All this craven ass-kissing in corporate media for someone who's perhaps the least popular and most divisive president in modern history. Their coverage -- presenting Trump as an unstoppable force riding a huge mandate -- is just bizarre. Almost seems like they're trying to convince themselves. - ThreadSky

kevinmkruse.bsky.social • 37 days ago

All this craven ass-kissing in corporate media for someone who's perhaps the least popular and most divisive president in modern history.

Their coverage -- presenting Trump as an unstoppable force riding a huge mandate -- is just bizarre. Almost seems like they're trying to convince themselves.

Reposted from Dean Obeidallah

New Marist poll: Trump starts with a net-negative favorability rating, 44% favorable, 49% unfavorable. This destroys the idea Trump has a mandate. Wish Democratic leaders would see these polls and realize Trump is not popular. Stop talking common ground and start fighting!

Comments

mws604.bsky.social•36 days ago

Trump isn't an unstoppable force due to a mandate. He is an unstoppable force because he can do anything he wants. SCOTUS declared him immune and the Republicans in Congress won't stop him. Exhibit A - Pete Hegseth will be confirmed as SecDef.

tjaskren.bsky.social•36 days ago

Why bother with hearings? Has anyone been rejected based on a hearing?

paroxiteen.bsky.social•37 days ago

The billionaire media moguls have surpassed their goal of manufacturing consent. They've moved into new territory and it's more important now than ever before that we support new media and disregard the sclerotic legacy outlets that have been captured by the oligarchs.

kurtweldon.bsky.social•37 days ago

To be fair, he is a useful idiot to a wide range of less-than-admirable people.

skyline4438.bsky.social•37 days ago

It's not that complicated. Everyone hates Trump, but not that many really wanted another four years of what we had (yes, I know).

It's a bad time for the media to tuck tail, because we need them more than ever to highlight the terrible things that are about to happen.

skyline4438.bsky.social•37 days ago

I mean, there is a difference between like someone and thinking they're the best option.

elsiejay.bsky.social•37 days ago

I really think, “reporting during fascist nightmare is what will win me my Pulitzer,” so they secretly want all the bad things to happen.

petehausler.bsky.social•36 days ago

infuriating

tnbskts.bsky.social•36 days ago

You'd think they might have learned something from last time. If they did, it wasn't anything good.

exodor.bsky.social•36 days ago

He starts his term net -5% and this will almost certainly be the high water mark for his popularity

The craven kowtowing to him is sickening to watch

ems1944.bsky.social•36 days ago

1) Enough about "craven corporate media." I'm not defending them. They were and are, but who hasn't been craven? Dems lead the pack. Hell, they know polls were in the tank for Biden, but too craven to have the hard conversation until Biden was openly drooling in the debate.

Academia?Where are all

ems1944.bsky.social•36 days ago

2) the brave souls in academic administration? How about all the voters who said,"Nah. Who cares?"

How about corporations contributing millions to the Inaugural fund? How about the judicial system? Aileen Cannon ignoring law right and left? SCOTUS? What about religious groups?

Who the hell's left?

kingshwa.bsky.social•36 days ago

It’s a sense of denialism about the state of politics - everyone is angry due to the changing modern economy and rising cost of living that neither party has any meaningful solutions for. Easier to pretend we’re back when presidents could be popular.

jackifus.bsky.social•36 days ago

Journalists want a titillating tail to tell

They cultivate reality TV entertainment

upine.bsky.social•35 days ago

Or they fear T will put them in jail

From last August:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/31/politics/video/smr-trump-zuckerberg

rocketpatrol.bsky.social•37 days ago

Trying to convince themselves and everyone who'll listen to them.

sparrowswiftlyfly.bsky.social•37 days ago

sierra-foxtrot.bsky.social•35 days ago

Actually, it makes perfect sense. They learned nothing from the last disaster, which they helped create. They made even more egregious mistakes and deliberate choices this time. They will NEVER accept responsibility, and in many cases, are happy with the results of their dirty work.

brieldridge.bsky.social•36 days ago

💰💰💰💰

lakin1013.bsky.social•35 days ago

Wish we could hear Dem/Ind leaders reminding us of no mandate, small win, and a possible good future. It would be nice to hear positive things.

