Media Matters Daily Summary

Here are today's news items from Media Matters for America, click on the title or 'read more' to read the entirety of each story. Wash. Times warns readers Pelosi will "try to confiscate" guns A Washington Times editorial stated that congressional Democrats will "go[] after the guns of law-abiding Americans." The editorial echoed the rhetoric of other media conservatives who have warned that President Obama or congressional Democrats intend to confiscate guns. Read More Fox News takes ownership of tea parties, and, therefore, their extremist rhetoric By aggressively promoting upcoming tea party protests despite the numerous instances of extremist rhetoric at previous tea party events, Fox News is associating itself in advance with whatever rhetoric emanates at the upcoming events. Read More Fox & Friends left the "FNC" out of "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties" Gretchen Carlson repeatedly stated that Fox News will be "covering" the tea party protests, while Steve Doocy claimed "Fox isn't sponsoring" them. However, Fox News has labeled the protests "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties" and has aggressively encouraged participation in them. Additionally, The Fox Nation will reportedly "host[] a virtual tea party." Read More REPORT: Emerging Culture of Paranoia Conservative media have directed their violent, doomsday, and anti-intellectual rhetoric at progressives in power, and specifically at President Obama, whom fake populists in conservative media depict as a threat to their audience's very way of life. Read More Examiner.com falsely claimed Obama proposing "nationalized health care" An Examiner.com article falsely characterized President Obama's health-care reform proposal as a "nationalized health care plan[]." Obama has not proposed a "nationalized health care plan[]" either as a candidate or as president. Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.