Opposites, if not attracting, at least respectfully tolerating...
May 23, 2017 4:15 PM Subscribe
Dad watches nothing but Fox News. Mom, while also conservative, is more open minded and would like a more varied news diet, but she's having a hard time finding liberal commentators who are palatable to a moderate conservative.
Specifically, Mom likes how even on Fox News (they mostly watch Varney), there is often at least a token liberal perspective (and yes, I know such liberal perspectives are often used quite strategically to reinforce conservative views). Mom would like to find a liberal news source which welcomes conservative guests in a similar way, not just as ambush vitcims (of which Fox has plenty as well) but as respected guests representing an opposing view, which, yes, even Fox can sometimes manage.
I can't help, because I don't watch any TV news if I can help it and don't have any particular go-to online sources, liberal or conservative. Our liberal relatives have suggested Rachel Maddow, but Mom hasn't liked anything of hers that she's seen, though I doubt she's seen much. So, newswatchers of MetaFilter, please suggest liberal shows or hosts who tolerate a minimal conservative presence or would be otherwise palatable to a conservative who would like a broader view. Links to video clips of interviews or segments would be especially welcome.
Specifically, Mom likes how even on Fox News (they mostly watch Varney), there is often at least a token liberal perspective (and yes, I know such liberal perspectives are often used quite strategically to reinforce conservative views). Mom would like to find a liberal news source which welcomes conservative guests in a similar way, not just as ambush vitcims (of which Fox has plenty as well) but as respected guests representing an opposing view, which, yes, even Fox can sometimes manage.
I can't help, because I don't watch any TV news if I can help it and don't have any particular go-to online sources, liberal or conservative. Our liberal relatives have suggested Rachel Maddow, but Mom hasn't liked anything of hers that she's seen, though I doubt she's seen much. So, newswatchers of MetaFilter, please suggest liberal shows or hosts who tolerate a minimal conservative presence or would be otherwise palatable to a conservative who would like a broader view. Links to video clips of interviews or segments would be especially welcome.
NPR often interviews conservatives for perspectives on various issues and events (maybe not in the long-form interviews, but I don't listen every day)
posted by bearette at 4:25 PM on May 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by bearette at 4:25 PM on May 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
I don't have cable and I try to avoid TV news, but it seems like the PBS NewsHour may be a good fit.
Also, it'll probably be too left leaning for your folks, but I'd feel remiss if I didn't suggest my go-to news source: Democracy Now! They have both audio and video feeds and podcasts.
EDIT: grammar
posted by mont the drifter at 4:27 PM on May 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Also, it'll probably be too left leaning for your folks, but I'd feel remiss if I didn't suggest my go-to news source: Democracy Now! They have both audio and video feeds and podcasts.
EDIT: grammar
posted by mont the drifter at 4:27 PM on May 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
How about Morning Joe on MSNBC - Joe Scarborough is a Republican, and his co-host Mika Brzezinski is a Democrat.
posted by chaotic at 4:27 PM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by chaotic at 4:27 PM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Podcasts are also an option, as are radio shows (I always leave her radio tuned to NPR when I drive her car, though as much for the classical as for the news - and it's in her presets, so I figure she listens to it too). Again, though, links to specific segments/episodes where a liberal host treats a conservative guest/co-host with respect would be most helpful.
Thanks!
posted by MoTLD at 4:32 PM on May 23, 2017
Thanks!
posted by MoTLD at 4:32 PM on May 23, 2017
Okay, PBS Newshour has two opposing spokesmen (from Cato Institute and the former chief economist to Biden) calmly discussing the new budget as we speak. I don't think discourse can get more erudite and civilized on television in this country.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:34 PM on May 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:34 PM on May 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
It's only weekly, and on HBO, but Bill Maher has conservatives on Real Time most weeks. He even gets a bit annoyed when people (and especially the audience) gets pissy with them. That said, he is pretty damn harsh about calling out rank stupidity.
These days he's known as a liberal (he still describes himself as a little l libertarian), but that's mainly because there is so much stupidity being spouted by Republicans he seems like he's siding with them when it's more that he will happily let people disagree as long as they aren't outright lying or ignoring facts, and there is just less of that coming out of his more lefty guests.
He holds some somewhat problematic views and has a total potty mouth, so it may not be quite what you're looking for.
On preview: Morning Joe is indeed fairly decent most of the time even if Joe makes me want to chew my arm off with his justifications and Mika is about as effective as Colmes used to be on Fox. Joe does at least call out the truly vile shit. He was fairly hard against Bush during the last couple of years of that shit show. I haven't watched recently enough to know what he says about the dumpster fire that is Trump.
I kinda anti-recommend NewsHour. It provided a very balanced (in the old school sense) up to around 2006 when they got smacked down by PBS management after Bush rolled some heads there and after that became mostly a purveyor of the rightward leaning conventional wisdom and he said she said bullshit that defines modern news. It's still better than the network news, but that's a pretty low bar to clear.
