The cable information networks reminded us once more this weekend that the extra issues change, the extra they keep the identical.
Viewers hoping that the company media had lastly realized its lesson after almost a decade of Trumpian manipulation probably got here away from the Sunday exhibits dissatisfied, as anchors throughout the political spectrum devoted nearly all of their time to breathlessly cataloguing Donald Trump’s unhinged checklist of political nominations.
That was very true over on “Meet the Press,” the place anchor Kristen Welker appeared virtually giddy whereas describing Trump’s plan to “shake up” (destroy) the federal authorities.
Misplaced within the froth was any context for why Trump’s nominees are so harmful—and why more and more alarmed Senate Republicans may pose sudden complications for Trump’s newest picks. Additionally invisible? Democrats, who’re again to begging for a sliver of media consideration as they start the difficult technique of rebuilding their get together after final month’s disastrous election.
Listed below are a number of the tales that didn’t make the reduce, and why it issues that the media selected to disregard them.
The brand new press
Whereas CNN’s Sunday “Newsroom” centered its protection on . . . winter storm warnings throughout New England, what was absent from the media’s weekend protection? One other warning from the Trump administration that the period of company journalism is coming to an finish.
Trump may quickly be shaking up the White Home Briefing Room in a manner that amplifies MAGA sycophants and podcast bros whereas booting conventional reporters out the again door.
“Both the strategy and the press briefing room will likely look a whole lot more like the media consumption habits of the American voters of today versus the 1980s,” a Trump official advised Politico. “I could very well see a press briefing room where Maggie Haberman sits next to Joe Rogan.” Ah sure, trusted fact-based reporter Joe Rogan.
That’s dangerous information for the Beltway press, which has tried its greatest to coddle Trump in an effort to protect its White Home entry. However that technique appears to have backfired completely. Sadly for the American folks, that drama is essentially enjoying out behind the scenes. Not a single cable information community thought Trump’s proposed historic media shake-up merited protection.
Worst of the remaining
The Washington media-industrial complicated is gearing up for a return of its “All Trump All the Time” technique, and which means we are able to say goodbye to severe protection of political developments within the states. That’s a blessing for Republicans in state legislatures throughout the nation, as a result of they’re gearing as much as assist the incoming Trump administration’s effort to abolish the Division of Schooling.
With all eyes on the White Home, state lawmakers could have free reign to enact a brand new wave of far-right laws from the protection of the media shadows. That stretches past simply undermining public schooling in America. A number of states are gearing up for an additional swing at proscribing abortion rights and limiting entry to medical look after transgender kids.
That might not be attention-grabbing to the company cable information executives who decide what you see and listen to on the airwaves, but it surely issues so much to the households whose lives will quickly be upended by a wave of unchecked Republican authorized terrorism. What the American folks want now could be a media able to strolling and chewing gum on the identical time. Proper now, they’re failing at each.
Do you have got a narrative that the media missed? Share it with me on Bluesky and it may seem in subsequent week’s roundup!
