Added: 3 years ago
From: TheYoungTurks
Views: 15,193
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:

All Comments (154)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • Isnt he a full time msnbc douchebag pundit now? The name of this vid shouldnt be "how wrong are tv pundits"? it should be im a douchy sell out

  • This is so right.

  • "Worse than the monkies", hahaha

  • fow news is the worst

  • I think Cenk got the analysis of this study completely wrong. What the study means is that pundits are not offering real analysis but offering spin for a specific agenda. They are wrong because they are being paid by the big boys to move the masses.

  • A contributing factor to this phenomenon could be because they have a vested interest in making crazy/sensational claims that get the audience riveted and keep em from changing the channel...

  • This is not really new info, just applied to the latest batch of loudmouths. There are studies going back to the 60's that catalog this feature of people who have prescribed idealogies starting with the conclusion and then make the facts fit afterwards

    Through cognitive dissonance & confirmation bias they create their own fictional world that, ironically, seems more & more real to them the more they are wrong. Hence leading to anger when someone confronts them with the real world

  • I say down with pundits. All of them. Beck, Olbermann, O'Reilly...all of them, regardless of which side of the fence they sit on. Let news go back to being about actual news and about pure, objective facts, instead of revolving around political opinion.

  • we DO believe you, Cenk because you tell it like it is! Keep it up

  • no one on the right seems to be checking facts anymore they just blindly spouting off whatever as long as it pushes ahead their agenda wheither or not any facts are true or not

  • @dragonflychainsaw left does the same thing it does not matter which side they are one they spout off what gets ratings not what is accurate. Great broadcasters like Crokite did not take a side they gave you the news objectively enough for you to make a decision. They treated you with respect like you were a functioning human being who could reason.

  • what's a pudnit

    sorry im young lol

  • Pundit - Originally a learned person, expert, authority on something. Second, more modern meaning is a critic, commentator or someone who makes comments and judgements, especially in an authoritive manner

    We were all young once :) enjoy the new word

  • lolz

    i will i will .......

  • Yaaay

  • @Pestinpest Haha oh man going by that second definition you give we are all YouTube pundits, criticizing, commenting on and judging everything in our path, often in an authoritative manner!

  • I recently heard a good quote, something like- its a pity in that the fools and fanatics are so sure of their answers, and the intelligent have so much doubt.

  • I wouldn't blame the certainty of the pundits as their major cause of inaccuracy, instead I would place the blame on their desire to grab ratings. If you tell the public, "X, Y, and Z happened, but it's probably coincidence," they don't feel like they gained anything from watching. However, if you tell them "X, Y, and Z happened, which indicates disaster OMEGA is coming," they can't help but keep watching.

    Apparently though, after all those wrong claims, we still keep watching.

  • ill tell you why pundits are wrong, because they all have an agenda. kind of like when bill kristol predicts that mccain-palin will win because he is a conservative pundit who wants them to win, wants to influence the election but hes a smart guy and knows when all is lost...plus, he said that she would run with him two months before it was announced, so he would look retarded if he thought they were going to lose after all of talk about how great they were...

  • Michael Crichton wrote an essay back in 2002 titled "Why Speculate", which is basically saying the exact same thing. Pundits are not news reporters, they merely give their opinions on the news and speculate.

    Context, Live Reporting, Fact Checking, in-depth analysis... that shit's expensive. Why bother, when you can buy your headlines from the AP or Reuters and then just pay some likable taking head on the TV/Radio to deliver their spurious bullshit bias towards the network's target demographic

  • And it's not just the MSM pundits, it's in newspapers, radio, magazines, and blogs. Speaking of which, people who get their news online tend to be just as misinformed, if not moreso, than those who watch the major networks.

    Crichton mentioned an amnesia effect, wherein we can read a report in the paper about an event or technology we are familiar with - point out all the errors and bullshit - call the writer of the column an idiot, then read the next column and accept it as truth.

