How-To-Be-Your-Own-Reporter-Bob Davis Podcast 915

How To Be Your Own Reporter

These days our minds are the new battleground. To fight back we have to be our own reporters. I’ll tell you how to do that in How-To-Be-Your-Own-Reporter-Bob Davis Podcast 915.

Politicians Lie

It’s especially relevant to point out politicians and so called leaders lie. If it’s Monday, they lie. If their lips are moving they are lying.

Start With Skepticism

Any decent reporter starts with being skeptical when it comes to those who wield power. From there it’s all about checking details and establishing fact. Why? Because we live in a world where the information channels are filled with crap. Moreover, it’s on purpose.

Investigate Sources

In addition most so called ‘news sources’ these days are thin on resources. Newspapers have cut their newsroom staffs. Television networks don’t always fact check. More importantly cable news is all about personalities and arguments.

We All Have Blind Spots

Most noteworthy are the biases we all come to the table with. We all have blind spots when it comes to the ‘leaders’ we think are ‘doing a good job’. That’s how they use us.

What We Want To Hear

Even more most of us want to hear what we agree with. We want to feel secure in our beliefs and conclusions. Consequently we gravitate to the sources, stories and personalities we agree with.

Get Rid Of The Blind Spots

Above all if you really want to understand what’s going on you have to work on getting rid of the blind spots.

How I Lost My Blind Spots

Certainly I’ll tell you how I lost my blind spots in How-To-Be-Your-Own-Reporter-Bob Davis Podcast 915.

Sources, Biases and Facts

Similarly I’ll give you some pointers on how to use your devices to run down sources, determine biases and establish facts.

I Do Not Advocate

Finally, it’s my policy and the policy of my podcasts not to advocate for or against issues. I don’t fight for politicians. I am not financed by political donors.

Conspiracy Theories, Horoscopes and Psychics

Furthermore the longer I do this the more I believe we have to work with the facts we know we can confirm. Conspiracy theories and opinions are fun. Horoscopes and psychics are for entertainment only, right?

Not Fighting To Convince You

In conclusion I’ve given up trying to convince listeners and subscribers. I don’t fight for or against a politician.

Some Stories And How To Do Your Homework

I’ll tell you some stories and help you become your own reporter in this extra extra podcast.

(Editor’s Note: I do this all the time, I talk about someone off the cuff, and get the name wrong. In this case I refer to a certain Doctor Redmond at the CDC. It’s Doctor Robert R. Redfield, recently in the news with the Coronavirus crsis response.)

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How-To-Be-Your-Own-Reporter-Bob Davis Podcast 915

 

 

Nocturnal-Thoughts-Seasonal Changes-Bob Davis Podcast 867

Night Owls Unite

I am a night person. Always was and will be. These days though it’s getting ridiculous. Staying up really late for a free wheeling talker in Nocturnal-Thoughts-Seasonal Changes-Bob Davis Podcast 867.

Extreme Night Person Here

Anyone who knows me is well aware of my scheduling extremes. Especially relevant are the changes I go through when the seasons change. Suddenly also Minnesotans are beginning to get scratchy throats and head colds. Here it comes.

Schedule Flip and SAD Light

First of all, sometimes I stay up so late I end up coming back around. This is what I call schedule flip. Then use something called a SAD light to reset my body clock. During this process I am in schedule hell. Staying up late and waking up too early.

Texts From Friends

Second as I am in the midst of this sleep schedule nightmare I am getting texts from friends. “Did you cover the Trump Rally?“, they want to know. So, unfortunately I have to address these questions in Nocturnal-Thoughts-Seasonal Changes-Bob Davis Podcast 867.

Dumpster Fire News

Because if I have learned anything traveling across the country and covering primaries and caucuses it is that the media loves a dumpster fire. Certainly Minneapolis did not disappoint, with dueling enthusiastic supporters of the president and protesters.

Traveling And Reporting

Above all it looks to me like the question, “Is It News?” hasn’t occurred to anyone. Certainly nothing wrong with getting a bunch of people together to collect email data and campaign contributions and to have something to post on social media. That goes for both sides in these cartoon political times.

Real News? Funny, Right?

Meanwhile the real news? Not getting addressed and ‘bubbling under’ when it comes to real coverage. The situation with Turkey and the Kurds. Stories about the Repo markets and federal reserve returning to a form of quantitative easing you would think would be unnecessary, what with the booming economy.

Talk It Out

Consequently it’s time to just talk it out. Kind of a transition between some of my heavily researched recent podcasts.

Summer’s Long Goodbye

As a result it’s a long goodbye to a great summer and the difficult transition to fall in this podcast. And considering my sleep schedule please don’t fact check on this one!

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Nocturnal-Thoughts-Seasonal Changes-Bob Davis Podcast 867

 

 

 

 

Fireside Election Update-2018 Races Tighten-Bob Davis Podcast 769

Is the media is setting America up for another surprise on election night 2018? Learn more in Fireside Election Update-2018 Races Tighten-Bob Davis Podcast 769.

A Podcast Series On The Elections

I did a series of nine podcasts examining most of the toss up elections for 2018. To hear them go here. These days it amazes me that a lowly local podcaster can conduct an analysis envisioning what media jackals will talk about in the future. In fact that is what has happened.

Blue Wave Theory Challenged

Especially relevant are several house and senate contests which were supposed to be part of the ‘blue wave theory’. Moreover what seemed like a win in a walk for democrats have now become hotly contested challenges. Find out why in Fireside Election Update-2018 Races Tighten-Bob Davis Podcast 769.

In addition I’ll tell you how I did that series on the toss ups and how you can do the same thing.

They Were Always Close Elections

I have said all along that these elections were going to be close. Now major news organizations like CBS, the New York Times, Fox News and even Politico are suggesting republicans could win the midterms. What happened? Find out in Fireside Election Update-2018 Races Tighten-Bob Davis Podcast 769.

Non Partisan Analysis

Finally my podcasts on the midterm elections have been non partisan. That is, I don’t pick sides and I don’t make predictions. Because the media is so committed to predicting the future, it is missing some key stories.

Talk About Issues and Concerns Fireside

What about so called Pivot Counties? Will an improving employment and economic picture in Ohio, Wisconsin, Texas and Florida influence votes? What about traditional voting patterns in midterms? What about traditional advantages for the democratic party? All that and more in Fireside Election Update-2018 Races Tighten-Bob Davis Podcast 769.

In conclusion, by all means work for your party and your candidate. And vote.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating and Reliafund Payment Processors

Fireside Election Update-2018 Races Tighten-Bob Davis Podcast 769