Fox News and CNN accused of 'sane-washing' Trump's incoherent 'word salad' rants

[edbermac]

Donald Trump keeps going off-script in bizarre rants during his rallies and speeches - but many news outlets claim he's 'focused and consistent'.

It wouldn't be a Donald Trump speech without some incoherent rambling or meltdown - but many media outlets have been accused of 'sane-washing' his off-script rants.

The 78-year-old often completely ignores his telemprompter and starts going off on huge tangents, such as his 'late, great Hannibal Lecter' remarks.

However, one political commentator has noticed a growing trend of news anchors trying to support Trump's rants immediately after they finish.

It's been picked up by journalist Aaron Rupar, who has coined the phrase 'sane-wash' to describe how reporters and pundits try to explain the meaning behind Trump's ramblings.

https://www.the-express.com/news/politics/146921/fox-news-cnn-trump-sane

[Bayard]

1. He has never been focused and consistent

Fruit Loops from day 1.

[ShazzieB]

16. He's worse than he used to be, though.

Last edited Tue Aug 27, 2024, 05:13 PM - Edit history (1)

A lot of it is the same crap, just more unhinged, but some of it is even weirder. His ramblings about the "late, great Hannibal Lecter" and chosing electrocution over sharks are well-known examples.

I think he's been in a long, slow decline fir years. It's been gradual enough that those who don't want to acknowledge it can can avoid doing so. But if you compare at his behavior at current rallies side by side with what he was like 9 years ago, the difference becomes apparent.

In any case, shame on all media outlets that try to clean up the crazy and make him sound more rational than he is. How anyone can think that is valid journalism is beyond me!

[FakeNoose]

22. His goal is to pack as many dog whistles as possible into each 30-second soundbite

So at least part of his unhinged speech is carefully calculated. Seems like groups of crazy-cult members each have their own dog whistles. The journalists who make Chump "presentable" and "sane-sounding" are taking orders from somewhere else. I don't know, maybe it's the Heritage Foundation? Or maybe the CNN and Faux Noise executives are getting a nice bonus from some billionaires? Who knows, I'm out of guesses.

[PatSeg]

23. Yes, basically the same incoherent crazy,

but getting progressively worse at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, the media often ignores it and it appears to be intentional in too many cases.

In their limited bubbles, journalists end up creating stories rather than reporting them. In fairness I suppose, I could say that Trump's rise in politics is pretty incomprehensible and it is still hard for sane people to believe it was possible. We'll see how actual historians report on it down the road.

After the last month or so, I'm finding it hard to take much of anything in the mainstream media seriously.

[azureblue]

39. the decades of

Adderall abuse have caught up with him.

[Silent Type]

2. As long a media runs trump's rants, people have the information they need to decide if he's fit for office. Trying to

make it sane, won't help. FOX viewers will still love their boy. Most others, will still brand him unfit.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

6. They mostly do not run his rants; they show selected little clips.

The conglomerates have an agenda and it does not include keeping the electorate well informed.

[Silent Type]

9. Clips I see are enough for anyone who cares to decide trump is unfit. And if media ran a whole speech, we'd be posting

about overexposure, giving trump a platform (to expose himself), etc.

A trumpster isn't going to care if CNN, MSNBC, and every liberal pundit, criticizes him. Just like we don't care what Hannity, FOX, etc., say.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

17. I don't consider myself a part of any "we" group think. Some DU'ers care what Hannity & faux say, some don't

I care sometimes, when I want to see what the bad guys have up their sleeve, and when I want to see what to expect from certain family members.

I don't understand the "overexposure" part of your post. I have a problem w/trump's incoherency and media types "quoting" coherent speech. I think it might because the news host doesn't want to sound stupid themselves. OR most likely, they're used to giving trump a pass, and helping him out.

[TheKentuckian]

26. The sanitizing is dangerous. One need not be MAGA

to be half assed paying attention and just catching the sanewashing.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

3. Many times I've heard trump totally botch his lines, with news hosts "quoting" coherent versions. "Sane-Wash" is apropos

[BattleRow]

10. I suspect that there might

be some residual dirt from the first washing..maybe some ring around the orange collar.

Give it a second "spin" and see if it's sane ,or sanitized enough,then.

[ShazzieB]

18. I've seen that, too.

"Sane-wash" is a perfect description, imo!

[pfitz59]

4. News media gaslighting

why believe your eyes and ears? we'll tell you what to believe.

[Biophilic]

5. I think "sane wash" is a perfect description.

And they do it afterwards so that people May question their own memories of what trump was saying or doing.

[eppur_se_muova]

7. So sad that it has come to this -- we not only need a term like "sane-washing", but everyone ...

immediately understands why as soon as they hear the term.

