'Newsroom : The Idealist vs The Realist

[@shaileshrana7165]

"The country is more divided than it's ever been since the civil war." "People choose the facts they want now." Bruh, this was 8 years ago.

[@knightenchanter7908]

Exactly the point. It has gotten worse now. This show was AHEAD of its time. Imagine it being aired during Trump Presidency. Would've been the best TV ever.

[@faithharvey4070]

Knight Enchanter would have been so exciting

[@TheAlps36]

@@knightenchanter7908 Back when people were worried about Romney and McCain

[@nahuelma97]

Fun fact, the show was aire 8 years ago, but the timeline of the show was behind the airing time, so this scene is set in April of 2010, before even the first midterm elections of the first Obama term. 10 years ago that was true, even more so today

[@knightenchanter7908]

@@TheAlps36 and now McCain and Romney are (was in McCain's case) people who champion common sense and honour.

[@Luke47895]

"People choose the facts they want now." Couldn't be more true.

[@GaryPorterBot]

Luke47895 I would tell you that it's not true, but it proves itself by you choosing it.

[@Luke47895]

If you think about it, it is very true. Think about religion, politics and various other social topics.Most people allow their own bias and refusal to look at things for what they are govern their decisions. It's everywhere.

[@GaryPorterBot]

Knowing that people are blinded by biases doesn't even stop people from being blinded themselves, even when they know that it's true of them too. Sometime people know it, but can't see that they're equally biased. As if being able to see other people being so stuck proves that they're not. It takes vigilance, and love of Truth, to keep one's lens clear. But yeah, what I meant is, whether you choose to believe it or choose not to believe it, your choosing proves it true.

[@Boomabanga]

I know right

[@jasonbyrne8487]

+betatalk357 It's not just the United States, Its the UK too, the education system is getting worse and worse and soon there will only be inmates!

[@Ian-fv6bz]

"Only if you think an overwhelming majority of Americans are preternaturally stupid!!" "I do." God that's so hilariously awesome. Aaron Sorkin's a genius

[@williamduan2322]

never more true since the recent election

[@rockymckay1705]

if by awesome you mean predictable and juvenile appealing to the pretentious pseudointellectual then yes

[@bobbyshaddoe3004]

Sure Locke as opposed to the alternative? Another dumb ass reality show about screaming females who get pissed off at the drop of a hat over the dumbest reasons? Allowing unenlightened loudmouth blowhards to rant and rave their venomous vitriol about things that have jack and shit to do with the actual problems in the world and in society? Letting an entire network of Stephen.Glasses free reign to make up the news and make up the facts without accountability or responsibility, allowing them to ride roughshot over actual facts and essentially mock, insult, ridicule people and belittle the genuine good intentions of the selfless and the charitable just to feed into their baseless paranoia and cynicism and essentially say liberal this, liberal that, liberals hate america, liberals hate you, liberals liberals liberals.

[@theolamp5312]

+Bobby Torres - Never get Pissed Off about idealism. It's one of the few good things we have left. I will take Don Quixote over Faust any day of the week.

[@sergeantassassin3425]

@@theolamp5312 Idealism can be nice. What ruins it is when you go too far into what you wish would be true, and forget to acknowledge what IS true. I prefer my stance in realism, because I know that I'll never not be grounded in reality, even as overwhelmingly depressing as it can be at times. I'd rather not live as deluded as most idealists I've run into are. Makes it a huge pain when I have to destroy their ideals with cold, hard reality.

[@meadmaker4525]

This entire series was prophetic. And it's still relevant now. Sorkin should get the gang back together and pick up where he left off. The material is certainly there.

[@larrysmith2638]

Why do people always want to bring back something over a decade later? First of all, you can't repeat something like this. Second, you won't have the same actors, and that's 50% of why it worked. Third, and this also applies to why this show wouldn't have lasted beyond another season, it would soon be repeating itself and becoming stale. Just appreciate it for what it was.

[@bark-aholic6534]

what does the protagonist 'hero' or 'heroine' in 2023 look like? The road is strewn with the bodies of every one that didn't have 'self interest' as their "resting pulse" in the last election.

[@NoNo-fy3kr]

It will never happen. This show exposed the Media for what it is. That is why it was shut down.

[@jeadie2273]

Yes, however at this point in 2024, SNL might have an easier time with the material we now have.

[@JefrreyMitchell-Rojas-p2l]

It’s called soft prep. Prepares your subconscious to accept what the powers that be will do next.

[@Danka42]

2:57 "He rode a donkey." "Well, I can't help you there." *savage Mac is savage*

[@incoldblood975]

Criminally underrated show

[@joeybennett1491]

Brilliant show.

[@pooleb80]

I love it, but I don't think it's underrated. I think a lot of people love it

[@gordonandmartinefulthorpe2501]

Incoldblood dr

[@Kruppt808]

@@pooleb80 yah, it doesn't have the broad appeal of a Friends, Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, but everywhere else it was lauded, almost anyone who has watched it loves it.

[@omnipotent_arcanis]

Top three Sorkin show. Ergo top three show of all time. Still underrated.

[@iankimca]

I love when American ideals are recited with a British accent!

[@mshara1]

Fun fact: All American ideals were originally recited in a British accent.

[@iankimca]

touche..her accent was just too noticeable against jeff daniel's..not to mention a bit naggy.. i'm terrible haha....i'd marry her though, in another world where ideals aren't constantly mocked and dismissed by pragmatists, economists and futurists

[@MrZAP17]

WeAreAllThereIs You'd have to get her to agree to marry you, first. But aside from that, why should you care about the mocking from pragmatists or economists (I'd argue that futurists are extremely idealistic themselves, so I don't know what you're talking about there)? Be brave. Stand up for what you believe in, and try to make right (note this doesn't mean not admitting when you're wrong or haven't thought of something). The only way change happens in the world is because idealists and dreamers push for it and don't stop until people start listening. If you have a cause you really care about, be proud of your commitment, so you would feel unashamed to talk about it to anyone. That last part is something I'm admittedly still working on myself, but I'll get there...

