>> Rooney: I AM EMILY ROONEY.

WELCOME TO "BEAT THE PRESS".

OUR TOPICS, THE MEDIA WAS READY FOR ANYTHING WEDNESDAY, EVEN IF THE CAPITOL POLICE WERE NOT.

THE PRESIDENT'S BAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA MAY BE THE START OF MORE TO COME.

AND MANEUVERING THE TRUTH WHEN CONSERVATIVE MEDIA SPEAKS LIES.

PLUS OUR PANEL'S RANTS AND RAVES OF THE WEEK.

JOINING THEY ARE ADAM REILLY OF GBH NEWS, DAN KENNEDY OF NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, FORMER NECN ANCHOR MIKE NIKITAS AND CALLIE CROSSLEY OF GBH NEWS.

FIRST UP, IF WEDNESDAY'S RIOTING THE CAUGHT THE CAPITOL POLICE AND THE NATIONAL GUARD OFF GUARD, THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID OF THE NEWS MEDIA.

THE PRESS WAS OUT IN FORCE, PREPARED FOR THE WORST, HOPING FOR THE BEST, THE MEDIA READY FOR ANYTHING.

>> WHILE LEGISLATORS INSIDE THE CAPITOL WENT ABOUT THE USUALLY MUNDANE BUSINESS OF CERTIFYING ELECTION, OUTSIDE, THE PRESIDENT WAS FOMENTING A RIOT.

BECAUSE YOU'LL NEVER TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY WITH WEAKNESS, YOU HAVE TO SHOW STRENGTH AND YOU HAVE TO BE STRONG.

>> AND WITH THAT, HUNDREDS OF ANGRY TRUMP SUPPORTERS MARCHED TO THE CAPITOL BUILDING.

>> NEWSROOMS WERE POISED AND READY AND CLEAR ABOUT WHAT TO CALL PROTESTERS WHO TURNED VIOLENT.

>> RIOTERS OUTSIDE BROKE THE GLASS AND TRIED TO GET INTO THE HOUSE CHAMBER.

>> CNN STUCK TO CALLING THEM RIOTERS, WHILE THE "WASHINGTON POST" CALLED THEM MOBS, CBS WAS FINE WITH A RANGE OF DESCRIPTIONS FROM PROTESTERS TO PRO TRUMP PROTESTERS.

ON FOX, THOUGH, DESCRIPTIONS WERE MORE BENIGN.

>> SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> BUT ALONG THE WAY THE SAME MOBS WERE TRACKING DOWN THE MEDIA.

A HANDWRITTEN SIGN ON A DOOR INSIDE THE CAPITOL READ, MURDER THE MEDIA.

>> NBC WAS ROLLING WHEN PEOPLE STARTED SMASHING TV EQUIPMENT.

>> A BLOOMBERG REPORTER CAUGHT MOBS TAUNTING AND THREATENING THE PRESS.

>> REGARDLESS, THE GLOVES WERE OFF, WITH VIRTUALLY EVERYONE IN THE PRESS POINTING THE FINGER AT THE PRESIDENT.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP COULD STOP THIS WITH ONE TWEET, BUT INSTEAD, HE IS ON TWITTER ATTACKING VICE PRESIDENT PENCE FOR REFUSING TO GO ALONG WITH HIS ATTEMPT AT A BLOODLESS COUP.

>> WHICH WASN'T ALL THAT BLOODLESS.

>> Rooney: YOU KNOW, MIKE WHEN I LOOK AT HOW MUCH MEDIA PRESENCE THERE WAS THAT DAY IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THE CAPITOL POLICE WEREN'T MORE PREPARED.

OUR NEWSROOM WAS NOT THERE BUT WE HAD A DISCUSSION THAT MORNING THAT ACTUALLY ADAM REILLY BROUGHT UP SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY, SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THEY THOUGHT NOTHING WAS GOING HAPPEN.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS FOR THE TERMINOLOGY, IT WAS ALMOST AMUSING, OBVIOUSLY CNN DICTATED TO THEIR REPORTERS AND ANCHORS TO CALL THEM RIOTERS BECAUSE AT 1.1 OF THEM SAID PROTESTERS, I MEAN RIOTERS, THERE WERE NO UNCERTAIN TERMS FILLED WITH DISSENT.

>> IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR I WAS THE ON THE FLY COME OUT OVER SOCIAL MEDIA, BARON TELLING HIS REPORTERS WHAT TO SAY AND OTHER PLACES AS WELL.

USUALLY THOSE THINGS ARE INTERNAL.

