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski to the insufferable Sunny Hostin and other members of the ABC News-produced clown show, The View, to soulless liberal droid contributor talking heads like Molly Jung-Fast.
Another of the Sky News female presenters with insights into the American political process is Gabriella Power, who hosts The Power Hour. Rising up through the digital side of Sky News, Power has gained her own degree of notoriety with her highly entertaining digital-original production, Power Hour. Airing online each Thursday (Wednesday in the U.S.), Power’s coverage of the U.S. election since February has brought a unique outside perspective on how to cover American politics as well as news on Britain’s Royal Family and the ongoing saga of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
A very likable person who brings a fresh common-sense perspective to politics, Paul Murray isn’t afraid to call out the media for its ranting “freakouts” over issues that run counter to their pet narratives. In the aftermath of the U.S. election, he did, in fact, declare that “top-down media is done in the USA,” skewering the media for “being all-in for” Kamala Harris and its purposeful daily takedowns of Donald Trump and Republicans in general.
Not afraid to share his platform, Murray reserves a regular weekly slot for American SiriusXM host Megan Kelly on his live daily show, a broadcast partnership both of them clearly enjoy. Murray’s dialogue regularly leads Kelly to turn on her blue glare of Aryan fury and focus it relentlessly on various political and cultural figures, as well as the indefensible positions of the radical Democrats, with Murray wrapping each segment with thoughtful insight served with a smile.
James Morrow hosts “The U.S. Report” for Sky News, bringing insight that extends far beyond the American power centers and into flyover country, where he gets the pulse of real America. Morrow unpacks the byzantine nature of American policy and its impact on Australia and the world, which is hard enough when based in Washington, D.C., yet he gets it done within the Sky News studios.
He doesn’t hesitate to call out politicians when they demonstrate contempt for average citizens. After losing the election and sending a surrogate to address her supporters instead of conceding the election in person, Harris was absolutely barbecued by Morrow. “I mean, this was just a shocking performance by the vice president this evening. I mean, truly, she was like school on Sunday…no class.”
Will Democrats Course Correct?
Will the media learn from its 2024 debacle where it covered itself with disgrace? Possibly, but we wouldn’t count on it.
Mass layoffs are coming for CNN. Chris Wallace is just the first of what is expected to be an exodus of on-air and behind-the-scenes “talent” at the struggling cable news network. It’s much the same at MSDNC (we mean MSNBC). It has suffered a 40% viewership loss since Trump was reelected last week. It’s so bad at MSNBC that its parent, Comcast, is now looking to spin off the propaganda outlet, lest it further damage the prestige of the NBC News brand. It can start the process of saving itself by jettisoning its two most noticeable race baiters, Al Sharpton and Joy Reid, moves that could enhance its value to a potential new owner.
And talk about a mop-up on Aisle Nine! The Los Angeles Times has just announced that it will replace ALL members of its editorial board in an effort to change direction from having a “very left” opinion pool and toward a more “fair and balanced” approach that avoids the “conflation of opinion and news,” which is “why there is a reduction of trust in the press.” Perhaps Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire owner of the Times, is growing tired of writing million-dollar monthly checks to keep the Times afloat as it hemorrhages money at an annual rate of $40 million. The people are clearly tired of being lied to.
With single-day front-page headlines like “Trump’s transition moves raise fears of a politicized military,” “Is ‘your body my choice’ the promise of a new Trump era?” and “What can a new president Trump do on Day One? A guide for the worried,” Dr. Shiong has reason to be concerned that his news platform mixes anti-Trump opinion with news and thus caters to a very small niche audience of far-left activists more interested in having their bias confirmed than being properly informed.
The media will make some obligatory effort on the surface to insist that their reporting is “fair and balanced,” but don’t think for a moment it will last. The billionaires running these media outlets are not going to let a little thing like a landslide victory for the conservative movement stop them in their effort to re-engineer society and resist a clear mandate for change in America. Look for more alternative media influence among the population, and remember to cheer on Sky News for its unapologetic conservative take on current events.
Fair dinkum, mate!
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Richard Truesdell is a former consumer electronics retail executive and automotive travel photojournalist. In the last 25 years, he has visited more than 35 countries on six continents. A former high school history teacher with a BA in Political Science from Waynesburg University, he is a lifelong Conservative moderate who has turned his thoughts and keyboard to political commentary and popular culture. A cross-section of his writings can be found here.
Keith Lehmann is a retired consumer electronics industry executive who has written extensively on technology, transportation, and international travel. Living in Southern California for over fifty years, he has first-hand exposure to societal and cultural happenings of the left and submits decidedly realism-based, Conservative viewpoints, much of which can be found on his Substack.
Will Democrats Course Correct?
The authors ask. But, of course, don’t ya know?
Just as easily and realistically transform themselves, correct course - in reality - as a rat can, could, likely will transform itself into a beautiful butterfly.
The question actually begs credulity considering the fundamental fact of life of the Democrats / The Left and all the viler than vile iterations thereof - Marxism, Socialism, Communism, Veganism (SMS) - are nothing more than exactly the same only slightly different iterations of nihilism - and hate - fear and loathing - of all that is not it - them - true adherents, believers in “the cause”.
Rotten to their cores, beyond all hope of rehabilitation - as easy for black to turn itself white would it be for them to change to something that they were never and never will be - good, rational, kind and loving.
No - they will never change because they can’t change because to do so would mean the death of their entire reason for existing based on the wanton and total abrogation of sanity and reasoning that is their paradigm - first love and absolute belief about the way the world works - and to which, all of us - if we know what’s good for us - or else - we must bow down in slave like fashion, homage and obedience to its service.