Eric Boehlert: With Trump gone, CNN pulls the plug on White House press briefings

[babylonsister]

With Trump gone, CNN pulls the plug on White House press briefings
Different rules for Dems
Eric Boehlert
2 hr ago


After creating new programming rules for the Trump administration and airing virtually every minute of every White House press briefing live and in its entirety, CNN has quietly cut the chord with the new Democratic administration.

Just one month into President Joe Biden's term, the all-news cable channel last week stopped airing the daily White House press briefings. Perhaps the events weren't entertaining enough, as White House spokesperson Jen Psaki has routinely declined to insert Biden into cultural war debates, refused to castigate reporters, and won’t make stuff up in the name of partisan warfare, the way her Republican predecessors did.

Instead, Psaki has answered questions as best she can about White House policy, while treating journalists with respect, instead of mocking them in search of cheap political points.

That's no longer considered must-see TV at CNN. Fox News also stopped airing the briefings, which is completely expected. MSNBC as of last week was still airing the live Q&A's from the White House.

CNN's move represents one of the most dramatic ways the press has changed the way it covers Biden, as compared to Trump. Suddenly gone is the nonstop, unfiltered coverage of White House briefings, which defined cable news during the past four years.

more...

https://pressrun.media/p/with-trump-gone-cnn-pulls-the-plug

[Native]

1. Disgusting

[SlogginThroughIt]

3. Well look at it this way....

If they did stay to cover them they would have to try and drum up drama constantly. I don't want that so if the fallout is that they stop covering.... Oh well.

[Hortensis]

47. Right. These are now daily press briefings by a press secretary,

after all. As long as they report on significant points that actually are of viewer interest.

And a significant point is that neither CNN nor MSNBC are news networks. They're political discussion/entertainment.

[Johnny2X2X]

2. The networks will do their best to revive Trump

I bet you they will even put pressure on Twitter to get him access. Their ratings are all they care about and Trump being silenced has hurt their ratings.

[ananda]

28. They're already going after Hunter Biden.

I mean.. really???

[KS Toronado]

58. At Merrick Garland's confirmation hearing this morning

One ReQug senator (don't remember which one) already brought up Hunter Biden in his questioning to Garland.
Is this all they got after Jan 6th? Hope someone asks him how many Biden/Harris flags the insurrectionists were
waving on the 6th.

[ananda]

63. I guess it shows how desperate they are. However,

the media is behind the GOP too.

This morning one of the anchors spent a few minutes
on what Reeps wanted investigated, one was Hunter
Biden, as though that was a normal thing.

Really???

[KS Toronado]

66. Yea, they always bring up the 74 million voters for Qrump

They should spend more time on the 81 million voter's desires who want a Democratic Government after 4 years
of the shit we just went through.

[sboatcar]

4. To be honest

I'm kind of happy.....after the last 4 years, I would like 4 years of non-dramatic politics in this country.

[TNNurse]

29. But the current press conferences by Jen Psaki

are not dramatic. They are full of answers and statements about getting more information. She answers questions and admits when she does not know the answer.

[MontanaMama]

34. I agree with you.

Jen Psaki is quite entertaining! I look forward to what she has to say and how she sets certain members of the press corps back on their heels. She’s wonderful.

[Escurumbele]

40. I don't know that she is entertaining, I would not put it that way...She is very professional,

answers every question she is asked, does not insult the press, is very charming, and informs the public as a press secretary should.

The people need to know what is going on, so much good is going on which cannot be hidden because republicans will lie about everything as that is the modus operandi, and then THAT will be reported skewing the reality of the good that the Biden administration is accomplishing.

The media is part of the problem in this country, and in some ways I would have to say that some of it is, in fact, the enemy of the people, Fox News certainly is.

[sboatcar]

64. She's so honest about it

That's the thing I really like. Also why its so boring because there's no fighting with the press. She's got a LOT of patience to put up with the constant badgering from Fox and the like, but that's what a good press secretary has.

[Tree-Hugger]

5. And yet...

CNN is constantly talking about Trump. I keep hearing about all the liberal media, but from what I can see, most news sources keep their heads buried in Trump's orange anus.