BUT ONE OF THE SADDEST PARTS OF THIS WHOLE DAY ASIDE FROM THE DIRECT ASSAULT ON OUR DEMOCRACY FOR ME WAS HOW IT JUST COMPLETELY LAID BEAR MORE THAN EVER BEFORE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS THE DISGUST OF MEDIA, THE HATRED OF THE MEDIA, THE EROSION OF TRUST IN THE MEDIA, YOU CANNOT LOOK AT THOSE PICTURES IN THAT VIDEO OF THEM DESTROYING THAT AP EQUIPMENT AND IN THEIR IGNORANCE SAYING F, CNN, WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, THINKING BACK OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, TREASON MOUSE AND ALSO FAKE NEWS, THERE WAS NOTHING FAKE ABOUT WHAT I SAW OUT THERE .. AS FAR AS HOW THE MEDIA DID AT THIS TREMENDOUSLY DIFFICULT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN REAL-TIME, ALL YOU CAN DO IS REPORT WHAT YOU SEE, APPLY YOUR EXPERIENCE AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN IN HELPING VIEWERS UNDERSTAND IT.

THE ONLY THING I CAN COMPARE IT TO IS 9/11, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO IT IN THAT SITUATION.

I WAS ON THE AIR FOR TWO MINUTES AFTER THE FIRST PLANE HIT AND EIGHT HOURS AFTERWARD.

YOU MAKE THE CALLS AS YOU GO ALONG.

I THINK TV DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OVERALL IN COVERING THIS.

ONE OTHER POINT I THINK THIS BIGGER ROLE THAT SOCIAL MEDIA PLAYED IN THIS, ONE AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN BIG MOMENTS IN OUR HISTORY, TV IS WHAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER.

>> Rooney: CERTAINLY.

>> I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE THAT THE COVERAGE WAS REALLY EXTRAORDINARY.

WHEN I FIRST GOT THE NEWS THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING ON AND I WAS LISTENING AT THE SAME TIME TO RADIO AND TV, IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING WHAT PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO ASCERTAIN ON THE FLY.

OF COURSE, AS YOU POINTED OUT, SO MANY PEOPLE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN POSITION TO COVER WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN MUNDANE BUT THEY ASSUMED SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN DOWN AT THE TRUMP RALLY, WHERE HE SPOKE EARLIER.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT "THE L.A. TIMES" REPORTER FIRST PERSON BEING TRAPPED INSIDE, THESE REPORTS ARE REALLY QUITE AMAZING.

THE JOURNALISTS DID A FABULOUS JOB OF TELLING THE STORY AS IT WAS.

AS FOR THE LANGUAGE, FOR ME, IT WAS REFRESHING TO SEE THESE PEOPLE BE CALLED THUGS AND RIOTERS, BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN APPLIED ELSEWHERE WHEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN A, PEACEFULLY PROO TESTING THAT DON'T LOOK FOR THEM AND I WILL NOT FORGET THE STORY OF THE MOTORCYCLE GANG OUT WEST THAT KILLED NINE PEOPLE AND THE COPS ALLOWED THEM TO SIT ON THE CURB AND OFFERED THEM SOMETHING TO EAT AND DID NOT REFER TO THEM AS A GANG.

>> Rooney: YES.

>> SO JUST SAYING.

>> WHAT -- SORRY.

WHAT INCREDIBLY SCARY SITUATION, THE PRESS FOUND ITSELF IN.

CALLIE MENTIONED ONE FIRSTHAND REPORT THAT WAS ANOTHER FIRST PERSON REPORT FROM A NEW YORK TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER WHO WAS ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED SHE WAS GOING TO BE KILLED, SHE SEEMED TO BE CUT OFF FROM ANY SECURITY, ANYBODY WHO MIGHT HELP HER, THEY HAD HER DOWN ON THE FLOOR, THEY WERE SMASHING HER CAMERAS, IT IS AMAZING THAT SHE GOT AWAY WITH THIS.

ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT TERMINOLOGY THAT I NOTE WAS INTERESTING, SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS, I SPENT SOME TIME THE NIGHT BEFORE WATCHING NEWSMAX JUST TO GET A FEEL FOR IT, AND TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE SAYING ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO BE HAPPENING THE NEXT DAY.

AND HERE IS ANOTHER WORD FOR YOU.

PATRIOTS.

THOSE WERE NOT PATRIOTS THAT WE SAW OUT THERE, AND I THINK THAT WE KNEW TEACH NIGHT BEFORE THAT THESE WERE NOT PATRIOTS.

>> I HAVE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT TERMINOLOGY BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A CRUCIAL TOPIC FOR US TO BE KICKING AROUND.

CBS NEWS SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT THEIR STAFF REFERRING TO THIS AS AN ATTEMPTED COUP.