mikehibu.bsky.social•37 days ago

Just "modern" history???

melanieinmiami.bsky.social•36 days ago

They are all “storytelling”

jmnly.bsky.social•36 days ago

They’re just paying tribute to the boss

margotdor.bsky.social•36 days ago

https://youtu.be/Ij_UQEY1OQE?feature=shared

dustinheron.bsky.social•37 days ago

Makes it so much easier to go along with what he wants

beornblack.bsky.social•37 days ago

its for him, there is something else going on

he is an idiot and just the trojan horse. those inside have an agenda, what is it besides the nonsense the media has given us? the grifting, etc are real but seems like the camouflage.

ziggeroonski.bsky.social•36 days ago

Trump will be a douche no matter what, pay attention to the media and how they cover his crap, there will be a day of reckoning and they need to face it

peteinpa.bsky.social•37 days ago

It's simple--just like with the tech bros. Trump is pay to play. You pay your dues/bribe, you get your payoff. In this case, modern media thrives on access, intel, and tittle-tattle. No fawning--no access.

briantarbell.bsky.social•37 days ago

How did he win the popular vote and election then Kev

dustinheron.bsky.social•37 days ago

Wow a whole percentage point, you're right that's a mandate 🙄

richardkkearney.bsky.social•37 days ago

Yes, he won with 49.8% (not a majority), and he's very unpopular. He doesn't have a mandate, and he'll have even less support with every passing day.

germanwondering.bsky.social•37 days ago

Elon won it for him. Elon is the president.

kbgpolitics.bsky.social•37 days ago

gregsanderson.bsky.social•36 days ago

Not really. It makes sense. They get the best of both worlds.

Keeping Donald happy means he won't be a problem when it comes to mergers, throwing you in jail etc.

And (for some unknown reason) consumers will keep buying Teslas, their WaPo, using Facebook etc. So the cash still keeps rolling in 💰

zwmartin.bsky.social•37 days ago

kevin right wing billionaires own them. shouldnt be a shock.

chriswintersva.bsky.social•37 days ago

I constantly wonder how we can get a real press in this country. Liberal billionaires are clearly not coming to save us.

cavmom.bsky.social•37 days ago

I am reminded of George Carlin's famous comparison of Football vs baseball - Makes me think of Repubs vs Dems.
https://youtu.be/aIkqNiBASfI?si=zCVV0jWt3nExOFzn

kimoco.bsky.social•37 days ago

They are hoping for a piece of the spoils. This gang is going to steal as much as they can. I'd put money on it.

myogi3.bsky.social•36 days ago

The media is trying to understand how they got it wrong so “bigly.” After what happened when he lost to Joe Biden the media should have relegated him to failed has been. The instead were insatiable for his antics. And here we are.

tamaramuyskens.bsky.social•36 days ago

I’m very curious to see if the same people who watch Fox so they can radiate in the rage and bitterness start paying for a subscription to read the Washington Post.

taltondrumbo.bsky.social•36 days ago

prodigalhoosier.medsky.social•37 days ago

Have you read Douthat & Andreessen yet @kevinmkruse.bsky.social?
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/opinion/marc-andreessen-trump-silicon-valley.html?unlocked_article_code=1.p04.-RVj.JljiJJy_WjAS&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb

automaton4u.bsky.social•37 days ago

They aren't doing it because they fear him. They are doing it because they are MAGA and always have been.

fjerome.bsky.social•36 days ago

No they’re trying to convince the masses. It’s propaganda.

youngocato.bsky.social•37 days ago

Especially so considering they never gave Biden a fragment of that benefit of the doubt at any point in his presidency, including early before his ratings dropped low.

allanclane.bsky.social•36 days ago

You know this but it isn’t that they’re misinterpreting the situation it’s that they’re trying to create the situation. The sanewashers sanewashed because the rich owners wanted oligarchy. Now they’re portraying Trump as unstoppable to dampen opposition to the oligarchy.

martyolliff.bsky.social•36 days ago

They backed a horse who won by a nose. In the spirit of “a miss is as good as a mile,” they say that winners are made by both noses and lengths and by lengths and furlongs, so why not describe Trump’s victory as him winning by a mile?

tahfromslc.bsky.social•37 days ago

Seems more like propaganda to me.