[KatK]

39. Go to CNN's Facebook page and leave a comment on any post, asking for

... live coverage of White House press conferences. Say why you will be watching.
Here's the link https://www.facebook.com/cnn

[PatSeg]

43. For the most part, I quit watching CNN a long time ago

I will watch an occasional town hall or special, but otherwise I really don't like the network.

[MuseRider]

6. Write to them,

it is the only way we can change this. Big daddy runners have decided. I would bet money that the news people on the shows know what a bad decision this is. Write to them, we count on them for news and that includes listening to the daily briefings not having it chewed up and interpreted for us by someone else, good or bad.

[lagomorph777]

7. Well, guess I'm done with CNN.

[katmondoo]

10. Me too. Been considering it for a while.

[bullimiami]

11. I'm done with all of them. Utter failures at actual news. They are just current events and drama.

[a kennedy]

23. Yup, I'm done with them all, even Nicole and RACHEL.....

[Duppers]

59. Never watched Rachel Maddow then?

MSNBC is unlike the others.

[bullimiami]

61. Not for awhile. Yes she is an exception. Although the demands of programming limit her.

[sop]

8. They'll probably cover every second of Trump's rallies as he begins his "comeback tour."

I'll be content if they cover all the upcoming investigations and trials.

[Freethinker65]

9. Let's see if CNN chooses to carry Trump's CPAC speech live?

If they do, we (and they) have a real problem.

[bluestarone]

20. AGREE!

WE will be watching here.

[theneworiginal]

54. Yup. Last week, prior to Texas, CNN ran about 40 minutes of Trump family coverage in an hour

and only about 5 minutes of Biden as he continues one of the most critical 100 day spans of any President.

I have been a big fan of CNN, but they are now part of the problem. Their fascination with Trump gives him relevance, only a notch or 2 higher than Fox who they mock.

Trump simply could not run his shadow government if only Fox covered it.

[MANative]

12. My tweet to CNN

.@CNN
Hey, where are the White House Press briefings??? We suffered through 4 yrs of the Trump circus; we'd like to have some real, substantive news now. And BTW, I'd wager that there are better than 80 mill ppl who NEVER want to hear the name "Trump" EVER again.

@MA_NativeCTNY if you care to amplify.

[Alliepoo]

24. I just followed you

And retweeted your tweet.

[MANative]

25. Thanks! Will follow back in a mo!

[Budi]

27. A big Kick & Recc for your summary.

Well stated, DUer MANative

[cbdo2007]

13. The way it should be.

Yes, I realize them doing this for Trump helped Trump's brand and gave him publicity...but really there is no reason to put these on TV and I much prefer NOT knowing what Biden us up to on a daily basis. I am enjoying my life without crazy politics happening all the time.

[UpInArms]

17. They played every Ari Flyshitter segment

During GWB’s terms

“Watch what you say” and “you are either with us or against us”

[bigtree]

18. it's in the interest of the Biden administration to let the public in on what they're doing

...what they're planning.

After all, it's not sensationalism they're promoting from the WH, it's policy in which the administration's role in advancing it is mostly accomplished through mass communication or the 'bully pulpit.'

[PatSeg]

46. Yes, but there is no "crazy politics" on a daily basis

with the Biden administration. The press briefings are actual news and the cable news networks have 24 hours a day. I think they have time to fit in White House briefings. Meanwhile, we are in the middle of a pandemic and economic crisis. The briefings are relevant news.

[UpInArms]

14. I hate those mediawhores

They sold our country out to the most evil ... all for shock jock ratings

They should never have a restful night without demons chasing them in their sleep

[Cuthbert Allgood]

68. I think definitionally

the media can't be mediawhores. Ratingswhores maybe.

And, related note, how about we stop using sex workers as a way to shame someone.

[UpInArms]

70. It was a reference to an old website

[bluestarone]

15. I like most of CNN. It does UPSET me that they were there for EVERY lie QRUMP

Was throwing out there. Now when it comes to throwing the TRUTH out there, they refuse? SAD SAD SAD for CNN!

[spanone]

16. Our for-profit media is longing for the return of trump. Bet they'll show trumps cpac performance

[mahatmakanejeeves]

19. They're on C-Span. They're on WhiteHouse.gov. You can see them anytime you want. NT

[Magoo48]

21. With corporate news, it's always ratings/profits over our common welfare.

This CNN decision is an example of why I haven’t watched tv news in years.