CBS NEWS AND NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO SAID NOT TO USE THE PHRASE DOMESTIC TERRORISTS OR DOMESTIC TERRORISM, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE THEY FOCUSED ON TO DESCRIBE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

THESE PEOPLE WERE -- I AM DEEPLY TROUBLED BY THAT EXCESSIVE RESTRAINT.

THE REUTERS WASHINGTON PHOTO EDITOR TWEETED TODAY HE HEARD MULTIPLE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY HAD TO FIND PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT PENCE AND KILL HIM.

THE "WASHINGTON POST" JUST PUBLISHED VIDEO OF THE MOMENT BEFORE ASHLEY WAS SHOT AND KILLED.

IF YOU WATCH THAT VIDEO, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS AN INTENSELY VIOLENT CROWD IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT COULD HAVE KILLED A CONGRESSPERSON THEMSELVES OR PERHAPS VICE PRESIDENT PENCE OR STAFFERS IF THEY HAD MANAGED TO GET WHERE THEY WANTED TO GO.

FOR TOO LONG OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE HAVE REFRAINED FROM CALLING THINGS WHAT THEY ARE BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID OF GIVING OFFENSE.

IT IS A TERRIBLE HABIT AND WE HAVE GOT TO KICK IT IMMEDIATELY.

>> Rooney: YEP.

GOOD POINT, ADAM.

ALL RIGHT.

AMAZING VIDEO.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS HAVE COME UNDER FIRE FOR ALLOWING HATE SPEECH, DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS AND OUT RIGHT FALSEHOODS TO FESTER.

SOMETIMES LEADING TO VIOLENCE.

FACEBOOK CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG HAS BEEN ADAMANT THE MARKETPLACE SHOULD BE IS THE EDITOR, NOT FACEBOOK BUT NOW EVEN HE IS SEEING THE LIGHT.

>> THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK WAS A SECOND VIDEO THAT DONALD TRUMP RELEASED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

>> WE HAD AN ELECTION THAT WAS STOLEN FROM US.

>> THOSE CLAIMS, OF COURSE, ARE WHAT FUELED THE MOB ATTACK ON THE NATION'S CAPITOL AND FINALLY SOCIAL MEDIA, BANNING THE PRESIDENT.

>> MARK ZUCKERBERG ANNOUNCED IT WILL EXTEND THE BLOCK ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS INDEFINITELY.

>> ZUCKERBERG SAID, WE BELIEVE THE RISKS OF ALLOWING THE PRESIDENT TO CONTINUE TO USE OUR SERVICE DURING THIS PERIOD ARE SIMPLY TOO GREAT.

>> Rooney: WHILE FACEBOOK'S BAN IS INDEFINITE, TWITTER TOOK A SOFTER APPROACH.

>> HIS TWITTER ACCOUNT IS NOW LOCKED FOR THE NEXT 12 HOURS.

>> Rooney: BUT 12 HOURS LATER HE WAS BACK.

THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS TO DELETE THE TWEETS THAT GOT HIM IN TROUBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND TWITTER HAS WARNED HIM ANOTHER BREACH WILL MEAN A PERMANENT BAN.

STILL NOT EVERYONE IS CONVINCED THE SOCIAL MEDIA TAKEDOWNS ARE ALL THAT ALTRUISTIC.

>> I NINE THINK ABOUT THE TEXT WE SAW YESTERDAY IN PART BECAUSE 0 OF EXPECTATIONS WE WOULD SEE TIGHTER REGULATIONS IS ZUCKERBERG ON FACEBOOK LOOKING TO GET AHEAD OF WHAT MIGHT BE INEVITABLY THAT.

>> Rooney: AND WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION POISED TO TAKE A HARSHER LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON PUBLIC DISCOURSE, THIS COULD INDEED BE THE FIRST ACCEPT IN SELF REGULATION BEFORE THE HAMMER COMES DOWN.

>> WELL, DAN KENNEDY, YOU FOLLOW THIS CLOSECALLY WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS, THAT REGULATION IS JUST -- IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND GOING TO COME AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE AND THAT THESE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES ARE TRYING TO GET AHEAD A LITTLE BIT OR IS THIS JUST SIMILAR ANY RIGHT THING TO DO AT THE RIGHT TIME?

>> WELL, IT WAS CERTAINLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

ONE THING I WANT TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT AGAINST, MANY, MANY PEOPLE IS THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN -- THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE ACTED -- THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES SHOULD HAVE ACTED A LONG TIME AGO AND TAKEN ACTION AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> LOOK, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS AN AUTHORITARIAN, SHE A LIAR, HE WAS INCITING VIOLENCE THIS WEEK.

HE ALSO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE IDEA THAT A SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY CAN JUST BOOT THE PRESIDENT OFF AND EVERYTHING WILL BE SOLVED IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD.