[@MrZAP17]

WeAreAllThereIs Please note, though, that there is no reason why an idealist can't also be pragmatic or thoughtful. If you have something you care about, you should know it in and out, so anyone can ask you about it and you can give a reasoned explanation for ideas. This also ensures you have a good idea of what you're doing.

[@literallyawesome9988]

Good. Because I want to see British Born Americans running for President!

[@SophiaAphrodite]

America lost that debate. We WANT a government out for itself. We are about to see the party of small government become the most intrusive and incompetent it has ever been. We now have kings.

[@IrishEyes1989]

"I'm thinking....yeah, that whole speech did nothing for me." Jeff Daniels is so deadpan, I love it LOL.

[@gigaus0]

Just a small reminder: This show was more or less backed in the idea that up to that point plenty of smart people from across the philosophical and political spectrum all pointed to similar problems, occurrences, trends, and general theories and went "HEY pay attention to THIS issue so WE don't end up like THIS!" 1984 and Stand on Zanzabar being examples of the thinking that we were given warning and did nothing about it. Ironically, this show actually informed the political body of new buzzwords, narratives they could use, and more or less 'better' ideas to get ahead, as you'll note several terms and talking points are used in the show that weren't brought up in the real world previously, but are now common today.

[@sophiechilliful]

Could you give an example of words or narratives like that.?

[@patrickpascal1225]

Made up a whole narrative😅 any examples ?

[@congunners]

Such a shame this show had to end so soon. Somewhat ironic tho... A rebellious, truth-speaking and intelligent show based upon a rebellious, truth-speaking and intelligent news station who doesn't care about ratings and only wants to present good news; and then the show was eventually wrapped up because of poor ratings.... Not sure whether to laugh or cry!

[@radwaanahmed3175]

+Robert C 8.6 on imbd 84 audience score on rotten... Not so bad if you ask me.

[@congunners]

+intelligent racoon Not those type of ratings; I meant the number-of-people-actually-watching-it type of ratings! The Newsroom just wasnt attracting a large enough audience so HBO canned it.

[@Dan210871]

+Robert C The original agreement between Sorkin and HBO was for 2 seasons but it got extended to 3 due to the show's success. The Newsroom was not "canned" because of poor audience response. It ended after what was a very successful run for a premium cable show. The idea that good shows have to run forever is what has driven many American TV shows to end in mediocrity several seasons after they should have stopped.

[@bobbyshaddoe3004]

Dan210871 but a show as brilliant as this needs to be on the air to light s fire under people's asses and get then to use their brains. It held up a mirror to our own collective apathy of just letting thibgs be the way they are because it's popular and in vogue and in fashion. They were the lone island of sanity and idealism and optimism in a raging sea of apathetic cynicism and chronic masturbatory self interest. This is a show that had something to say, and it was only on the air 3 years.

[@dirrrtydawg9772]

It had 3 seasons. They wanted to order more episodes but Sorkin said no, "Sorkin" said 👎. I remember that vividly. Sometimes I think shows are better with only a few seasons. Like a really well made Anime of 26 episodes becoming a instant classic.Versus an Anime 500 episodes long that should have ended 452 episodes ago.

[@Richard_Frost]

"Civility and respect, the death of bitchiness and the death of gossip. Speaking truth to stupid." Man I remember when this was the real world. Now it just feels like a work of fiction... And that break my heart.

[@robynharris7179]

“Didn’t think you’d know that.” - Mac I love both “Don Quixote” and “Man of La Mancha”, and I love Aaron Sorkin used that as the framing device for Season 1.

[@phastinemoon]

Except "Don Quixote" isn't even about some underdog idealist rebelling against the system, it's about a total IDIOT trying to live his fanfic and getting kicked every time, because he's wrong (seriously, the story is a satire of romantic novels, not a 'to dream the impossible dream' story)

[@michaelblueknight1268]

Watch The Newsroom, guys. I'll never stop repeating it

[@shnrbtlle18]

Amazing difference between the character he player in Dumb and Dumber and the one he plays on this show. Great actor!!

[@johnlarsen4455]

he basically plays the same character in both movies

[@stewiegriffin12341]

"More polarized than at any time since the Civil War." 2021: Hold my Viking outfit.

[@The11jones]

"only if you think a vast majority of people are stupid............" "I DO!" that cracks me up

[@cindynichols2698]

Aaron Sorkin is genius

[@Drehirth]

I can't decide between that and "I'm thinking," *deep pondering* " Yeah, that whole speech did nothing for me."

[@mydaan1]

Treu tho

[@SethRadius1]

Hello from just before the 2024 election……hard to believe but they’re even stupider now. We will find out just how stupid in 3 weeks. Heaven help us!

[@GeneralG1810]

"only if you think a vast majority of people are stupid............" "I DO!" The fact that Bill O'Reilly has his own show tells us this

[@brandonf24]

Definitely. Americans are demonstrating that evolution is slow and that Coronavirus is fast by protesting in the midst of a pandemic...politicizing a pandemic and peddling conspiracy theories.

[@davenorth8922]

Not anymore! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[@arndnaj]

@Domagoj Čović than and apparently. If you're going to accuse people of being so stupid, at least use use auto correct, or know how to spell common words, and know the difference between then and than. Than is used for comparison, then most often, though not exclusively, indicates time being referenced. I couldn't do anything back then, or, then I left, are examples of it referencing time. I should have been smarter than to use then when comparing thing.

[@asparrow9876]

The fact that CNN is still in business is even bigger proof. As Elon Musk said, "How does CNN still even exist?"

[@GeneralG1810]

@@asparrow9876 oh man don't even get me started with those morons. I refused to believe they actually buy the crap coming out of their mouths and that there just saying it for a pay check. At least I HOPE that's the case, otherwise they're complete imbeciles

[@lundylow]

Her calling him a punk with her proper British is so adorable

[@Liz86000]

I love and miss this show so much... I miss Will & Mac, and Don & Sloan... The human element, the love stories, the acting mixed with the intelligence of the dialogues made this show iconic.

