You raise great questions about the whole Twitter file enterprise. What exactly were (or ARE because they're not done yet) the parameters and conditions for the journalists? I've seen that discussed in several interviews with Taibbi, Schellenberger, Weiss and the others and it's an interesting and important discussion, both for explaining what happened here and the general issues of journalism it raises.
But Hasan wasn't even slightly willing to go there. Why not? Because he already knew that Musk gave the reporters carte blanche to ask for and examine whatever they wanted in a classic audit sense. And, seeing as the material they were reviewing all preceded Musk's ownership, I don't see how he actually factors in much at all.
So conflict of interest? Hardly.
And what ABOUT MSNBC's Russiagate apology? Matt stumbled a bit here and there under attack but that one shot he delivered in response hit far harder than all Hasan's rabbit punches combined. He succeeded in raising an issue on MSNBC that looms so large but is otherwise verbotten. And Hasan's dismissal said all one needs to know about his own journalistic integrity.
It's so obvious that Hasan was not even slightly interested in letting Taibbi properly field his questions. He just wanted to embarrass him. So, yes, he apparently found a few reporting mistakes which, given all the factual assertions in the multiple Twitter files and their inherently confusing provenance at times (like who IS that "OGA" if not the CIA?), is understandable. Taibbi isn't perfect.
But he's also not dishonest and that's where Hasan failed big time. In trying to impugn Taibbi's character, he just came across as the typical MSNBC hack he's always been.
So funny, by the way, for him to sluff off the Russian disinformation campaign or the Biden laptop stories as not his problems. He also says he's never discussed the latter but here's a clip where he's doing just that:
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2022/12/02/mehdi_hasan_house_republicans_will_focus_on_right_wing_grievances_not_kitchen_table_issues.html
It's too bad that he never let Taibbi, who isn't a fast-talker like him, ever properly explain himself. That wasn't the goal, was it?
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by Jim H.
How much of the Twitter files have you actually read?
Let me guess ...... None?
You're highlighting another way Hasan was ridiculously unfair
You raise great questions about the whole Twitter file enterprise. What exactly were (or ARE because they're not done yet) the parameters and conditions for the journalists? I've seen that discussed in several interviews with Taibbi, Schellenberger, Weiss and the others and it's an interesting and important discussion, both for explaining what happened here and the general issues of journalism it raises. But Hasan wasn't even slightly willing to go there. Why not? Because he already knew that Musk gave the reporters carte blanche to ask for and examine whatever they wanted in a classic audit sense. And, seeing as the material they were reviewing all preceded Musk's ownership, I don't see how he actually factors in much at all. So conflict of interest? Hardly. And what ABOUT MSNBC's Russiagate apology? Matt stumbled a bit here and there under attack but that one shot he delivered in response hit far harder than all Hasan's rabbit punches combined. He succeeded in raising an issue on MSNBC that looms so large but is otherwise verbotten. And Hasan's dismissal said all one needs to know about his own journalistic integrity.
Hasan is a snake
It's so obvious that Hasan was not even slightly interested in letting Taibbi properly field his questions. He just wanted to embarrass him. So, yes, he apparently found a few reporting mistakes which, given all the factual assertions in the multiple Twitter files and their inherently confusing provenance at times (like who IS that "OGA" if not the CIA?), is understandable. Taibbi isn't perfect. But he's also not dishonest and that's where Hasan failed big time. In trying to impugn Taibbi's character, he just came across as the typical MSNBC hack he's always been. So funny, by the way, for him to sluff off the Russian disinformation campaign or the Biden laptop stories as not his problems. He also says he's never discussed the latter but here's a clip where he's doing just that: https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2022/12/02/mehdi_hasan_house_republicans_will_focus_on_right_wing_grievances_not_kitchen_table_issues.html It's too bad that he never let Taibbi, who isn't a fast-talker like him, ever properly explain himself. That wasn't the goal, was it?