munzo.bsky.social•35 days ago

I still find it so fishy that the 'won' the election. Aside from the fact that he's disgusting, I never believed he had a goodvpipulsrity rating. He didn't have one in his first term either.

jetgurl.bsky.social•36 days ago

Absolutely! He’s NOT popular, please stop placating!

hrlatinam.bsky.social•36 days ago

Or try to convince us.

refusenik.bsky.social•37 days ago

It's not bizarre. The billionaire owners of corporate media are cravenly ass-kissing the incoming president, if they weren't already contributors and supporters, and the newsrooms are cravenly ass-kissing their billionaire bosses to preserve their own jobs. Shit flows downhill.

tnbskts.bsky.social•36 days ago

This is what masculine energy looks like, apparently.

djwyszynski.bsky.social•36 days ago

But Kevin - it's RIVETING STORYTELLING!

johna.org•36 days ago

... for ALL AMERICANS®

kirmley.bsky.social•37 days ago

seems more like collusion to me

beauxjangles.bsky.social•36 days ago

They’re doing an excellent job of showing me who to avoid and who gets my dollars

glibandbitchy.bsky.social•36 days ago

Build 'em up and then tear 'em down. It's kinda the media's thing.

redped.bsky.social•36 days ago

It’s almost like it was always about capitalism and not “democracy” all along…

camofarc.bsky.social•36 days ago

I think "kleptocracy" is more apt than "capitalism."

youlikeraisins.bsky.social•37 days ago

The press is deathly afraid of being called liberal or biased and trump does that all the time. Journalists should write the truth and ignore trump.

agnathra.bsky.social•37 days ago

They don’t see that as the path to profits any more. Especially since profits increasingly are coming from other industries (bezos and amazon web services), and they can’t let their prestige brands cost their cash cows money.

Support @propublica.org

celticdragon1.bsky.social•37 days ago

Cillizza busy telling Dems how fucked they are because of course

athenas-ghost.bsky.social•37 days ago

WTF? 44% favorable? SMDH

leephillips.bsky.social•37 days ago

Here’s some more evidence of his “mandate” from his first term. NEVER reached 50% approval. 🤣

bearsaremean.com•37 days ago

All you have to do is tell him no, that's it, he's not gonna morph into fucking Voltron, all anyone had to do was say no and America wouldn't be on the verge of 50 years of darkness

far-far-away.bsky.social•36 days ago

It’s because they know that he will use the DoJ and the IRS and any other regulatory agency he can throw at them and more importantly *the courts will no longer reverse his actions*

leahleahbobeah.bsky.social•35 days ago

With great power comes great responsibility. Be part of the solution!

#14thNOW
#BeatTheCheat
#VerifyTheVote
#DemCast
#USProtests
#NeverForgetJanuary6
#StrongerTogether
#TruthWarriors
#TruthSeekers
#BoycottMTN
✊💙💡✨
It’s never too late to know the truth!

https://youtube.com/shorts/MaZuhLEglU4?si=y3TeLUdnPWiUwnu8

oldskier.bsky.social•36 days ago

I agree; Trump is not Popular!
But MONEY IS!
And that is what all his followers think will flow from his golden tongue...

nannyzazu.bsky.social•36 days ago

They are all salivating at making money off him…they see all you have to do is compliment and agree with him..then propose a few transactions..a little buttkissing can raise your bottom line.

chrisneyland.bsky.social•37 days ago

Mediocre and stupid people do mediocre and stupid things.

asciim0v.bsky.social•35 days ago

He's popular with those who sign people's paychecks, which makes him someone they need to fear

susubrooks.bsky.social•36 days ago

It's the narrative pivot driven by journalists' boredom - they don't want to write what they wrote before, they want a fresh angle.

mannwich.bsky.social•36 days ago

And these numbers will only get worse for him as more people see just what a shitshow is happening. 44% is the high water mark.

makelovenotwar.bsky.social•36 days ago

Nah we live in bizzarro world now. Watch it rise

g-ill.bsky.social•36 days ago

Shocking perhaps, but unsurprising. Legacy media, whether print or broadcast are huge multibillion dollar *for-profit enterprises* owned by tycoons who, almost to the man, skew far-right in their politics.

bryanfichter.bsky.social•37 days ago

I'm baffled. Like you say, it's like they want him to be Reagan or FDR.

jimmylawler.bsky.social•36 days ago

In the second part of his first term, when CBS started hiring his administration’s cast-offs “anticipating a second Trump term” it has felt like media has been just biding their time.