[@buffalobill4892]

These days, America definitely wants a news channel that reports with integrity.

[@scifirealism5943]

Yep.

[@peterrose5373]

Yeah, but it wants a news channel that's free more.

[@redclayscholar620]

Nah, these days America wants a news channel to say what they already agree with.

[@Alexander-bc8dh]

No. If they wanted, they would have done it already. Everyone just wants to hear what they want to believe. Just listen to a trumper, they are immune to any kind of fact.

[@RylanStorm]

America isn't ready for an unbiased news channel willing to speak the truth and challenge lies, instead of chasing ratings. The whole tenet of this show is just how difficult it is for them to report the truth. Everyone tries to prevent it.

[@drmubpepper]

For some reason, I really enjoy when she uses the phrase "patriotic fucking use."

[@rafaelbogdan9307]

"It's not all the same to me, you punk!" Cracks me up every time.

[@lowhigher3107]

"America is the only country on the planet since it's birth has said over and over and over that we can do better." I don't understand this.

[@LupusBonay]

thats just positive public relation speak. No basis in reality

[@lowhigher3107]

I see

[@DannyMercer1993]

It is NOT the only country in the world that has always said that. It is not.

[@Croecho]

Since, it's birth (i.e. Conception) you could Kiiiiiindof suggest that it is. If you just focus on "since it's birth" and the "over and over again" part, what it means is that even when we stumble... we strive to get things right. We strive to meet the principles that were laid down for us initially. If you look at another country, Great Britain, and so many more, they are counties hundreds and hundreds of years old (we've only got two hundred years under our belt), that were founded in the name of conquest. Germany, France, Spain - they all spent well over a thousand years, way back into their ancestry, fighting each other over who got the cake. America has had ONE civil war, and it didn't break us in two, like many thought it would. The union held. Through great sacrifice...it held. I agree, this statement of hers is idealistic and sentimental, and its stretching things to agree with it...but it does have just a little bit of basis in history. BUT, only because we are a very young country compared to the others.

[@paladin195k3]

Brother im sorry but that america was a miscarriage

[@MascotWP]

"Where does it say that a great news show can't be popular?" "Nielson Ratings"

[@macklroy2005]

1:12 2020's be like "never been more polarized? hold my beer."

[@EN-Fitz]

Unfortunately Mac was wrong. A person is smart, but people are stupid.

[@jorgeferdenav]

Don Quijote didn't ride a donkey. He rode a horse, Rocinante, it was Sancho Panza that rode a Donkey.

[@Ken4Pyro]

Don't bother Sorkin with facts. It doesn't fit his vision, and therefore it doesn't make the screen. That fact that you're correct in Sorkin's world is irrelevant. Good call though, Panza rode donkey.

[@zatchbeltguy]

I think that was the point. Will knew she didn't read it and was just screwing with her

[@moriellymoproblems7842]

Don't bother Jorge with facts. It doesn't fit his vision and therefore it doesn't make the screen. The fact that you're correct in his world is irrelevant. Good call though, it was the point.

[@WouldBeGamer]

are they mispronouncing Quixote in the show?

[@therandytomato5679]

It's an alternative fact, okay?

[@Atomsk102]

3:43 "Speaking truth to stupid" I'm gonna use that someday soon!

[@indiegamespotlite]

Sick clip, Vernaculis. Thanks for the link.

[@kustomhooligans]

I meet between 20-80 new people every week through my job, everyone from senior citizens, young teenagers, middle aged and everyone in between and through the thousands upon thousands of conversations I've had in 17 years I've come to the conclusion that very few, less than 35% give a infested rat's ass about our country, economy or other people unless it affects them personally, not even if it affects an immediate family member of theirs. Even less of the people, maybe 15% are actually informed about politics, political agendas and important issues. Even when it comes to voting for president, I've heard people say things as stupid as "I'm voting for John Kerry because he dresses nice and has pretty blue eyes, no shit, I heard it from a lady named Gail with my own ears! I'm from a middle class neighborhood and most people I meet are from blue collar working class backgrounds to upper middle class, not too many wealthy 1%ers. Maybe its different with them? Its frustrating because I do care and I talk to people to try to find out where their head is at and maybe we can learn something from each other. Its a rare, but pleasant and welcomed occurrence when I do meet informed, caring people.

[@bruadarach9758]

+Kustom Hooligans You're Don Quixote! Keep fighting the good fight. I'm a Scot and became eligible to vote on the day of the independence referendum - it was the most enlightening experience of my life so far. Suddenly everyone was talking about politics, from the supermarket aisles to the school playgrounds to the pubs, it was the most incendiary topic of conversation for over a year and was a subject that quite literally transcended demographics. In a matter of months everyone was informed about oil prices, education policies, EU membership, the budget deficit, trade policies, the energy industry... And the sheer level of political engagement was reflected in the voting turnout, which came in at an average of 84.6%, the highest recorded for an election in the UK since the introduction of universal suffrage, and indeed a figure which beats every US Presidential election in history. Moral of the story: the dream of a well-informed electorate who care passionately about the issues of the day is more than possible.

[@DimetriKhan]

+Bethan-Ann Scott It's a shame that the electric political atmosphere in Scotland didn't spread to the rest of the UK. Though by and large we're still very poorly informed. The media is run by a bunch of capitalist arseholes.

[@AegisNova]

You are correct. I am just as guilty. We should have started taking to the streets thirty years ago.

[@kunalsinha1712]

+Kustom Hooligans I couldn't agree more!

[@geniosityfilms]

an* infested rat's ass about our country.

[@HikoSeijuroXIII]

No one ever went broke by underestimating the intelligence of their audience.

[@jasonborda4145]

This is a great show. I love the political viewpoints of the characters.

[@YammoYammamoto]

"Reclaiming journalism as an honorable profession..." That had me lolling, since that will never happen. Journalists killed themselves - and are happy with the results.

