Topic: Current Tv

Al Jazeera America launched on U.S. cable systems, replacing Current TV, but faced immediate carriage refusals from providers like AT&T U-verse. The network's promotional materials were criticized for using clips of Hillary Clinton and John McCain out of context to imply endorsement. The hosts describe the technical quality of the broadcast as amateur and suggest that the sale of Current TV by Al Gore was a strategic exit before carriage contracts expired.

Al Gore's sale of Current TV to Al Jazeera is scrutinized during an interview with Charlie Rose. Gore defends the sale by praising Al Jazeera's climate change reporting and its reputation for integrity, despite the network being subsidized by the Qatari government. The hosts mock Gore's "diligence" and his financial gain from the deal.

The No Agenda show failed to win any categories at the recent Podcast Awards, which the hosts attribute to the use of voting bots by other programs. They criticize winners such as The Young Turks and Sam Seder’s Majority Report, dismissing the latter's "freemium" business model and content quality.

Al Jazeera acquired Al Gore's Current TV for a reported $500 million, though the actual cash value is questioned. The deal allows Al Jazeera to gain cable clearances in the United States, leading to the rebranding of the network as Al Jazeera America.

Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks recounted a home intrusion involving a man allegedly on bath salts who broke into his house at 1:30 AM. Uygur used the incident to argue against gun ownership, claiming that having a firearm would have only made the situation more dangerous for his family and the responding police. Critics found his logic "pathetic," arguing that relying solely on police response during a violent intrusion is risky.

Reports of "grassroots" strikes at Walmart are deconstructed to reveal the involvement of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union. The hosts trace the "Our Walmart" organization back to a lobbyist address in Washington D.C., labeling the movement as astro-turfing.

Cenk Uygur of Current TV expresses dismay over a poll showing that 77% of liberals and 58% of Democrats support drone strikes on U.S. citizens abroad without due process. The hosts mock Uygur's reaction to the shifting priorities of his own political base.

Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks is criticized for mispronouncing the name of historical figure Booker T. Washington as "Booger T. Washington" during a Black History Month segment. The hosts analyze the clip, suggesting the production quality of the Current TV show is inferior to independent web productions.

A critique of Current TV's strategy to compete directly with MSNBC for a liberal audience. The hosts suggest that Al Gore should instead attempt to split the Fox News audience to increase the reach of liberal voices. The segment also touches on Keith Olbermann's difficult reputation and his management role at the network.

Al Gore appeared on Current TV to provide election analysis, criticizing Ron Paul's positions on the Federal Reserve and military intervention as "silly." The hosts note that Keith Olbermann was notably absent from the coverage due to a reported clash with management. They discuss Current TV's revenue and its reliance on cable subscription fees.

David Bohrman, formerly of CNN and MSNBC, is now running operations at Current TV. The hosts discuss the network's financial health, noting it generated an estimated $115 million in 2011. They critique the low production value of the network's election coverage, which featured CNN monitors in the background.

Cenk Uygur's move to Current TV is criticized after he uses the phrase "punch the establishment in the mouth" in a promotional clip. The hosts claim this is an imitation of their long-standing "hit 'em in the mouth" formula. They discuss Uygur's departure from MSNBC and his transition to Al Gore's network.

Michael Moore is accused of using the Occupy Wall Street protests primarily to promote his book, "Here Comes Trouble," during appearances on Keith Olbermann's program. Olbermann's viewership on Current TV is reported to be extremely low, with some estimates placing it at 40,000 viewers. The hosts suggest Olbermann's "old school" approach is failing in the modern media landscape.

Keith Olbermann on Current TV is noted as one of the few media figures covering the Occupy Wall Street protests during their first five days. Yahoo faced criticism for allegedly using spam filters to block emails containing the protest's URL. The discussion links the lack of mainstream media coverage to the influence of an international banking cartel, citing historical warnings from Woodrow Wilson and John F. Kennedy regarding organized, pervasive power structures.

Al Gore appears on Current TV to call for an "American Spring" similar to the Arab Spring, while criticizing the Tea Party as a movement funded by right-wing billionaires. The hosts note Gore's return to the public eye following personal scandals and link his appearance to the promotion of his new "Climate Reality" project.

The Bureau of Land Management and local sheriffs are using undercover officers in costume to bust drug users at the Burning Man festival in the Black Rock Desert. Current TV featured a segment on the festival hosted by Michelle Lombardo. Despite the festival's reputation for radical self-expression, over 1,900 citations have been issued by the BLM since 2001.

A documentary on Al Gore's Current TV network explored the controversial anti-gay legislation in Uganda, featuring Pastor Martin Ssempa. The reporting is criticized for its heavy use of background music and for potentially staging interviews with locals who may not speak English as their primary language. The hosts suggest the sudden media focus on Uganda may precede a foreign policy intervention.

Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee are criticized for their media appearances following their release from North Korean captivity. The hosts mock a report claiming the women had to eat their notes and destroy tapes to protect their sources. There is skepticism regarding the timing of their media tour, with suggestions that it is coordinated with television "sweeps week."

Current TV journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee returned to the United States after being detained for 140 days in North Korea for crossing the border. The hosts suggest the incident was a publicity stunt orchestrated to boost Current TV's ratings following a failed IPO. Speculation is raised regarding future book deals, movies, and potential awards stemming from their captivity.

Bill Clinton's mission to North Korea to secure the release of two Current TV journalists is characterized as a major PR stunt for Al Gore's struggling network. The Wall Street Journal's detailed description of a "man hug" between Clinton and Gore is mocked. The hosts suggest Kim Jong-il benefited the most from the high-profile diplomatic visit.