To be fair, a lot of Biden cast-offs got hired, but the narrative was always THAT. The thing from Jamaica Estates.

piglet42.bsky.social•36 days ago

They like hin, identify with him and helped him win a slim majority because they are fellow oligarchs.

creekchubdarter.bsky.social•36 days ago

What disaster will change their minds? It’s fucking incredible.

rebeccaamccoy.bsky.social•36 days ago

Their aim is to make more money, because billionaires never have enough. Trump promises to cut their taxes and regulations so they can reap more profits.

barefootinva.bsky.social•37 days ago

It's to be expected. They care about $$ and access, and they (like FOTUS) don't care about the truth.

chrisjvetter.bsky.social•36 days ago

Sorry guys… no one believes or cares about polls anymore. Trump will probably sue that one, too. Trump has warped perception into his reality. Don’t bother telling anyone what polls say anymore…

justicelovr.bsky.social•35 days ago

We Dems gotta stop with nice guy attitude. For every sh!!ty thing maga does, we hurl one back, meaner and dirtier.

demsrock.bsky.social•35 days ago

They’re so out of touch.

focogregg.bsky.social•36 days ago

There is no common ground or convention any longer. Until we stop pretending there is, we are losing.

artemisprime.bsky.social•37 days ago

It's for an audience of one...Trump. Just another attempt to curry favor.

markmcafee.bsky.social•36 days ago

I wonder if progressives will take any lessons from the fact that the American people liked Harris and her policies LESS than a remarkably unpopular and horrible person.

ga6th.bsky.social•36 days ago

You know if I were a conservative I think I would be more concerned with the fact that conservatives backed an adjudicated rapist and convicted felon. Trump would have never won without their backing.

markmcafee.bsky.social•36 days ago

Totally agree. They are not conservatives. People who back Trump care nothing of conservative principles. They are right wingers, not conservatives. There is a difference.

ga6th.bsky.social•35 days ago

Well then you guys need to join forces but honestly the conservatives that meet your definition are few and far between from my personal experience.

lrshagerty.bsky.social•37 days ago

Being more afraid of Trump than the American public who did not overwhelmingly vote for him? It's a bold strategy. Let's see if it pays off for 'em.

prodigalhoosier.medsky.social•37 days ago

Andreessen all but admits that Musk, Bezos & Zuck influenced the election’s outcome & explains their motive in Douthat’s newest piece. It’s pretty fucked up.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/opinion/marc-andreessen-trump-silicon-valley.html?unlocked_article_code=1.p04.-RVj.JljiJJy_WjAS&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb

humbletimr.bsky.social•37 days ago

I would agree, but I think they are working to “enrich” themselves more than convince themselves.

stephen-morrison.bsky.social•36 days ago

No previous president has been so clear that he's open to bribery, and so willing to punish those who won't bribe him.

goosedoggy.bsky.social•37 days ago

This would assume Democrats have a set of balls.

darkwebmallcop.bsky.social•37 days ago

Trumpism is what they truly believe in

aquavirago.bsky.social•36 days ago

I personally don't believe it's even that high. If Muskrat can buy an election, he can also buy Daddy some favorable ratings.

coastally1337.bsky.social•36 days ago

Convince themselves? The oligarchs that own the entire industry are in the fucking tank, synchronized swimming for Trump’s amusement.

agnathra.bsky.social•37 days ago

I don’t think they’re trying to convince anyone of anything except trump that he doesn’t have to be mean to them for them to comply.
It’s a stress test for our press and our press is failing. It’s showing that profits are not necessarily compatible with seeking truth, and in this age, incompatible

joellava.bsky.social•36 days ago

There are many reasons why Trump has no mandate, explained here:
https://youtu.be/YdnPqc38N6k?si=s3HbitK0i8Xrdrjv

rowast.com•37 days ago

I wish someone would point out he's not wearing the finest silks

everythingisgrate.bsky.social•36 days ago

They’re trying to convince everyone else that they (we) are powerless. It’s just going to get worse and worse.

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