Topic: Shirley Sherrod

A retrospective on the 2010 firing of Department of Agriculture official Shirley Sherrod highlights the dangers of reacting to out-of-context media clips, specifically those released by Breitbart. The incident is used to argue for the importance of due process and the risks of "panicky" leadership in the face of public accusations. Concerns are raised about modern workplace environments where anonymous allegations can lead to immediate termination without investigation.

CNN's Kyra Phillips and John Roberts interview author Andrew Keen about the "dark side" of the internet and the Shirley Sherrod controversy. Keen argues that user-generated media is "killing the American economy" and calls for the return of media "gatekeepers." The hosts mock the segment's attack on anonymous bloggers, viewing it as a coordinated effort to push for internet licensing and the end of online anonymity.

The discussion concludes with the potential for Shirley Sherrod to file a defamation suit against Andrew Breitbart for posting an out-of-context video clip. The hosts argue that while the media portrays this as a legal crisis, it is primarily a battle for "clicks" and "clips." The show ends with a final appeal for listener support and a reminder of the upcoming Saturday morning broadcast schedule.

The hosts analyze Bill O'Reilly's coverage of the Shirley Sherrod story. They point out that O'Reilly misread a New York Times quote to claim he is "new media," and they examine his use of neuro-linguistic programming to avoid admitting a mistake while appearing to apologize.

The Obama administration forced USDA official Shirley Sherrod to resign after Andrew Breitbart posted a video clip of her speaking at an NAACP event. The clip was later revealed to be taken out of context, as the full speech described Sherrod overcoming racial bias to help a white farmer. The hosts argue the controversy was used as a distraction from more significant news stories.