Working the ref is nothing more than effectively forcing your way to be at least heard and the myth of the liberal media is the best example of a historical "working the ref" that I can come up with. As for who are the refs? They are all around, some known, some not known, and some surprises (Cuban is turning out to be one of the surprises for me).

From the 80s, when magazines were cheap and plentiful, I subscribed to almost all the available media-related ones: Columbia Journalism Review, Washington Journalism Review, The Washington Monthly, Content, et cetera.

And in every single study of the media, including both opinion and fact, all respectful media outlets showed again and again, the myth of a liberal media.  It was shown how center-right guests, coverage and printed information ruled the day and how truly liberal guests and coverage were much less (hell, go back and look at political shows on PBS back when this "liberal media" started and see how many of them on this supposed "left-wing" channel actually were present - practically zilch).

Then, Eric Alterman later wrote a book called "What Liberal Media?" that again showed that the liberal media was a myth.  As did Joe Conason and others.

My point is, the right has "worked the ref" so hard on this myth that has become a believed truth about our media.  And if you doubt this, go out and start randomly asking people if they believe the media in America is liberal or conservative and my belief is that they will resoundly utter "liberal" - and quick.

For other examples, in contrast to Conservatives blowing their top on live TV or guest appearances, or showing extreme passion for a topic, how often do Democrats ever do this? My point is, look at the mileage that fucker Lindsay Graham gets from one of his hysterical rants.  Now, I'm not saying having more Democrats go into hysteria, but fuck, man, get some out there that show some goddamn passion and feeling in the same way.  Let one or two of them go off on a political moderator with some real anger.

I mean, when has anyone seen any sort of Democrat go off on a Jake Tapper or any other moderator for horseshit? 

I mean, Jesus, the goddamned media is now normalizing Elon Musk's little salute and it's like younger people have no clue - or don't care - who Adolph Hilter was and what he did.

Hell, I have no clue how to get these Democratic horses to water, let alone make them drink, but what I do know is that for the last twenty or so years, it's not working at all.

And the other thing I know is that what I'm seeing now is the Democrats doing the same thing over again - relying upon the horrors of Donald Trump to do their work for them and we saw how that ended up.

Lastly, from experience, I have seen when radicals come into power and destroy a working institution and once it is done, it is done and not coming back. Trump has not only broken all conventional rules of a decent politic, but more dangerous, he has shown MAGA how to do it and it will continue.  Politics in America has shifted so fast, so completely, and in ways that will be with us from now on, and about the only people seemingly oblivious to this are Washington Democrats.

Here is another way: Learn how to talk to people like Rice.  Imagine, if Nancy Pelosi went to his home to speak to him, most likely the first impression of her encounter would be that of her taking out a handkerchief and brushing off a cushion to his couch before sitting down.

I've posted a link to this interview before of Rice from Appalachia from the YouTube channel Soft White Underbelly. This man is not some raving racist lunatic or a radical "Don't tread on me" type of man, but instead, a man who exhibits what we all want - a good, decent life.