[@DraygaFlight]

Ignorance killed journalism, also, when they had to deal with the entire US instead of a small island of people who all thought much the same... And god forbid when it went global... Unless we can bring more of the US (or world) up to the level of the previous journalistic audience, we can't reclaim true "journalism". And yes, we need to bring the world to a LIBERAL LEVEL of intelligence and openness to discussion. Cause frankly, I've seen the average conservative level and is scares the shit out of me! Read a fucking history book! Hell, read a book regardless (other than the bible, or some of the other conservative babblespeak that they are allowed to self publish) Read some of the ancient literature, and yes, I mean read the REAL stuff, not some cheap translation to America speak. Read something written from every century going back 100s of years... You might just learn something important! I know it might take you months to work out half the words, since they spoke differently back then.

[@thelinedrive]

Yammo Yammamoto journalists didn’t kill themselves democratization of the term did. When people get a stick up their ass about bias from a publication instead of the individual it’s more to do with people choosing what they want believe the facts be damned. They attack the organization because it’s easier to dismiss a thing than it is the sterling reputation of journalists with a career worth of quality work behind them. When people claim journalists at major publications work is fake but still watch shit like Hannity, Alex Jones and read the steve Bannon lead Britbart without a hint of irony it’s clear it has more about protecting the cognitive dissonance of their identity than anything journalists did. The only thing journalists are guilty of in politics was being lazy and that goes across the board.

[@guyfierri1234]

Crysta, will you marry me?

[@dgrhm08]

Journalists didn't kill themselves. They sold out. The media has been bought out. Six people control the news. Real journalists still exist in independent media.

[@casualcommenter9730]

This show felt like a tipping point, for me, in the presentation of the news. I believed, from here the news might just mean something. Sure it was fictional, sure it was idealistic, and the other things, but damn it was strong. I felt that from this point some facet of mainstream media would take the torch, presented by the newsroom. I was wrong. So now someone else has to take that mantle, from the neigh inevitable destruction of current media; save some drastic change, someone has to make bricks of their ashes to lay bear the truths of our present reality. Someone has to be willing to risk it

[@alstclair]

Well said, sorry to say it ain't gonna happen. Evolution demands the strong eat the weak. There is no better way to keep a man weak than to keep him ignorant.

[@scifirealism5943]

I believe I'll take that risk.

[@Detective97]

Why do they keep implying that Americans have something special in their DNA..?

[@jimtan5]

+Ayush Aggarwal It's the American belief that Americans have something special as their ancestors had the courage to move to a land they had never seen before. They got on the boat with nothing but faith. It's the belief that they come from a line of people who were not afraid and did whatever they could to have a better life. Essentially the American Frontier men

[@Detective97]

They started off with great men migrating to the country but greatness in no way I'd inherited via DNA..... And it's clearly not showing in their bringing up I mean look at them... Trump is their Republican candidate😹

[@Detective97]

+Jim t I just don't like it when shows I like go n do something stupid like start implying the greatness of America, not saying it isn't a great place...but does everyone have to be so obsessed with their own country....when it isn't needed.....u can mean the better of the world rather than just concentrating 9n ur own country.... cus most of the best shows come from the US and it's just irritating to see so many ppl stuck so deep up their own asses...

[@Detective97]

+Jim t every country has its greatness watch any other countries show n see if they talk about their nations greatness so many times in a single scene or if their script revolves around it US is like that one kid that one a big match n just won't stop bragging about it..... it's not cool to this date NASA uses 500 years old Indian texts as script an it's science u don't see us bragging about how we made a scientist our president or are the biggest democracy or have a much larger population of engineers and doctors

[@jimtan5]

+Ayush Aggarwal +Ayush Aggarwal I wasn't implying what they said was right. I was just answering your question. I'm not even American.

[@paulrprichard]

“Only if you think that an overwhelming number of Americans are stupid.” “Reclaiming journalism as an honourable profession. A nightly news cast that informs a debate worthy of a great nation.” But we have at the moment is fear journalism.

[@Ironcorgi2]

Newsroom is kind of sad to look at now. Cause things got way worse

[@bbofun]

Don Quixote rode a horse (Rocinente). Sancho rode a donkey (Dapple).

[@missyquill5709]

Mac: I'm Don Quixote, you're his horse. Will: He rode a donkey. Mac: Well I can't help you there! Can't believe she managed to call Will an ass while motivating him. They teach her that at Oxford? XD

[@esterzach]

Cambridge! OH MY GOD! lol

[@dominicbuckley8309]

Except DQ *did* ride a horse (Rocinante). It was his 'squire' Sancho Panza who rode a donkey (Dapple).

[@BlackSilver23]

Scenes like these are why I love this show.

[@SarthorS]

America doesn't say it can do better. It says it can make more money, and as time has gone on, it has pushed for ever more money being made by an ever smaller fraction of society. If the US had really been trying to do better, it would have been leading Europe in things like availability of healthcare, government services and programs to help it's citizens and laws protecting people from brutal exploitation by rich and powerful corporations. Not lagging behind with a huge and ever increasing homeless and prison population.

[@TehFrenchy29]

The missed element in the "but all countries say this" argument that keeps coming up is that the United States was literally founded with the metaphor of revolutionary efforts to continue improving as people and nation. Other nations absolutely also say this, but that's irrelevant to the argument made in the show except in the relatively few cases where lasting democratic revolution were the FOUNDING EVENT of the nation. England underwent a revolution to become a constitutional monarchy, but existed as a nation already for centuries prior. Germany was formed as a monarchy through conquest and "armed diplomacy," one of the only prominent examples of a nation which has "formed" recently or even remotely alike the United States. France was a monarchy for centuries prior to the 1789 revolution. Russia underwent multiple SUCCESSFUL revolutions. The point is that the United States has a definitively identifiable, widely accepted "origin" as a nation which already at that time included stringent effort towards self-improvement in the sentiments of the core documentation. This is to my understanding unique, and certainly at least exceedingly uncommon. THIS is the point being made, and not "the United States is the only country which wants to become a better country".

