Can We Trust The News? 

In 1984 the American media lost all credibility with me. I was a Major in the Army stationed at Hilden, West Germany working with WBK III. At the time President Reagan had decided to deploy Pershing Missiles to West Germany as a deterrent to Russia's deployment of SS-21s. There was an anti-American demonstration at the front gate of the kaserne I was staying at. I was 50 yards away watching from the balcony of my room. At the most there was 100-150 people. The polizei showed up read them the riot act, waited 5 minutes, and with much vigor forcibly removed them. Two days later, I fly into JFK and the American media was all about the anti-Reagan demonstration in Hilden, West Germany, where thousands upon thousands of demonstrators showed up! I was there, this was a deliberate lie! Why? The media hated President Reagan and tried to force him to change his decision. I was there!

I appreciate Hickock 45, he speaks plainly. No fluff , No BS. More people need to follow this way of thinking. Thank you for being real . 🇺🇸

And that is why they have always called it "programming".

Old gun guy giving me wisdom

I like what Denzel Washington says (and I may be paraphrasing just a bit): "If you don't read the news, you're uninformed. If you do read the news, you're misinformed."

We really need more people like you. More thoughts, less screaming.

Sad but true, that "news" has become 90% opinion and 10% information. I was a newspaper man back in the day (25 years ago), and I can honestly say that if I had written the kind of junk I see and hear everywhere nowadays, my editors would have deleted half of my stories and yelled "Do it over, and this time leave your opinions out of it!" Thanks Hickok.

Thanks Hickok, it’s always reassuring to hear it from a voice with reason.

Can we trust the news? Absolutely not

I'm a 75-year-old conservative who lives in Idaho. I'm amazed at how well-informed many of our younger people are. As for America's future (or at least Idaho's), I am impressed and encouraged by what I see in them.

I sure hope Hickok’s grandkids realize how blessed they are to have this man as their grandpa.

You really earned my respect with this video. It is good to see that the soul of America is alive, thank you for inspiring people with your humble opinion. A breath of fresh air in a toxic world. Thank you.

That's a great way of thinking. In the Olden Days we called that,"Common Sense"

The older I get and the more I understand, the less I KNOW! Guns, shooting, adventure bikes, and a few micro brews make life great! Thanks for such great content.👍🏼

Many years ago, Richard Salant, then recently retired president of CBS News was addressing a graduating college class said (quote) " OUR JOB IS NOT TO REPORT THE NEWS, IT IS TO MANIPULATE PUBLIC OPINION ! The news media has certainly succeeded in that!

All my friends and family used to be Republicans, now they’re either Fox or non-Fox conservatives. And there’s a HUGE difference.

Voting relies on an informed public. Control the narrative control the vote. Thomas Jefferson famously wrote, “a well-informed electorate is a prerequisite to democracy.”

"If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you DO read the newspaper, you're MISinformed." One of my favorite quotes. While writing the quote above, I heard you say, "think for yourself." If people decided NOT to be spoon-fed the "information" they regurgitate, we would be in a completely different America. People are too lazy to even THINK FOR THEMSELVES. HUGE problem... Been watching your channel for many a year and I certainly appreciate you, El Capitan! Much obliged! JD "

I could not agree more. Thank you Hickok, keep telling it like you see it.

Very wise words indeed. If only there were more like you Hickok

We as Americans have no one to blame but our complacent selves for allowing our country to become what it has become.

Very wise piece sir. I’m an Independent. I see the merits and issues with the platform of both sides of the isle.

My parents told me,” don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see”.

Wise advice thank you Mr. Hitchkop

Absolutely right. I hope many people see this.

That's real good advice right there: Make your own reading list, do your own reading. Read through, analyze, criticize, synthesize the information. Look at facts, what's actually going on rather than words. Always ask: Who might possibly benefit from this? Are the parties involved in any event in conflicts of interest? Have I exhausted the scientific methods of ascertaining? Are there any flaws in the premises from which my conclusions are drawn?

They don't want us to think for ourselves.

A very very valid commentary. It's a shame it can't be seen by a wider audience.

Back country gas station Shushi is more trustworthy than nearly any news agency

I remember a quote from Mark Twain (I think) "If you read the paper you are misinformed, and if you don't read the paper, you are un-informed!". I think it is the same with TV.

well said Hickok.

