Thursday, May 18, 2023

We're Sorry, So Sorry, Please Accept Our Apology

 Mississippi Today CEO Mary Margaret White issued a mea culpa yesterday: 

I misspoke at a recent media conference regarding the accusations against former Governor Phil Bryant in the $77 million welfare scandal. He has not been charged with any crime. My remark was inappropriate, and I sincerely apologize.

Mississippi Today has published at least 29 times over the course of its coverage of the welfare scandal, including multiple times in “The Backchannel” investigative series, that Gov. Bryant has not been charged with any crime. My mistake was unintentional and an inaccurate representation of the facts.

This statement will be shared across Mississippi Today’s platforms, including our website, social media, newsletter, mobile app and text service. I have requested that the video of my remark be retracted with this apology.

 

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

I’m curious. After numerous articles written, by your own news outlet BTW, FOI requests, ect. , how do you not know the former Governor has not been charged with a crime? Freud had an explanation for this.

Anonymous said...

CNN, MSNBC, and the rest of the lame stream media will publish this retraction; right?

Anonymous said...

“I talked shit and got caught. I’m not really sorry, but to avoid a lawsuit I’ll cave and make a half hearted attempt and apologize. I’m more sorry I got caught”

Anonymous said...

Bryant would prove himself to be a damned fool to initiate a lawsuit. But, he's done that so many times before that it would be no surprise.

Anonymous said...

When the charges do come, will Gov. Feel issue a retraction?

Anonymous said...

Barksdalers, Amateurs.

Anonymous said...

It's too late. The damage is done. You can't find a comment section on social media where when this topic is brought up that there isn't somebody who mentions the former Governor as a crook.

Anonymous said...

No more lawsuit. That was easy!

Anonymous said...

Compare what actually happened to what all the einsteins here said would happen.

http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2023/05/phil-to-mississippi-today-of-course-you.html

The Donna Barksdale crowd got called out and wussed out on the fight.

Anonymous said...

It took a week for her "spin doctors" to compose this. How sincere and from the heart.

We're so sorry, Uncle Phil said...

We're so sorry, uncle Phil,
We're so sorry if we caused you any pain.
We're so sorry, uncle albert,
...

We Broke the Story, We Broke the Story said...

Now about that Golden Leak award ...

Anonymous said...

Where is the apology from Ganuchump?

Anonymous said...

Where is the apology from Philly Billy for his role in all of the DHS B.S.? He at least owes that much to the citizens of Mississippi.

Anonymous said...

I don't think this went far enough. It falls short. He hasn't been charged or accused of a crime. Too little too late. And it's not prominent enough for a long enough period on their website. It should be added to every single article.

A BJ Would Help said...

She can't put the ring back in the bell.

Anonymous said...

I agree 9:44. She stated in her published statement that they uncovered how Gov. Bryant EMBEZZLED 77 million. That statement is not an accident. It was intended to brag to the media how great they are and was intended to imply that the Governor was going to be charged with a crime because of their investigative work. Her "apology" merely stated that she misspoke and acknowledged that the Governor has never been charged with a crime. Well no duh -- it doesn't take a Pulitzer prize winner to confirm that he has not been charged. The problem is that her prior statement did not say that. The "I'm sorry you feel bad" apology is devoid of the required content and missed the mark.

Anonymous said...

If I was called a rapist by a news outlet and a retraction was made. I don’t think anyone would let me keep their children at my daycare.

Who really cares if he is not legally involved! He was the Governor and decision maker over the Directors! John Davis was the baby boy. Guess who the pappy was?

Is it too early to be drinking alkeyhall?

Anonymous said...

This saga is not over and nobody can say for sure that he won't eventually be charged with something. In other words, he who laughs last....

Anonymous said...

Their Twitter post doesn't even mention what it's about. Just that she issues an apology about a remark. They could have easily pinned something saying that they misspoke about the former Governor. Sue away. Wasn't a quality response.

Anonymous said...

In about 18 months, they can retract the apology once it’s no longer speculation.

Anonymous said...

accident, my ass.
Democrats are incapable of factual reporting.

Anonymous said...

That is a Pulitzer worthy apology!!!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, right, Bryant is such a mastermind that it will take another 18 months to find the actual embezzlement. He has everyone fooled.

Anonymous said...

Or, 10:23
They could behave like actual journalists and only report facts.
I hope Phil rots in jail, but it's extremely problematic that factual journalism no longer exists.

We used to laugh at the National Enquirer and its asinine sensationalism.
Now all media outlets just lie and fabricate crap and we tolerate it.

Hell, encourage it.

Anonymous said...

Is there not a slow fed investigation of TANF misuse ongoing, including implication of Bryant? It would have been more honest if MS Today's apology had been for "jumping the gun". At the least, Bryant's stupidity was criminal.

However, lumping Tate Reeves into this, as some here have done, is inexcusable.

Anonymous said...

Anna's boss made an unproven verbal accusation against the Governor. Nothing printed by MS Today has been shown to be false. If you want to criticize Anna and her Pulitzer you need to cite specific things that she has written that are false.

Anonymous said...

A news organization that would claim that they alone uncovered the DHS malfeasance when in fact they did not, has no problems about calling someone an embezzler. Ms Today has become more of a lower-tier online source for sensationalism that attracts the far left wing of the democrats & is financed by a few moneyed people with a new toy!

