Topic: Ap

The Harris-Walz campaign is accused of using AI-generated or deceptively cropped photos to inflate crowd sizes at airplane hangar events. While an Associated Press photo was identified as the source of one controversial image, no direct evidence confirms the campaign officially posted the doctored versions. Media figures like Michael Steele and Joy Reid are noted for claiming these tactics are successfully "getting under the skin" of Donald Trump.

Congressman Byron Donalds's heated interview with George Stephanopoulos is reviewed. The debate centers on Kamala Harris's racial identity and past media coverage from the AP describing her as Indian-American. Stephanopoulos repeatedly accuses Donalds of using a "slur" by questioning Harris's self-identification.

A group of great apes at the San Diego Zoo became the first animals in the United States to receive COVID-19 vaccines. The decision followed an outbreak where eight gorillas contracted the virus, leading officials to use the endangered animals to study antibody development and vaccine efficacy.

Washington Post writer Ed O'Keefe criticized the use of the term "illegals," calling it offensive to Hispanics and immigration advocates. The hosts counter this by playing clips of Bill Clinton using the term "illegal aliens" extensively in his 1996 State of the Union address. They discuss how the Associated Press (AP) style guide has shifted toward "undocumented," while "illegal alien" remains the official legal term used by the U.S. government.

The discussion turns to the legal risks faced by social media companies like Twitter and Facebook as they begin to act as editors rather than common carriers. By editorializing content, they may lose "safe harbor" protections under the DMCA. The hosts also mock Uber's refusal to obtain autonomous vehicle permits in California and note the AP Stylebook's new requirement to call these companies "ride-hailing" rather than "ride-sharing" services.

Nuclear expert Rod Adams refutes claims made by Arne Gunderson regarding the safety of new nuclear plant designs in the UK. Adams argues that the AP-1000 design is inherently safe and lacks the flaws that led to the Chernobyl disaster. The hosts highlight Gunderson's history of "absurd statements" and contrast his media-friendly alarmism with Adams' technical expertise from his time on nuclear submarines.

Archival clips highlight the failure of the "green jobs" initiative in California and the absurdity of long pharmaceutical disclaimers, specifically for the drug Stelara. They discuss how PR firms place "native advertising" stories in the news, such as a story about orangutans using iPads, which they link to the promotional cycle for a Planet of the Apes movie.

Adam mentions a Twitter interaction with AP reporter Matt Lee regarding a "free beer" offer in Austin. The segment covers a bizarre news story about a blind driver in Berkeley who killed a professor while allegedly eating macaroni and cheese. Finally, the hosts express disgust over a PBS program featuring animal mating and porcupine masturbation, labeling it "bestiality."

A preparatory document for AP US History from Amsco Publications is criticized for "shortening" the Bill of Rights. Specifically, the Second Amendment is summarized as "The people have the right to keep and bear arms in a state militia," which the hosts argue fundamentally changes its meaning. They identify the author as John J. Newman and question the academic standards of such preparatory materials.

A student newspaper from Torrey Pines High School in San Diego features quotes from children aged 9 to 12 regarding the DOJ's seizure of AP records. The students largely support the government's actions, citing national security as more important than press freedom, which the hosts call "the future of slaves."

A report from the Brookings Institute indicates a radical shift in public opinion toward the legalization of marijuana, with most Americans no longer viewing it as a "gateway drug." Simultaneously, an Organization of American States (OAS) study on drug policy was widely misreported by the AP as a call for legalization. Analysis shows that hundreds of media outlets ran the exact same AP headline without verifying the actual content of the 200-page report.

A hacked Associated Press tweet claiming explosions at the White House caused a temporary "flash crash" in the stock market. The hosts suggest the event was either a coordinated financial play or a viral marketing stunt for the upcoming film White House Down.

A brief discussion on the decline of journalistic standards highlights how modern news sites often link to each other in a circular fashion without reaching the original source. The hosts encourage listeners to find original research papers and legislative text rather than relying on interpretations from tech blogs like Wired.

An AP reporter confronted Mitt Romney regarding his senior advisor, Ron Kaufman, who is a registered lobbyist. Romney's defense—that Kaufman is an advisor but not "running" the campaign—is dismissed by the hosts as semantic dodging. The segment also covers Romney's press secretary, Eric Fehrnstrom, berating the journalist for his "unprofessional" questioning.

The US House of Representatives voted 392-15 to fund 16 intelligence agencies with a budget exceeding $80 billion. The legislation included a provision praising the intelligence community for the successful operation against Osama bin Laden. Lawmakers emphasized that the funding is a priority for ensuring the safety of rail passengers and preventing future terrorist attacks.

A coordinated media push for Alzheimer's awareness is identified, including a Larry King special and a plotline in the film "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." The hosts suggest the pharmaceutical industry is "gearing up for a bonanza" by lowering diagnostic thresholds for the disease. They also play a clip from the TV show Glee that portrays parents who don't vaccinate their children as "hippies."

The hosts discuss the decline of newspapers and their reliance on AP wire stories. They reference Martin L. Gross's book "National Suicide" to describe the megalomania and greed inherent in the current political and media landscape.

France Telecom is facing a crisis after 23 employees committed suicide over an 18-month period, with many leaving notes citing workplace stress and management issues. Meanwhile, in Italy, new reports from the Associated Press detail widespread sexual abuse of young boys by Catholic priests, challenging the notion that such scandals were limited to the United States. These stories are included in the show's comprehensive digital notes.