I get this dilemma but….And so what? Being on the plane to amplify more lies and propaganda? The WH press corps is being used as a prop. Spend the time reporting instead. - ThreadSky

clarajeffery.bsky.social • 7 days ago

I get this dilemma but….And so what? Being on the plane to amplify more lies and propaganda?

The WH press corps is being used as a prop. Spend the time reporting instead.

Reposted from Brian Stelter

Consider the possibility that the Trump White House WANTS this fight. Wants journalists to act like opponents instead of observers. If the entire press pool skipped a Trump photo op in solidarity with The AP, wouldn't the White House welcome Breitbart and One America News to take their places?

Comments

trex9123.bsky.social•7 days ago

@brianstelter.bsky.social favorite pastime is to make excuses for why the corp media should NOT do the right thing and instead go all in to help normalize Trump. Really missing the moment.

clarajeffery.bsky.social•7 days ago

That’s not true.

trex9123.bsky.social•7 days ago

Disagree, seen this before, maintaining access is more important than anything else,and now the excuses are comin ' from @theatlantic.com too.The corp media continues to normalize Trump's idiocy and his unconstitutional behavior. The Aussie media wrote about this back in 2017. Its only gotten worse.

receiptmaven.bsky.social•6 days ago

Well said - thank you!

squeebsquaab.bsky.social•7 days ago

How about this: WH Press Corps remains, but they just fill space. No questions. Just stand there and stare at him.

davidcrowe.bsky.social•6 days ago

What is the value of being in a room where virtually every word from the briefing is a proven lie? It’s just giving them legitimacy they don’t deserve. No value in theater of the absurd being taken at face value. None whatsoever.

jeroendstout.bsky.social•7 days ago

Love the implication that if everybody shows up like nothing happened the WH would just go "dang, maybe we messed up, gang," which is of course exactly what happened every time there were no consequences to the Trump team throwing a tantrum.

brklynmind.bsky.social•7 days ago

Stelter response demonstrates exactly the problem with journalism. There are zero ethical standards that govern the "profession", compare that to what Sasson and 7 others did yesterday.
Law has tons of unethical shyts but there are objective standards to guide ppl with integrity.

mttyc.bsky.social•7 days ago

Exactly. Acting as a broadcast stenographer for a president isn’t journalism and actually just nets a declining readership/viewership that knows it’s being lied to.

scaredykathy48.bsky.social•7 days ago

@brianstelter.bsky.social You're playing by the old rules, & they don't work anymore. Make NEW rules, call lies LIES, call abuse of laws, ABUSE of our LAWS! Call traitors, TRAITORS! Call our Senators and Representatives out for the cowards they are! We & YOU are fighting a war for survival here!

stevesternberg.bsky.social•7 days ago

Reporter: What’s President Trump planning to do with the national archives?

WH: Next question. (Points at Fox) Yes?

jeof.bsky.social•7 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/jeof.bsky.social/post/3li7zovoovx2c

clarajeffery.bsky.social•7 days ago

I’m not dumping on Brian. He is accurately describing a conflict within the outlets that traditionally do this kind of coverage.

brklynmind.bsky.social•7 days ago

I'm dumping on him. He could call out the conflict for what it is. Ethical vs unethical.

He chose to return to CNN.

carpinsandiego.com•7 days ago

Coverage? Being an audience full of stenographers? Im fine with changing their title. Lets at least be honest about their actual work product. The Whitehouse Stenographer Corp has a ring. And is WAY more descriptive.

blandphilosophy.bsky.social•7 days ago

100%

brooklynkid53bskys.bsky.social•7 days ago

reporter to I F "Izzy" Stone: how did you get so any great scoops ?

Stone: as you know, I"m deaf, so I couldn't go to the briefing (no ASL translators back then !) so I had to read the report

traceyryniec.bsky.social•7 days ago

I get it too. But they should stop covering the press conferences. I know the Maga press will be there but it will irk Trump to no end if the mainstream aren't there. Who will he villainize?

johnmullinax.bsky.social•7 days ago

I regret i have but one like to give this post.

thisisbull.bsky.social•7 days ago

Those who listen to OAN and Breitbart are already crazier than a pack of shithouse rats. They can't get any crazier.

wonderatnothing.bsky.social•7 days ago

It feels like a lot of things are being used as a prop these days.

aafror.bsky.social•7 days ago

Stelter is getting blasted over this terrible take, as he should be. As another user said, if you just parrot Trump's narrative, you aren't much different than Breitbart anyway.

clarajeffery.bsky.social•7 days ago

The job as it was—does not exist. Because the country that we were—is being destroyed. If the WHPC won’t even follow up on the questions of a colleague Trump has ignored or belittled, then they are participating in the theater of normalcy and giving a bully your platform.

p-mk.bsky.social•7 days ago

Correct 👍

clarajeffery.bsky.social•7 days ago

Also I really don’t think the White House Correspondents dinner aka nerd prom should happen.

lafourchette.bsky.social•7 days ago

I saw Eugene Daniels interviewed about the WHC dinner and he was laughing and behaving as if this was just another year to ‘not take ourselves too seriously.’ 🤦🏼‍♀️

fidl2ns.bsky.social•7 days ago

That dinner is how this whole fiasco started.

demiliopics2.bsky.social•7 days ago

We got stuck with the bill.

larrymcva.bsky.social•7 days ago

Boycott until they let AP back. Sure, they would just invite Breitbart and the rest in but what % of the population actually watches them? And they are already on the Trump team.