  • Essentially, the idea is that the entire paper is filled more or less the same level of poor fact-checking and lack of insight, but you forget that going into the next article and don't consider that it is factually errant.

    I recall watching Lou Dobbs one night debate Evolution vs. Creationism... and nobody, not him, his expert, and definitely not the creationist had any clue how Evolution actually worked or the evidence for it. It was just one long string of strawmen and misconceptions.

  • So, after seeing that train wreck of misrepresented science... more like Science Fiction... why should I think his next piece on lead paint in toys is going to be any more reliable?

    And someone, somewhere was probably watching the same program thinking... Man... that "Teach both Sides" piece was right the fuck on, but he doesn't know crap about the logistics of checking foreign imports for lead contamination.

  • I smashed an old TV set because I got pissed at Hannity the dork!

  • Sean Hannity is the biggest moron on Television!

  • The reporters on CNN FOX and such are wrong all the time because they are reading from a script, their job is to misinform the greater public and keep us looking the other direction while the real action goes on behind the curtain.

    TV news is just a huge propaganda machine for the Administration and it has become plainly obvious since the year 2000

  • They does worse then the average person because we use common sense. More often then not they stick to their narrow political views and talking points.

  • The researcher was surprised but his monkey wasn't.

  • they should do a poll on left wing and right wing pundits seperatly. that would be interesting.

  • Fox pundits are the biggest joke of them all

  • Cenk was wrong about Obama and Michael Steele.

  • " The only thing I know is that I know nothing "

    Socrates

  • At least Cenk was humble enough to take this topic on his show and not pretend otherwise.

    Let's see the other conservative *pundits" have enough nerve to take up anything close to this on their show.

  • LOL this study was an assigned readings for us, just so our prof could laugh at our aspirations of being experts

  • haha. good to know.

  • That's unfair! BillO, Rush, Coulter, Wallace, Hannity, Victoria Jackson...

    They're wrong all the time. It really fucks up the average.

  • @ndvuncle hahaha very astute observation.

  • @ndvuncle not really, they use real facts to promote false conclusions

  • No! they are wrong because they have an agenda. They KNOW they are wrong! They have an agenda!

  • The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.

    - Bertrand Russell

  • I love this show!

  • Well at least some of them are entertaining. Those like Spammity are really just droning fucknozzles. Well even they are entertaining when they get owned.

  • I stopped taking them seriously YEARS ago.

  • his voice sounds just like jimmy kimmel's, it's uncanny.

  • The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.

  • Salato, the fact that wise people do question themselves, their motives, and critic themselves is part of what makes them so wise.

  • How can the junk science of psychology claim to conduct an exhaustive study of anything. That's not a study, its a survey of fortune tellers. As well to look at similiar forecasts from so-called psychics.

  • I wonder if the survey compared liberal vs conservative pundits, and which ones are more accurate. That would be a really interesting follow up study

  • There really is no way to predict the future. TV Pundits are basically entertainers, nobody takes what they say seriously or calls them on how correct they are.

  • well that's not true..there are LOTS of dumb people who believe a LOT of what they say.

  • love the honesty cenk ;)

  • How does Cenk disassociate himself from pundits? Kind of like calling the kettle black there.

  • he is telling you to not trust him either:)

  • who relies on pundits...they live in their delusional la la land...hence why mainstream corporate media are for infotainment not journalism to inform the public.

  • welcome to the beginning of the end

  • The Pundits are there to really sell tv and cable ads. Look at some of these people on the tube, they are not close to journalists. Hell, alot of them look like porn stars if you ask me. TV is there to sell ads not news. There is very little news or responsible comentary anywhere.

  • if you want to go to the beach and i want to go to the horse track, i'm NOT gonna talk about all the half naked teenage pussy and umbrella drinks, i'm gonna point out skin cancer and rip-tides as well as the tremendous opportunity for financial gain over at the track.

    ...it's like that.

  • Something just occured to me. I'd like to see the results of the study with all of Bill Kristol's predictions thrown out. That would have to make them all look a little better.

