In what appears to be a small victory for journalistic integrity, Fox management might have, under pressure, directed Todd Starnes to change one of his headlines. As reported by Mickey Weinstein, head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, "Fox News' Fundamentalist Barking Dog" Todd Starnes erroneously described the MRFF, in one of his headlines, as an "atheist group." As noted by the MRFF's attorneys, in a letter to Fox News' legal department, 96% of the group's membership are Christians. The MRFF lawyers indicate that they had previously sent another letter regarding another misleading Starnes headline. A request was made that the headline be "modified" and that Starnes issue a retraction. While no retraction was done, the headline changed from "Military Halts Use of Trademark on Bibles as Atheist Group Demands Their Removal" to "Group Calls Military Bibles a National Security Threat."  Good times.

In the two years of teabagger triumphalism there has been a concerted effort by the American right wing to curtail women's reproductive rights. While Bill O'Reilly's prediction that Planned Parenthood would be defunded hasn't materialized, a record number of anti-choice measures, many of which have passed, have been pushed by those for whom Fox News provides a mouthpiece. As we speak, only a court injunction prevents Mississippi from being, as the GOP governor proudly proclaimed, an "abortion free state." But that doesn't stop "pro-life media luminary" Laura Ingraham from using the "fair & balanced" news network to push anti-choice talking points. Last week, however, when she subbed for Bill O'Reilly (June 25th), she got as good as she gave. And for that, Alix Magill Johnson gets muchos kudos from your humble correspondent!

After years of accusing President Obama of engaging in "class warfare," Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett finally struck back. Of course, the right wing is having a hissy fit.

Cenk Uygur did an excellent rebuttal of John Stossel's panhandling stunt in which he suggested that because he got money from people who reflexively gave to him, that was some kind of proof that panhandlers and other street people were just scammers too lazy to get a real job. Mediaite's Tommy Christopher wrote up Uygur's commentary and added some terrific points of his own.

I just love it when a feisty Democrat refuses to allow Fox News to set the agenda for a discussion. Tonight, DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz took control of a segment that Fox tried to make about President Obama's electoral struggle in Florida. But Wasserman Schultz got in more Democratic talking points than a DNC ad.

Roger Ailes must be in a snit over the kind of publicity that's coming down the pike toward him. In the works is a biography by Gabriel Sherman, author of the exhaustive NY Magazine article about Ailes last year. You may recall that Ailes was so unnerved by Sherman's forthcoming book that he canceled Sherman's subscription to a suburban newspaper Ailes' wife owns. Now comes word that HBO is planning a movie based on Sherman's book. It sounds like the Roger Ailes edition of Game Change. But there's even more to ruin Ailes' day, if not his year. UPDATED: HBO has nixed the film.

On July 3, 2012, Your World, Neil Cavuto and his climate-change denying guest played the media victims over reports that scientists blame the wicked weather on global warming. But the real perpetrator of media bias and distortions of facts was this very segment.

Todd Starnes is quite the patriotic American. I'd call him a Yankee Doodle Dandy but as he's from the South, that's probably an insult. His love for America is shown in his loathing of all those evildoers, especially the "gay agenda," that seek to undermine the USA. And while his concern for our troops isn't evinced by commentary about issues like PTSD or veterans employment, he ferrets out examples of how the secular agenda is trying to keep the troops from Jesus. But even so, wouldn't ya think that, as a patriotic American, he would be concerned about GOP Congressman Joe Walsh's attack on a real American hero; i.e. former Lt. Colonel Tammy Duckworth who left her legs in Iraq. Think again.

If you're wondering what's hot (other than temperatures) in the "family values" land of God and guns, check out this Fox & Friends video in which the muy macho pastor Doug Giles talks about the "commandments" for anybody who wants to date his daughter Regis. Fox News Insider tells us that Giles ten dating commandments video is "hilarious" and is taking You Tube by storm. When the Jesus and gun loving Doug, who describes himself as a non-metrosexual redneck, was last seen on Fox & Friends he talked about how he is raising his daughters, one of whom was James O'Keefe's "ho," to - well - love Jesus and guns. He and Regis made an encore on this week's Fox & Friends where he talked about how he is protecting the 19 year old Regis' honor with these rules which, he says, are a "cudgel to ward off potential suitors." Christian patriarchy is just so funny....

Here's a little birthday gift from The Boss. May you all have a safe and happy July 4th holiday - whether you're left, right or center...