Thanks Hickok45. A large portion of younger people name TicTok as their major news source... Scary...

Well said. Funny how an old guy with a cap musket on his hip talks more sense than,,,,, well, a lot of people. Keep speaking out - From another old guy.

Do not Trust MSM !

Thank you for saying this publicly. I've been saying this for years.

This is really well said! Thank you Hickok.

I learned back in 1992 that CNN was full of it. I was deployed to a location and upon return told that I was never there. A day later I saw on CNN what was going on. Since I was there, I knew they were full of it, but I couldn't say anything. Social Media didn't exist back then and the press wasn't really allowed on the battlefield either. All these years later, you can't run a redlight without being caught on a camera. I consider myself a constitutionalist, because I believe in what this country was founded upon. Not all of my children agree with me, and we discuss it every now and then. One son lives in the big city and thinks like big city folk do. One son lives in the dessert and thinks like hard working oil field folk do and the third son lives in a camper in our back yard and don't really know what to think. I also have a couple daughters who think completely different than the rest of us.... I take all of their views into consideration but still I have my own that I stand by. It's not always easy because some of them are far left, some far right and it's not always the same. I'm proud that they made up their own minds, whether I agree with them or not.

Excellent discussion, sir.

Always a grounded voice of reason in the midst of chaos. And makes great videos to boot.

TRUTH! I had a Springfield 45-70 passed on to me by my grandfather...very similar.

"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." - Edward Abbey

Love this! Thank you sir! The last few years I’ve seen people of all walks of life, and the big one… people from both parties, becoming more aware. The division HAS got to stop. You have wackos on both sides , that want us all divided. Remember, UNITED we stand. Divided… we fall. This made my day . Thanks again!

I get my news from celebrities. They are so smart and articulate. How could be they be wrong? Although, they always say they're moving out of the country if they dont get their way.

Man you have no idea how valuable you are. It gives me peace to hear you speak.

As a retired cop I know all about the media. More than once I was involved w/a case, saw the media coverage the next day and wondered if they were at the same place I was.

You said a mouthful, thank you.

My old boss was retired a military intelligence officer. He never watched the news much. He did want me to research Operation Mockingbird

Down to earth common sense talk is really hard to find. I enjoyed this video very much.

The only thing you can count on is that "they" don't like "us" .

Take everything with a grain of salt (healthy dose of skepticism), keep a diverse group of friends, if people make grand claims, hold them up to a higher standard for evidence. If you can't discuss something without name calling or anger, then you are probably driving in the wrong lane. Hickok45.. You are your own man. A refreshing voice in an ever increasing world of noise.

It is good to see a channel like yours speaking off topic on a very important issue. Unfortunately our society has become so uninformed, misinformed and biased and divided that they have lost all ability to think rationally and logically. Much of society could not see their hypocrisy or recognize truth if it looked them in the face. If this video can open the eyes of just one, it was worth it. Thanks

Ability to think about things for themselves! Yes! Think for yourself.

Always good to start with the fundamentals and have a true point of view of one’s own is great way to building character and morals that will take care of not only oneself but of those around us that we care about. Thanks for the knowledge as always and sharing this with everyone watching, i think you help people in more ways than you know Mr Hickok, keep it up.

Short answer is HECK NO. Agree with what your saying. Unfourtunatly "News" has been contorted into "Narrative" by the 7 deadly sins of Mankind. Enough of all that.... I have really been enjoying your channel. Lifelong outddoors man here.... have sourced your channel/info to purchase a Springfield Armory 45 cal. 1911. Always look forward to your vids, many thanks keep up the great work.

Agree 100% I'm not left,right, nor center. I rule where logic and compassion meet

Good thoughts to ponder. I'm 74 and in Scholl they told us how bad Russia was for promoting propaganda. Today that is all we get from every where!!

Absolutely, categorically, definitely NO.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.👍❤️🙏

pontificating.... Thank you for using that word. I had to look it up. I enjoy learning new words.

Great topic, and observations…so many today only listen to “their” camp…seems today hard to find open minds, one gray hair to another! Thank you!

Ground news is the best I’ve found. Its purpose is to eliminate news bias

you are a very smart and down to earth man....fantastic channel!

