by Mark Silva

Considering the range of questions from traveling reporters that the presidential candidates face, and the grilling of moderators on the Sunday morning talk shows, Access Hollywood arrives as a real media vacation.

The syndicated gossip show that normally trades in the likes of Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears invited the Obama family over the Fourth of July weekend for a session in Butte, Mon. Not only the junior senator from Illinois and Democratic candidate for president, as the L.A. Times' Top of the Ticket notes, but also wife Michelle and children Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7.

Perhaps it's because interviewer Maria Menounos is no Tim Russert, the Ticket's Leslie Hoffecker notes. But there was no talk in this talk about troop drawdowns or recession. It was all fashion and fun.

"I'm baffled by this whole thing myself,'' the candidate said of his newfound status as a fashion icon -Versace has named a spring line after him - "because I hate to shop."
This is true, daughter Malia testifies about one shopping trip in which her father "bought three pairs of black pants and the same jacket in green, brown and black."

Michelle Obama says she keeps the romance alive in their 15-year marriage by telling her husband that she is proud of him. Sasha and Malia like it, she says, when "Mommy and Daddy hold hands."

See more about this low-heat grilling in Top of the Ticket. (Photo courtesy of Access Hollywood: That's Maria Menounos (second from right) with Malia (left), Sasha, Michelle and Barack Obama )

by John Crewdson

The Swamp watches the Sunday talk shows, so you can watch Federer and Nadal battle at Wimbledon.

You didn't miss much. It's a holiday weekend, and Washington is dead. The congressmen and senators who usually populate the Sunday talk shows are back home in their districts and states, scarfing endless amounts of BBQ with the constituents whose votes they will be seeking in just four months.

That leaves the Sunday talks with only two kinds of guests to choose from: those like Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, who would swim the Potomac for a chance to be on TV, and more obscure members, like Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, who almost never get the chance.

"Meet the Press" was bumped by Wimbledon. Ironically, of the remaining shows the most worth watching was CNN's "Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer," which celebrated its 10th anniversary with a retrospective containing some of the most famous, and infamous, declarations of the past decade.

Among these were Al Gore's assertion that he "took the initiative in creating the Internet" (he didn't); Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's worry that "we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud," and her assurance that aluminum tubes being shipped to Iraq were "only suited" for use in a nuclear weapons program (they weren't); former Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld's disclosure before the invasion that the Bush Administration had "solid evidence of the presence" of Al Qaeda operatives in Iraq (it didn't); and vice president Dick Cheney's assertion--only last year--that "the world is much safer today" without Saddam Hussein. "If he were still there today we'd have a terrible situation," Cheney said.

by Aamer Madhani

This Sunday's New York Times Magazine has an interesting story about a.m. radio's $400 million man.

In the expansive profile, Zev Chafet soft pedals around conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh's struggle to overcome a painkiller addiction and briefly addresses critics' charge that Limbaugh's humor edges on racism.

But the largely flattering profile of Limbaugh is chocked filled with details that every "ditto-head" would want to know.

Chavet's reports the thrice-divorced Limbaugh lives in a 24,000-square mansion that he shares with his cat. And we learn that "El Rushbo" was hurt that the Tom Brokaws and Dan Rathers of the media elite didn't welcome him into their inner circle when he landed in New York to syndicate his program. He's also a big tipper at restaurants--purportedly he sometimes leaves the wait staff at one of his favorite restaurants $5,000 gratuities.

But deep into Chafet's profile was where I found the most remarkable tidbit: Ira Glass. the iconic host of Public Radio International's This American Life, acknowledges that he is a huge fan.

Here's the excerpt:

"Rush is just an amazing radio performer," says Ira Glass, a star of the younger generation of public-radio personalities. "Years ago, I used to listen in the car on my way to reporting gigs, and I'd notice that I disagreed with everything he was saying, yet I not only wanted to keep listening, I actually liked him. That is some chops. You can count on two hands the number of public figures in America who can pull that trick off."

"A lot of people dismiss them both as pandering and proselytizing and playing to the lowest common denominator, but I think that misses everything important about their shows," he says. "They both think through their ideas in real time on the air, they both have a lot more warmth than they're generally given credit for, they both created an entire radio aesthetic."

by Katie Fretland

Yesterday, The Swamp found a job posting for a Fox News Channel "fact writer."

According to the listing posted on the Fox website, "Responsibilities include writing on-air facts and press conference quotes for daytime programming."

The job listing has hit the blogosphere with several sites poking fun at the network. Here's one site.

Fox's Diana Rocco says in a e-mail that Fox News Channel pioneered factoids at the bottom of the screen years ago.