AND AS MUCH AS I HAVE HUGE PROBLEMS WITH THE WAGE MARK ZUCKERBERG HAS RUN FACEBOOK AND JACK DORSEY HAS RUN TWITTER, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE HAD A TERRIBLE THE DILEMMA PUT IN THEIR LAPS AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF US WOULD HAVE ANY BETTER IDEA OF HOW TO HANDLE THAT, THE MAYHEM.

>> YOU KNOW, I AM WITH DAN ON THIS AND I THINK I AM IN THE MINORITY ON IN, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID TWITTER AND A FACEBOOK SHOULD HAVE PULLED THEM DOWN A A LONG TIME AGO.

I THINK THEY DID THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME.

I THINK CLEARLY IT WAS LIKE THE PROVERBIAL CALLING AT THAT FIRE IN A THEATRE, A CROWDED THEATRE, THE PRESIDENT TOOK DIRECT ACTION ONLINE AND IN PERSON TO INCITE VIOLENCE AND FOR ME THAT IS WHERE AND FOR THE SUPREME COURT IN 1969 FREE SPEECH ENDS.

IF YOU INCITE IMMINENT LAWLESS ACTION THEN THAT IS PROHIBITED SPEECH, AND SO THEY TOOK HIM DOWN AT THAT POINT AND I THINK THEY DID THE RIGHT THING.

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

WILL THERE BE A RECKONING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA?

WILL SECTION 230 BE RECONSIDERED OR CHANGED OR REPEALED OR REVOKED?

I THINK YOU CAN MAKE A CASE FOR IT.

FACEBOOK DID TAKE DOWN A GROUP PAGE OF PEOPLE THE DAY BEFORE THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS RALLY AND INCITING VIOLENCE AND SO -- BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS THEN THEY GO FOR OTHER PLACES.

THEY GO FOR PARLER OR GO FOR OTHER SITES, SO I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, FACEBOOK, IF THEY ALLOW IT THEN THEY ARE AIDING AND ABETTING IT.

>> WELL, OF COURSE MARK ZUCKERBERG AND JACK DORSEY WERE IN A TOUGH SPOT.

THAT'S WHY THEY MAKE THE BIG BUCKS.

I COULD NOT DISAGREE MORE THAN THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING UP RULES AS THEY GO ALONG, TRYING TO SORT OF GET RESPECTABLE BY PUSHING BACK EVER SO GENTLY WHEN THE PRESIDENT TELLS A CERTAIN LIE OR AND INCITES VIOLENCE AND IMPLIES VIOLENCE IN A CERTAIN WAY THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING THE RULES UP AS THEY GO ALONG AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CONSISTENT AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FIRM.

THERE IS A PARENTING ANALOGY HERE.

IF YOU KEEP CHANGING THE RULES ON YOUR KID, IF YOU TELL THEM NOT TO DO THINGS, BUT THERE IS NEVER CONSEQUENCES THAT MATTER WHEN THEY DO, THEY ARE GOING TO KEEP DOING WORSE AND WORSE THINGS.

I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT MY CHILDREN HERE BUT JUST CHILDREN GENERALLY.

THEY HAVE BEEN SCREWING THIS UP FOR YEARS AND A THEY HAVE A CHANCE THOUSAND WITH THE PRESIDENT, WHO IS GOING TO BEHAVE A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY TO START DEVELOPING SOME CONSISTENCY AND SOME CLARITY.

IT IS LONG OVERDUE AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN EXAGGERATE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY HELPED US GET TO THE POINT THAT WE CAME TO THIS WEEK.

SO SHAME ON THEM.

>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH ADAM.

IN ADDITION TO CONSISTENCY, WHICH IS THE REAL ISSUE, EVERY TIME THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO SANCTION, THEY SAID, OKAY, TODAY, BUT MAYBE NOT TOMORROW.

THAT MAN HAS BEEN INCITING AND INCITING AND INCITING FOR GOD KNOWS HOW LONG AND, THEIR RESPONSE WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO THAT IS -- ADAM IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

LET ME ADD ANOTHER C WORD, BECAUSE THEY WERE INCONSISTENT THEY WERE COMPLICIT IN HELPING HIM END UP WHERE WE ARE NOW AND HELPING THE REST OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SENT UP TO THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN THE SAME WAY.

IT IS REALLY LATE FOR THEM TO BE DOING IT AND I DON'T CARE IF EVERYBODY MOVES OVER TO PARLER BECAUSE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE REGULATED AT SOME POINT COMING UP BECAUSE THIS JUST CANNOT GO ON.

THE QUESTION IS, THE LEVEL OF REGULATION WILL, QUESTION WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THAT INVOLVES, BUT AT THIS POINT, OH, YEAH, THEY COULD HAVE DONE A WHOLE LOT MORE AND CHOSE NOT TO.

