This week, one of the big media stories 妩媚直播� one I wrote about in Tuesday妩媚直播檚 newsletter 妩媚直播� is how news organizations are becoming more bold and responsible when it comes to calling out Donald Trump妩媚直播檚 dangerous words. For example, many pointed to Trump妩媚直播檚 jaw-dropping Veterans Day speech when he promised to 妩媚直播渞oot out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country that lie and steal and cheat on elections.妩媚直播�
Places such as how words such as 妩媚直播渧ermin妩媚直播� echoed dictators such as Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
News outlets can continue to call out Trump妩媚直播檚 disturbing language and reckless lies 妩媚直播� and more are doing so every day in stronger and stronger terms 妩媚直播� but does it mean anything if fellow Republicans and Trump supporters continue to support Trump? Or, at the very least, make excuses for his behavior?
The media needs to do an even more vigilant job in questioning Trump妩媚直播檚 fellow Republicans and those who actually have influence over the party, its members and its supporters.
On Sunday妩媚直播檚 妩媚直播淢eet the Press,妩媚直播� moderator Kristen Welker confronted Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel about Trump妩媚直播檚 pledge of vengeance against his enemies should he be elected president in 2024. Welker asked, 妩媚直播淒oes that essentially make the Republican Party take a stance of 妩媚直播榯he Republican Party stands for revenge?’ What do you think of that message?妩媚直播�
McDaniel skirted around the question, telling Welker, 妩媚直播淚妩媚直播檓 not going to get involved in rhetoric that妩媚直播檚 happening during a contested campaign for our presidential nominee.妩媚直播�
Pressed further about Trump妩媚直播檚 Veterans Day speech, McDaniel said, 妩媚直播淎gain, I am not going to comment on candidates and their campaign messaging. I will say this, I know President Trump supports the veterans, our whole party supports our veterans. And I do think we妩媚直播檙e at a very serious moment in our country.妩媚直播�
An irresponsible answer to a responsible question.
Then, take Tuesday. New Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, currently one of the most powerful members of the Republican Party, was grilled on CNBC妩媚直播檚 妩媚直播淪quawk Box妩媚直播� about Trump妩媚直播檚 continued denials that he lost the 2020 presidential election. When asked about it by co-host Joe Kernen, Johnson 妩媚直播� disappointingly, but not surprisingly 妩媚直播� defended Trump.
Kernen asked, 妩媚直播淚f he did know that he lost the election, was trying to stay, then that妩媚直播檚 a dangerous precedent to return someone to office that wasn妩媚直播檛 going to leave office, even if he knew for a fact that he had. So I guess you would argue that he really believed at that point, and maybe he still believes that he won the election?妩媚直播�
Johnson responded by saying, 妩媚直播淚 take him at his word. I do believe that he believes that. Remember, I was one of his lawyers. I worked on the impeachment defense team twice in the House to defend his positions. And I know how he thinks. And he妩媚直播檚 convinced that because of all the irregularities and everything else, that he was still entitled to that.妩媚直播�
When pressed even further by 妩媚直播淪quawk Box妩媚直播� co-host Andrew Ross Sorkin, Johnson said, 妩媚直播淟isten, there are a lot of people in Washington who妩媚直播檚 saying things that are not accurate all the time. Everybody does. We妩媚直播檙e all human. But I妩媚直播檒l say this about President Trump with regard to that election, and what he believes about that, that is deep in his heart. I mean, I妩媚直播檝e talked to him personally about it. Many of us have. And over the years, you妩媚直播檝e heard him say repeatedly over and over the same refrain that he just felt like he was cheated in that election. And I think that妩媚直播檚 a core conviction of his. And when I say we should take him at his word on that, he believes it.妩媚直播�
That led media journalist and former CNN host , 妩媚直播淭his is how the NETWORK OF LIES operates 妩媚直播� all feelings, no facts.妩媚直播� (Stelter妩媚直播檚 latest book about Fox News and Donald Trump 妩媚直播� 妩媚直播� came out Tuesday.)
As much as it妩媚直播檚 critical to call out Trump妩媚直播檚 terrifying language, which conjures up the likes of Hitler, it妩媚直播檚 just as critical for journalists to ask Republican Party leaders and members what they think about it.
The media calling out Trump can be, at times, a bit performative 妩媚直播� as if they are talking in their own media echo chamber. News media blast away at Trump妩媚直播檚 words not only because they are harmful, but to show other media that they妩媚直播檙e doing the right thing. And media observers like yours truly praise those outlets for doing the right thing.
That妩媚直播檚 not to say the media shouldn妩媚直播檛 keep doing it. Quite the opposite. They should hammer home the dangers Trump presents. But you have to also wonder if the audiences many media outlets are talking to aren妩媚直播檛 already on board with the idea that Trump poses a great threat.