We watch local news for weather and traffic only

I'm so thankful not EVERYONE has lost their minds now a days.

Refreshing to hear a breath of reason during this day and age.

Hickok45; no matter the “target” always a guaranteed a “bullseye!!!!!”

If only the "leaders" of this great nation remembered to read and understand The Constitution...

I agree! so many people these days act like they can't think for themselves. Beautiful Muzzle Loader too!

If you believe strongly on a topic, ask yourself, "what if I am wrong?"

Really great advice Hickok.

Wise words.

Thank you for this vid. I hope a lot of people watch it !!!

Our founding fathers were amazingly brilliant, to be able to foresee problems that could happen in the future and write the bill of rights that we the people can use to protect ourselfs.

Hickok45 is absolutely a national treasure. Thank you sir. My grandson is 10 we watch you together..he has a youtube channel of him shooting competition. Looks up to you

Same here in the UK, the BBC was renowned for impartiality. Not now.

Exactly! Watch as much news as you have time for and from at least three disparate sources and then do what my Granny use to say "use the brain God gave you" to decide what you believe. Read historical articles and facts. Research. Like Hick says think for yourself and be honest with yourself when you decide. Great stuff, thanks!

Never trust the guy who tells you what you should believe. He is probably selling you his beliefs

I totally agree. Strange days.

Wise old owl

You sir are brilliant. The true is always somewhere in the middle most the time right.

I'm old enough to remember newscasters like Chet Huntley & David Brinkley, Eric Sevareid, and Walter Cronkite. They hosted the evening news on the big three networks long ago. They would tell the news, as Cronkite would famously say in his daily outro, "And that's the way it is." operative word, "IS". These shows had an editorial portion where they would give their views on perhaps one item in the news of the day, but it was tempered with objectivity. Today it is hard to find ANY news outlet which is objective. I seriously do not think this was the intention of the Founding Fathers when they enshrined _Freedom Of The Press_ in the American Constitution. Freedom Of The Press was intended for precisely the OPPOSITE reason - so people would know the FACTS and from these facts be able to and allowed to form their own conclusions.

Love the Emerson quotes! Not enough people think for themselves.

Hick, truer words were never spoken. When editors were removed from the process, and anyone could post anything objective journalism left the building. Throw in the 24 hr cycle and finding NEWS became almost most impossible.

What a beautiful rifle tour holding. Nice lines.

Unfortunately the “which side are you on?” agenda is inescapable these days. It was specifically political shows, political news now it’s all news, the education system, the workplace, sports and the everyday purchases you make 😢

as a liberal gun owner, this was refreshing to hear. thanks Hickok45

Here here, I'm glad You're willing to speak out And agree with you 100% , Buy the way Im Moderate Progressive But I love my guns too.

Turn off the news and start looking back at history for yourself. Ask the question; why is it like that; how did it get that way and what was done in the past and why? You said it Hickok45, History.

Hitchcock 45 is by far my favorite firearms show. First time for me to hear the host just talk about the human condition. It's taken me 70 years to feel even keeled. Hitchcock epitomizes a natural born center of balance. This video confirms my trust in this larger than life, humble giant of a man... and a funtastic ambassador for firearm demonstrations! Found your site 4 years ago working in an amo demilling/reload shop in Idaho... subscribed 👍

The woods are starting to green-up a little in Tennessee...

YOU are So right, I wish people would do their own research and THINK for Themselves

As a child my stepmom told me not to believe anything that you hear and only half of what you see at that point in my life I thought she was crazy now that I am older I think she was correct

Right on Hickock45! A little dignity and reason goes a long way.

No we cannot but we can trust Hickok.

Well said! Wisdom! Thank you!

General rule I've noticed over the years is the people getting cancelled, deleted, silenced, careers destroyed, etc. is a high chance they are speaking truth.

The same issue with the "news" applies over here in the United Kingdom too.

First off a great pontification! Secondly I am not a gun owner or will be a gun owner, but I like seeing and learning about things I don’t know about on RU-vid. Could be flying a plane, exploring abandoned buildings and mines, and reviews of guns. You are the best gun reviewer on RU-vid for people ignorant of guns. Keep up the good work!

that's a resounding "NO"

No matter what network we choose, we constantly get commentary instead of news. And when we think it’s the news, it may be biased.