It is dispiriting to see how politicized the government’s response to Helene has been.
Of course, everything that happens in the world is politicized to some extent, but the level to which it has happened this time around is shocking. There are many layers in this onion, but let me discuss a few.
First, the news coverage has been strikingly thin compared to previous natural disasters. While there is a lot of discussion on social media, the corporate media has been relatively silent compared to the scope of the disaster. The New York Times obsessively covered Katrina during the Bush administration and blamed every failure on him. Conversely, any complaints from Appalachian residents have been attacked as misinformation, with the media insisting that the Biden/Harris administration is performing perfectly.
New York Times coverage of Katrina (highlighted in red) versus Helene (highlighted in blue).
Even regular readers of the NYT (i.e., people who are willing to put up with the Liberal bias because they enjoy the shear volume of writing), are beginning to lose faith. pic.twitter.com/E616OMUtyX
— JDoors (@JDoors2525) October 6, 2024
As you recall, Joe Biden was sunning himself at the beach during the storm while Kamala Harris was out West fundraising for her campaign. It took days to mobilize any military resources at all this time around, while during Katrina, the 82nd Airborne was on alert days before the storm hit. A logistics expert for the military who worked on the military response to Katrina has outlined the differences, and the Biden administration comes out looking incompetent.
Thanks again to @MZHemingway, @kyleezempel and @FDRLST
Link is here:https://t.co/tLDLyt2fio
— Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) October 4, 2024
He believes the differences have everything to do with the politics of the region, and while there is no PROOF of that, there have been various stories already suggesting that the storm could cost Trump the election by suppressing the vote in North Carolina–a swing state.
Helene hit Trump strongholds in Georgia and North Carolina. It could swing the election. https://t.co/7Y3fbADMe8
— POLITICO (@politico) October 4, 2024
It would be cynical beyond measure for an administration to withhold vital aid for electoral reasons, but this administration has demonstrated an ability to be cynical beyond measure on the border and other issues.
The Washington Post maintains that the federal response to Helene had been outstanding. Conservatives and 𝕏 are simply spreading misinformation to make Democrats look bad.
Democracy dies in lies. pic.twitter.com/MZo9TUzoTZ
— 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐧 (@michael_texan) October 6, 2024
Whether or not the federal response has been hampered by cynical political calculation or by garden-variety incompetence, the political spin coming out of the MSM and the White House has been itself hurricane-level. Lots of talk about misinformation, amplified by the corporate media.
Kristen Welker: “Do you think this is a time to falsehoods aside like FEMA funds being redirected to migrant?”
Sen. Tom Cotton: “It is true that FEMA and DHS have been spending billions of dollars on migrants. This administration seems to have no problem finding money when they… pic.twitter.com/UvSypbP6n4
— Real Mac Report (@RealMacReport) October 6, 2024
Remember, these are the exact same people (Homeland Security) who have been insisting that the border is secure. Lots of people on the ground are telling us their own experiences, but the corporate media is calling them liars while mindlessly repeating what proven liars in the government have been saying.
David Axelrod says Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina that are Trump voters will have a hard time voting in the 2024 election
— 🇺🇸 Pismo 🇺🇸 (@Pismo_B) October 6, 2024
No doubt, many of the stories coming out of the area will turn out to be distortions because that is the nature of information flow in chaotic circumstances. But the media immediately dismissed people’s actual experiences on the ground, and amplifying Alejandro Mayorkas as the sole source of truth is a perfect example of how our media is now Pravda.
Mayorkas 3 months ago: FEMA is “tremendously prepared” for hurricane season
Mayorkas today: FEMA is out of money and can’t make it through hurricane season. “We do not have the funds”
Look at this. 3 months apart. pic.twitter.com/yf6qScEtGS
— Patriot4Life (@Patriot4Life72) October 4, 2024
We do know beyond doubt that the White House is scrambling to rewrite history, outright lying about their actions in the past. Why we should trust them now is, let’s say, an unanswered question.
Karine Jean-Pierre just said it is “categorically false” that FEMA uses it’s funding to resettle illegal aliens.
This is in spite of the fact that it is literally advertised directly on FEMA’s website. pic.twitter.com/UhBXmRQN5b
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 4, 2024
I’ll have more to say about this later in the week, but as is now always the case, you can’t trust the media to tell you the truth. That doesn’t mean that every rumor coming out of North Carolina is correct, but it does mean that the government’s and the media’s debunking of those rumors is also suspect.
Now, onto the smiles!
Not again! pic.twitter.com/jN5ZktoUwC
— Declaration of Memes (@LibertyCappy) October 5, 2024
This is, indeed, how liberals think.
This is the slippery slope of censorship pic.twitter.com/jUQkvhx8zl
— The Rabbit Hole (@TheRabbitHole84) October 5, 2024
Yep. Fits with the subject of the essay, too. Although I would throw in “misinformation.
Just saying 🤷♀️ pic.twitter.com/JnlTQR9yr3
— 🧝🏻♀️💫Gigglepops ⚡️🔞🇬🇧🏴 (@MLovetube2) October 4, 2024
I am not so environmentally conscious, myself.
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS SOLD US OUT…..😡 pic.twitter.com/7c4V107xF6
— 🇺🇸𝐃𝐔𝐓𝐂𝐇🇺🇸 (@pr0ud_americans) October 4, 2024
Whatever excuse the administration provides, the truth is they took FEMA money and used it for illegal aliens.
Yup pic.twitter.com/pICUHyvKJ1
— Declaration of Memes (@LibertyCappy) October 4, 2024
Very punny.
This should be part of every homeschool curriculum. pic.twitter.com/0AslGvPSZt
— Fight With Memes (@fightwithmemes) October 4, 2024
I think that people want to believe all the BS because the alternative is unthinkable.
Valuable child raising tip from the New York Times pic.twitter.com/JPxhtmEgUc
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) October 3, 2024
Our elite lives just like us.
Please visit pic.twitter.com/cMuXWrqU7W
— A.F. Branco – Political Cartoonist (@afbranco) October 3, 2024
He really did say that, although I think he sorta meant that they were doing everything they can. Obviously not, though, since we are sending money to Ukraine by the billions and now shipping big bucks to Lebanon of all places.
Accurate. pic.twitter.com/L5HSfkjFN4
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) October 3, 2024
Same theme.
Correct pic.twitter.com/B9P0Cxon7F
— CMM (Corrupt Mainstream Media) (@CorruptMM) October 2, 2024
More Vance!
— Marie Isabella (@MarieIsabellaB) October 2, 2024
That glance said it all.
— Suzi Shrugged (@suzibasterd) October 2, 2024
Vance won the debate with facial expression dominance.
Diddy Harris pic.twitter.com/tKnCwwoSAi
— Magnetic Norse (@MagneticNorse) October 2, 2024
Kamala Harris has become a meme.
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— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) October 5, 2024
Me in the gym.. 😂 pic.twitter.com/w1PZSvPcuO
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) October 5, 2024
I love a good ratio in the morning pic.twitter.com/5eNg8P2qGL
— Mostly Peaceful Memes (@MostlyPeacefull) October 5, 2024
Best friends forever..🐈🐾🦜😍 pic.twitter.com/bhQiNEsCW3
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) October 4, 2024
I think he’s trying to teach them how to jump over the fence. 😂
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Husky howling lessons..🐕😅 pic.twitter.com/gWGXdmlUcZ
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Real life Tortoise and the Hare pic.twitter.com/shotzFlCrt
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Real life Tortoise and the Hare pic.twitter.com/shotzFlCrt
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The cat chooses you..🐈🐾😍 pic.twitter.com/mFvbTamV46
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) September 28, 2024