Topic: Media Linguistics

The hosts analyze the media's use of the term "long gun" instead of "rifle" in reports about a shooting suspect in Trenton, New Jersey. They suggest this linguistic shift is a deliberate attempt to simplify gun control messaging by categorizing all firearms under a single, broader label.

An observation is made regarding how the media uses regional labels like "Texans" or "Florida man" instead of "people" when reporting on tragedies or negative events. This is viewed as a subtle way to "otherize" residents of those states, portraying them as a distinct or less-than-human category. The hosts argue this reflects a coastal media bias against the "hick" populations of the South.

The hosts discuss a linguistic trend where the media uses the word "trumpeted" to associate various actions with former President Trump. They also introduce the "Media Boomerang Theory," which posits that those who abuse the media for personal gain eventually face a reversal of fortune.

The hosts highlight the synchronized use of the word "grave" by pundits David Brooks and Mark Shields to describe the Trump-Ukraine situation. They suggest this linguistic choice is part of a coordinated media effort to frame the event as a terminal crisis for the Trump administration.

News outlets including Democracy Now! and CBS have increasingly adopted the phrase "lashing out" to describe President Donald Trump's public statements and tweets. The repetitive use of this specific terminology across different networks suggests a coordinated media narrative. Analysis of the term's usage indicates an effort to frame the President's criticisms of the impeachment inquiry as erratic or aggressive behavior.

An analysis of PBS NewsHour reporting highlights the use of the word "claim" by anchor Hari Sreenivasan when describing President Trump's statements on the Mueller investigation. The choice of terminology is criticized as a subtle form of media bias intended to cast doubt on the president's assertions despite the report's findings.

The hosts explain that while modern dictionaries are protected by copyright, older editions like a 100-year-old Oxford English Dictionary are in the public domain and can be used freely. The Jill Abramson controversy is framed as a case of media peers "hounding" her due to personal resentment rather than a major ethical breach. The analysis posits that the internet itself is a "copy machine" built on technical copyright violations.

Cinemark Theaters implemented a ban on large bags and purses in response to national concerns over "gun safety." The hosts analyze the linguistic shift in the term "gun safety," noting that it is being repurposed by the media to mean gun control rather than the safe handling of firearms. The policy follows previous mass shootings in theaters, such as the 2012 Aurora, Colorado incident.

The hosts pause to discuss the recent proliferation of the word "conflate" in American media and public discourse. They observe that the term has been adopted by both news anchors and the general public over the last two years. The conversation shifts to how social trends like "bullying" have evolved into the current focus on "hate crimes" and the potential impact on First Amendment rights.

Adam Curry plays a clip from the NPR program *On the Media* featuring Mark Lynch from George Washington University. The clip discusses the linguistic battle over whether to call the militant group ISIS, ISIL, or IS. The hosts suggest that George Washington University is a front for intelligence agencies and that the media's refusal to use the President's preferred term (ISIL) shows a power struggle.

Foreign correspondent Douglas Herbert's reporting on ISIS for France 24 is criticized for its repetitive use of the word "basically." The hosts interpret this linguistic tic as a sign that the reporter is reading a forced script he does not believe. They argue that such verbal fillers often indicate that the information being presented is "bullcrap."

The increasing use of the word "so" as a conversational filler and attention-grabbing device is identified as a disturbing linguistic trend. The hosts admit to their own struggle with this habit and compare it to other repetitive phrases like "fact of the matter." The trend is noted as being particularly prevalent in social media interactions and broadcast interviews.

The hosts discuss the overuse of specific transitionary phrases such as "turns out" and "the fact of the matter." These terms are identified as linguistic crutches used to pivot between statements or to sound authoritative in media contexts. Listeners are invited to suggest better alternatives for these common verbal habits.

Adam Curry proposes the "No Agenda Glossary Project" to track how the media uses or omits specific phrases to slant stories. He notes that the term "isolated incident" has been conspicuously absent from coverage of the Tucson shooting to maintain a narrative of widespread danger.

Rapper Jay-Z's public comments about potentially running for president are framed as a subtle media tactic to diminish President Obama's stature. By associating the presidency with hip-hop culture, critics argue the office is being "knocked down a few pegs" through associative neuro-linguistic programming. Obama's recent press conference performance is further criticized for its long pauses and the disrespectful tone of the reporters.

The hosts explain the use of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in media and how their audio-only format helps listeners focus on words without visual distractions. They discuss how deconstructing TV shows like "Law & Order" reveals poor acting that is usually masked by visual cues. Reference is made to Marshall McLuhan's theories on "hot" and "cool" mediums.