  • If they do worse than a random chance it means they say bullshit on purpose

    they cant possibly do worse than average unless some of them simply lie

    no one pointed it out

    isnt it obvious?

  • I gotta say though, Cenk, I've seen you make far more correct predictions than wrong. In fact, I can't remember you making a flat out prediction that didn't come to pass.

    Maybe that's because I'm not reminded of the prediction because its subject never happened, but still, you know?

  • I love Cenk, but he has made several very wrong predictions. He isn't teflon. He's just one of the more honest and objective(most of the time) pundits out there.

  • See "Expert Political Judgment: How good is it?" It's a book, pub'd by Princeton Univ Press. Tetlock is a prolific genius, been around for a long time.

  • Hey Cenk, did you ever think that people like Hannity know EXACTLY what's going on but they just tell the people what they want to hear, and in some cases things they don't want to hear just to keep us all in the dark to the wicked things that the government and some of these huge corporations are doing? MSM is propoganda you idiots! Do you really think these political pundits and t.v anchors don't know what's going on? to use your own phrase Cenk, Of COOOUUURRRSSEEEEE they know what's going on!

  • Like when it comes to religion?

  • Exactly what I was going to say. Good call!

  • Sharon Begley had a nice write-up about this in Newsweek recently. I've always figured this was true, but I'm happy someone took the time to research it and prove it.

  • CENK!!!!

    You don't have to know shit to be on TV!!! Is there not a vested interest in their opinions?

  • Partisanship and Accountability?

    There is an agenda to try to force a side of an issue.

    It's an interpretation of the facts and not the facts themselves.

  • Who fared better, Olbermann or O'Reilly, Matthews or Hannity?

  • u said MONKEY fuckin RACIST!!!

  • fox is just complete bullshit.........these guys have no debating skills and the people who watch them are so ardent right-wingers, that it wouldnt matter if you pointed the facts out to them anyway.

    you can put a fucking graph in any form in front of a hardcore conservative and they would argue about what color it is.

  • Cenk is the ONE.

  • TV Pundits are kind of an odd thing because in the business world if you were sure of yourself all of the time and end up being wrong most of the time, people would lose trust in you.

    I'm not sure what the difference is between people in the business world and pundits, but my only guess is that pundits make so many predictions that people can't keep track of it all and so they aren't held accountable as much.

  • the job of the television pundits is not to predict the future, it's to coax you into their way of thought.

    most of the time it's through fear tactics.

    and most of the time (as advertised) they're wrong.

  • when he said they are terrible at predicting things he was talking about the ppl that did the study, not the pundits themselves

  • you need to take your meds.

    (wrong.)

  • Fox News is probably to blame with all their extremist view.

  • great social study Batman!

  • How would they even be able to judge Fox News, since most of what they talk about is made up shit anyway, such as the Acorn "story" that was perfectly and objectively a non-story in the real world, or William Ayers, or was Obama born in America. Those are all non-stories, so ANYTHING a pundit says about them is pretty much wrong. It just seems like a waste of time looking into "is Fox News wrong". Duh.

    If men are from Mars and women Venus, then the MSM is from Jupiter and Fox News Uranus.

  • I trust that you are wrong about President Obama. He will screw us as all the others have.

  • wow bet he won't

  • Oh that's a bunch of hooey. Rush Limbaugh is 100% accurate every time he opens his mouth, even if it's to swallow a whole cheescake or 20 Oxycontins, so shut up you Dung Dorks!

  • i bet a hundred bucks its the Fox news folks...

  • Fox News probably brought down the curve a bit...

  • it's pronounced 'pundents' in alaska.

    you betcha.

  • Nooo Cenk. I always trust you <3

  • I love the last line!

  • I would love to see more serious pundits on TV.

    But that would mean the great evil;lover ratings.

  • In that case everyone should listen to me because I am basically uncertain and ambivalent about everything.