[@Sammysapphira]

Holy shit thank you for this. I wish you had more upvotes because it is completely correct. People take things way too literally and it's painful. "SO WHAT UR SAYING IS AMERICANS ARE GENETICALLY BETTER?!?!??!?!"

[@LeCheckmate]

Greetings from Switzerland~

[@hnam1111]

Frantachy How does being founded through a democratic revolution have anything to do with being the only nation that has said over and over we can do better?

[@TehFrenchy29]

First, it's NOT the only nation to have said it, and that's the central idea of what I was arguing. Second, it was founded through a democratic revolution based primarily on the idea that the nation and it's people were struggling, suffering, and could/should do better. And then continue to try and do better, all the time, in every aspect of life as they lived it. The US is not the only nation to have "self-improvement" as an officially promoted paradigm--it's the only nation to be founded in large part on such a paradigm. A key distinction which most of the comments in this thread have ignored or failed to recognize in the first place.

[@hnam1111]

Frantachy Every government is ostensibly set up with the goal of making things better. That's why individuals cede power to an organization. Also don't think US has self improvement as an official paradigm. Land of freedom and opportunity, yes, not so much improvement. It is in fact one of the most conservative countries in the world. Being set up by a democratic revolution does not adequately defend the statement in the video that said US is the only nation in the world that has said over and over that we can do better.

[@arthurbriand2175]

2:59 Don quichotte famously rode Rocinante, a work horse. Sancho rode a Donkey. Get your Cervantes facts straight Sorkin

[@kingwacky184]

Haha many countries tell themselves they can do better. Britain do, Sweden do, Denmark do a hundred nations say they can do better. It is not in the American DNA.

[@randomhumor1]

+King Wacky It's not a country thing to say that. The entire human race has that gene.

[@kingwacky184]

randomhumor1 Yes well in her speech she make it sound like only Americans have that gene.

[@randomhumor1]

King Wacky Yeah true.

[@kingwacky184]

***** Yes but in the show she is American, she have lived in America pretty much all her life and is an American citizen, so in the show she is American.

[@looneytr]

+King Wacky It's a metaphor. She's talking about how the foundation of America was practically based on the idea that we can do better. She's basically referring to the Declaration of Independence that established the United States as an independent country as a statement that we can do better. Hence, this quality was present in the founding fathers of the country and thus is metaphorically in our DNA as it is a trait that is passed down through the generations. Evidenced when Thomas Jefferson stated that, "every generation needs a new revolution." So, she's not literally saying that Americans have a gene that makes them want to do better but that the country was based on the will to do better. That the principles that this country was founded on encodes Americans to want to do better.

[@francis_chuma]

3:51-4:08 is a true reflection of the state of my beloved country Kenya right now...God bless Kenya 🇰🇪

[@knowthyself2659]

Is government an instrument of good or is it every man for himself? Is there something bigger we want to reach for or is self-interest our basic resting pulse? POWERFUL

[@calahoon22]

"Thats why I produce the news" "We're all grateful to you" That made me laugh, such a brilliant response

[@olivert894]

This show aged REALLY well lmao

[@titusjames4912]

Bro, you're tellin me. After the liberal portrail of this last election. After Donald Trump's refusal to admit he lost the one before. All this shit is still aging better and better. And it's getting more polarized.

[@keithsmith4780]

"I'd rather do a good show for a hundred people ... " If your audience is a hundred people the next night you're going to be doing no show for no people.

[@tinyturnip7676]

Those hundred people probably have access to the internet.

[@jsharp1701]

But if you do a show for a million it won't be a good show. It has to be lowest-common-denominator rubbish.

[@dan710i]

The purpose of the argument was to point out that capitalism (numbers) has trumped honour, debate and public service (social good). Telling a lie to a big audience is a moral wrong, that it is now profitable is a moral shame.

[@ajsujit]

dan710i agreed

[@bobbyshaddoe3004]

dan710i thank you. Thats exactly the point

[@DSFARGEG00]

He didn't ride a donkey. That was Sancho.

[@mustvid]

I wish they’d revive this series starting with the 2016 election through January 6.

[@BloodTar]

Just to set the record straight....@2:58..."he(Don Quixote) rode a donkey." No, actually he rode an old horse, named Rosinante. His sidekick, Sancho Panza, rode a donkey named Dapples.

[@s10dlka]

+BloodTar Yeaah but how else can Mac call Will an ass

[@scottmueller550]

This clip should be forwarded to every news outlet in the country!

[@mrmagootoo]

Jeff Daniels was Brilliant in this series. Wish he would do more like this!

[@alicantino1151]

Considering who just won the election on Tuesday, I'd say the realist won this debate...

[@theepicclassic]

In the story Mac was born to British parents during their time in the United States, where her dad was the British ambassador in America. So because she was literally born in a U.S. Hospital, she's American. Because her parents were British ambassadors, she has dual British citizenship. Took me watching the first season twice to get that...lol

[@nexigram]

“Yeah, that whole speech did nothing for me” This made me laugh way harder than it should’ve, because even the first time I watched this it was obvious that it definitely did not do nothing for him.

[@wowaround6601]

1:37 I never laughed so strongly out loud in my life 🤣😂😅😝😆

[@LJY08]

It's idealism that has landed America where it is today. What it needs is a huuuuuuuge dose of realism.

[@knight2battle]

LJY08 Sometimes the Idealist can be the realist and the realist are the idealist... those two can overlap each other.. depending on the situation... when ones reach a state of just thinking of surviving, then they lose the idea of self and start to exist in a feral state and deceive oneself to think everything is alright as long as you survive which is a very slim chance for a realist if they think its pointless surviving on 50/50.. and the chance gets lesser every time when nobody does anything..

[@LJY08]

knight2battle It's okay to have an ideal, but it needs to be taken with a strong realism chaser. In order to achieve an ideal, we need to be realistic about how to achieve it.

[@knight2battle]

LJY08 i think there is a thin line between idealism and realism, i dont think the line is even properly distinguished... you tell people everyone deserves the right to prosper in its own way, it is the real reality that is achievable, but then the so call realist will say, that is impossible because there wouldnt be enough people to do the dirty work, then we live in an ideal rubbish world because people,in psychology some people are convinced that the real world is garbage and they live recklessly and die... the best person is the not a realist or an idealist, but a pragmatic person with a methodical mindset...

