Althouse: "As families of the Sandy Hook victims continue to pressure NBC to ax Megyn Kelly’s Sunday interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, the network has been holding crisis meetings..."

June 14, 2017

"As families of the Sandy Hook victims continue to pressure NBC to ax Megyn Kelly’s Sunday interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, the network has been holding crisis meetings..."

"Insiders told us that staff were in panicked meetings all day on Monday. 'It’s a shit show. No one wants to withstand a whole week of criticism over this. There are a number of people who want to pull the interview.'"

I hadn't been following Alex Jones's theories, but I see now that he calls Sandy Hook "a hoax." Why would Kelly's show entertain such disgusting nonsense? Apparently, they're desperate to bump up their ratings. NBC sure extracted all the value from Megyn Kelly quickly, didn't it?

57 comments:

rehajm said...: Failure to recognize the intrinsic vslue of an investment.; 6/14/17, 10:46 AM
Bad Lieutenant said...: "NBC sure extracted all the value from Megyn Kelly quickly, didn't it?
"

What value was that? They already have brassy blondes with harsh voices who think they're smarter than they are.; 6/14/17, 10:46 AM
Ambrose said...: Roger Ailes looking pretty smart in retrospect.; 6/14/17, 10:46 AM
rehajm said...: Vslue is the new covfefe.; 6/14/17, 10:47 AM
eric said...: It's not about their ratings. It's political activism.

It's like interviewing Richard Spencer. They want to show crazy, fringe, people and then say, "And these people support Trump. These people are Conservatives."

She even tweeted ahead of time that he was a conservative. Later she was forced to correct herself. But that's the narrative. That's the point.; 6/14/17, 10:49 AM
Bob Boyd said...: "Why would Kelly's show entertain such disgusting nonsense?"

My guess would be to try to equate Alex Jone's audience with Trump's base.; 6/14/17, 10:49 AM
MayBee said...: But why should he not be interviewed? I'm a huge NOT Alex Jones fan. But news sources interview all kinds of controversial people.
I just can't agree with the pressure to axe the interview.; 6/14/17, 10:51 AM
Jaq said...: I had never notice Alex Jones before, but now I see where they are going. It wasn't the 15 second hates against Trump which are broadcast three or four times an hour on most "entertainment" channels, disguised as "promos" for late night shows, directed at people who don't watch them, to make sure they get their dose, it's Sandy Hook conspiracy nuts.; 6/14/17, 10:51 AM
JohnAnnArbor said...: My guess would be to try to equate Alex Jone's audience with Trump's base.

Interesting guess.

There's a better way to inform the public about this loon than interviewing him. I'm thinking a documentary about how his followers/ideas have led to real-work pain (Sandy Hook parents being the most prominent example).; 6/14/17, 10:52 AM
Virgil Hilts said...: Didn't Diane Sawyer interview Charles Manson? I'm so confused about where lines get drawn. I can't believe there would be a different standard for Megyn than other prominent female journalists. That's just too hard to believe.; 6/14/17, 10:54 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: It might be worth watching if there's a fair chance that Buzz Aldrin will punch that guy in the head.; 6/14/17, 10:55 AM
Gahrie said...: If I was one of the Sandy Hook Victims, i'd be K with the interview, as long as NBC gave me (us) a chance to rebut it afterwards. Expose the hate for all to see.; 6/14/17, 11:07 AM
JohnAnnArbor said...: "It might be worth watching if there's a fair chance that Buzz Aldrin will punch that guy in the head."

That was hilarious. It was so Buzz.; 6/14/17, 11:11 AM
Bill Peschel said...: First, I doubt the worth of anything "undisclosed sources" say, so I call bullshit on that one.

It leads to the natural question: "Did you think no one would object to this?" The answer is: "Of course we knew! Why do you think we're putting him on?"

This way, when the interview runs, they can pat themselves on the back and over how daring and brave and risky they were, like the idiots putting on Julius Caesar in the park.