The legacy press has most of the country, let them start to be objectively critical and hit them where it hurts.

ssmithnyc.bsky.social•7 days ago

Yep kill that thing right now.

pankpankpank.bsky.social•7 days ago

Let all the right-wing outlets have a WHCD at Twin Peaks, as it is so destined

candyt.bsky.social•7 days ago

Amen

dameofdestiny.bsky.social•7 days ago

Maybe not as it has happened in the past. Perhaps the dinner can exclude White House members & politicians. And maybe it can up the definition of "news" to exclude provable anti-American liars who spread propaganda.

Or hell, just meet a bunch of journalist friends & take over a bar.

allyourscreens.bsky.social•7 days ago

I think it should happen, but someone from the AP should be invited to speak

bunnyamendt.bsky.social•7 days ago

Progressive Democrats wanted Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Nancy Pelosi wanted Hakeem Jeffries. Democrats in Red States need to talk about how horrible Trump policies are going be to them and that he is lying to them with small groups so they tell their friends and families.
https://youtu.be/gmPqjpOmhPI?si=6leTiFCWtxBIfEbm

bunnyamendt.bsky.social•7 days ago

Democrats won't debate Trump he act like child and resorts to childish name calling

weremensh.bsky.social•7 days ago

Well, sure. Who's there, anyway? Traitors and whores, not reporters; Trump and his buddies got rid of them long ago. And it isn't as if the Washington Press Corps wasn't completely complicit in the process.

spencerwindes.bsky.social•7 days ago

Not to mention that, because Trump is a narcissist, the first time that he holds a press conference and no one shows up but the usual clown car of perma-wackos and he doesn’t see the cameras from teevee as he understands it, this will be over.

evansutton.bsky.social•7 days ago

Clara, I know journalism SHOULD be about facts and holding powerful people accountable, but what about the access? Won't anyone think of the access? How could they possibly go on without ACCESS??

aexia.bsky.social•7 days ago

Little treatlers

kooshpacker.bsky.social•7 days ago

Clara, welcome to the resistance

daralind.bsky.social•7 days ago

I’d really love someone to ask editors at outlets that have full-time dedicated WH reporters to talk on the record about why they see this as such an important beat, what stories they hope to get out of it — and whether they ever change their approach if they don’t get those stories.

daralind.bsky.social•7 days ago

Bc it sure seems to me that for 20 years — with the possible exception of Trump I, when there were a ton of leaks about intra-WH infighting w/big policy implications — the beat has been a machine for everyone to churn out identical stories, which seems like an enormous waste of talent.

topherbrennan.bsky.social•7 days ago

A big problem with those stories is they rested on a premise who happily told absurd lies on camera would suddenly become truthful when giving anonymous quotes. It was often obvious they were just covering their own asses while trying to knife rivals.

daralind.bsky.social•7 days ago

Most leaks have selfish motivations. Mark Felt became Deep Throat because he was a disgruntled employee!

topherbrennan.bsky.social•7 days ago

Sure, but Woodward and Bernstein didn't have do bunch of beat sweeteners about what a great guy Mark Felt was to get him to talk! Which is a huge contrast with e.g. Maggie Haberman.

daralind.bsky.social•7 days ago

Okay now I’m imagining this concept and it’s very funny tbh

jsunrise.bsky.social•7 days ago

Agree. It’s just a daily dose of lies and spinning, signifying nothing

yesterdayscatch.bsky.social•6 days ago

I think, sadly, careerism plays a huge role now. Being a WH reporter may be the pinnacle of a career, open the door for book deals etc

daralind.bsky.social•6 days ago

Oh yeah, but this is why I think the q’s need to be asked of editors, who are the ones who choose which people to give that honor to — and who direct them about what to do with it — but aren’t reaping the glory themselves

yesterdayscatch.bsky.social•6 days ago

Yes. Good point.

coug444.bsky.social•7 days ago

It’s perceived as a career status assignment

derpgently.bsky.social•7 days ago

I didn't cancel my NYT subscription because they didn't have enough access to the administration. I just want them to live up to the journalistic standards they are supposed to embody.

mikahmiriam.bsky.social•7 days ago

Exactly. It’s not reporting.

rkfatheree.bsky.social•7 days ago

WHCA can send one rotating pool reporter instead of giving him the audience he needs. The one lever the press has to pull and they refuse. Compare their behavior during Biden’s public events and Trump’s. Already complying in advance, abdicating their constitutional role.

aprilsayso.bsky.social•7 days ago

Have been played since he ride down the golden escalator

aprilsayso.bsky.social•7 days ago

Rode

lbweaver.bsky.social•7 days ago

It won’t help if the NYT boycotts a press conference alone. But if The WSJ did Republicans would notice.

