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.)

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and Reliafund Payment Processors

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

 

 

Post Eclipse Radio-Bob Davis Podcast 849

Walk and Talk

These days things are happening fast and furious. Every now and then I have to take a breath and review some of my past podcasts. Moreover there’s no better way to do a review podcast, than a late night walk and talk. Check it out in Post Eclipse Radio-Bob Davis Podcast 849.

Answering Critics

In addition some of the most recent podcasts have turned out to be controversial. This is a good time to answer my critics and make some additional points.

Post Eclipse Radio

We’re coming off two huge eclipses. A solar eclipse at the beginning of July, and just recently a full moon lunar eclipse. Especially relevant are my observations about eclipse energy.

Pledge Podcast Aftermath

First of all in the last week I did two podcasts that have turned out to be controversial. My podcast covering an emotional demonstration against the Saint Louis Park City Council’s decision to stop saying the pledge of allegiance at some of their meetings, can be found here. And a podcast about Trump’s chances for reelection based on the 2016 and 2018 vote totals in battleground states, here.

Facts Are Controversial

One of the points in my coverage of this protest is most of the protesters screaming and shouting “resign!” at the council meeting to discuss the pledge decision, were not residents of Saint Louis Park. Apparently pointing out that fact was controversial.

Why Don’t You Criticize Democrats!

Also, my critics like to demand that I explain why “you don’t ever criticize democrats”. So, during this walk and talk I’ll tell you. Learn more in Post Eclipse Radio-Bob Davis Podcast 849.

Bought and Paid For Media

Finally because there are no rules or planning for a walk and talk podcast, reviews of recent podcasts evolved into a discussion of bias. It sure seems like we’re living in a world these days where every single ‘news’ source or pundit has been bought. This has contributed to a loss of principles and integrity in our discourse.

Independent Voices

Consequently we all have to be careful with sources. Rather than repeat what someone else said, independent voices move the story forward by researching that facts and sharing them. People don’t seem to be able to do that anymore. This is one of the reasons my recent podcast explored actual vote totals in battleground states the president has to win again in 2020, if he is to have any chance to win reelection, let alone win by a landslide, as some have foolishly predicted.

Clearing The Air and Bias

In conclusion I love these walk and talk podcasts. They help me clear the air. Then I can move on to the next few podcasts. Walk and Talk podcasts also help me to identify my own biases, which usually run to distrust for government in general not against or for political parties or candidates or issue advocacy.

Living Dangerously

Personally I think we need to move beyond responding to flashpoint issues. That means some of us are going to have to listen to opinions we might not agree with as we develop new principles that lead to working policy. I’ve always lived dangerously by talking about things just before they go viral. These days I think that’s a real good place to be.

Sponsored by Reliafund Payment Processors

Post Eclipse Radio-Bob Davis Podcast 849