When the left and right are at war, tread carefully and watch your feelings
April 14 to April 22: Fox News Dominion Lawsuit; Bud Light Controversy; Sudan Military Power Struggle
For those that are new, welcome! Clarity cuts through the noise to give you a clear view of the world. Our anti-filter approach brings together polarized and fragmented landscapes, so you can see the bigger picture without the confusion.
Here’s what we’ve got in store:
The 10,000-foot aerial view of our media landscape
Essential Facts on the biggest stories from the left, right, and center
10,000-foot aerial view of our media landscape
This is the most striking graph of the last week - MSNBC and Fox News are reporting as if they’re two different planets. Link
We see a similar profile even when we combine other popular news outlets on the left and right. Link
Meanwhile, below are the top-ranked stories based on front-page attention from center outlets, such as Reuters, BBC, and WSJ News.
The top stories that people will remember from this week are completely dependent on the polarity of their news source - this should be unsettling.
Essential Facts
Sudan Military Power Struggle
What sparked the military power struggle in Sudan?
The military power struggle in Sudan was sparked by a falling out between the army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, who commands the powerful Rapid Support Forces paramilitaries. The two generals struggled to impose authority on Sudan’s fractious political scene, and their private sniping degenerated into barely veiled public attacks. The power struggle has led to clashes between the military and the Rapid Support Forces, with at least 56 civilians killed and hundreds injured.
Sources: 1. New York Times 2. Washington Times 3. Wall Street Journal
What efforts are being made to resolve the conflict?
Diplomats from Africa, the Middle East, and the West have appealed for a halt to the fighting that has reduced parts of the capital, Khartoum, to a smoking battlefield. However, despite the international calls for peace, the Sudan cease-fire failed to hold, and a U.S. convoy and aid workers were attacked. The coalition of civilian groups that signed a draft version of the internationally backed agreement with political parties on a transition to democracy called for an immediate halt to hostilities. Meanwhile, the leader of Russia’s most notorious private military company, Wagner, has offered to help mediate between the rival generals fighting for power, but American officials say he has offered weapons, too.
Sources: 1. Washington Post, 2. New York Times, 3. Reuters, 4. New York Times
Get more answers here.
Fox News Dominion Lawsuit Settlement
Gist: Fox News settles with Dominion for $787.5 million over defamation claims related to the 2020 election, but faces a larger lawsuit with higher stakes.
What was the defamation case against Fox News about?
Dominion Voting Systems filed a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, alleging that the network aired false claims that Dominion rigged the 2020 presidential election against former President Donald Trump. Dominion claimed that Fox News' guests and hosts defamed the company by connecting it to a fictitious plot to steal the election from Trump. The trial was to have been a test of whether Fox's coverage crossed the line between ethical journalism and the pursuit of ratings, as Dominion alleges and Fox denies. The settlement was for $787.5 million and does not require Fox to issue an on-air correction or apology.
Sources: 1. Washington Examiner, 2. Washington Post, 3. Reuters, 4. Washington Post
Bud Light and Transgender Influencer Controversy
Gist: Bud Light faced backlash and boycotts after partnering with a transgender influencer, Dylan Mulvaney, leading to Bud Light halting the promotion and Budweiser releasing a pro-America ad.
Timeline Summary
April 12: Anheuser-Busch loses more than $5 billion in value amid Dylan Mulvaney Bud Light controversy
April 15: PR expert explains why Bud Light is losing millions with trans influencer
April 18: Yuengling Brewery appears to take a swipe at Bud Light on social media, and it's a viral hit
That’s it for this week. To see a full rundown of the biggest stories of the week, along with a detailed analysis of how they are being covered by the various tribal factions, check out useclarity.com. And if you’re curious, here’s how it works.
It is unsettling to see how polarized it is. Tx for your work