>> Rooney: I WILL GLUMP AND AGREE A LITTLE BIT WITH MIKE BEFORE, I DON'T WANT FACEBOOK TO BE THE ARBITER OF JOURNAL LINK, JOURNALISTIC GOOD OR BAD JUDGMENT, THEY ARE NOT CAPABLE AND HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES INCAPABLE.

I GHEEN THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO HIRE A STAFF, YEAH?

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING THEY SHOULD HIRES HUNDREDS OF MORE PEOPLE AND MAKE THEMSELVES A LEGITIMATE NEWS ORGANIZATION?

RIGHT NOW THEY ARE AN AGGREGATORS AND REGURGE TEAR AND NOT A NEWS ORGANIZATION ..

I DON'T WANT THEM BEING THE ARBITER.

>> I A NOT TALKING ABOUT THEM BEING AN ARBITER OF ALL THINGS, WE ARE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS MAN INCITING, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> Rooney: GRANT THAT OR ANYBODY INCITING.

>> THEY WERE NOT CONSISTENT, AND THEY WERE COMPLICIT.

>> Rooney: LAST WORD, MIKE.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY GOES RIGHT BACK TO SUPREME COURT, 1969, SPEECH THAT IS LIKE THROW INCITE EMINENT LAWLESS ACTION IS BANNED SPEECH.

>> Rooney: THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION STARTED WITHOUT LIES ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE PRESIDENT'S INAUGURATION AND IT'S ENDING WITH LIES ABOUT THE PRO TRUMP RIOT IN WASHINGTON.

PUTTING THE REALITY BASED NEWS MEDIA IN AN AWKWARD SPOT.

ADAM HAS MORE.

>> WHAT HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY WAS TRAGIC AND TOTALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

EGGED ON BY THE PRESIDENT, A PRO TRUMP MOB RANSACKED THE CAP TOLL DERAILING DEMOCRACY AND HUMILIATING THIS COUNTRY.

>> HORDES OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS GOING THROUGH BARB INDICATED AND A.

>> STOKED AND ENCOURAGED BY THE WORDS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS ALLIES.

>> THESE ARE HIS SUPPORTERS.

>> THE TRUTH IS SIMPLE, AND MOST NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ARE REPORTING IT, BUT SOME AREN'T.

>> ANTIFA LIKE TACTICS, WE DON'T KNOW IF ANTIFA IS OUT THERE, WE SEE SERIOUS INDICATIONS THAT ANTIFA AND OUTSIDE INFILTRATORS COULD BE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THIS.

>> AND IT IS NOT JUST FRINGE-Y ONE AMERICA NEWS AND NEWSMAX PUSHING THE IDEA THAT TRUMP AND HIS BAD ACTORS ARE TO BLAME.

>> LOU, WE DID HAVE SOME ADVANCE WARNING THERE MIGHT BE ANTIFA ELEMENTS MASQUERADING AS TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

>> ANTIFA INSURRECTIONISTS POSSIBLY COULD HAVE ILL FILTRATED, INFILTRATED SOME OF THESE MOVEMENTS.

>> THIS CREATES A DILEMMA, REPORT ON THESE ALTERNATE FACTS AND YOU SPREAD DISINFORMATION, DON'T AND YOU MISS A STORY WITH HUGE IMPLICATIONS.

ONE SOLUTION, FRONT LOAD THE TRUTH, STRESSING THAT TRUMP AND HIS SUPPORTERS CAUSED THE VIOLENCE BEFORE DESCRIBING THEIR ATTEMPTS TO BLAME SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> Rooney: ADAM YOU HAVE TAKEN A PRETTY STRICT APPROACH TO, THIS YOU DON'T EVEN THINK THE NEWS MEDIA SHOULD BE GIVING THIS THE LIGHT OF DAY AND NOT EVEN MENTION IT BUT THEY ARE GETTING THE INFORMATION ELSEWHERE, SO IT IS THE DUTY, I BELIEVE, AS RESPONSIBLE NEWS MEDIA TO DO IT IN SOME WAY, YOU SUGGESTED MAYBE FRONT LOADING HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED, OH BY THE WAY OTHER PEOPLE THINK THAT BUT IN KEEPING IT UNDER A LID IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYWAY THAT YOU CANNOT MENTION THE FACT THAT THE 0 CONSERVATIVE MEDIA MARKETPLACE IS PUSHING THE IDEA THAT THE PEOPLE WHO DID WHAT THEY DID ON WEDNESDAY ACTUALLY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE, THAT IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE.

THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT STORY THAT NEEDS TO BE COVERED.