For actually learning about the Democrat/Republican consensus views, the various C-SPAN shows are a good way to go if you have the attention span for it. The call in shows have much entertainment value, though.
posted by wierdo at 4:38 PM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
These days he's known as a liberal (he still describes himself as a little l libertarian), but that's mainly because there is so much stupidity being spouted by Republicans he seems like he's siding with them when it's more that he will happily let people disagree as long as they aren't outright lying or ignoring facts, and there is just less of that coming out of his more lefty guests.
He holds some somewhat problematic views and has a total potty mouth, so it may not be quite what you're looking for.
On preview: Morning Joe is indeed fairly decent most of the time even if Joe makes me want to chew my arm off with his justifications and Mika is about as effective as Colmes used to be on Fox. Joe does at least call out the truly vile shit. He was fairly hard against Bush during the last couple of years of that shit show. I haven't watched recently enough to know what he says about the dumpster fire that is Trump.
I kinda anti-recommend NewsHour. It provided a very balanced (in the old school sense) up to around 2006 when they got smacked down by PBS management after Bush rolled some heads there and after that became mostly a purveyor of the rightward leaning conventional wisdom and he said she said bullshit that defines modern news. It's still better than the network news, but that's a pretty low bar to clear.
For actually learning about the Democrat/Republican consensus views, the various C-SPAN shows are a good way to go if you have the attention span for it. The call in shows have much entertainment value, though.
posted by wierdo at 4:38 PM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
There are a number of recent TAL episodes related to current events, although maybe they aren't exactly "news' in the way you might be looking for:
The Revolution Starts At Noon
It's Working Out Very Nicely
The Other Mr. President
The Beginning of Now
posted by value of information at 4:45 PM on May 23, 2017
The Revolution Starts At Noon
It's Working Out Very Nicely
The Other Mr. President
The Beginning of Now
posted by value of information at 4:45 PM on May 23, 2017
I was also going to suggest Morning Joe. Joe Scarborough is a Republican, the guest ratio is pretty mixed, but (at least during the election) both hosts were pretty anti-Trump. And I think they strike a good balance in the rhetoric. I haven't had the heart to watch any TV news since the election so I don't know what they're up to now though.
posted by cpatterson at 6:16 PM on May 23, 2017
posted by cpatterson at 6:16 PM on May 23, 2017
Chris Hayes has had some interesting conservative voices on in the past—by interesting I don't even necessarily mean "moderate," just people who aren't movement conservatives. He's also a nonconventional TV-left guy; his first book owes a lot to Christopher Lasch.
posted by Polycarp at 6:38 PM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Polycarp at 6:38 PM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
CBS news, and Charlie Rose?
John Oliver too (many free and varied clips on youtube), though he doesn't seem to have many interviews
posted by watrlily at 7:03 PM on May 23, 2017
John Oliver too (many free and varied clips on youtube), though he doesn't seem to have many interviews
posted by watrlily at 7:03 PM on May 23, 2017
Nthing podcasts. I don't watch TV news, but from what I can tell it seems like its a lot harder to find reasonable discussion than in the podcast world.
I've always thought Left, Right and Center did a good job at this. It is always composed of three discussants, with some shifting over the years (haven't listened in a little bit). It is weekly and discusses current events, so the latest episode would be the best place to start.
Also, The Ezra Klein Show fairly frequently has moderate conservative, and more importantly extremely intelligent, guests. In particular I'm thinking of interviews with David Frum and Avik Roy.
Similarly, The Global Politico has both liberal and conservative guests (with a foreign policy angle generally). A recent interview with Condoleezza Rice may fit the bill. It's fairly new though, so it could morph over time. I think politico in general does a good job of discussing politics without too, too much of a position ahead of time. The Atlantic is not a podcast, but it has moderate conservative commentators like David Frum.
I am a pretty left-of-center person, so my examples tend to be "liberal" sources having conversations with conservatives, which seems to be what you are aiming for, although it would be refreshing if one could find the reverse as well.
posted by Stilling Still Dreaming at 12:11 AM on May 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
I've always thought Left, Right and Center did a good job at this. It is always composed of three discussants, with some shifting over the years (haven't listened in a little bit). It is weekly and discusses current events, so the latest episode would be the best place to start.
Also, The Ezra Klein Show fairly frequently has moderate conservative, and more importantly extremely intelligent, guests. In particular I'm thinking of interviews with David Frum and Avik Roy.
Similarly, The Global Politico has both liberal and conservative guests (with a foreign policy angle generally). A recent interview with Condoleezza Rice may fit the bill. It's fairly new though, so it could morph over time. I think politico in general does a good job of discussing politics without too, too much of a position ahead of time. The Atlantic is not a podcast, but it has moderate conservative commentators like David Frum.
I am a pretty left-of-center person, so my examples tend to be "liberal" sources having conversations with conservatives, which seems to be what you are aiming for, although it would be refreshing if one could find the reverse as well.
posted by Stilling Still Dreaming at 12:11 AM on May 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks for the many thoughtful responses, everyone! Mom is watching this thread and I'll ask her to report back whatever she finds useful so I can mark some best answers.
posted by MoTLD at 8:16 PM on May 24, 2017
posted by MoTLD at 8:16 PM on May 24, 2017
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posted by jon1270 at 4:22 PM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]