  • That's a neat study to do. XD The outcome was pretty satisfying too.

    Cenk does have a habit of being pretty accurate though.

  • Well at least Cenk keeps it real :-D

    Count how many times you see this study cited on TV over the next week. If you can count to 0, you're probably just fine.

  • cuz hes not paid to lie xD

  • OK Cenk. Heard you talk about how great Obama is....Let's ignore what he has done so far and wipe the slate clean......We will keep watching.

  • Good stuff.

  • Didn't Rush predict Hillary would be the Democratic nominee & that McCain would win the General Election & that Bush would never agree to a time-table in Iraq & that Bush's tax cut on Capital Gains would spur the stock market up more, etc. etc, etc...

    Why does anyone even listen to that nutty Rush guy.

  • I bet they are wrong most of the time because they want to pick the answer which is most shocking anytime they have a decent explanation for more than one answer.

  • Cenk is probably the most correct Pundit I've heard from.

  • well, I've noticed that pundits like assuming that the worst possible scenario would happen all the time. I remember all the times when they'd say Obama was done for, and he would bounce back. Regular folks pretty much try to be more fair (the sane non-neocon freak types anyway).

  • You're alright :)

  • I was a little disappointed after watching this video, because the the posted item has a picture of Sean Hannity, giving his usual "I'm the smartest and most handsomest jerk on televison" look. I was kind of expceting/hoping it would mean that the results pointed concluded that Sean Hannity was more wrong than any other television punidt, which doesn;t require much in the way of imagination. He's certainly good at bullying people, but Sean Hannity is by NO means and intelligent man.

  • Anyone know a link where I can find this study?

  • where can i find this study. i have a friend that should see it...

  • I could have told you this......I have been investing in the stock market since 1979 when I was in high school....I would read Forbes and Fortune, and have old copies from way back.....I checked copies I had from a yr and 2 yrs ago, and every one of them were wrong about the economy, and the same commentors are on TV today giving opinion....the Dems use them and the Reps, and I look at these guys and laugh, because I know what they said just a short while ago was wrong.....no credibility.....

  • wow you been investing the stock market that long??? how you got into it and what would you consider the smart way into doing it?

  • Very simple method for me is to invest in stable things for the long term.....every time that someone talks about the market going down or up it was about the guys trying to make a quick buck, that is why it's going down now....true investors just stick with it...if my $50 stock goes down to $25 I don't think I lost $25, I just am patient and eventually it goes back up, and later might be $75....this talk about loosing value is all short term, and is about greed to make the most money quickly..

  • i figure that would be a simple way. just stick with it and wait till the stock goes up again.. but what if the stock goes down for too long.. should i sell it and buy a better stock or should i stick with it still and hope one day it shoots up again?

  • You have to pick stocks that are with companies that you see products being used all the time.......like when I had money in silver before digital cameras...because silver nitrate is important with roll film...when digital overtook film...I got out....if most people are wearing Nike buy Nike....when there are hard times buy with companies that produce soup, it is the cheapest food and sales always go up during bad times...Oil companies always are good investments for obvious reasons....

  • good idea.. how you got into the stock market in the first place? and did you have to pay alot for your first stock?

  • I started by buying silver in 1979...it was at around $5 a ounce....I was into photography, and realized, because I developed my own film, the affect of silver prices on the price of film.....in 1980 the price went up to $50.....I bought about $200 worth....which was 40 shares @ $5.....after the price increase it's worth was at $2000 +....in just a year....I got out when it went down to $40 but I made a lot from it.....I bought IBM @ under $30 that year also, and now it is at around $90

  • cool.. how do you by stock?? do you got to a place or go on internet?

  • Used to have to use a trader, but now anyone can do it online with a number of services, and each trade is usually about $3- $9 bucks - E-Trade - AmeriTrade - SogoTrade....I use Ameritrade, but SogoTrade is cheaper @ $3 per trade....you don't have to have a minimum in some of them like in the past you had to start with $1000, so anyone can use them but you have to check and see.......I would join or start a group of friends who invest, nothing big just a 3 or 4 and each can own a 1/4 or 1/3.....