"This fact writer position is for that purpose," she writes."The factoids are the details and facts that pop on screen to explain stories."

by Katie Fretland

We at The Swamp came across this job description for not a fact checker... but a fact writer at Fox News Channel. Here is the posting in full:

Freelance Fact Writer
New York
Requirements/Responsibility:

FOX News Channel, a fast-paced 24-hour television news operation in New York City, is seeking a Freelance Fact Writer for its information center.
Responsibilities include writing on-air facts and press conference quotes for daytime programming. Individuals must have strong writing skills, be able to handle multiple assignments and deadlines, and work well in a team atmosphere. Excellent communication and writing skills are also required.
A successful candidate will:
• Possess a strong interest in news and be well-informed about current events
• Be detail oriented and pay close attention to spelling, grammar, syntax
• Have ability to write in a concise, conversational and colorful style at an extremely fast pace
Must be willing to work on a flexible schedule including weekend shifts.
This is a high-pressure position where your work product gets national exposure on a daily basis.
A bachelor's degree is required.

by Katie Fretland

Efforts to unite a divided Democratic Party dominated the news last week, according to a new study by the Project for Excellence in Journalism.

From June 23 to 29, nearly one-fourth of the election news was devoted to this theme, caused mainly by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's appearance together in Unity, N.H.

Obama was again the biggest newsmaker of the week compared to John McCain and Clinton. Obama was a significant or dominant figure in 82 percent of election stories, followed by McCain at 40 percent and Clinton at 32 percent.

PEJ offers this analysis:

"The wide gap in coverage between Obama and McCain can be attributed to several factors. In addition to Obama's efforts to unite his party, other story lines continued to generate press attention. Last week, James Dobson's accusation that the Democratic hopeful's view of the Bible is distorted-and Obama's response-filled 6% of the newshole. Rumors about Obama's religion coupled with Karl Rove's charge that he is an elitist helped lift various controversies surrounding Obama and his campaign to 11% of the coverage last week."

A top election issue of the week was Obama and McCain's perspective on energy policy. The media also spent time reporting on polls and election strategies. The percentage of news dedicated to the role of Obama's wife, Michelle Obama, declined 9 percent from the following week to just 1 percent of election coverage.

Here are the top overall stories of the week:

(Video above shows Darren Manzella in the 60 Minutes interview the Army later used as evidence the sergeant is gay.)

by Aamer Madhani

U.S. Army Sgt. Darren Manzella told his commanding officer nearly two years ago that he was gay--something he felt he had to do after receiving anonymous threatening e-mails from someone who said that people in the Army were aware of his sexual orientation.

He later provided Army investigators intimate pictures and video of him and his boyfriend--kissing, snuggling and holding each other. He said he wanted to stay in the Army, but he didn't want to hide who he was.

The Army investigated, but Manzella was told they could find no proof of his homosexuality. He would deploy to Kuwait with the rest of his unit.

Manzella, a decorated combat medic who also served in Iraq, even went on 60 Minutes in December to tell his story and speak out against the military's "don't ask, don't tell policy" that prohibits out-of-the-closet troops from serving.

It wasn't until this spring that the Army concluded that Manzella, a 30-year-old from Upstate New York, was in fact gay and recommended him for discharge for violating don't ask, don't tell. Earlier this month, Manzella was officially kicked out of the service.

When his command at Fort Hood, Texas, notified him that they were recommending his discharge, Manzella said they offered him the 60 Minutes transcript as well as a copy of an Associated Press story about him as evidence that he was gay.

Never mind that he told his commanders the same story months before.

"I don't know if their hands were forced because of the 60 Minutes interview," Manzella said in telephone interview. "At that point it had gone up the chain of command."

by Mark Silva

"Barack Obama has a serious iPod,'' says Will Dana, managing editor of Rolling Stone magazine.

John Coltrane.

Stevie Wonder

Bruce Springsteen, and more.

These are among the personal details that Jann Wenner, editor of the music magazine, has wrested from the Democratic candidate for president in an interview featured in the new issue of Rolling Stone, which, for the second time this election cycle, features a photo of Obama on its cover. Only a photo this time. No words.

It's "the moment,'' Dana explains.

The m.e. was explaining all this on Morning Joe, that MSNBC program that attracts all sorts of people -- Rick Davis, John McCain's campaign manager, among them this morning, explaining that the Republican candidate is not all that worried about polls like the new L.A. Times survey showing a significant advantage for Obama, a survey which Davis believes has oversampled Democrats.

In the record-rack department, Dana suggests that Obama has a hands-down advantage over McCain, known for his affinity for Abba.

