# The Newsroom is coming back (for more punishment?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 10, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171 "2013-07-10T20:13:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/261 "2013-09-10T18:21:52Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Sounded like “What the FUCK!” to me. > > Pretty good episode, though I had to stop halfway through and clean up a gallon of vomit that spontaneously erupted out of me during the scene where we learn how much the rest of the world loves our elections. > > I’m on pins and needles wondering if Mac is really fired. Also, I’m assuming Kristin Chenoweith cheated on Aaron Sorkin with her ex-boyfriend, and that Aaron was a good boyfriend. A good one. As a boyfriend, he was good. He was a good boyfriend. That is hilarious. And given how immersed this writing is in Sorkin’s head - I like the patter, but it all sounds like its coming from _him_ - I bet that really is a connection. It’s fine and has a snap and rhythm, but still not blowing me away. And why does the Orange Q-Tip now hate Jim? Because he was willing give Young Streep/Gummer the interview? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/262 "2013-09-10T18:27:35Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > One thing I was thinking about: with regard to the Genoa thing, the way the story played out, it sure looks like it did actually happen— but the interviewee changed his mind at the last minute. I wonder if this is an intentional dig at the government, sort of like: yeah, ACN is eating this one, but the government really did do this evil shit and then lied about it. > > Or maybe I’m reading too much into it. I think they made it clear it was all a set up by the friend of Charlie’s. Especially with the manifest that, when held to the light, revealed “Fuck You” as a secret message. That general they interviewed was probably known to be a bit loopy and to have a thing about chemical warfare. I forgot how they got his name, but they could have been led to him on purpose. How they got teh other guys involved is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/263 "2013-09-10T19:07:33Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I think they made it clear it was all a set up by the friend of Charlie’s. How the fuck did I forget this? Derp. Sorry. You are correct. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/264 "2013-09-10T22:08:48Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I think they made it clear it was all a set up by the friend of Charlie’s. My recollection is that Charlie’s friend didn’t set it up from the beginning, he just took advantage of it once he heard ACN was sniffing around about sarin being used by the military. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/265 "2013-09-10T22:13:32Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > My recollection is that Charlie’s friend didn’t set it up from the beginning, he just took advantage of it once he heard ACN was sniffing around about sarin being used by the military. That right? Hmmm… I may have to rewatch that. If genoa is wrong, then where did the original false tip come from? I mean, where did the original guy get his misinformation. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/266 "2013-09-10T22:20:28Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > That right? Hmmm… I may have to rewatch that. If genoa is wrong, then where did the original false tip come from? I mean, where did the original guy get his misinformation. And the Tweets? Ok, I need to rewatch, too. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/267 "2013-09-10T22:32:49Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > And the Tweets? > > Ok, I need to rewatch, too. I’ll bring the wine. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/268 "2013-09-10T22:33:07Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > That right? Hmmm… I may have to rewatch that. If genoa is wrong, then where did the original false tip come from? I mean, where did the original guy get his misinformation. > [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > And the Tweets? > > Ok, I need to rewatch, too. I don’t remember how the story started, but just because the general is recanting and Jerry edited the interview doesn’t mean Genoa didn’t happen, it just means that the General isn’t a good witness WRT weapons storage. IIRC, his only purpose was to verify that the US did, in fact, have sarin gas. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/269 "2013-09-10T22:39:18Z")
Right, but then she’s right-- there was the list from his ex friend whose kid killed himself after getting fired from ACN. The list that when held up to light was a big ol fuck you, Charlie. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/270 "2013-09-10T23:00:54Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Right, but then she’s right-- there was the list from his ex friend whose kid killed himself after getting fired from ACN. The list that when held up to light was a big ol fuck you, Charlie. Forgot about that, but I got the feeling that’s when Charlie and Will were putting out feelers to see if anyone could help them with this. That guy probably knew they would take just about anything at that point and run with it. (I think I’m fanwanking a bit here) Like I said, I really don’t remember what the original thing was. That helio manifest was the last thing, not the first (well, second to last, Will psuedo confirmed the story right before they greenlit the whole thing). Unless that was part of the original (real) story, it seemed like a plot device to get the story on the air AND help to make it fall apart quickly. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/271 "2013-09-10T23:01:46Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I don’t remember how the story started, but just because the general is recanting and Jerry edited the interview doesn’t mean Genoa didn’t happen, it just means that the General isn’t a good witness WRT weapons storage. IIRC, his only purpose was to verify that the US did, in fact, have sarin gas. Discounted info: The general doesn’t confirm use of gas. He wasn’t just asked if we had the gas, but to confirm we used it. He wouldn’t. False edit. The manifest was a lie. The second soldier was probably not really confirming the truth (leading questions). In doubt: The credibility of the first solider (TBI) Unknown status: Twitter guy. Not dead after all, but what was he tweeting about? Where the initial source got his info is unknown. Help me remember- what am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/272 "2013-09-10T23:33:19Z")
