Liberal documentarian Michael Moore slammed heavy "corporate media" coverage devoted to "Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia" and adult-film actress Stormy Daniels on Monday, calling the stories “shiny keys to distract us."



The commentary from the "Bowling for Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" director came during a livestreamed town hall event featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersNYT editorial board remembers Ginsburg: She 'will forever have two legacies' Two GOP governors urge Republicans to hold off on Supreme Court nominee Sanders knocks McConnell: He's going against Ginsburg's 'dying wishes' MORE (I-Vt.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenGOP set to release controversial Biden report Biden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt MORE (D-Mass.) in Washington on Monday night.



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The three prominent progressives lamented the lack of national media coverage around a recent teachers strike in West Virginia that resulted in a 5 percent pay increase, which Moore characterized as bringing "down the state’s apparatus" and "an amazing victory" for labor in a red state."Bernie, I didn’t see hardly anything in the corporate media about this, on any of the networks, even some of the networks that we watch were you know — Russia, turn the channel, Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia,” the Oscar-winning director said. “I’m not saying that’s not important.”“And don’t forget Stormy Daniels!” injected Sanders.“These are all shiny keys to distract us. … We should know about the West Virginia strike. What an inspiration that would be that would be around the country," added Moore."But they don’t show this, Bernie, because, what would happen if they did?”“In a so-called conservative red state, teachers stood up and fought back and won," Sanders noted.Sanders, who gavean unexpected challenge for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, has complained about media coverage of Daniels before.“There are enormous problems facing our country ... and what are we talking about over and over again? Stormy Daniels," Sanders said to CNN's Anderson Cooper Cooper on "AC360" on Mar. 7."Let me respectfully suggest that I do not think Stormy Daniels is one of the major issues facing our country.”Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is locked in a legal battle with Trump over a $130,000 payment she received weeks before the 2016 election. The payment was part of a nondisclosure agreement, which Daniels says was under regarding an affair she says she had with Trump a decade earlier. The mechanics behind how Trump attorney Michael Cohen obtained the $130,000 to pay Daniels could potentially have violated campaign finance law.The White House denies that Trump had a relationship with Daniels.