[@LJY08]

knight2battle Yup, I'd agree with that.

[@robertbernstein4488]

It is really false idealism, perpetrated by government pushing the agenda of “we are the best” so allowing the bulldozing of other opinions and ways of doing things, pushing the false idealism that Americans are under the thrall of on others and the pumped up egotistical belief that everyone else on earth would be better off being Americanized ! Step back and look at the enormous number of mass and individual shootings, the failure of universal healthcare, the failure of education, etc, etc. That is realism !

[@doesntMetter1]

Damn this cast was absolute gold

[@Town101]

2022: Holy Hell!

[@jesseconca3191]

the newsroom just became very prescient and very depressing right about now

[@justinzhu9283]

Jesse Conca Xvideo

[@josephlarrivy8090]

3:51 - yep, we came to the tipping point. Too bad we tipped the wrong way

[@SteamAddict91]

America is the only country ever since it birth to say we can do better... where da hell did that come from, that's just not true, and it sure as shit isn't a fact.

[@libbyworkman3459]

We need this conversation now more than ever.

[@weidu8656]

Well I know a country on the planet since it's birth has said over and over and over that "We are the best already". We even call ourselves "The central country". Yes, I'm Chinese.

[@squeet6831]

This was such a great show. Amazing. Great writing. Great actors. Jeff Daniels was perfect in this role.

[@ReaverLordTonus]

I can't watch Emily Mortimer in Mary Poppins returns without hearing her swear like a sailor in this show.

[@phishfearme2]

speaking truth to stupid!! and this was 8 years ago and still a challenge

[@aukaming2011]

that female voice is so comforting and warm, even though she is scolding ;) i like it

[@OmniphonProductions]

Thank you. You do, in fact, understand my point perfectly. I'm glad I was finally able to express myself clearly. All too often, what I'm saying makes perfect sense TO ME because I know exactly what I mean, but it sometimes takes a bit more effort to finally express that meaning clearly to others. As such, I often find that debates are less about disagreement and more about clarifying details and perspectives. I'm glad we were able to come to a consensus. Thanks for making me work for it.

[@ramonalejandrosuare]

This entire series' premise is flawed in my opinion. It rests on the idea that the future integrity of political discourse in this country lies in a newsroom full of liberal broadcasters. People are tired of the mainstream media in this country on both the left and the right. They don't feel MSNBC or FOX news give them an accurate picture of what's going on here.

[@Josh-bc7wb]

I feel that way about Thomas the tank engine. I mean trains that show up on time? Unbelievable...

[@gideonshapiro1920]

I'll never understand how people can equate Fox and MSNBC. Sure they're right and left respectively. But Fox is waaaaay further right than MSNBC is left. And Fox is full of people who lie, consistently and deliberately, or are crazy, and who never admit they're wrong. The people at MSNBC get it wrong at times, sure, but they admit it when they're wrong.

[@ramonalejandrosuare]

Gideon Shapiro The reason is because they are both are respectively aligned with the two major American political parties which have made a mess of our country.

[@nilloc93]

As a Conservative (not american but a right winger regardless) I like this show. It would be better if more right wingers would look at what they are saying, showing how retarded the fringe groups in our own parties are. People like the American tea party, and the Canadian "Federal Christian party" are terrible things for attempts at logical conservatism. We're all about common sense, we don't think laws solve everything, but all things in moderation. We can't have no taxes, or no social programs, we can't let religion or a paranoid fear of Arabs decide how we go about governing.

[@Spider58x]

Gideon Shapiro "but they admit it when they're wrong." Um, not they don't. Ever.

[@LizbethVallie]

Idealists are great and all...If they have the power to achieve it. Which in reality, they often don't.

[@roguishpaladin]

You're right. What did you do to help them achieve it? What's that, you didn't? Perhaps the problem doesn't lay with them, then.

[@Vapor817]

@@roguishpaladin idealists are not entitled to anyone's help more than everyone else lol

[@AIDAN-gr3hy]

They forgot the "Crippling Cynicist," which most definitely defines Aaron Sorkin

[@WA_S_S_AW]

That tipping point that Kenzie was talking about; it arrived on 1/20/21.

[@Sonicisbadazz]

