Jen, I totally agree. But if you think the White House Press Corps is going to suddenly grow a pair (of ovaries since it is women reporting who get the vast majority of abuse) I have a bridge to sell you. The entire room should have emptied--and NOT RETURNED--after The Felon shouted "quiet piggy" at Catherine Lucey of Bloomberg News on AF1 at the very least. The fact that there is utter silence when he abuses and insults female reporters, when there should be shouts of "shame on you" and threats to leave him all alone, should tell you everything.
Linda, I completely agree. I have never understood why the other reporters are too cowed to respond responsibly when Trump insults a woman. Knees quivering, I suppose, they proceed to ask some softball question, when what they should say is, "Excuse me - answer her question!" If the next reporter did that, and the next and the next, Trump would either have to reply properly, or simply flee from the room. Then - they've got him.
Personally, I believe they have been instructed by their billionaire owners to avoid confrontation. In order to keep their salaries, they stay quiet. Unlike Jennifer and others who walked rather than capitulate, the reporters are not willing to sacrifice their access and their paychecks. It is sad.
Ellen, you are absolutely right. The reporters know what to do, but their outlets are owned by the oligarchs who lay down the fascist rules that are destroying the First Amendment and the free press. Independent journalists, like Jen and the Contrarians, are our only hope.
We owe a debt of gratitude to those women reporters who, in merely doing their jobs, risk insults like "quiet piggy" from that witless orange moron. That has to be humiliating and infuriating, especially when the guys won't support you.
Exactly. If only we had more reporters, opinion writers, legal analysts, politicians with the courage of a Jen Rubin. People who are willing to give up the prestige and steady paycheck of a gig at the WaPo, or Department of Justice, or Congress to defend our country are rare. If this country can be saved, it will be because of their leadership and example to the rest of us.
I believe the WH correspondents subscribe to the idea that what the president and Press Secretaries says is news. My general observation is that most of the blather put out by an administration is of little actual value. This is especially true of this regime since the "lie rate" is unusually high. Correspondents should repeat an unanswered question until they get an answer. Obvious falsehoods and gross exaggerations should be called out on the spot. Do I believe this utopia will ever occur? Neh! I'm not that naive.
"“Sir, that statement is objectively false. Why are you lying?”
Just the thought of that rebuttal being uttered with regularity (all over the world!) gives me hope of a viable future for the free press, and for democracy.
I agree, but I will add another aspect. This media conduct "predates" Trump and (in my opinion) is only part of the reason so many Americans distrust the media. I think we are all well aware that most Americans (including journalists) are non-confrontational and meek as individuals. BUT, as Jen alludes, collectively the press can regain their stature by establishing rules and norms that provide the necessary support to counter abuse. Not only do we want our media to "have a spine" with Trump, we also want the media to reinvent itself, develop a set of rules and norms, and apply them to all future Administrations.
"Contrary to the notion that their absence would be letting Trump “win...'"
Exactly!. Their absence is the greatest loss for Trump, who feeds off attention the way a vampire feeds off blood. Deprive him of that, and he doesn't exist.
Nope, no parents in the house, no adults in the room, by design. The president has hand picked the people around him for exactly not having those qualities.
So true...The assistant principal of the high school where I taught had a banner across the door to his office: Respect is for those who show respect. Since the Felon respects no one, he deserves none, especially the title "Mr. President".
Jennifer, kudos. You laid it out perfectly. It’s almost refreshing to have a break in the never-ending, breathless reporting of every minute of the Trump disaster. I’ve never seen so much stonewalling and opaqueness in any previous administration.
and start by reporting all his words, not a summary that makes it look as if coherent thought lurked somewhere in his demented brain. I believe that the White House stopped publishing transcripts of press conferences early in this term, because it was too clear evidence of his dementia.
Recall at some point during the 2024 campaign when Trump said that immigrants were poisoning the blood of America and the NY Times' story said that Trump was speculating on genetic evolution, or some such opaque and polite formulation.
A press being told what they can report by Oligarch owners, who are driven by insatiable greed for money and power is hamstrung from the get go. When they can only report from a certain point of view, they are even worse off. The political and psychological right have deliberately corrupted the whole process of public discourse in this Country. I do not think we can put Humpty Dumpty back together again. We are going to have to create new paradigms for getting truth from power and exposing the abject corruption of the regime.
I agree on many of these points. It’s time for the press to be more aggressive about holding him accountable and I totally believe they should all stand together in solidarity. His racism is on display and so is his misogyny. When he was running in 2024 and Dems were saying that he’s a threat to democracy they were right. Hypocrisy, corruption, and fascism are all hallmarks of this regime.
Ms Rubin urges the White House press core as follows:
“…start behaving as fierce defenders of the truth and of democracy, and rise to meet the occasion.”