[doc03]

22. I had CNN on just a few minutes yesterday afternoon. They were making it sound like both parties

are in total disarray. The were trying to make the disagreement Joe Manchin has with liberals in the Democratic party equal to
the civil war in the Republican party. Why cover the WH press conference if there aren't any big lies or name calling who wants to see that. It's all about ratings and advertising dollars.

[Budi]

26. What media covers as News, compared to the Tone they use is nowhere more evident than 2016

"The invisible primary is the stage of the campaign where journalists have the most latitude in deciding what and who to cover.
It’s also the stage where the press forges its “metanarratives”—its dominant personal narratives of the leading contenders"



Credit to Eric Boehlert for making the case about the shameful lack of Press coverage at Biden briefings.

Did the two behemoths toss a coin to determine which one covers the Biden dailys?

I snarkily ask because NEITHER MSNBC nor CNN has honestly earned special kudos for being unbiased in their coverage.


In 2016 candidate Clinton demanded a platform include a return to The Fairness Doctrine.
As far as I recall, that major issue was never included in media's covererage of Her .
---------------------

Actually the best example of the Media's effect of the decisions at the upper eschelon regarding their coverage was 2015/16:

Article from June 13, 2016
https://shorensteincenter.org/pre-primary-news-coverage-2016-trump-clinton-sanders/

In terms of tone, Clinton's was 84 percent negative, which was twice that of Trump, two-and-two-thirds that of Cruz, and five times that of Sanders.
Even the non-scandal portion of Clinton’s issue coverage—what she was saying on trade, jobs, foreign policy, and the like—was reported more negatively than positively.

Clinton was the only one of the major candidates whose policy platform generated an unfavorable balance of news coverage.



That one of the 2 Major Media outlets has chosen not to bother with Biden's Daily Press Briefing is not surprising at all.
It's clear who won that coin toss.
Someone had to do it.

I'm giving both CNN & MSNBC equal slaps for how they operate 🤬

DO BETTER THIS TIME AROUND, ffs.

[George II]

30. They showed the briefings for almost a month, but now they're daily and cover the same things...

...repeatedly. It's not a matter of being entertaining.

Also, they and MSNBC stopped showing the trump briefings, too, as infrequent as they became.

[Bmoboy]

31. What Trump press briefings are those?

The Trump administration did not hold daily press briefings, ever.

At one point there were NO press briefings for months under Stephanie Grisham from July 2019 to April 2020.

The Biden administration is holding DAILY (five days a week) briefings.

False equivalence, thy name is media.

[cayugafalls]

32. When will people realize, the town crier works for the king...

No matter what 'side' they say they represent. And by 'king' I do not mean the president.

smdh

[Budi]

37. And where'd that get them

He's now the king of Mar a Lago.

They got nothin but their big paychecks, which is what it was all about in the 1st place.

[Arthur_Frain]

33. They're free to program whatever they want.

I don’t understand the “Don’t look at him! Don’t cover him!” cheerleaders.

Except for your stress level in the run up to the election, would barring him from msm coverage have changed anything? He had outlets for his ‘message’ such that his base was still engaged and active without it. Do you want to wake up the day after the 2024 election and wonder how he managed to get re-elected?

From the perspective of not wanting to be exposed to a brash circus barker exposing himself and throwing shit on everyone that passes by, I get it. But because of the danger that he and his (quite large, let’s be honest) following pose, my perspective is “forewarned is forearmed”.

Make sure every damning thing he says gets put onscreen, so he doesn’t attract any more followers by omission.

I get it. He’s repulsive and makes me physically ill sometimes. I knew the stress of watching what took place on 1/6/21 wasn’t healthy for me, but I watched every second because I knew that I was watching history, and it would affect me as soon as tomorrow. As such, I’m glad it was available, it wouldn’t have been in a totalitarian state.

Yes, step away from the keyboard, the web, the TV/radio broadcasts occasionally. I just took a couple of weeks. Absolutely fantastic to have no input but a good old fashioned book, and the world can survive a week or two without your or my direct attention.

But the best offensive weapon we have is people like you and me, pointing out his lies, racism, absurdities, and flaws to our friends and family who are still susceptible to that kind of message. Because their message is going to get out there, whether he’s on CNN or not.

