I was interviewed by a major media outlet today about my take on media coverage of Trump’s handling of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. Let’s see if any of it runs.
One point I made is that it is clear that the major media (NYT, WaP0 and the networks other than Fox) frame their coverage and questions so at to seek soundbites that can be used against Trump. It’s always a set up, and Trump doesn’t fall for it and pushes back, and then we have a dust up.
CNN is possibly the worst, infusing its news coverage (as opposed to opinion coverage) with snide chyrons, and playing petty games like cutting away from the daily briefings when Trump is speaking.
There is no better example than Jake Tapper’s interview with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has spoken highly of Trump’s responsiveness to California’s needs in the past.
Tapper’s question is framed in such a way as to solicit a negative soundbite:
“Tapper: “I’ve talked to officials throughout the country who have said they have to temper their remarks and what they say about the federal government response for fear that president Trump will punish the citizens of their state if he considers them to be a complainer. You and president Trump seem to have been working collaboratively, he praised you yesterday. Do you find yourself, by necessity, tempering what you say in terms of any issues you might have with the federal response?”
But Newsom didn’t take the bait.
Newsom: “…. Let me just be candid with you. I’d be lying to you to say that [Trump] hasn’t been responsive to our needs. He has. And so, as a question, as a sort of an offer of objectivity, I have to acknowledge that publicly. And the fact is every time I’ve called the president, he’s quickly gotten on the line. And when we asked to get support for that Mercy ship in southern California, he was able to direct that in real time. We’ve got 2000 of these field medical sites that are up, almost all operational now in the state because of his support. Those are the facts….”
That look on Jake’s face was priceless.
By the way, CNN is paying a price for its childish news coverage. It’s highest rated show was Jake Tapper, coming in at 22nd place. That’s right, CNN doesn’t have any show in the top 20 for cable news.
It’s *almost* like CNN doesn’t care about its ratings. It’s on a mission, damn the torpedoes.
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