This should also be directed at democrats in Congress, especially the leadership. It’s absurd that the House is shut down to avoid facing the mess the Trump regime has created. It’s even more absurd how little democrats do about it. How about a press conference every day asking the missing republicans, through the media, the tough questions about the Epstein Pedo-files, the corruption and grifting and the failed war in Iran to name a few? Do something for fuck sake.
Excellent suggestions. But will not happen because (a) the reporters/producers have 60 seconds to report the incident. What you advocate cannot be conveyed in the arbitrary time limits in today's broadcast TV. (B): As a whole, they lack a single fiber of the courage perhaps last exemplified by Murrow and Cronkite. I should add a third reason: They have had poor training and too many have gotten to their current posts not through solid REPORTING but because they can say something in 60 seconds or less and parrot a press release.
And the fourth reason: bosses who do not want to upset the business apple cart. The bosses demand the reporters not challenge Trump and lose that coveted “access “.
It is well past time to show the real Donald Trump to his adoring public. He is crass, threatening, insecure, and dangerous, and failure to report on that and damages being wrought by his lackeys is a failure of the press's duties to requirements of the First Amendment privileges.
Monday — underscores his late-stage deterioration into decrepitude and desperation, as rage and loss of impulse control drive his behavior.
I dunno about the loss of impulse control. After all, how can you lose what you never had?!?
And the lesson the press has failed to learn is the same one that Neville Chamberlain learned the hard way:
If you appease bullies in hopes they'll go away happy, you're wrong. All that giving in to them does is teach them that you can be intimidated. So they always come back again and again, each time demanding more. Pretty soon, you're giving them your lunch money every day for the rest of the school year.
Wow! Wh press conference a worthless charade. Tell it like it truly is!!!Your writing!!! Literally breathtaking this morning. Awesome and, alas, spot on.
Jen, I totally agree. But if you think the White House Press Corps is going to suddenly grow a pair (of ovaries since it is women reporting who get the vast majority of abuse) I have a bridge to sell you. The entire room should have emptied--and NOT RETURNED--after The Felon shouted "quiet piggy" at Catherine Lucey of Bloomberg News on AF1 at the very least. The fact that there is utter silence when he abuses and insults female reporters, when there should be shouts of "shame on you" and threats to leave him all alone, should tell you everything.
Linda, I completely agree. I have never understood why the other reporters are too cowed to respond responsibly when Trump insults a woman. Knees quivering, I suppose, they proceed to ask some softball question, when what they should say is, "Excuse me - answer her question!" If the next reporter did that, and the next and the next, Trump would either have to reply properly, or simply flee from the room. Then - they've got him.
Personally, I believe they have been instructed by their billionaire owners to avoid confrontation. In order to keep their salaries, they stay quiet. Unlike Jennifer and others who walked rather than capitulate, the reporters are not willing to sacrifice their access and their paychecks. It is sad.
Yep. The business interests say you must stay in the room, even as the reporting and professional interest say all leave.
Ah, you're probably correct. Just more craven cowardice. Yes, it's very sad.
Ellen, you are absolutely right. The reporters know what to do, but their outlets are owned by the oligarchs who lay down the fascist rules that are destroying the First Amendment and the free press. Independent journalists, like Jen and the Contrarians, are our only hope.
We owe a debt of gratitude to those women reporters who, in merely doing their jobs, risk insults like "quiet piggy" from that witless orange moron. That has to be humiliating and infuriating, especially when the guys won't support you.
Exactly. If only we had more reporters, opinion writers, legal analysts, politicians with the courage of a Jen Rubin. People who are willing to give up the prestige and steady paycheck of a gig at the WaPo, or Department of Justice, or Congress to defend our country are rare. If this country can be saved, it will be because of their leadership and example to the rest of us.
I believe the WH correspondents subscribe to the idea that what the president and Press Secretaries says is news. My general observation is that most of the blather put out by an administration is of little actual value. This is especially true of this regime since the "lie rate" is unusually high. Correspondents should repeat an unanswered question until they get an answer. Obvious falsehoods and gross exaggerations should be called out on the spot. Do I believe this utopia will ever occur? Neh! I'm not that naive.
"“Sir, that statement is objectively false. Why are you lying?”
Just the thought of that rebuttal being uttered with regularity (all over the world!) gives me hope of a viable future for the free press, and for democracy.
I love that image, Linda: a chorus of "Shame on you!" after every abuse, every lie.
I agree, but I will add another aspect. This media conduct "predates" Trump and (in my opinion) is only part of the reason so many Americans distrust the media. I think we are all well aware that most Americans (including journalists) are non-confrontational and meek as individuals. BUT, as Jen alludes, collectively the press can regain their stature by establishing rules and norms that provide the necessary support to counter abuse. Not only do we want our media to "have a spine" with Trump, we also want the media to reinvent itself, develop a set of rules and norms, and apply them to all future Administrations.