I _thought_ they said in the latest episode that the tweets misinterpreted the [white phosphorus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_phosphorus) the US military was using to identify the landing site. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/273 "2013-09-11T00:02:15Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I _thought_ they said in the latest episode that the tweets misinterpreted the [white phosphorus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_phosphorus) the US military was using to identify the landing site. If that’s the case we can move the tweeter to the “discounted info” column. ANd the concerns about the tweeter’s safety was already discounted. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/274 "2013-09-11T02:21:29Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I don’t remember how the story started The replacement producer’s military friend he shoehorned onto the show. That military guy bombed horribly, to the point that Will actually mocked him on the air. I forget what turn of phrase he kept using, but it was kind of a funny Broadcast News flop situation. Anyway, that military guy, right after the flop appearance, hinted the story to the replacement producer after his flop appearance. That’s what got the replacement producer onto the story like a dog on a bone and he never let it go, ramrodding it through the rest of the staff for most of the entire season. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/275 "2013-09-11T05:33:58Z")
My understanding of the how it started. Guy with brain injury misunderstood what he was seeing and was source of story for guy who bombed on the show and in desperation he wanted to trade the information for another shot. Tweets were ambiguous description of an incident that when read with a preconcieved meaning were seen as confirming and his cell plan lapsed so he wasn’t reachable. They start sniffing around which tips the Department of the Navy guy that he can get his silent revenge on Charlie and ACN. He is also the source for Will but they don’t realize they’re talking to the same guy. They track down a friend of the brain injury guy who doesn’t want his friend to swing in the wind and so ambiguously confirms his story when really he’s being fed leading questions. General is a hardliner who wants an opportunity to speak out about how gas should be an allowed tool of war so he baits them into the interview by suggesting he’ll confirm and then goes hypothetical in the actual interview. All of which goes uncaught because the meaning of each item has been preconceived, the pieces of evidence are seen as independent when they’re not, and the circumstantial evidence seems damning, and one of them edits video to make the hypothetical look like an explicit confirmation. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/276 "2013-09-11T08:44:52Z")
Well, it’s a good thing they held all those Red Team meetings so they could identify these problems before the story aired, then. Dodged a bullet there! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/277 "2013-09-11T12:04:02Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, it’s a good thing they held all those Red Team meetings so they could identify these problems before the story aired, then. Dodged a bullet there! Hence the law suit on systemic problems! ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/278 "2013-09-11T12:34:47Z")
Well, the Red Teams did find the evidence insufficient until they thought they had a general on tape saying “yes, we used nerve gas.” ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/279 "2013-09-11T12:56:08Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Hence the law suit on systemic problems! That reminds me of how I (the employer) lost an unemployment case. Had en employee working for me (as a second job). Her other job rearranged her hours and it didn’t jive with her schedule here. We let her go, she applied for unemployment, I fought it, she won. I told the judge “She’s not available to work” he said “To not be available to work, she has to not be available to work _anywhere_, since she has a job, she’s clearly available to work” and she won. Lesson learned, I should have left her on the schedule at her original hours and written her up for not showing up to work and then fired her for that instead of saying “Sorry, it’s just not going to work” and letting her say “Okay, it was nice working for you anyways”. The worst part is, when we first hired her, someone (another business owner), saw her working there and said “Oh, I see Mary’s working for you, she’s gonna hit you for unemployment, it’s what she does”. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171/280 "2013-09-11T14:11:52Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > since she has a job You can get unemployment when you have a job? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newsroom-is-coming-back-for-more-punishment/663171.md?page=15)