That妩媚直播檚 why it妩媚直播檚 important to have moments like Welker asking hard questions of the RNC chairwoman and CNBC asking hard questions of the speaker of the House.
It妩媚直播檚 also important to call out the hypocrisy of some politicians and their willingness to move the goalposts.
For example, during that interview on 妩媚直播淪quawk Box,妩媚直播� Johnson said, 妩媚直播淚’m all in for President Trump. I expect he妩媚直播檒l be our nominee. He’s going to win it and we have to make (President Joe) Biden a one-term president.妩媚直播�
Yet that in 2015, Johnson wrote a lengthy Facebook post that said, 妩媚直播淭he thing about Donald Trump is that he lacks the character and the moral center we desperately need again in the White House.妩媚直播�
When challenged by a reader of the post defending Trump, Johnson wrote, 妩媚直播淚 am afraid he would break more things than he fixes. He is a hot head by nature, and that is a dangerous trait to have in a Commander in Chief.妩媚直播� He added, 妩媚直播淚 just don妩媚直播檛 think he has the demeanor to be President.妩媚直播�
When asked about this by the Times, Johnson said, 妩媚直播淒uring his 2016 campaign, President Trump quickly won me and millions of my fellow Republicans over. When I got to know him personally shortly after we both arrived in Washington in 2017, I grew to appreciate the person that he is and the qualities about him that made him the extraordinary president that he was.妩媚直播�
Johnson added, 妩媚直播淪ince we met, we have always had a very good and friendly relationship. The president and I enjoy working together, and I look forward to doing so again when he returns to the White House.妩媚直播�
While Johnson妩媚直播檚 answers were disappointing, good for the Times for at least asking.
(Hat tip to of Johnson妩媚直播檚 interview on CNBC.)
Exchange of the day
More than a dozen times, former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was asked on TV by British talk show host Piers Morgan if Hamas was a terrorist group. Corbyn never said yes or no. , which includes video of the contentious on-air exchange between Morgan and Corbyn.
I妩媚直播檓 typically not a fan of Morgan overall, but he is excellent here in continually pressing Corbyn to give a direct answer to a direct and important question.
Actually 妩媚直播�
California Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy, shown here last month. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
The Corbyn-Morgan exchange might not have even been the second most heated exchange of the day.
What in the world was going on in Washington on Tuesday?
First, that she was interviewing Tennessee Republican Congressman Tim Burchett when fellow Republican Kevin McCarthy, the former House speaker from California, walked by. Grisales said McCarthy 妩媚直播渟hoved妩媚直播� Burchett. Later, in an astonishing interview with CNN妩媚直播檚 Manu Raju, Burchett said McCarthy 妩媚直播渆lbowed妩媚直播� him.
, Burchett called McCarthy a 妩媚直播渂ully,妩媚直播� adding, 妩媚直播淗e’s like the guy who throws a rock over the fence when he’s a kid and runs home and hides behind his momma’s skirt.妩媚直播�
Burchett claimed McCarthy was 妩媚直播渂itter妩媚直播� because Burchett voted to oust McCarthy as speaker of the House.
Meanwhile, McCarthy later told CNN. 妩媚直播淚 didn妩媚直播檛 shove or elbow him. It妩媚直播檚 a tight hallway.妩媚直播� And then later, to a group of reporters, McCarthy said, 妩媚直播淚f I hit somebody, they would know it. If I kidney punched someone, they would be on the ground.妩媚直播�
CNN analyst and former Obama adviser , 妩媚直播淪eriously, what the hell is this? It’s not high school. It’s the U.S. Congress.妩媚直播�
We妩媚直播檙e not done. There was then on Tuesday: At a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing, Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and the president of the Teamsters union, Sean O’Brien, both stood up and acted like they wanted to fight one another.
I妩媚直播檓 not making this up. This is what they said:
Mullin: 妩媚直播淵ou want to run your mouth? We can be two consenting adults. We can finish it here.妩媚直播�
O妩媚直播橞rien: 妩媚直播淥K, that妩媚直播檚 fine, perfect.妩媚直播�
Mullin: 妩媚直播淵ou want to do it now?妩媚直播�
O妩媚直播橞rien: 妩媚直播淚妩媚直播檇 love to do it right now.妩媚直播�
Mullin: 妩媚直播淭hen stand your butt up then.妩媚直播�
O妩媚直播橞rien: 妩媚直播淵ou stand your butt up.妩媚直播�
They both stood and that妩媚直播檚 when Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont, seemed almost incredulous, telling Mullin, 妩媚直播淪top it! No, no, sit down! You know, you妩媚直播檙e a United States senator.妩媚直播�
Sanders妩媚直播� admonishment reminded me of the , 妩媚直播淒r. Strangelove妩媚直播�: 妩媚直播淕entlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!妩媚直播�
CBS News妩媚直播� Ed O妩媚直播橩eefe thought of another film, , 妩媚直播淲e might just need to start calling Capitol Hill 妩媚直播楩ight Club.妩媚直播欏闹辈
Speaking of which 妩媚直播�
CNN妩媚直播檚 Jake Tapper with excellent work calling out O妩媚直播橞rien for his role in the silly dustup with Mullin. Tapper had O妩媚直播橞rien on Tuesday妩媚直播檚 妩媚直播淭he Lead妩媚直播� where he asked O妩媚直播橞rien about what happened.