I AM NOT SO MUCH WORRIED ABOUT FOX AND ONE AMERICA NEWS AND NEWSMAX, I THINK THEY ARE SORT OF THE, BEYOND REPAIR AT THIS POINT, WHAT I AM WORRIED ABOUT IS NEWS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OUR OWN, EMILY, PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS, PUBLIC TV STATIONS, NEWSPAPERS OF RECORD, WEBSITES MOVING FORWARD THERE IS GOING TO BE A NATURAL THIRST FOR STORIES ABOUT HOW TRUMP SUPPORTERS ARE COPING WHEN JOE BIDEN BECOMES PRESIDENT, WHETHER THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR MIND ABOUT THE ELECTION, AND THERE IS GOING TO BE A MILLION OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO GET IT WRONG BY PUTTING A MICROPHONE IN FRONT OF SOMEONE WHO SAYS YEAH I THINK THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, AND NOT EITHER PREFACING THAT REQUEST THE TRUTH OR CONFRONTING THEM THEN AND THERE, AND A IT IS IMPERATIVE I THINK WE ARE VERY MINDFUL TO USE AN OVER USED TERM AS WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AS WE DO THIS REPORTING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM OURSELVES.

>> WELL, I AGREE WITH THAT, AND I ALSO THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO DECONSTRUCT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THIS OBVIOUSLY FALSE INFORMATION THAT IS BEING SPEWED OUT BY PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE WERE TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

FIRST OF ALL, LET'S JUST HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW OUTSIDE AGITATORS ARE COMMONLY USED PHRASE WHEN NOBODY WANTS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE GROUP.

I MEAN, LET'S JUST HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

AS A PART OF OUR JOURNALISM, LET'S ALSO TALK ABOUT, WOW, AS FAR AS I KNOW ABOUT AND ANTIFA, THEY ARE NOT SHY K I DON'T THINK THEY ARE LIKE HIDING IN THE GROUP SAYING, HEY, WE JUST WANT TO INFILTRATE AND DO OUR THING, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW IT IS US.

MY UNDERSTANDING OF ANTIFA, IS THEY ARE OUT FRONT ABOUT IT, IF THEY WANT TO BE SEEN AND HEARD AND MAKE THEIR POINT.

SO RIGHT AWAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

SO I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A DECONSTRUCTION AND THERE HAS TO BE A LOT OF TRUTH TELLING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND I AGREE WITH ADAM, YOU NOT LET THESE STIGMAS JUST LIE HERE WITHOUT BEING CHALLENGED, THESE STATEMENTS.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER REALLY DIFFICULT PROBLEM FOR JOURNALISM, YOU KNOW, I SAW THE OTHER DAY THERE WAS AN ANALYSIS IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES" JUST VERY CALMLY REPORTING THAT, NO, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANTIFA HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THIS, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THIS.

THIS WAS NOTHING BUT A LIE THAT WAS CONCOCTED ON THE SPOT TO TAKE HEAT OFF THE RIGHT WING TRUMP SUPPORTERS WHO RIOTED AND TRIED TO TAKE OVER THE CAPITOL THE OTHER DAY AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT KIND OF CALM FACT CHECKING IS APPROPRIATE TO THE MOMENT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE DO NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS STUFF 0 AND IT NEEDS TO BE KNOCKED DOWN AS ADAM SUGGESTED, RIGHT UP FRONT AND WE CAN'T GO WITH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALREADY HAD FOUR YEARS OF REPORTERS IN DINERS REPORTING THAT TRUMP SUPPORTERS SUPPORT TRUMP.

WHAT WE CAN'T HAVE NOW IS FOUR YEARS OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS SUPPORT TRUMP AND, OH, BY THE WAY, THEY STILL BELIEVE THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

YOU KNOW, ALL YOU CAN DO AS A JOURNALIST, I THIS CITY REPORT FACTS AND CITE THE EVIDENCE AND POINT OUT THE FALSEHOODS WHEN THERE IS NO EVIDENCE.

I WAS REALLY HEARTENED BY THE GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE WHICH PRESENTED THE RESULTS AND ALL OF THE EVIDENCE AND LACK OF FRAUD.

THERE I SAID, WOW THIS GUY SHOULD BE A JOURNALIST, AN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST.

THE PROBLEM IS IT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE MINDS OF A MOB.

AS THEY WERE HANDLING, AS ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID YOU CAN FOOL SOME OF THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

I TRULY DON'T KNOW IN A FREE SOCIETY HOW YOU COUNT YOUR PLACES LIKE NEWSMAX WHEN THEY BRING ON THE MY PILLOW GUY AS THEIR ANALYST TO LOOK INTO AND SUGGEST THAT ANTIFA IS OUT THERE I CAN ONLY POINT TO THE RATINGS FROM THAT DAY AND THAT NIGHT AS A SMALL RAY OF HOPE THAT FOX HAS THE WORST PRIME TIME RATINGS OF ANY NETWORK EXCEPT FOR CB S&C NN HAD THE HIGHEST RATINGS IN THEIR HISTORY THAT NIGHT.