  • ok thanks alot..

  • You seem pretty certain of that....

  • as a matter of fact i am

  • I know you are. I just appreciate irony.

  • You're not the only one, bill... I'll just add "irony deficient" next to "satire impaired" on my list of common conservative ailments.

  • It's the authoritarian mindset. Lack of a sense of irony, shame etc. There are reasons they don't get satire. :)

  • The reason they don't understand satire is because they are still trying to figure out slapstick ;)

  • well its more of speaking bluntly with no regard for pc...than per say truth speaking...

  • I agree so much with what you say Cenk, and the fact is, it does not happen only with TV Pundits, but pretty much everywhere: if you say something true with humility, no one will trust you, but if you say something wrong with confidance, or even better: with arrogance, then everybody will buy it. And THAT my friend is the world we live in :-(

  • Cenk, you need to expand on this. In the aggregate they may be wrong, but certainly some, like Peter Schiff, are far more accurate than, say Hannity.

  • I check pundits for entertainment, TYT as well

  • Actually they (pundits) are telling you the 'party' line.

    Such as:

    'the economy is fine"

    "we will be greeted with flowers"

    "oil will pay for the war"

    "you're not safe unless we take away your freedoms"

    "isreal is our ally"

    "aipac does not control congress"

    etc. etc.

    All lies, but apparently if 'you' are told a lie enough times you believe it.

  • Exactly...

    Thats how you get your face on the TV.

  • TDKS - They Don't Know Shit.

  • They're wrong most of the time because they're all whackjobs. One more reason why not to watch TV "pundits".

  • Hannity should just fucking die.

  • nah, we need some comedy

  • lol i dislike him too however, if he dies than someone worse may take his place. be careful of what you wish for

  • No...he's saying use your brian when you listen to pundits.

  • I challenge everyone to read "Unified theory of the crank" on the denialism blog.

  • Pundits are paid to be entertaining

  • Because most pundits are of either side of the extreme -- republican/liberal. And most of them are not really engaging in genuine politics, more than performing shtick, or playing a role, entertaining their audience. Limbaugh is a perfect example.

  • worse than the monkeys lol

  • U'd like to cross reference the scores of the MSNBC pundit details with the Fox ones.

    Liberal/Progressive vrs. Conservatism.

  • Bill O'Reilly tops the list I bet.

    "Fuck you! We're doing it live!"  - classic Bill O'Reilly.

  • Does anyone know the name, date, journal, or any other identifying information of this study?

  • That's been my observation over a great many number of years.

  • There are a few news pundits that tell it like it is and get their facts straight.

    The rest are just agenda spewing propaganda pricks.

  • Interesting.

    BUT not all that suprising.

    Anyone who is SURE they know has effectively closed their mind. For what is there to learn when you already know? Obviously nothing. You already know.

    This is what zen master/students are talking about when they say "you must empty your cup before you can drink my tea".

    The real problem comes when mistaken perceptions are compounded by more and more surety and faulty reasoning.

    Eventually this snowballs and you end up with a Rush Limbaugh.

  • Comment removed

  • They should do more studies like that one and give them a lot of exposure, it might actually convince people to form their OWN opinions. If anything, maybe people would realize that television is not the most reliable source for -reality-.

  • Cenk, your predictions are usually right, though.

  • The resolution of TYT clips seems to be a little off - not as sharp as previous vids

  • DAMN!!!

  • Ahh science, is there anything you can't do? You better look out, CANCER, you're going down the second we nail Rush Limbaugh.

  • zomg first!!11

Loading...
Alert icon
0 / 00Unsaved Playlist Return to active list
    1. Your queue is empty. Add videos to your queue using this button:
      or sign in to load a different list.
    Loading...Loading...Saving...
    • Clear all videos from this list
    • Learn more