Ohio Chemical Fallout Fears Overblown By ‘Right-Wing Commentators,’ New York Times Claims

The New York Times Concerns about possible hazardous side effects of the train derailment In East Palestine, Ohio, the overblown by are “right-wing commentators” They are looking to “sow distrust” Government agencies

All residents within one mile radius of the train derailment were evacuated by local and state authorities. started A controlled burning of industrial chemicals on the train helped to reduce the danger of an explosion. If this had happened, shrapnel could have been hurled throughout the small community. Five train cars released vinyl chloride (a carcinogen used in the production of PVC), as massive plumes visible across eastern Ohio, and western Pennsylvania.

Multiple state and federal agencies maintained that water and air supplies were not being cut, despite their repeated assertions. Not affected Residents and first responders reported a lingering stench in the air, oily chemicals in local creeks and streams, sudden deaths in wildlife and livestock, and worrisome effects on their health such as headaches. Carter Andrews is part of a team with The Daily Wire. On the ground In East Palestine, he said “eyes sting” And his “head is throbbing” After spending some time in the city.

Stuart Thompson, a reporter at The New York Times who covers “misinformation and disinformation,” Accepted on a Thursday Article Residents are concerned by the smells and dead wildlife. However, he said that few media outlets, especially conservative ones, have exaggerated the potential impact of the crisis.

“For many commentators from across the political spectrum, the speculation has gone far beyond known facts,” Thompson wrote. “Right-wing commentators have been particularly critical, using the crisis to sow distrust about government agencies and suggest that the damage could be irreparable.”

Thompson pointed out that some commentators had speculated that the catastrophe could indeed be. “Chernobyl 2.0” Or could have been the outcome of a “planned attack.” He also received statements from the EPA, and other agencies claiming air and water supplies were safe.

“They warned, without evidence, that vital water reservoirs serving states downriver could be badly contaminated. And they suggested that the authorities, railroad companies and mainstream news media were purposefully obscuring the full toll of the crisis,” He went on. “The EPA has said air quality has returned to safe levels. Residents have been allowed to return. A chemical odor lingers because people can smell the contaminants even when they are far below hazardous concentrations, according to the agency. Water testing found ‘no indication of risk’ to public water systems so far.”

The New York Times article was published alongside several legacy media outlets. minimal attention to the subsequent derailment. The Media Research Center’s analysts analyzed all broadcast coverage between February 4th and February 14; conservative nonprofit Concluded CBS devoted only 9 minutes and 53 second of their total airtime to scandal while ABC had 9 minute and 31 seconds. NBC followed with 8 minutes 52 seconds.

“Rather than healthy skepticism, reporters approached statements by Norfolk Southern and the Ohio EPA, both of whom had a blatant incentive to downplay the seriousness of the situation, with slavish credulity,” The Media Research Center’s analysts noted this. “Perhaps this explains why they haven’t gone back to the story: because they abandoned it too early before asking any meaningful questions. For the broadcast networks to revisit East Palestine now would be to admit that their prior abandonment of it was an error born out of laziness and a lack of curiosity.”

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