SO PERHAPS THERE IS SOME WAIVE RAY OF HOPE IN TERMS OF WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING FOR THEIR PRIMARY SOURCE OF INFORMATION.

>> >> Rooney: ADAM WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IF YOU PUT UP THE MICROPHONES IN THE YEARS TO COME IN FRONT OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS?

>> I AM GOING TO TWITTER AND RANT AND RAVE AND THEN HAVE A BEER AND GO TO BED.

I MEAN, I DO THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US WHO ARE IN THIS INDUSTRY NEED TO CONTINUALLY BE TALKING ABOUT A, AS WE HAVE OUR DAILY PLANNING MEETING, WE SHOULD BE THINKING THIS STUFF THROUGH AND JUST 0 SHOULD NOT JUST ASSUME THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS SELF-EVIDENT.

>> Rooney: RIGHT.

>> BECAUSE SOMEBODY MAY NOT HAVE PONDERED THIS STUFF LIKE WE DO ON THIS SHOW EVERY WEEK.

>> Rooney: TIME NOW FOR OUR RANTS AND RAVES, I AM GOING TO START WITH YOU, MIKE.

>> I HAVE A RANT, IT WAS HARD TO FIND ANYTHING HUMOROUS IN THIS WEEK.

BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A SERIOUS EVENT, BUT I HAVE A RANT FOR THE KNUCKLE HEADS ON TWITTER WHO SHOWED AGAIN THE COMIC MISTAKES THAT CAN BE MADE IN A FAST-MOVING CRISIS.

TAKE A LOOK HERE.

POLITICO REPORTER RYAN POSTED A PHOTO ON TWIT WE ARE WITH THE MESSAGE, VIA GETTY, ONE OF THE TRIED OARS STEALS A PODIUM FROM THE CAPITOL, NOW THAT MEANS IT IS A CREDIT FOR THE PHOTO TO GETTY IMAGES, A A CON GLOM CONGLOMERATE SO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE TWO TWEETED THE REPLY, ONE PERSON THOUGHT THE GUY'S NAME WAS VIA GETTY.

>> I WANT VIA GETTY ARRESTED NOW WE KNOW HIS NAME IS VIA GETTY WHY DON'T THEY GO BACK TO HIS HOUSE AND ARREST HIM AND GET NANCY PELOSI'S PODIUM BACK?

NOW, WHY THEY HAD TO IMAGE IT WAS A GETTY IMAGE CREDIT, AGAIN NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT WEDNESDAY AND WHAT HAPPENED AND JUST SHOWS.

>> Rooney: YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT TERM BEFORE, IT IS EVERYWHERE.

>> DO YOU HAVE A TELEPHONE?

>> IT IS REALLY BAD, REALLY DUMB.

>> DAN.

>> WELL, VIA THE FOX BUSINESS CHANNEL, RECENTLY MARIA BART ROKNOW WAS INTERVIEWING SOMEBODY WHO SHE THOUGHT WAS THE NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE .. OF A MAJOR PORK PRODUCTION FACILITY, BUT WELL LET'S LISTEN.

OF JOINING ME RIGHT NOW IS THE CEO OF SMITHFIELD FOODS, DENNIS -- >> OUR INDUSTRY POSE AS SERIOUS THREAT AND AND IN BRINGING ON THE NEXT PANDEMIC.

>> AS IT TURNED OUT, AN ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST HAD PLAYED A HOAX ON THE SHOW AND A GOTTEN ON AS THIS BIG PORK EXECUTIVE.

>> Rooney: OH, MY GOSH.

>> AND, WELL, THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY WAS ON VACATION FOR CHRISTMAS AND LATER IN THE SHOW, BARTIROMO CAME BACK AND CORRECTED THE RECORD AND SAID, WE WERE PURCHGD, PUNKED, I GUESS SHE SHE WERE.

>> COULDN'T HAPPEN TO A BETTER PERSON BECAUSE SHE IS ONE OF THESE RABID ANTIFA, TRUMP THEORISTS AND I AM WAITING FOR THE PROOF OF FRAUDULENT ELECTION SHE GAVE EVERYBODY A PLATFORM TO GET.

>> THAT IS SUCH A STUNNING LACK LACK OF EDITORIAL OVERSIGHT AND ON HER TOO.

>> Rooney: I KNOW.

>> OF COURSE IT IS ON HER.

>> Rooney: YES.

ALL RIGHT.

ADAM.

