[guest post by JVW]

On the heels of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s summary of the documents that Israel has seized detailing Iran’s plan to thwart the nuclear deal reached with the U.S. and other governments in the twilight of the Obama Administration, be on the lookout for a new talking point from the left which will be repeated ad nauseam in other media outlets: Netanyahu’s presentation was intended for “an audience of one,” namely President Donald Trump. I just heard a Fox News reporter repeat this line unattributed though he might have picked it up from Bret Baier. The phrase has been apparently pushed by former Obama Administration official Rob Malley and has been repeated by various peace creeps in international foundations, political/media hacks who ought to have guilty consciences, and, of course, the Twitter left. Naturally, they are recycling a tired cliche that they used to death when PM Netanyahu spoke at the United Nations this past fall, but never let it be said that our tiresome political discourse ever comes up with new ideas or talking points.

Does this remind everyone of Ben Rhodes’ famous formulation that you either support the Iran nuclear deal or you are in favor of war? That became the Official Talking Point of the Obama Administration and was dutifully repeated by all of the proper progressives, to the degree that even Rhodes himself was slightly amazed. Be on the lookout for “an audience of one” to be the Official Talking Point of the Resistance, and feel free to catalog any instances you come across in the comments below.

If that forced narrative doesn’t take hold, look for all this info to be dismissed as just PM Netanyahu’s way of taunting Iran that Mossad has penetrated deep into the Iranian nuke program.

– JVW

I can’t find it on the L.A. Times site, but apparently it’s in the print newspaper, because someone left a comment about it here. I found a version of it here. Quotable:

If, among those who supposedly cherish freedom of expression, certain widespread viewpoints become taboo, where does that leave us? In a dishonest media atmosphere. More and more, conservative writers and pundits will claim to support Trump, whether they actually do or not. Meanwhile, those who refuse to engage in the charade will be increasingly sidelined.

This trajectory, left unchecked, leads to media that increasingly resembles that of totalitarian societies. That may sound like hyperbole — until you switch on Fox News, and realize how much of its programming already resembles state-run media.

Read it all here. And squawk about my alleged hyperbole below in the comments!

UPDATE: Here is the L.A. Times link.

[Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.]