"We can do 'better'!" No you can't lady. And you're missing the point completely. People don't choose the facts they want because they're preternaturally stupid; they choose them because they're preternaturally SMART. Mark Levin graduated from law school. He's one of the most closed-minded people you'll ever meet based on what I've listened to of his radio show. Ann Coulter is a law school graduate. You couldn't find someone more openly biased and closed-minded. And these are just the tip of the iceberg. From Michael Moore to Al Franken to Richard Dawkins to Glenn Beck to Bill Maher...smart people are just as predisposed to choosing their own facts and ignoring other facts as anyone else is. Harsh reality lesson: if you're going up against someone--ANYONE--who truly believes something, all the facts in the world won't change their mind. And why should they? If Abraham Lincoln were presented with two thousand pages of facts proving blacks didn't deserve the same rights as whites, should he have listened to THOSE? The thing that keeps getting lost here is that facts in and of themselves don't prove anything until you reach a conclusion with them, and the minute you reach a conclusion with them, you've already dumped a generous supply of your own bias into the mix. It's LITERALLY impossible to prove things with facts without DEVALUING the facts. But even more significant than this is that we've all been deceived into believing that "better" is actually a true concept that really exists. There IS no such thing as better from an objective standpoint, and I believe a substantial amount of human history shows this to be the case. Ask yourself this question: if things can be better, and then GET better, why are we as a people still not satisfied? Why do we never reach a place where we're just fine with the way things are? Doesn't "better" imply that eventually we'll reach some kind of ideal paradise where we're satisfied all the time? Here's why: because when things change for the "better," they AREN'T actually "better"; they're just different. Look at the French Revolution. A group of rebels stood up and fought for a Republic and the end of the unnecessarily well-off upper class. So then they won and started executing all those evil bastards that made things hell for them. But what happens a few years later? People get tired of all the bloodshed and Napoleon steps in to take over France again. There's a reason they refer to this as an example of the "pendulum effect." Or look at capitalism. It's hailed as the greatest thing ever for years and years in European countries and in America...until the lower class becomes dissatisfied with its lot and demands something "fairer," whereupon socialism starts up and takes over Russia...which eventually becomes a communist state where people are dissatisfied with their lives. What other explanation is there for the CONTINUING discontent of human beings than our constant delusion that things can be "better"? Why do we keep changing our damn minds if things keep getting "better" all the time? But wait...more people live longer lives than ever! Clearly THAT'S a form of "better"...right? Actually no, it's not. Subjectively--for the human race--it most certainly is, but an objective observer cannot be predisposed to one viewpoint. What happens as our population multiplies? We run out of room to live, we rape the land for more and more natural resources that destroy OTHER forms of life, and in the end, we still don't find ourselves satisfied anyway. We all seem to believe that living longer lives puts us "better off," but by that logic a 30 minute film can't be as good as a 2 hour movie. A shorter life does not mean LESS of a life; it just means you crammed the good and bad into a shorter time span. If you don't believe me, consider the absurdly restrictive "healthy lifestyle" one has to live in order to live longer. It's longer WITH restrictions, or shorter WITHOUT restrictions. It's a wash. They balance each other out. Neither is actually better. So maybe the real problem here is that we're so convinced we can do "better" when it's a fantasy and all we can do is CHANGE. Subjectively, we can make things better, but history has shown that subjectivity changes all the time. People go from happy to sad in a matter of years or decades, and then the whole process of "making things better" just starts over again. Will McAvoy says at the very beginning of this series that the first step to solving a problem is admitting there IS a problem. He's right. The first step to making our lives subjectively better is recognizing that OBJECTIVELY they CAN'T be better. Once we figure that out, maybe we can make some REAL progress in this country. But until then, we're just gonna keep playing these stupid partisan games with "facts" that are really just "conclusions" and waste everyone's time turning everything black and white. And sadly, I suspect most of you that started reading this didn't even bother finishing it. This IS just my opinion, but if you took the time, thanks.

[@rickoconnell3645]

holy rant batman...

[@niklashansen5432]

That was an interesting read.

[@Firecat4000]

The only problem with your thread is that you forgot to mention how much time did it take for the people you mentioned to reach that point where they could stick to their facts. I'm pretty sure they didn't choose them like I choose a Snickers when I want something sweet. They did researches, thinked about every aspect there is, what could be wrong with it, what they think is right about it. The facts they choose were facts which fit into their mentality. The point is they gathered all possible information they possible could, and after that they stuck up for that fact. The first thing they do is questioning it, and after they know every answer and they still believe in it, it won't be easy to ask something about it that would make them doubt. Those facts were proven to be worthy for very intelligent and dedicated people to believe in and even fight for them. But this is if we're lucky only 1% of humanity. The others choose the facts that come by. They don't question it, just believe it without any glance of doubt. And that laziness could be used by anyone with some money, power, or supporters. The problem really is that people choose the facts they want, even if they are based on lies and empty/manipulative statements. Intelligent people see this and they decided that the facts they want are the facts they need to see the whole picture. The goal should be increasing the number of these people. Because now as I see most people are manipulated by facts that others created, to act as others want them to act. I think people should dig deeper.and this could be achieved by making people question their facts. If the "conclusion" is based only on these created facts without the questions, then we are nothing more than a bunch of puppets. People don't choose the facts they want because they are smart, they choose them because they are afraid of questioning it and ruining everything they believed in. They are afraid of realizing there is a chance that they are making a mistake. They want control and they don't want to lose it.

[@reformcongress]

So, let me get this. Barack Obama is open minded and all those that voted for him and defend him and race bait on every criticism of him are open-minded, but the critics are closed-minded? You're verifying that the people in the USA are stupid, at least those that voted for Obama twice.

[@Sonicisbadazz]

reformcongress I'm verifying that you can't read, nor see past my choosing to use Ann Coulter and Mark Levin for a couple seconds. Notice that I included MICHAEL MOORE, RICHARD DAWKINS, AL FRANKEN, and BILL MAHER in that list if you'll read past the first couple sentences. Boy, those guys hate them some Barack Obama, don't they? I didn't say jack nathan about race-baiting or Barack Obama. That's you trying to change the subject and divert the conversation so you can keep YOUR closed-mind. Think about this for a second. If 95% of the population - no, I'm NOT using this as a figure for those who support Obama, and yes, I'm exaggerating here but bear with me for a second - voted to put Reagan in office during the time he ran for president, would you say it's because the populace saw something in him despite the attacks on him, or would you conclude it's because the overwhelming majority of Americans are just idiots? Which of those two option really sounds closed-minded to you: declaring that you, a sole individual, know better than a majority populace of 300 million, or deciding that if so many people disagree, there's probably a reason for it? No, that doesn't mean the majority populace is automatically right, and I suspect you'll have plenty of lovely "facts" to show that the majority actually HATES Obama, but it shows a certain level of egotism. Funny thing is, even from a factual standpoint, all you've given me in a whopping two sentences is rhetoric. This isn't about right versus left; it's about objectivity versus subjectivity, and "better" versus "change." Both Obama and Bush and everyone else who tries to say things can be "better"--"Change for the better" Obama promised--are, in my opinion, out of touch with what the terms actually mean. But if you want to dismiss my definitions as simply my own so you have a convenient excuse to ignore what I'm saying and keep your OWN mind closed, that's your choice, and I have enough humility to acknowledge that could be the case. Be my guest.

[@scottmueller550]

This should be required viewing by every news organization in the free world. Advertisers be damned for one hour!

[@jopac4742]

Sadly, this more true today 6/25/2019

[@MikinessAnalog]

@reelkena still true 2020/7/9

[@knightenchanter7908]

More truer in 6/01/2021.