[Lonestarblue]

35. Much of the media is only interested in dog-eat-dog survivor type news.

Controversy equals dollars. Psaki generates very little controversy, which helps the rest of us sleep better at night but does nothing for the outrage meter.

[Oneironaut]

36. I stopped watching when it was February and they were still covering Trump.

Not interested. He’s just another loser now.

Let’s face it - Biden is “boring.” Thank God!!! I’ll take boring anytime now over being nervous every day.

[Grins]

38. Damn that 'libural' media.... NM

[kimbutgar]

41. That's why I rarely if ever watch cnn - repuke light

Only when there are big disasters do I tune into that channel.

[dlk]

42. Infotainment v actual news

It’s all about the money.

[CaptainTruth]

44. Trump had daily White House press briefings?

But seriously, I never paid attention to them but I thought Trump never had daily press briefings, or maybe a few at the beginning, & I remember reporters complaining because he hadn't had one in months.

But YES, ignoring Biden because he's not a lying train wreck of dumpster fires SUCKS.

[jaxexpat]

45. Is this change supposed to be a bad thing?

I'm pretty sure that when/if the paint doesn't dry as expected CNN will be there so we all can testify to another curious phenomenon.

When I retired I stopped going in to work. I don't recall, however, having "pulled the plug" on work. Seems an odd turn of phrase. Does this Eric Boehlert guy have an agenda?

[babylonsister]

48. Yea, his agenda...

Press Run delivers an unfiltered, passionate, and proudly progressive critique of the political press in the age of Trump. Because we can’t fix America if we don’t fix the press.

In an era when too many newsroom standards seem to have dwindled, and when the loudest GOP voices are rewarded with attention, Press Run helps makes sense of today's media landscape. Determined to hold the news outlets accountable with smart, incisive analysis and commentary that calls out bad practices and raises up voices of sanity.

I feel like this is the right forum to have a lively debate about the state of political journalism among people who feel passionately about it. We’ll find fault and search for solutions — and do it out of the earshot of constant online trolls.

https://pressrun.media/about

[jaxexpat]

50. Thanks, I sit informed.

[OMGWTF]

49. Unconfirmed, but I heard that only MSNBC is covering the press briefings.

WTF MSM?

[BarbD]

51. "I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take it anymore"

So wrote Paddy Chayefsky in the movie "Network" in 1976.

It says it all.

[BumRushDaShow]

55. And to underscore

[bucolic_frolic]

52. I think there may be benefit to ratcheting down the agenda

Normal is how you govern. Truth needs little explanation. Reality will convince people.

[BobTheSubgenius]

53. God damned liberal media.

Well, it's totally out in the open now. No way for them to deny they're in the tank for the left.

[Politicub]

56. This article is deceptive. CNN has never aired press

briefings in their entirety every day.

They would air the daily COVID briefings, but those were unique.

Whoever wrote this is creating controversy using twisted information.

[lindysalsagal]

57. It's just business. No more catastrophe, move on to more exciting stuff.

[Permanut]

60. White House activities are returning to normal..

After four years of chaos, deception, lies, personal attacks and propaganda. I'm glad to see the heat level go down, and to have a cool professional like Psaki at the podium.

Makes sense to dial back the coverage a certain amount.

And now, completely off topic, I'll just say I've avoided Wolf Blitzer since his coverage of the Iraq "war" in 1990.

[Blue Owl]

62. Fuck CNN

[ZonkerHarris]

65. 1st, Trump didn't have any daily press briefing for months. 2nd, CNN should air them

[IcyPeas]

67. it's all about eye-balls folks.

they gotta run the ads and have eyeballs on it.

all weekend the coverage was about the engine on the plane. Don't get me wrong.... that is news.... but 24/7? the plane landed safely and no one was injured. amazing.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

69. Frankly, I'm glad

I am happy to return to a time when daily press briefings are for the press to get answers and then we'll see the highlights instead of it being a shitshow of lies from the beginning to the end.

Let's let the President be a person that just does their fucking job and I don't need to hear about it 24/7.

Also, CNN makes money by ratings, so let's not be surprised that they do things to, you know, *checks notes*, make sure their ratings are good. If we want this to stop, the answer is government supported media like the BBC and CBC.

[msongs]

71. white house press briefings are rarely worth watching under normal presidencies nt