From Iraq to Trump to Gaza, America’s pundit class has perfected the art of being wrong and profiting from it. It’s long past time we hold them accountable.
I guess, good for me, that I never read Chait, didn't hear his extreme ideas.
I especially liked the way you listed, and showed, that progressive ideas are moderate, and that the opposite, is the extreme position. Racial justice vs racism; living wage vs poverty wage; treating a group, like LGBTQs as humans vs hate; affordable health care vs denying or going bankrupt; ending genocide vs funding it; humane immigration with due process of rule of law vs ICE's mass abuse of people in the streets. And if 79% of Americans say that immigration is good for America, it is gratifying, because it shows that there are more good people that know that it is immigrants that BUILT America. We can continue to fight the fascist in the WH, because we are on the right side of history. Thank you for these lessons, Qasim, and I'm sorry you have had to receive the arrows from Chait.
The fact that someone like Chait can dismiss the voices of people like you, Mehdi Hasan, and other progressives while simultaneously having been catastrophicly wrong on Iraq, Trump, and Gaza shows exactly whats broken in mainstream media. These pundits face zero consequences for being wrong about literally everything that matters, while independent journalists and activists who get it right are dismissed as too radical or extreme. Mehdi leaving MSNBC to build Zeteo was probably the best thing he could have done because at least now hes not constrained by corporate intrests that prioritize access over truth telling.
I stopped believing everything the pundit class wrote when Christopher Hitchens wrote a plug about how evil Saddam Husein was and how war would bring Democracy to the middle east in 2003. That was such a huge letdown. Americans barely read at all anymore, they don't need to be further confused. If you have powerful enemies you are doing something right.
We desperately need political leaders like you who speak on a higher moral plane than the multitude of opportunists who call themselves journalists!
IMHO the Democratic Party leadership hides behind the euphemism, “centrists,” to cover their sell-out to their corporate donors! Journalists are also eager to curry favor with powerful interests! Thanks for “talking truth to power!”
In 2023, I ran for office as an independent to review and recommend changes (amendments) to our County Charter. Knocking on doors, as Qasim says, is an eye opening experience. Yet a great many of the people who praised and said that we needed non-party aligned candidates seemed to evaporate in the election. All of the local media seemed to cover and back the candidates in this nonpartisan race who consistently leaned left or right. We need more people like Qasim who express realistic views.
Before I read this rebuttal by Qasim, I had read the Chait piece and immediately thought something didn't ring true. I thought was Chait referring to that guy that I have recently followed on substack who appears to have a deep reverence for truth and who actually puts himself in physical danger at protests? Sure enough it was and then this piece appeared. I just became a paid subscriber to Mr. Rashid and now have to rethink my subscription to The Atlantic.
I am truly grateful and honored. Both for your gracious paid subscription, but even more so for your trust -- as that's far more valuable. Thank you neighbor.
The Democratic Party is part of the duopoly. The good cop/bad cop routine should be obvious by this point. The ballot box will not change the authoritarian/fascist state of the US. Only a revolution will. Investing time into believing a capitalist party of the colonial empire will ever be for the people, is absurd.
We have to fight and fight now. The longer we wait, the more control the technocracy will have over society.
I worked in publishing most of my career; in production, editing, and advertising sales. It’s been clear for at least 20 years that print media was dying. I believe that online advertising, and the creation of 24-hour news stations, along with Fox News, spelled the end of an actual fourth estate in this country. Couple of that with all corporate media now owned by oligarchs, and here we are.
I guess, good for me, that I never read Chait, didn't hear his extreme ideas.
I especially liked the way you listed, and showed, that progressive ideas are moderate, and that the opposite, is the extreme position. Racial justice vs racism; living wage vs poverty wage; treating a group, like LGBTQs as humans vs hate; affordable health care vs denying or going bankrupt; ending genocide vs funding it; humane immigration with due process of rule of law vs ICE's mass abuse of people in the streets. And if 79% of Americans say that immigration is good for America, it is gratifying, because it shows that there are more good people that know that it is immigrants that BUILT America. We can continue to fight the fascist in the WH, because we are on the right side of history. Thank you for these lessons, Qasim, and I'm sorry you have had to receive the arrows from Chait.
