The 2024 presidential campaign is rife with accusations and counter-accusations, often based on manipulated or distorted information. Howard Kurtz, host of ‘MediaBuzz,’ expresses his concern over this trend, particularly regarding the portrayal of President Biden’s mental acuity.
Kurtz highlights the incident where Biden appeared to be confused on stage at a fundraiser, a moment captured in an unaltered video. He criticizes the Biden campaign’s attempts to label any video that depicts the president in an unflattering light as a ‘deepfake’ or ‘cheapfake’. Kurtz argues that while some videos may be intentionally manipulated, others simply capture real moments, even if they are embarrassing.
He also points out that accusations of mental decline are not limited to Biden. A new book by Ramin Setoodeh, co-editor-in-chief of Variety, alleges that former President Trump has severe memory issues. Setoodeh recounts his personal experience of Trump failing to recognize him after a previous interview. While Trump’s spokesperson dismisses Setoodeh as insignificant, the accusations raise questions about both candidates’ mental fitness.
Kurtz acknowledges the media’s role in separating truth from fiction but expresses concern about the impact of short clips and social media on voters. He worries that voters may be misled by manipulated content, leading to a general distrust of media institutions. In conclusion, he stresses the need for media to be vigilant in verifying information and presents a bleak outlook on the future of trust in media amidst the constant barrage of misinformation.