But rememember, this is the magazine that has featured Democrats Al Gore, Howard Dean and John Kerry on its covers as well. "We got Al Gore elected,'' Dana joked. Joe Scarborough asked asked Dana when they plan to put McCain on the cover of the Rolling Stone:

"We're working on it.''

by Mark Silva and updated

It didn't take long for Don Imus, the irascible radio talk show host, to roil the racial waters again after his return to the air. Sidelined after his callous remarks about a certain Rutgers University women's basketball team, he was welcomed back on the air by good, chatting friends from Washington -- John McCain among them.

Imus this morning called the flap stirred by his latest comment "ridiculous'' and maintains that he meant no offense. But the Rev. Al Sharpton already is weighing in, considering what might have to be "done'' about the newest words from Imus.

As Don Frederick tells the tale, at Top of the Ticket, Imus, pictured at left, had an on-air exchange regarding professional football player Adam "Pacman" Jones yesterday that isn't likely to lure more influential guests his way:

"During a report... on his nationally syndicated show about Jones, who has been reinstated by the NFL after several scapes with the law led to his suspension during the entire 2007 season, Imus asked, "What color is he?"

"When told Jones (who recently requested that that announcers no longer use his nickname when mentioning him) is African American, Imus responded, "Well, there you go. Now we know."

"It's a surprise that Imus apparently was clueless about the well-publicized Jones. It's no surprise that his remark again placed him at the center of a racially tinged controversy. Huffington Post is tracking the furor, including Imus' defense:

"I meant he was being picked on because he's black.''

This morning, on-air, Imus said he was trying to "make a sarcastic point.''

He was upholding a pledge he made when he returned to the air, he insisted, attempting to call attention to the unfair treatment of blacks -- in this case the arrests of suspended Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jones.

"What people should be outraged about is that they arrest blacks for no reason," Imus said on his show today. "I mean, there's no reason to arrest this kid six times. Maybe he did something once, but everyone does something once."

by John Crewdson

The most imperative question in American politics was answered this morning.

Not who's going to be Barack Obama's running mate, although Delaware Sen. Joe Biden did become the first politician in history to say flatly that he would accept the vice-presidential nomination if asked.

Shortly before "Meet the Press" went on the air, with Biden and South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, NBC announced that Tom Brokaw would replace the late Tim Russert as moderator of MTP through the 2008 election.

Brokaw wasn't to be seen, however; Russert's chair was filled by Brian Williams, who replaced Brokaw as the anchor of NBC's Nightly News. For the first time in the 17 years since Russert took over as moderator, MTP seemed, if not quite soporific, certainly subdued. As Joni Mitchell told us, "you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone."

Even when Williams appropriated Russert's trademark closing line--"If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press"--he didn't sound entirely convincing. This issue this Sunday--Russert's standard opener--was Barack Obama's decision to become the first presidential candidate since 1976 not to accept public campaign financing, despite his declaration last November that he would accept public money.

"This will not go unnoticed by the American people and will not be soon forgotten," Graaham intoned. The signature phrase with which the Republicans tarred John Kerry--"flip-flop"--was soon being applied to Obama, whom Republicans dearly hope to paint as just another Chicago pol who will say or do anything for votes.

Biden retorted that the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain, declared during the 2000 campaign that he would forever support the congressional ban on offshore oil drilling, a position to which he is no longer wedded in an era of $4 gasoline.

Politicians who change their positions were red meat to Tim Russert, and it was impossible not to imagine what the genial surgeon would have done with his scalpel to Obama and McCain.

The show closed with clips from the Russert memorial held last week at Washington's Kennedy Center. We can now assume the last has been heard of Buffalo, the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Wings, Tim's son Luke, and his father "Big Russ." As evidence that the rest of the world has moved on, MTP's chief rival, ABC's "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos, devoted it's "In Memoriam" segment to the dancer Cyd Charisse.

by Mark Silva

Tim Russert, the late host of Meet the Press, was about as close to irreplaceable as they come.

So, for now, NBC News is not really replacing him.

The network, instead, is turning to a stand-in - the man who brought us "The Greatest Generation'' -- through the presidential election.

Brian Williams,anchor of NBC Nightly News, sat in today, the second show since Russert's sudden death. And he was making another tribute to Russert on a show featuring the guests who were slated for the Sunday show that Russert was preparing when he died, at 58, of a heart attack: Sens. Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)

But starting next Sunday, the network announced this morning off-air, Tom Brokaw, pictured at right, the semi-retired NBC News anchor and author, will serve as moderator of Meet the Press through the 2008 presidential election.

"A lot has been said in recent days about what 'Meet the Press' means to NBC News and to the nation," said Steve Capus, NBC News president. "To have someone of Tom's stature step up and dedicate himself to ensuring its ongoing success is not only a testament to his loyalty to Tim, but his enduring commitment to NBC News and our viewers."