After all, didn't Edward R. Murrow take down McCarthy on his program? Maybe they think Megan would do the same here.; 6/14/17, 11:17 AM
rhhardin said...: It's a victim group fighting for its political status.; 6/14/17, 11:24 AM
dhagood said...: althouse, you continually say that the answer to speech that you don't agree with is more speech stating your objections. how is this any different?; 6/14/17, 11:30 AM
n.n said...: It was a hoax as framed by journolists. It obfuscated the cause(s) in a partisan firestorm.; 6/14/17, 11:32 AM
robinintn said...: Brian Williams did interview A-jad holocost hoax promoter for NBC, so there's some precedent.; 6/14/17, 11:36 AM
themightypuck said...: Alex Jones whole schtick was crazy conspiracy dude and now that he's gotten super popular he's trying to walk that back a bit. He now says things like he didn't say Sandy Hook was definitely a hoax but that it "could be" or "wouldn't put it past them". That said, if you look at the old Jones stuff, the qualifications are hard to find and most would still think him horrible even with said qualifications.; 6/14/17, 11:38 AM
SayAahh said...: Her audience just keeps bleeding away. From somewhere.; 6/14/17, 11:40 AM
traditionalguy said...: The Absolute Taboo is any exposure of what happened at Sandy Hook. That must be totally covered up at All costs. It is the Achilles heel of CIA Narrative psyops and it Cannot Be Exposed.; 6/14/17, 11:41 AM
Real American said...: seriously, who gives a shit! all of this controversy is just going to drive up interest in the show. No one was going to watch it, but now...These Sandy Hookers are creating a giant Streisand Effect.; 6/14/17, 11:41 AM
n.n said...: traditionalguy:

I thought Sandy Hook was perpetrated by a psychotic that ran amuck, aborted his mother, stole her gun, then went on an abortion spree.; 6/14/17, 11:44 AM
LilyBart said...: Are the News people not supposed to interview controversial figures?; 6/14/17, 11:48 AM
Ken B said...: Bob Boyd has it right. So she can say describe these people as pro-Trump. She needs a guy who thinks today's shooting is a hoax too. For that topicality frisson.; 6/14/17, 11:51 AM
rhhardin said...: Can you still look up her dress on MSNBC or is it different.; 6/14/17, 12:10 PM
Ron Winkleheimer said...: It might be worth watching if there's a fair chance that Buzz Aldrin will punch that guy in the head.

I would watch that on PPV. The best thing about when Buzz hit the "moon landing is a hoax" nut was that Buzz was in his 70s and the conspiracy nut hounding him was in his 30s, I think, and Buzz took him out with one punch.

Anyway, people on TV interviewing nefarious characters is nothing new. Barbara Walters interviewed Fidel Castro and she certainly used the opportunity to show the world what an evil, mendacious person he was. Wait, never mind.; 6/14/17, 12:21 PM
Yancey Ward said...: Alex Jones is a right-wing nut job, which is why NBC wanted him interviewed- so that he could be used to tar all of the right side of the political divide.

As for the conspiracy theory angle of the Sandy Hook shooting- it does pop up all the time on extreme right-wing sites and then bleed over into some of the mainstream ones in comment sections. I will occasionally point out I literally know it wasn't a hoax- I lived a quarter mile from the school at the time of the shooting, though I was out of town that day. Some of the victims were my neighbors' children. There are just some crazy people out there- shooters and not-shooters.; 6/14/17, 12:22 PM
Ron Winkleheimer said...: Mentioning Alex Jones reminded me of his website, so I took a gander of it. Looks like Alex Jones doesn't want the interview aired either.

https://www.infowars.com/alex-jones-implores-nbc-not-to-air-interview-with-liar-megyn-kelly-jp-morgan-pulls-ads/; 6/14/17, 12:25 PM
~ Gordon Pasha said...: The irony is that it may be that the late Roger Ailes will have been her only friend in the industry. Hubris is always followed by Nemesis.; 6/14/17, 12:31 PM
traditionalguy said...: n.n. That is the narrative. You get an A. But never investigate it.; 6/14/17, 12:32 PM
Bad Lieutenant said...: traditionalguy said...
The Absolute Taboo is any exposure of what happened at Sandy Hook. That must be totally covered up at All costs. It is the Achilles heel of CIA Narrative psyops and it Cannot Be Exposed.

6/14/17, 11:41 AM

Trad, I can't waterboard you, or use other methods, because I don't have your exact location. But back a while I obliged you to put up or shut up on your innuendo that President GW Bush connived at 9/11. You snarked some but wouldn't own it.