"Contrary to the notion that their absence would be letting Trump “win...'"
Exactly!. Their absence is the greatest loss for Trump, who feeds off attention the way a vampire feeds off blood. Deprive him of that, and he doesn't exist.
Trump is not just the greatest threat to the First Amendment we have ever faced, he is the greatest threat to the world.
I worry about the "child being left alone" during a tantrum with the nuclear codes. Are there any "parents" in the house?
Nope, no parents in the house, no adults in the room, by design. The president has hand picked the people around him for exactly not having those qualities.
On target again, Ms. Rubin!
"...the end of jocular, frivolous conduct and social deference (e.g., standing when he enters the room, inviting him to their WHCA dinner) must end."
Exactly! Why address him as "Sir"? He is no gentleman. His crimes and felonies cling to him like raw sewage.
So true...The assistant principal of the high school where I taught had a banner across the door to his office: Respect is for those who show respect. Since the Felon respects no one, he deserves none, especially the title "Mr. President".
Respect is an earned commodity. As Turmp obviously doesn't respect the press, why should they return it?
So well said Jennifer! The press will either hang together or hang separately.
Jennifer, kudos. You laid it out perfectly. It’s almost refreshing to have a break in the never-ending, breathless reporting of every minute of the Trump disaster. I’ve never seen so much stonewalling and opaqueness in any previous administration.
and start by reporting all his words, not a summary that makes it look as if coherent thought lurked somewhere in his demented brain. I believe that the White House stopped publishing transcripts of press conferences early in this term, because it was too clear evidence of his dementia.
Recall at some point during the 2024 campaign when Trump said that immigrants were poisoning the blood of America and the NY Times' story said that Trump was speculating on genetic evolution, or some such opaque and polite formulation.
A press being told what they can report by Oligarch owners, who are driven by insatiable greed for money and power is hamstrung from the get go. When they can only report from a certain point of view, they are even worse off. The political and psychological right have deliberately corrupted the whole process of public discourse in this Country. I do not think we can put Humpty Dumpty back together again. We are going to have to create new paradigms for getting truth from power and exposing the abject corruption of the regime.
Words strong enough to meet the moment. Jennifer, you're the best.
I agree on many of these points. It’s time for the press to be more aggressive about holding him accountable and I totally believe they should all stand together in solidarity. His racism is on display and so is his misogyny. When he was running in 2024 and Dems were saying that he’s a threat to democracy they were right. Hypocrisy, corruption, and fascism are all hallmarks of this regime.
Ms Rubin urges the White House press core as follows:
“…start behaving as fierce defenders of the truth and of democracy, and rise to meet the occasion.”
This should also be directed at democrats in Congress, especially the leadership. It’s absurd that the House is shut down to avoid facing the mess the Trump regime has created. It’s even more absurd how little democrats do about it. How about a press conference every day asking the missing republicans, through the media, the tough questions about the Epstein Pedo-files, the corruption and grifting and the failed war in Iran to name a few? Do something for fuck sake.
Excellent suggestions. But will not happen because (a) the reporters/producers have 60 seconds to report the incident. What you advocate cannot be conveyed in the arbitrary time limits in today's broadcast TV. (B): As a whole, they lack a single fiber of the courage perhaps last exemplified by Murrow and Cronkite. I should add a third reason: They have had poor training and too many have gotten to their current posts not through solid REPORTING but because they can say something in 60 seconds or less and parrot a press release.
And the fourth reason: bosses who do not want to upset the business apple cart. The bosses demand the reporters not challenge Trump and lose that coveted “access “.
And beccause they look as if they've come from central casting.
It is well past time to show the real Donald Trump to his adoring public. He is crass, threatening, insecure, and dangerous, and failure to report on that and damages being wrought by his lackeys is a failure of the press's duties to requirements of the First Amendment privileges.
Monday — underscores his late-stage deterioration into decrepitude and desperation, as rage and loss of impulse control drive his behavior.
I dunno about the loss of impulse control. After all, how can you lose what you never had?!?
And the lesson the press has failed to learn is the same one that Neville Chamberlain learned the hard way:
If you appease bullies in hopes they'll go away happy, you're wrong. All that giving in to them does is teach them that you can be intimidated. So they always come back again and again, each time demanding more. Pretty soon, you're giving them your lunch money every day for the rest of the school year.
Spine is good, jocular is not. Amen.
Wow! Wh press conference a worthless charade. Tell it like it truly is!!!Your writing!!! Literally breathtaking this morning. Awesome and, alas, spot on.