O妩媚直播橞rien said of Mullin, 妩媚直播滃闹辈ウ what went through my mind was, you’re one of 100 of the most powerful people in the country, and you’re acting like a 12-year-old in a schoolyard because you didn’t get your way.妩媚直播�
But Tapper fired back, 妩媚直播淥K, but can I say, you妩媚直播檙e tweeting like a 12-year-old. I mean, your tweets were 妩媚直播� you妩媚直播檙e not a United States senator, OK? And I get that your tweeting is not the same thing as calling somebody out during a Senate hearing. But: 妩媚直播榊ou know where to find me. Any place, anytime cowboy.妩媚直播� You妩媚直播檙e making fun of him for not being the tallest senator. I mean, you represent 1.3 million workers. 妩媚直播� Do you really think that that is best serving, best representing the members of the Teamsters union?妩媚直播�
O妩媚直播橞rien answered, 妩媚直播淗is story is compelling, but inaccurate. And in a hearing in March, he started the whole thing by coming into a hearing, looking at us and basically saying to me, 妩媚直播業妩媚直播檓 not afraid of physical confrontation. As a matter of fact, I welcome it.妩媚直播� So that妩媚直播檚 what perpetuated the whole incident. Never knew the man in my life, never met him. I was testifying in my first Senate hearing, and that was his first introduction to me.妩媚直播�
Welker妩媚直播檚 month
NBC News妩媚直播� Kristen Welker. (Courtesy: NBC News)
It has been quite the month so far for NBC News妩媚直播� Kristen Welker.
On Nov 5, she did a newsworthy interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Three days later, on Nov. 8, she was one of the moderators for the third Republican presidential debate. This past Sunday on 妩媚直播淢eet the Press,妩媚直播� Welker had a lengthy, pull-no-punches interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
It also should be noted that this past Sunday妩媚直播檚 妩媚直播淢eet the Press妩媚直播� drew 4.7 million views across all its platforms. That was a nearly 50% increase over the week prior. The average viewership of 2.415 million viewers made it the most-watched Sunday news show of the week. (But to note: 妩媚直播淔ace the Nation妩媚直播檚妩媚直播� TV numbers come from its first half hour because not all affiliates carry the second half of the show.)
Media tidbits
- The Washington Post妩媚直播檚 Drew Harwell with
- This Saturday, CNN妩媚直播檚 Anderson Cooper will receive the 妩媚直播 Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism. He will receive his medal at 妩媚直播妩媚直播檚 annual Bowtie Ball. Ahead of the big night, 妩媚直播妩媚直播檚 Amaris Castillo writes, 妩媚直播�5 of Anderson Cooper妩媚直播檚 most memorable on-air moments.妩媚直播�
- My 妩媚直播 colleague, Angela Fu, with 妩媚直播淔ormer Gannett Media president Maribel Perez Wadsworth to lead Knight Foundation.妩媚直播�
- The Wall Street Journal妩媚直播檚 Alexandra Bruell with
- The Washington Post妩媚直播檚 Michael Scherer and Josh Dawsey with
- The third Republican primary debate last week on NBC drew 7.5 million viewers 妩媚直播� a 21% decline from the second GOP debate in September and a 41% decline from the first GOP debate in August. The first two debates were on Fox News and Fox Business.
- Enock Nyariki, community and impact manager of the International Fact-Checking Network at 妩媚直播, with 妩媚直播淪outh Korea妩媚直播檚 fact-checking future is uncertain as a key donor retreats.妩媚直播�
Hot type
In 2022, Stanford University star soccer goalkeeper Katie Meyer died by suicide. Sports Illustrated妩媚直播檚 Greg Bishop writes,
More resources for journalists
- Subscribe to 妩媚直播妩媚直播檚 Friday newsletter, Open Tabs with 妩媚直播 managing editor Ren LaForme, and get behind-the-scenes stories only available to subscribers.
- How Any Journalist Can Earn Trust (Self-directed course) 妩媚直播� Enroll now.
- Got a story you妩媚直播檇 like to write for 妩媚直播? Email pitch@poynter.org with your idea, approximate timeline and word count.
Have feedback or a tip? Email 妩媚直播 senior media writer Tom Jones at tjones@poynter.org.
The 妩媚直播 Report is our daily media newsletter. To have it delivered to your inbox Monday-Friday, sign up here.