So, put up or shut up: "what happened at Sandy Hook?" and what did "CIA Narrative psyops" have to do with it?

Nothing will happen to you either way except that people will know what you are made of.; 6/14/17, 12:35 PM
Big Mike said...: NBC sure extracted all the value from Megyn Kelly quickly, didn't it?

Sure seems that way.; 6/14/17, 12:41 PM
Hagar said...: Sandy Hook was going to hold a celebration with Megyn Kelly as Parade Queen?; 6/14/17, 12:43 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: I don't really follow Alex Jones, so I'm not a foe or a fan.

However, I do have a good rule. Yes, I am interesting in unconventional opinions. It's just an opinion, it doesn't mean I buy it, and it doesn't mean I instantly hate the person opining, if it is bad, or politically incorrect or nonsensical or even diabolical.

For example, I do want to read Mein Kampf by Hitler, to better understand his mindset circa 1925. This is mostly because I am a WWII buff. However, by reading the book and putting it on the shelf, does that mean I somehow secretly support Hitler? Of course not.

Back to Alex Jones:

He has this opinion that the Sandy Hook massacre, wasn't a massacre, but rather a staged, high level production -- kinda like a domestic war game, if you will.

I haven't delved too far into this opinion. I am comfortable with the current generally accepted narrative that says a deranged shooter murdered a bunch of innocent kids.

However, I would be interested in hearing Alex Jones' opinion and, more importantly, the facts supporting it. And, I actually credit Megyn Kelley for interviewing this dude. At worst, he offers unsubstantiated views on stuff. But, at best, maybe he has something to add to the discussion.

I guess I'm just not afraid of opinions.; 6/14/17, 1:00 PM
TWW said...: A shame she won't be able to interview James Hodgkinson for journalistic balance.; 6/14/17, 1:03 PM
dreams said...: Some of us were never impressed with the silly and overrated Megyn Kelly.; 6/14/17, 1:03 PM
Lloyd W. Robertson said...: Disgusting nonsense is right. This is all especially disappointing to those who thought the modern world--universal education, and now, the widespread easy dispersal of "information"--would be more enlightened. How can it be that crazy theories can still have such a hold? I can only guess with the Sandy Hook thing that many people don't want to admit a lot of American children could be killed by a fellow American with mental health issues. This might open up questions like: why is there not better identification of such issues in the population, and why are there not better services? With trepidation, I'll add: why is it so easy to get a gun? It's somehow more comforting to say all mass killings are carried out by clear enemies, or stereotypical criminals. Therefore: there must be a cover-up.
Also: lowering of expectations. What now gets on prime-time TV?; 6/14/17, 1:08 PM
rhhardin said...: universal education, and now, the widespread easy dispersal of "information"

News is entertainment. Audience eyeballs is the product.

Only 20% of the population watches reliably but they pay the bills. Soap opera women.

Whatever holds their interest is what runs.

Dems free-ride on that.; 6/14/17, 1:20 PM
rhhardin said...: Some of us were never impressed with the silly and overrated Megyn Kelly.

Newsbabe is what she does.

Trying for a serious audience is a mistake. There is no serious audience.; 6/14/17, 1:22 PM
David Baker said...: Megyn crossed Bill O'Reilly, and see what happened.

Then FOX crossed Bill O'Reilly, and again we saw what happened.

And now the biggest star on cable is Rachel Maddow, and today we saw what happened.; 6/14/17, 1:25 PM
David Baker said...: ...Moral: Don't mess with Bill O'Reilly.; 6/14/17, 1:26 PM
Ron Winkleheimer said...: How can it be that crazy theories can still have such a hold?

Because if you admit that bad things can happen to good people randomly for no reason whatsoever, then you have to admit that bad things can happen to you for no reason whatsoever.

I'm reminded of the book "In Cold Blood." According to Truman Capote, the victims were totally without sin. (Actually, according to his account, it was surprising that God had not took the family up to heaven ala Elijah."

The family was targeted because the father had happened to employ one of the killers at one time and the man had gotten it into his head that the father kept money in the house.