(And, of course, who's involved)

[Magoo48]

8. Like my old man use to say, "You can't make a silk purse outta a sow's ear."

[maxsolomon]

11. At this point, I'm usually able to translate WTH he's on about.

There aren't many topics:

Democrats are Communists.

Democrats hate Jesus.

Any regulation that hopes to reduce resource and energy use is bad.

Foreigners want to rape and kill you or steal your jerb or (if they're Yurupeen NATO countries) money.

[TheKentuckian]

27. Why would you have any desire to "translate"?

What he says should be the only interpretation and hang his ass on the gibberish and absurdity.

Who gives a shit about some "what he meant was" stuff?

This hombre doesn't need any further "benefit of the doubt" or "charitable views".

I know you aren't putting any lipstick on this pig but I'm all about literal and least charitable as possible.

[maxsolomon]

29. Because I'm compelled to find meaning?

Likewise, I don't think journalists can help themselves - they are compelled to explain, to contextualize.

[3Hotdogs]

37. You left out, "The press is so unfair."

Along with everybody else who disagrees with him and is "unfair.'

[Warpy]

12. All broadcast media have done that or years and it's infuriating

In some cases, it's a blow dried idiot trying to make sense of the babble. In most cases, it's orders from the corporate parent company to make that asshole look good so they'll get more tax cuts.

It's sickening.

[Martin68]

13. Excellent term: "sane washing." I hope this get taken seriously and stick to the hacks that try to clean up

Trump's mess.

[DoBW]

14. Idiot wind

still works

"Idiot wind
Blowing every time you move your mouth
Blowing down the backroads heading south
Idiot wind
Blowing every time you move your teeth
You’re an idiot, babe
It’s a wonder that you still know how to breathe"
(Bob Dylan)

[PortTack]

15. I know ppl here don't watch fux...but, how bout dropping cnn! Their ratings are terrible, let's make them worse

[ShazzieB]

21. I haven't watched CNN in years.

I can't even honestly say how bad they are these days, because it's been so long.

It started with watching a couple of shows on MSNBC back during the Obama years until I switched over entirely with the rise of Trump. News coverage that insults my intelligence by treating him like he's just another politician is a waste of my time.

[PortTack]

34. Good for you! Absolutely they insult our intelligence....unfortunately several on msnbc now do the same thing

[Initech]

19. I'm shocked, SHOCKED! Well... not that shocked.

[FakeNoose]

20. They've been doing this since 2015 when he entered politics

It's not suddenly NEWS now ... it was news 8 or 9 years ago.

Chump has certain favored journalists who are his "splainers" - they make him sound polished and intelligent even though he can't form a cohesive thought or complete a sentence. Chump's brain is swiss cheese.

You want to go back even further? How about all those "books" that are published under Chump's name - he never word a blessed word of those. He paid ghostwriters for every one. Some even became bestsellers - like "The Art of the Deal" and Tony Schwartz wrote the entire book. Tony Schwartz finally told the real truth about "The Art of the Deal" as soon as the NDA expired.

[C Moon]

24. I was pissed at the LA Times for normalizing him in 2015.

[Blue for the win]

25. CNN

CNN has become so desperate for viewers that it's basically become Fox News

[republianmushroom]

28. Are we surprised ? No.

Must protect the golden cow.

[Baron2024]

30. The Media Wants A Horse Race

It is better for their ratings if Trump and Harris are closer. They want to build up Trump to make more money. Trump has been their cash cow for years.

[Diraven]

31. This has been going on for years

I'm really surprised people are just now noticing.

[Blue Owl]

32. Anyone who likes the emperor's new clothes looks stupid

[Hassler]

33. Fix and CNN are both owned by fascists.

[AllyCat]

35. What are Harris and Walz up to this week? How about Biden?

Here we are again, talking about the felon on DU.

Looking forward to Walz in Milwaukee on Monday!

[Macrophylla]

36. The word

Is propaganda.
Just call it what it is...why not that?
If you actually just call it what it is does that exposes the game to clearly?

I'm sure that's the reason.

[dlk]

38. The mainstream media has been "sane-washing" Trump since day one

Never has someone been so thoroughly unqualified to be president.

[BumRushDaShow]

40. Love that term "sane-washing"

It's exactly what they are doing to "normalize" what HE does but only HIM. If anyone else acted or talked that way, they would bury them in their typical armchair pseudo-medical jargon.

And it's not just CNN or Fox but ALL of them.

[Brainfodder]

41. The Selling of Stupidity never ends with these alley cat wannabes?

Pushing falsehoods with no shame or concern for consequences, so we know everyone at FN etc. price to say/sway whatever they are told?

We know this is going on, because both parties get in line with phrases way too quickly especially Republicans with out there BS sometimes?

Regardless, Frumpy Dumpy is not looking good.

[Felicita]

42. This is why I quit watching CNN

They got worse and worse over the past couple of years and ebermac's post nails one very good example.
For Faux News, it's expected