Topic: Partisan Media

Mainstream media outlets provide a compilation of negative predictions regarding Donald Trump's Fourth of July celebration. Commentators characterize the event as a "partisan re-election rally" and compare the military display to authoritarian regimes in the Soviet Union and North Korea. The hosts mock the media's disappointment when the predicted violence and logistical catastrophes failed to materialize.

The hosts review critical letters from listeners who claim the show has become too partisan and "pro-Trump." One listener mentions she "monitors" the newsletter to see if the show will return to its non-partisan roots, comparing it unfavorably to the BBC. The hosts dismiss these claims as symptoms of "Orange Man Bad" syndrome, noting that the critics often fail to recognize the show's consistent deconstruction of all political sides.

A private Facebook group of former MTV colleagues serves as a case study for the intense partisan reaction to the tax bill. The group members expressed extreme anger and fear, characterizing the bill as "Armageddon" and a failure of trickle-down economics. The segment highlights the deep cultural and political divide between media professionals and the hosts' perspective.

The hosts play a clip from Fox News featuring aggressive partisan name-calling and finger-pointing. They express exhaustion with the low quality of mainstream media debate, which they argue has replaced reason with shouting. The segment highlights the "slave" status of the public in the face of government spying and media distraction.

The extensive media coverage following the death of Tim Russert is contrasted with the lack of attention given to filmmaker Sidney Pollack. Rush Limbaugh's analysis suggests the eulogies were actually lamenting the end of an era of objective, middle-of-the-road political interviewing. Modern media is viewed as having shifted toward a highly partisan model where objectivity is no longer the standard.