colorfiend.bsky.social•7 days ago

He is scared af of losing his access. All these rich people afraid of losing their gigs while civil servants are losing theirs. Civil servants who don't make paid speeches or stock trades with inside info and actually follow ethics guidelines. Congress and the WH press are cowards. DO SOMETHING!

tehubbard.bsky.social•7 days ago

If someone in cahoots with crooked real estate developers made a living yelling fire in crowded theaters you'd think responsible media would cover the guy as a criminal in cahoots with crooked developers. That's how you cover a WH press room full of OAN, Breitbart and Fox

patsat.bsky.social•7 days ago

For sure.

da-zin-guy.bsky.social•7 days ago

it would actually slow down the erosion of trust from its current dismal trajectory, I think.

way things are now there is nothing to distinguish legit press from the cult apostles, certainly not the stuff they're reporting.

tauriq.bsky.social•7 days ago

Also Wired, Teen Vogue, etc. are not only doing fine without access but better than most.

petigrusghost.bsky.social•7 days ago

They are a captive audience with a fire hose of lies, gibberish, incoherent blabbing. The press needs to stand back from this. He dominates with a dambreak of bullshit.

steeleleets.bsky.social•6 days ago

https://events.pol-rev.com/

nauticavan.bsky.social•7 days ago

But they won’t be on the plane to ask questions he won’t answer!

jayzbee.bsky.social•7 days ago

This guy @brianstelter.bsky.social is a corporate media shill and always has been.

minpinmom.bsky.social•7 days ago

There’s not much difference between the right wing media and so called main stream media right now, so if the media wants it’s reputation back, stop amplifying and normalizing everything

masitax.bsky.social•7 days ago

How fun would it be if the press Corp got together and for a week asked about stupid stuff: How many pairs of golf shoes does Donnie own? Is there Dove bodywash in the Lincoln bathroom? Does Ivanka wax or thread her eyebrows? 🤔 No policy or event questions.

helenkennedy.bsky.social•7 days ago

Let's say Trump is in the Oval with a visiting head of state. And he says something monumentally dumb, or he collapses, or the visiting HoS takes a swing at him. Would you want the only cameras and pencils in the room to be OAN and Newsmax?

ljohn44.bsky.social•7 days ago

I don't know how these things work: if a HoS from another country is there would press from that country also be there? Depending on the country there's a good chance their press is more credible than ours at this point.

bclark55.bsky.social•7 days ago

So the monumentally dumb is meh, but if he does collapse or, even better, gets a shoe thrown at him, I sure would want to see that, and pretty sure Oan and its ilk would not cover it.

helenkennedy.bsky.social•7 days ago

Which is my point.

ndhapple.bsky.social•7 days ago

100% agree. Gotta have protective coverage of the guy who controls the nukes. But I think there’s a middle ground to be had short of a total walkout. Eg don’t take the press briefings live — and only use quotes accompanied by still photos instead of the video clips.

ndhapple.bsky.social•7 days ago

Or every reporter asks a question about the AP ban, or the Gulf of Mexico mess etc etc

ndhapple.bsky.social•7 days ago

When de Blasio refused to take follow-up questions (during the virtual stuff), the Room 9 reporters just started opened every question with a prepared sentence about how this was unacceptable and eventually Blas relented. It took a few days to organize it (after lodging protests privately).

helenkennedy.bsky.social•7 days ago

I'm convinced calls for the straight press to boycott the White House are stupid, and would play right into his hands, and I am incensed that they aren't doing more than issuing tsk tsk statements, but I can't figure out what they *should* do. Your ideas are the first middle ground I've seen.

ericfidler.bsky.social•7 days ago

Send one pool reporter and photog. Everyone else can go commit journalism.

lwburnett.bsky.social•7 days ago

Or Trump takes a swing at him when no one is looking…

jnmulder.bsky.social•7 days ago

*blinks*

You’re worried Trump would say something dumb and that would results in a meaningful consequence for him if the right reporter reported it?

What about the last 8 years would make you think that?

helenkennedy.bsky.social•7 days ago

Thanks for your condescension. Where did I say anything about meaningful consequences?

jnmulder.bsky.social•6 days ago

Then what was the difference in reporting you were warning against?

snootacamund.bsky.social•7 days ago

How would any of those three change anything? Republicans will still support Trump.

helenkennedy.bsky.social•7 days ago

Well, I personally, would like to know things that happen.

bbmjcandy.bsky.social•6 days ago

Yes! Solidarity people.!

jmayday.bsky.social•7 days ago

katherinemary.bsky.social•7 days ago

Why am I not seeing any comments on YOUR post….Only Stelters?!?

schroedinger.bsky.social•7 days ago

force quit the mobile app and come back, I've had a lot of it randomly just not loading things lately

katherinemary.bsky.social•7 days ago

Exactly!👌
If they won’t allow any *journalists near them, who will report the truth, why bother? MSM (their oligarch, boot-licking owners) has tied their hands, anyway. I don’t trust anything they say, anyway. We are only given news that the trump-elon state-tv wants us to know. NOT THE TRUTH.

nyckaty132.bsky.social•7 days ago

Wtf. Press Corp traveling with administration also interview others. Like other foreign leaders and state departments.

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