The fact that someone like Chait can dismiss the voices of people like you, Mehdi Hasan, and other progressives while simultaneously having been catastrophicly wrong on Iraq, Trump, and Gaza shows exactly whats broken in mainstream media. These pundits face zero consequences for being wrong about literally everything that matters, while independent journalists and activists who get it right are dismissed as too radical or extreme. Mehdi leaving MSNBC to build Zeteo was probably the best thing he could have done because at least now hes not constrained by corporate intrests that prioritize access over truth telling.
Disappointed that The Atlantic would platform such intellectually dishonest nonsense.
Unfortunately that seems to be par for the course for establishment media.
You’re doing amazing things, my friend. You continue to inspire.
Amen for this response to the tired and worn out argument that people want a centrist candidate. Thank you, Qasim!
I stopped believing everything the pundit class wrote when Christopher Hitchens wrote a plug about how evil Saddam Husein was and how war would bring Democracy to the middle east in 2003. That was such a huge letdown. Americans barely read at all anymore, they don't need to be further confused. If you have powerful enemies you are doing something right.
“opinions from people like Chait are not worth the pixels used to project them on your phone screen… Cancel legacy media”
Rashid!
We love your political courage!
We desperately need political leaders like you who speak on a higher moral plane than the multitude of opportunists who call themselves journalists!
IMHO the Democratic Party leadership hides behind the euphemism, “centrists,” to cover their sell-out to their corporate donors! Journalists are also eager to curry favor with powerful interests! Thanks for “talking truth to power!”
I’m not renewing The Atlantic!
Qasim, Standing with you.
Two words for you: Mic Drop. 🎤💧
In 2023, I ran for office as an independent to review and recommend changes (amendments) to our County Charter. Knocking on doors, as Qasim says, is an eye opening experience. Yet a great many of the people who praised and said that we needed non-party aligned candidates seemed to evaporate in the election. All of the local media seemed to cover and back the candidates in this nonpartisan race who consistently leaned left or right. We need more people like Qasim who express realistic views.
Thank you for running. It takes courage and patience to do so.
Before I read this rebuttal by Qasim, I had read the Chait piece and immediately thought something didn't ring true. I thought was Chait referring to that guy that I have recently followed on substack who appears to have a deep reverence for truth and who actually puts himself in physical danger at protests? Sure enough it was and then this piece appeared. I just became a paid subscriber to Mr. Rashid and now have to rethink my subscription to The Atlantic.
I am truly grateful and honored. Both for your gracious paid subscription, but even more so for your trust -- as that's far more valuable. Thank you neighbor.
Cognitive scientist George Lakoff pointed out years ago that in terms of the reality of the human brain, there is no such thing as "centrist."
Interesting how that blunt scientific observation has rolled off the well-oiled backs of status quo opinionistas for 20 years now.
Status quo apologists like Chait are fundamentally dishonest. And big-media owners wonder why their reputation is so bad!
Yup, well said Kristine.
The Democratic Party is part of the duopoly. The good cop/bad cop routine should be obvious by this point. The ballot box will not change the authoritarian/fascist state of the US. Only a revolution will. Investing time into believing a capitalist party of the colonial empire will ever be for the people, is absurd.
We have to fight and fight now. The longer we wait, the more control the technocracy will have over society.
I worked in publishing most of my career; in production, editing, and advertising sales. It’s been clear for at least 20 years that print media was dying. I believe that online advertising, and the creation of 24-hour news stations, along with Fox News, spelled the end of an actual fourth estate in this country. Couple of that with all corporate media now owned by oligarchs, and here we are.
Wow... Chait is a chump. I love how you have the receipts to back what you say.
Thank you! I'm happy to admit when I'm wrong, but in the meantime, I always bring the receipts to prove my point.
Love the thorough discounting, Qasim. Thank you for continuing to champion what the great majority of us in the U.S. want.
Appreciate you reading and sharing, Jerry. Thank you.