Raoul Knave said...

Gotcha journalists full of themselves.

Anonymous said...

Phil may not have been charged with a crime, but he has proven substantial ineptness at governing.

Anonymous said...

Who cares. Feel’s ONLY chance of walking away from this clean is if the feds drag out the investigation long enough and the Rinos reclaim the white house. Other than that, he’s toast. The media didn’t create this mess. They just exploited it.

Anonymous said...

Anna was gunning for Phil since the beginning. She said multiple times in her stories there was nothing specifically saying what she continued to allege. Saying Bryant steered TANF money without anything saying fund the volleyball stadium or fund the drug company or fund Nancy New with TANF funds doesn't exist, or at the least hasn't come out yet.

"Since agents from the State Auditor’s Office arrested welfare officials in 2020, there’s been a lingering question: What was former Gov. Phil Bryant’s role in the misspending or theft of $77 million and how has politics protected him from facing accountability?"

She wants him to be held accountable and that's how she wrote her stories.

"Mississippi Today’s five-month investigation reveals how Bryant used the governor’s office to exploit a dysfunctional welfare system for personal interests. Our series debuts Monday."

How did he use for personal interests?

"Together, the trove of documents reveals the ease with which Bryant wielded his influence over the funding decisions of his eager-to-please welfare director."

Did the trove reveal anything criminal? If so, why didn't she report on that?

"And I guess, let me take it a little further, because I’ve now consumed enough information and have details of the way that Phil Bryant and John Davis interacted. And Phil Bryant directed John Davis’ actions. And how do we hold the state’s top official accountable in the same way that we’re holding John Davis accountable."

She is asking the auditor to hold Phil accountable.

"I don’t think you’re going to find a piece of paper that shows Phil Bryant telling John Davis, for example, to give money to Prevacus. But there were meetings that took place, and there were examples of him directing him to do other things with money. And those specific things might not be part of the criminal allegations, but it shows the pattern of how they communicated."

She came to the conclusion Phil is dirty because in her mind he had to be the ringleader.

"They were funded with TANF dollars, but I don’t think, I don’t think Phil Bryant was going to John Davis saying, ‘Can you fund this with TANF?’ I think he was saying, ‘Can you fund this for me?’"

She again says there's nothing specifically pointing to what she continues to allege.

The scandal is another black eye on the state. Everyone involved needs to be held accountable. If Phil is involved criminally, he needs to be held accountable. He is guilty of horrible judgment and being asleep at the wheel. The buck stops with him. But, a Pulitzer was given to someone who created a narrative that has still yet to be backed up with facts.

Anonymous said...

Dang 1:37 that’s what I’ve been saying all along! John Davis is just a baby cub! No one, not, no one in State Government will steer/give that kind of money without pappy bear giving the nod.

When I heard John Davis was appointed Executive Director, this job was far from being the Lincoln County DHS where he was the welfare County Director for MDHS for over 20 years.

John, I love you man! don’t go down alone! They( the Mississippi players) can’t help you in Federal Prison!

Anonymous said...

I'm sure this will come out in time, but the identity of the person that allegedly went to Anna will be interesting. There are rumors out there of who it is and what his motivation is, but hopefully it will all come out in the wash.

Anonymous said...

'You can't find a comment section on social media where when this topic is brought up that there isn't somebody who mentions the former Governor as a crook."

Sorry Charlie...Where have you been? That's been the case for almost two years.

This woman's 'reckless comment' did nothing to fuel the fire. It's been the predominant opinion of every Mississippian for two years.

It's impossible to defame the infamous.

Anonymous said...

Man. 9:58 wins but it’s all so personal. I can’t think of anything nice to say, so I won’t say anything at all.

Anonymous said...

For what it’s worth, there’s some new stuff in this LONG Sports Illustrated article focused mostly on Favre & Pheel. I think they’ll both be indicted.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/05/18/brett-favre-mississippi-welfare-scandal-driving-force-daily-cover

Anonymous said...

Mebbe PB outta sue all the commenters on here who say he's guilty...

Anonymous said...

Anna Wolfe has been reporting her opinions as truth for far too long. I hope the award is taken from her.

Anonymous said...

Hey KF, don't you think you should headline the long Sports Illustrated article that 9:58 references?

It got a lot of attention nationally.

Anonymous said...

@7:43, here's an idea? Start your own f'ing gig where you can make all the editorial and publishing decisions. Especially if it means national attention.

Anonymous said...

Mississippi Today is an arm of the liberal left. I laughed when they touted themselves as nonpartisan. Report how you want but don’t start out with a lie that you have fair and balanced reporting. That’s a lie.

Mississippi Today is a liberal cesspool.

Anonymous said...

Read it. UNREAL. WOW. Read it. https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/05/18/brett-favre-mississippi-welfare-scandal-driving-force-daily-cover

Anonymous said...

12:36 -

The publisher’s comments aside, focus on Mississippi Today’s actual reporting.

Is it your contention that MT made the whole thing up?

If that’s the case, where are the defamation law suits? Why is John Davis looking at 32 years in the pen?

Anonymous said...

Tick Tock.

Amost June.

Where is Feel's lawsuit?

Anonymous said...

Where’s that lawsuit?



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