* Trump’s Hialeah rally during the GOP presidential-candidate debate in Miami: counter programming.
* “Here is a truth: Anything good for cable news is bad for humanity.”–Peggy Noonan, WSJ.
* Remember when polls were more credible—and not “breaking news” snapshots? Land lines ruled and “push polls” was an unfamiliar coinage. When polling was the province of specific experts–think Gallup–and not a news-making extension of the media. When respondents were receptive and candid–if not flattered–to be involved. Bottom line: Voters vote, polls don’t.
* Meta says Facebook and Instagram will soon be requiring political ads running on their platforms to disclose if they are Artificial Intelligence.
* IBM is the latest prominent advertiser to pull its ads from former-Twitter “X.” Hate-speech concerns and Elon Musk’s controversial tweets on anti-semitism have everything to do with it.
* How could you have made the Israel-Hamas war a major part of the Miami GOP debate without any reference to the overriding need for a two-state solution?
* Some memorable debate lines are less “memorable” than others. Exhibit A: “You’re just scum.” That was Nikki Haley to Vivek Ramaswamy, who had referenced her daughter in a Tik Tok riff.
*Takeaway: Exactly what time slot will Fox offer Ramaswamy?
* CBS will be honoring Dick Van Dyke later this month (Dec. 21) with a birthday special. Van Dyke will be 98. “Rob Petrie” lives on.