[@condor7964]

I think it will always be and has always been true to a degree, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but I challenge us to list a time during the previous decade or the limited time of the current one where this was at least more false than it was true.

[@v-2010]

1:21 - This only became more and more true. I disagreed with many of the political conclusions drawn on the show but I loved and still miss it. Wish they’d bring it back to capture the last 5 years.

[@dantaylor7344]

Self interest will always by the basic resting pulse in USA. Idealist is interested in ideas, the realist is interested in reality. "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people"

[@reine71658]

The last 1/3 of that last sentence is why the Kardasians are so popular. And why it's all so screwed. The age of "Everyone pay attention to me".

[@dantaylor7344]

Christo Benno We're a world of small mind then? Maybe we get what we deserve

[@reine71658]

dan taylor They say,(whoever they are), we get the government we deserve.

[@dantaylor7344]

Christo Benno George Carlin said that, if Americans can see he made more sense than the politicians he mocked maybe they do deserve Trump

[@trevorkremenliff4996]

Right Day that's when the people acknowledge the opinions of those who don't vote instead of telling them their voice doesn't matter if they don't vote. I feel if we take into mind the amount of people who attend the polls every term of years vs. those who don't we would see that something is really wrong. The left and right wings are the same. Masses bitch and moan. Left bitch about equality right bitch about them preaching equality. The divide of social endeavors makes us elude the concept of the big picture which is government ends and means.

[@Firewater513]

Newsroom. Amazing show, genius writing. And is truly reaching and educating a lot of people about the state of our country. Proof is in simply looking at freaking Youbube comments for the show. KZbin, one of the most anger and idiocy fueled forums on the internet has people seriously discussing politics in an often intellectual way.

[@michaels5217]

"Only if you think the majority of Americans are preternaturally stupid." "I do." "I don't." Writing this after the 2024 election, and honey, have I got news for you...

[@hollyfowlkes3189]

I love it..” I’m thinking..yeah that speech did nothing for me” lmao

[@glennquagmire7696]

"You know something, Mac. Just when I think you can't get any dumber, you go and do something like this. AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!"

[@slatibaadfast]

Jesus h christ. If the guys from this scene alone Inc sorkin could see America today. They'd think the America of that time was a hippie love festival by comparison. Talk about division and polarisation. The gulf today couldn't be crossed with rockets it is that vast.

[@MH3Raiser]

Um, it's an idealist vs a pessimist, or an optimist vs a pessimist. There is no such thing as true realism, all that means is the person in question believes they are describing reality as it is, which is everyone.

[@evanever]

Too true.

[@sergeantassassin3425]

Too false. Realism acknowledges what is factually correct; acknowledges what has happened, what is happening, and what is beginning to happen; It also acknowledges what is undeniably truth, with whether people disagree with it or not being utterly irrelevant. Idealism focuses more on what SHOULD be, rather than what IS. Aspirations, ideals, dreams and the like all fall under idealism. You're deluded if you think there are no hard facts in this universe. There are comparatively very few things that are black and white amidst the overwhelming sea of grey, but they DO exist. To be a realist is to acknowledge these things, understand them, and promote them.

[@roguishpaladin]

@@sergeantassassin3425 We live in a world where pessimists have seized the banner of "realism", though. Fix that and we can talk about using the term the proper way, but until then, your argument is FUD.

[@sergeantassassin3425]

@@roguishpaladin Yes, put the mantle of changing an entire world's worth of mindsets to one man with a dream. If not, you get to casually dismiss an argument, despite the fact that it's not only sound, but correct. The world you live in must be really nice, since ignorance is bliss and whatnot.

[@nathanjodoin3213]

Gee, I wonder why the algorithm is sending a bunch of newsroom clips all of a sudden...

[@FourTwenny]

This was a great show in the beginning. Had potential to be one of the best.

[@MrDpsc]

I still liked it in the end to be honest. Sure, it got worse, but what show doesn't?

[@Souledge5]

Stargate SG -1 :D

[@BathrobeKeck]

West Wing

[@timothyw98]

Jeff Daniels held the show up by himself judging by those emmy noms and 1 win.

[@Strike86]

People have always chosen the facts they want, it's just much easier to do now because the internet makes everything seem credible.

[@MrDavidBFoster]

_"Speaking Truth to Stupid"_... I like that!

[@sethcarson5212]

This show in 2012: America is more polarized than ever and we need the news to be trustworthy. A time traveler from 2021: HAHAHA You people are so cute.

[@sgmii3060]

Whose here after the 2024 election?

[@mutley66]

Who will still be here after the 2028 election.

[@SDBanks80]

Me

[@alastairclarke]

Great show. This clip is more true in 2024 than in 2013.

[@ginesdepasamonte]

He did NOT ride a donkey! He rode a horse, Rocinante.

[@tardis58]

It’s absolutely amazing how prescient this is. There is genuine prediction, maybe it was obvious at the time to those more informed than me. I was locked in doing the day job in North East England.

[@yahtadi5152]

Mac: No im him youre the horse Will: He rode donkey Mac: I cant help there Lol. Damn it sorkins

[@iMightyElephant]

So Mackenzie was wrong lol

[@20somthingdrifter11]

0:06 - Republic!

[@Luxmans]

Republics and democracies are not mutually exclusive. All republic's are democracies, but not all democracies are republics.

[@christopherherman6202]

Macro Lux Not all republics are democracies. Roman Republic wasn't exactly Democratic. The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea isn't democratic. The Soviet Union which was composed of 15 Republics was not democratic. The Republic of China is only partially democratic.

[@Luxmans]

Christopher Herman I have been corrected. However, still stands that the two are not mutually exclusive.

[@christopherherman6202]

Macro Lux Indeed that is true. If not your original point is far stronger.

[@FraggleRex]

One could say that they're just calling themselves republics without actually trying to be a republic

[@cbalmori]

quixotic will be my epitaph… As I crawl a cracked and broken path If we make it, we can all sit back and laugh But I fear, tomorrow, I'll be crying