Reporters are competitive. Bush totally played them against each other by granting best access to only those who produced favorable coverage. But it was subtle. He didn't call the noncompliant press out in public, if I recall, but they didn't get quotes either. So they got more compliant in hoping to get more access and further their careers. How we got into Iraq. That was also when GOP sponsored fake news started. Remember Swift Boat Veterans? Also part of the reason for the decline of traditional media. They blame the internet, etc, but part of it was they started to abdicate their responsibilities and the corporations decided to run after short term profit instead of building value and trust with their regular readers. As a serious consumer of news, I'm not paying for reporting that is the same quality as what I can get on a freakin' blog.
Trump's strategy is the logical conclusion GWB's strategy. Reporters are going along to get along, as usual, acting like crabs in a barrel. To the press, I say, Quit doing the same thing and expecting different results. Band together, protect your profession and stand up for the first amendment instead of whoring after clickbait headlines day after day.
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