Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Trump and the media
In 2015, I often listened to the "Morning Joe" show on satellite radio as I drove into work. I was surprised and then troubled by how often what they were doing was just broadcasting a Trump rally-- hours and hours of them. Sure, they followed it with some snarky commentary, but they just kept giving him free airtime. Lots of other outlets did the same thing, thinking whatever outrageous thing he said constituted "news." And we ended up with... well, you know.
In the Washington Post, Perry Bacon, Jr. had some intriguing suggestions on how the press should cover Trump-- and yes, they should cover him-- this time around. One of his ideas is to focus on the stakes of the next election, not the relative odds of various candidates winning. That's true, of course; the relentless oddsmaking draws us away from real issues, character, and everything else that should matter. And the oddsmakers have been fantastically wrong lately, anyways.
Another of his ideas is that the media should focus on, and take seriously, the agenda that Trump lays out. There is some crazy stuff in there, of course: ie, a mandatory minimum sentence of death for drug dealers. And what that would mean should be played out and taken seriously.
This election really scares me. I am not a fan of Joe Biden, and Trump would wreak destruction if he wins (he seems bent on revenge). Our best hope might be that some other candidate, somehow, emerges.
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