Brokaw: "I've been appearing on Meet the Press since the days of Watergate when it was moderated by Lawrence E. Spivak right through the distinguished tenure of my great friend, Tim Russert, so I feel right at home. Tim made Meet the Press the center of the universe for informative and lively discussions of public affairs, particularly the exciting 2008 campaign for president, and I intend to continue that commitment to our viewers."

by Mark Silva

Jon Stewart is having a little fun with all that President Bush, "The Decider,'' hopes to accomplish in his remaining months in office.

Like finding Osama bin Laden.

"The guy has tried everything, Facebook - bupkis,'' said Stewart, host of Comedy Central's Daily Show.

"I think we can actually get an agreement on global climate change during my presidency - just so you know,'' Bush is showin saying.

Bin Laden and a global warming treaty all in seven months, Stewart asks - why not make peace in the Middle East, too?

"I believe it's going to happen,'' Bush says, "that there will be a signed peace treaty by the time I leave office.''

Stewart, suggesting that this isn't like college, where you pull a couple of ''all-nighters'' before graduating, suggests that the president cannot simply knock back some Red Bull, drop some Adderall and fix the Middle East. But the cartoon hero rolled out here might help: "The Procrastinator.''

by Frank James

Our colleagues at the L.A. Times's "Top of the Ticket blog" brought to our attention a YouTube video that has gotten more than two million views in a little over a week.

It's called "I'm Voting Republican" and essentially caricatures GOP voters in ways many Democrats will get a laugh from and that will incense many Republicans.

We await the Republican response video.

by Mark Silva

Michelle Obama is on center stage this week - co-hosting ABC's The View this morning - and now featured, with her husband, the Democratic presidential candidate, on the cover of the US Weekly magazines that will reach newsstands on Friday.

The article by Kevin O'Leary explains, "How the woman who first refused to date Barack Obama became what he calls, 'My life, my rock, my foundation.''

Obama told the magazine: "Michelle is an extraordinary mother to our two girls. When we started out on this campaign, we wanted to make sure that life for our girls would remain as normal as possible, and it is because of Michelle that they are so grounded.

" Nothing is more important to Michelle than being a good mother,'' the senator from Illinois told the magazine, "and she works every day to instill in our girls the same values we were raised with."

Michelle Obama also has a higher level of public recognition than Cindy McCain, wife of the Republican presidential candidate, the Pew Research Center has reported - see the Swamp below. Yet more people who know of the Democrat's wife have a dimmer view of her than those who hold a negative view of the Republican's wife, Pew found. Enter The View and US Weekly.

by Mark Silva

Michelle Obama, wife of the Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee, has a higher public profile - though people say they have heard a lot of negative things about her.

Cindy McCain, wife of the Republicans' presumptive nominee, is not as widely known - but fewer say they have heard bad things about her.

These are among the findings of a new Pew Research Center survey, as Michelle Obama, pictured right, prepares to take the daytime television stage as a guest co-host today on ABC's The View. Among the other guest hosts: actor Matthew Broderick.

McCain had that chance in April. "Equal time,'' the network says.

"With the major party nominations now settled, the images of the candidates' wives are coming into sharper focus,'' reports Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Center. "While opinions about Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama are mostly positive, Mrs. Obama has emerged as the more high profile and controversial spouse.

"More Americans have heard a lot about Michelle Obama than Cindy McCain, (pictured left) and Mrs. Obama has received much more media coverage than Mrs. McCain,'' Kohut reports.

"However, somewhat more of those who have heard about Mrs. Obama say the coverage of her has been mostly negative rather than mostly positive (by 26 percent to 21 percent).

"By comparison, 31 percent of those who have heard about Mrs. McCain say coverage of her has been mostly positive while just 7 percent say it has been generally negative.''

For the full rundown, see the Pew report.

For more on Michelle Obama, see The View today.

(Obama photo by Brennan Linsley, AP Photo/file.)

by Mark Silva

Add to the fears that plague modern-day Americans.

"Baracknophobia''

"It is defined as the irrational fear of hope,'' suggests Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central's Daily Show, examing "the audacity of fear... The sickness manifests itself mostly through rumor, often in the form of the only email your grandmother has ever been able to successfully forward.''

Stewart's tongue-in-cheek report cites mainstream media experts noting that: "Once you get a rumor on the Internet, it spreads like wildfire.''

"They are hard to stop,'' explains CNN's John King, "no matter how responsible we in the mainstream media are.''

"I got it,'' Stewart says. "Internet, rumor, reckless... mainstream media,