Reuters ‘fact checks’ obvious meme of CNN reporting ‘violent but mostly peaceful transfer of power’ in Afghanistan | The Post Millennial
Opinion
Reuters ‘fact checks’ obvious meme of CNN reporting ‘violent but mostly peaceful transfer of power’ in Afghanistan
CNN reported that Taliban fighters chanted “‘Death to America,’ but they seem friendly at the same time.” MSNBC said that it’s been a “relatively peaceful” takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban.
Reuters fact-checked a meme, but they left out some essential context, which was the reason for the meme in the first place. The meme was marked as "false,"
What Reuters didn't mention in their fact-check is that CNN reported on Monday that Taliban fighters in Kabul chanted "'Death to America,' but they seem friendly at the same time."
CNN reporter on the Taliban: “They’re just chanting ‘Death to America,’ but they seem friendly at the same time.” pic.twitter.com/yFXp3LLxRm
The meme showed CNN reporter Omar Jimenez reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan, where he is not, claiming that the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban was a "violent but mostly peaceful transfer of power."
This meme harkens back to August 2020, when Jimenez reported from the site of burning buildings during riots in Kenosha, Wisc., that the protests were "fiery but mostly peaceful."
The meme pointed out the disconnect between the reporting of mainstream media outlets and the reality, which was shown in sharp, clear reality during the riots of the summer of 2020.
Reuters was correct that Jimenez was not in Kabul, and not reporting on the "relatively peaceful" takeover of Afghanistan, and the "friendly," "Death to America" chanting Taliban fighters in the streets of Kabul.
But Reuters did not note that MSNBC and CNN both made similar statements to that chyron that blazed in front of burning scenes from Kenosha last summer, and just as with CNN's reporting from that riot-torn city, their reporting from Kabul was similarly skewed.