On today’s BradCast, guest hosted by Angie Coiro, we discuss the revelations of Lies, Incorporated: The World of Post-Truth Politics
, from Ari Rabin-Havt and Media Matters for America. Then an analysis of the court case that’s garnered attention throughout and beyond the US: the conviction and sentencing of attempted rapist Brock Turner of Stanford.
Ari Rabin-Havt hosts The Agenda on Sirius XM. He collaborated with Media Matters for America on the book Lies, Incorporated: The World of Post-Truth Politics. He tracks to the source of lies that will not die, like death panels and climate change denial. Surprisingly, the shadowy, well-funded individuals that do this work aren’t always motivated by the money. Remember Todd Akin’s claim that “If it’s legitimate(!!) rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down?” Turns out he may have really believed that.
Also today: why did the judge in the trial of Stanford athlete Brock Turner ignore both mandatory minimum sentence guidelines and the prosecutor to bestow a sentence much lower than anyone expected? Guests Imani Gandy and Sajid Khan, both attorneys, weigh in on what it means in court to be white, male, upper middle class, and a jock.
Download MP3 or listen online below…
[audio:http://bradblog.com/audio/BradCast_AriRabinHavtLIES_BrockTurnerTrial_070116.mp3%5D
Drinking is risky behavior. Risky behavior has consequences. Bad treatment when one is inebriated should be expected, it’s how a person learns wider social skills than out chugging your peers. This story is about victim iconizing. The less we do sketchy shit, the fewer times we are victimized. Everyone has victimhood stories. First person, not second hand. Stop doing things that require others to guard you against harm. Grow up and party at home or in safe ways.
So you opt for victim blaming instead? I agree that we can choose to act in ways that make it more or less likely for bad things to happen. I try to make the choices that make bad things less likely because there are plenty of experiences I just don’t need to have. However, my good or bad choices do not exonerate you from the consequences of your bad choices. In other words, drinking myself under the table (or not noticing what you put in my drink?) doesn’t give you license to do whatever you want to me. You are still responsible for the choices you make. If those choices involve hurting someone, your victim’s conduct is irrelevant.
I thought this was one of the best guest stints I’ve heard on your show.
First part of the program is probably the best wrap-up of how the media has been able to lie to us all these years. I wish everybody could hear that.