>> I HAVE A RAVE FOR CHAR MENEGATTI THE POLITICAL REPORTER FOR WCCB WHO HAS THIS INCREDIBLE KNACK THAT YOU SEE IF YOU ARE OUT ACROSS CONFERENCES WITH HER ON A REGULAR BASIS OR STEM REGULAR BASIS, SHE HAS THIS GREAT KNACK FOR PUSHING PUBLIC OFFICIALS JUST HARD ENOUGH AND IN JUST THE RIGHT TONE TO GET THEM TO SAY THINGS THAT ARE REVELATORY AND AT TIMES KIND OF EMBARRASSING AND DON'T MAKE THEM LOOK VERY GOOD.

SHE JUST DID IT WITH THE NEW DEMOCRATIC SPEAKER OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE, RON MARIANO IN AN INTERVIEW THAT SHE DID WITH HIM RECENTLY.

TAKE A LOOK AT A SNIPPET.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IS GOING HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA.

>> ARE YOU LOOKING INTO IT AT ALL OR -- >> I JUST GOT HERE.

>> WILL YOU BE LOOKING INTO IT?

>> IF IT'S NECESSARY, OBVIOUSLY.

>> RON, MARIANO OF COURSE HAS BEEN IN THE HOW ABOUT 13 YEARS.

>> 13 YEARS.

>> LATER IN IN THE PACKAGE SHE WENT ON TO WRITE THAT SAYS MARIANO SAYS HEALTHCARE IS ONE OF HIS PASSIONS AND JUST DELIVERED PERFECTLY ON THE HEALS OF THIS INEXPLICABLE COMMENT AND REALLY GOOD AT HER JOB AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY FUN MOMENT TO WATCH HER WORK.

>> Rooney:YOU KNOW, WALKER WROTE ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK TOO, I PINGED HIM A NOTE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AND QUOTING CHARMIN ALSO AND SAYING THIS IS AN EMBARRASSMENT AND FRANKLY, I FEEL EMBARRASSED FOR OUR STATE THAT THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN DO FOR SPEAK OVER THE HOUSE, I AM SORRY AM SAYING THAT BUT I MEAN THAT SINCERELY, IT IS AN EMBARRASSMENT AND NOT RIGHT.

AND THIS IS NOT TO QUOTE HOW I ARE CARR HERE BUT THIS IS HACK.COM.

>> THERE ARE ALL ALL OF THESE PEOPLE, I READ ABOUT MARIANO WHEN HE CAME INTO OFFICE, A LOT OF PEOPLE LOVE HIM, BUT THAT WAS NOT A MOMENT WHERE HE COVERED HIMSELF IN GLORY.

>> Rooney: CALLIE.

>> I HAVE A TEMPERED RAVE FOR THE GUY, A GUY NAMED TED WILLIAMS WHO WAS A DIGITAL PRODUCER AT THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER SWAY PRETTY WELL-KNOWN NEWSPAPER BUT IN 2015 REALIZED THAT LOCAL NEWS WAS JUST BEING SHRUNK AND SLUMPING AND SHRUNK AND STARTED HIS OWN ENTITY CALL THE CHARLOTTE AGENDA, GOT, YOU KNOW, HIS FUNDING FROM MEMBERSHIPS AND FROM ADVERTISING, LIKE THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY, DID VERY, VERY, VERY WELL AND JUST GOT BOUGHT BY AXIOS.

>> Rooney: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHICH IS A BIG, YOU KNOW, OUTFIT.

SO MY RAVE IS TEMPERED BECAUSE I DON'T WANT AXIOS TO GO IN THERE AND TAKE OVER THE THING AND THEN MAKE IT LESS THAN THE LOCAL ORGAN IT HAS BEEN.

>> Rooney: GOOD FOR HIM.

FINALLY TONIGHT I HAVE A RAVE FOR NEW YORK MAGAZINE WHICH ACTUALLY IS ALSO GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT OF CRITICISM, BUT IT PRINT ADD VERY LENGTHY PIECE ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS CALLED WHAT IF?

AND BASICALLY I IT IS SUGGESTING IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THIS WAS AN INTENTIONALLY MADE VIRUS, NOT INTENTIONALLY RELEASED, BUT THAT IT HAD BEEN MADE IN THIS LAB IN WUHAN AND THE GUY WHO WROTE THE PIECE HAS DONE A LOT 0 RESEARCH ABOUT BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MADE A GOOD CASE THIS IS A POSSIBILITY.

IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH THE READ.

IT IS LENGTHY BUT VERY, VERY INTERESTING.

>> Rooney: ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS IT FOR OUR SHOW.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK, E-MAIL US, TWEET US, SEND US A COMMENT I AM EMILY ROONEY.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>> Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org