The New York Times is in hot water after publishing a headline about racism.
NBC News reporter Ben Collins shared a screenshot of the original headline of the report, saying, “As Republican Campaigns Seize Crime, Racism Becomes a New Battlefront.”
The headline has since been changed to: “With Ads, Imagery and Words, Republicans Inject Race Into Campaigns.”
Collins tweeted the original headline with the comment, “A ‘new battlefront’? Am I losing my mind?”
A "new battlefront"? Am I losing my mind? pic.twitter.com/7ogRgJrn1J
— Tim Onion (@oneunderscore__) October 25, 2022
Other Twitter users also expressed their disapproval of the headline.
One user called the media “mind scorchingly stupid.”
Literally our media is just mind scorchingly stupid https://t.co/HnEBGvBIb9
— ❤️ Umair (@umairh) October 25, 2022
Another user wrote, “J-schools need to make their programs like 50% history courses. This sh*t is embarrassing.”
J-schools need to make their programs like 50% history courses. This shit is embarrassing. https://t.co/SinHZwaPCi
— Mike V.P. (@MikePettigano) October 26, 2022
Co-founder of Vox Media, Markos Moulitsas, tweeted, “Racism wasn’t a thing before, but now it is says [The New York Times].”
Racism wasn’t a thing before, but now it is says @nytimes https://t.co/FvrIFnjKiE
— Markos Moulitsas (@markos) October 25, 2022
Read more tweets below:
This election feels like Memento: no one has been able to form memories https://t.co/fKl7VW9ACu
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) October 25, 2022
Why does the political coverage of the @nytimes fail us constantly?
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) October 25, 2022
And by ‘us’ I mean ‘sentient human beings’ https://t.co/6fTmAHls8Q
In Final Election Stretch, Republicans Mount Racist Attacks.
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) October 25, 2022
See? It's not that hard. https://t.co/jEXQKepEJi
If racism is now a new battlefront… what did the New York Times think it was before 😅😅😅 https://t.co/dN3LsMqpnQ
— Dom (@DominicMadori) October 25, 2022
This ain't new. Just sayin!!! https://t.co/r4Fbj99iBX
— Sophia “childless chicks” Nelson (@IAmSophiaNelson) October 25, 2022
Arguably the oldest and original American battlefront. https://t.co/8rxFgk21yu
— andrewkarre (@andrewkarre) October 25, 2022
NYT: Republicans are doing a racism with unabashed defiance.
— Jennifer Mercieca (@jenmercieca) October 25, 2022
Also NYT: that's a "battlefront."
(politics is not warfare and racism is absolutely an anti-democratic political strategy) https://t.co/skTlB8aEms
Now now, let's not jump to conclusions. We should give a neutral appraisal to both sides on the issue of <squints> uh, racism. https://t.co/cgZIDnwk85
— Max Kennerly (@MaxKennerly) October 25, 2022
Jonathan Weisman’s article in the Times accuses Republicans of deploying a “series of attack lines, terms and imagery that have injected race into contests across the country.”
Earlier this month, the Times noted Republicans in the House are fielding 67 Black, Latino, Asian or Native American candidates on the ballot for the upcoming midterm elections.
However, Chris Taylor, a spokesman for the House Democratic campaign arm, told the newspaper Republicans are “mistaken if they think finally engaging with communities of color in the year 2022 with flawed candidates” would separate their party from an “unpopular, extreme agenda.”
He continued, “While Republicans attempt to dilute the number of white supremacists within their ranks, their politics of dividing Americans and promoting hate remains.”
Politico’s forecast shows Republicans will likely take the House while the Senate remains a toss-up.
The outlet’s Steve Shepard suggested a few of the races voters should keep an eye on in the House include California’s 27th District, Ohio’s 1st District and Pennsylvania’s 7th District.
In terms of the Senate, Shepard said voters should pay attention to races including the Arizona Senate, Georgia Senate and Nevada Senate.