But that wasn't good enough for the people who lived in the town where the murders had taken place, so they started inventing all kinds of fanciful scenarios, meant to comfort the towns people that no such tragedy could happen to them.; 6/14/17, 1:32 PM
Quaestor said...: Alex Jones is the favorite news source for flatards and chemtrailer trash. That Megyn Kelly sought an interview with Jones indicates a sensibility not too distant from Jerry Springer's famous moralizing after staging an on-camera brawl between congenital idiots.; 6/14/17, 1:32 PM
Lewis Wetzel said...: I know only two things about Alex Jones:
1) He is a fringe anti-government nut.
2) He has been physically assaulted by Lefties.; 6/14/17, 1:34 PM
hombre said...: Wasn't the point for the lefties to "get" the big draws of of Fox News, Megan with money, O'Reilly with alleged scandal and prospective lawfare?

Media Matters abides. Fox News does not.; 6/14/17, 1:38 PM
Portlandmermaid said...: I just watched the video with Buzz Aldrin. That punch was epic, "You're a coward and a liar and a th...oof...eff."; 6/14/17, 2:06 PM
readering said...: Just hope he did the interview without a shirt.; 6/14/17, 2:10 PM
Bob Loblaw said...: First, I doubt the worth of anything "undisclosed sources" say, so I call bullshit on that one.

Yeah. Sources who prefer to remain anonymous have got to be at least 50% made up from whole cloth. I think the logic is "I could probably find someone who would say this if I spent the time, but why bother?"; 6/14/17, 2:28 PM
The Godfather said...: "How do these theories get such a hold?" What hold? The folks who believe Sandy Hook was a hoax could probably have their annual convention in my closet. On the other hand, there seem to be a real crowd of morons (some of them comment here) who actually believe that Bush knew there were no WMD in Iraq but lied about them, or that Trump and Putin stole the 2016 election from the real winner, Hillarious Clinton. Some people are so desperate that they will convince themselves of anything rather than admit that they're wrong.; 6/14/17, 2:41 PM
Barry said...: After this and the previous post about the Julius Caesar production, I wonder if the notion of "the remedy" may have been lost. If Jones' comments are dishonest or hateful or even just wrong, isn't it better to challenge them in the open and show their dishonesty? It deserves our examination merely because the President has been a guest on his show and viewed it as a supportive platform and praised the host. More speech, not less ... right?

I'm willing to see if Kelly is up to this task.; 6/14/17, 2:56 PM
HoodlumDoodlum said...: I mean, I haven't seen the interview, but I doubt Kelly is PROMOTING that conspiracy theory, Professor. Are you saying she, as a journalist, shouldn't interview terrible people like Jones? When did that standard start?? She recently interviewed Putin, right? Oliver Stone interviewed Putin--you just linked to that!! Putin is almost certainly personally responsible for, you know, murders. He's OK to interview, but a look like Jones isn't?

Mind you, Kelly is as much a part of the Media as anyone else who so identifies, so if people are attacking Media figureheads I am all for it...I just don't understand this particular position/complaint from a save, sophisticated media consumer like Prof Althouse.; 6/14/17, 4:16 PM
sdharms said...: "NBC sure extracted all the value from Megyn Kelly quickly, didn't it? " Was there value? I guess I couldn't see it.; 6/14/17, 4:46 PM
Bob R said...: Well, I looked briefly at the numbers. The reason he would bump ratings is that he has about 2,000,000 listeners per week. A good nightly rating for NBC is 5000,000 if I am reading the numbers right. Maybe this is an apples/oranges comparison, but he is an important story whether NBC puts him on the show or not.; 6/14/17, 6:43 PM
Amos said...: I'm pretty sure Alex jones believes sandy hook is real. He flirted with the conspiracy theory, but discarded it. The media lied about him. Again. I could be wrong, but I think his position is that it happened. He is a 911 truther though; 6/15/17, 2:45 AM
0_0 said...: Let's interview some Pizzagate folks, too! And expose the truth about 9/11! And give Jenny McCarthy some airtime! And teach the controversy!
Except this kind of shitis waste of time. How often does a lie need debunking?; 6/15/17, 4:26 PM
Yang Kuo said...: I mean, I haven't seen the interview, but I doubt Kelly is PROMOTING that conspiracy theory,

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