The establishment of a presidential press pool was once a hallmark of transparency, an assurance to the American people that, no matter where the President was, a fair group of journalists would be there, ready to inform the nation of every development. Yet, today we face a situation where that trusted system has been deeply undermined, as evidenced by the panic triggered by the so-called "unofficial" press pool stationed outside Mar-a-Lago this afternoon. The events of today serve as an alarming reminder of how far the mainstream media has fallen from the role of a responsible communicator to that of a hapless panic-monger. And, simultaneously, they underscore why President Trump’s vision of including independent journalists and outlets in the press pool may be not just warranted but essential.
The chaos began this afternoon when two ambulances, several vans, and a helicopter were seen leaving Mar-a-Lago. An overzealous CBS producer, watching from afar, decided to put forth an explosive theory—President Trump had been taken away by an ambulance. The message was sent out into the pool, stoking speculation among mainstream networks about the president's health. "Was he dead? Had he suffered a heart attack? Was this an assassination attempt?" The breathless, barely contained eagerness with which the mainstream media spread these unverified claims is revealing. They were more than happy to shout fire in a crowded theater, and today, the crowded theater was the entire world.
This situation could have been easily avoided if that so-called "press pool" had simply exercised some restraint, some patience, or—most importantly—some journalistic integrity. The reality? President Trump was very much alive, sitting comfortably in a meeting inside Mar-a-Lago, while the motorcade seen leaving belonged to Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. The rush to publish sensationalist headlines was exacerbated by the utter lack of official channels and coordination. In fact, as Steven Cheung, Trump’s incoming White House Communications Director, noted: the mainstream press created their own "fake, unofficial 'pool' because they want to feel important.
#1: Horse To: All (#0)
Trump Slams Iowa Poll For Misleading Results, Calls For Investigation Into Pollster
President-elect Donald Trump has called for an investigation into a last-minute Iowa poll that showed Kamala Harris leading him by three percentage points, a prediction that sharply contradicted the actual results, where Trump won the state by 13 points. The poll, conducted by veteran pollster J. Ann Selzer, was published by the Des Moines Register just days before Election Day and claimed Harris had “leapt” into a commanding lead.
Trump took to Truth Social, criticizing the poll as “totally Fake” and accusing Selzer of spreading misinformation during a critical period of the election. “She knew exactly what she was doing,” Trump wrote, suggesting that the poll was part of a broader effort to create doubt and uncertainty ahead of the election. He also hinted at “possible election fraud,” pointing the finger at both Selzer and the Des Moines Register, which had published the poll.
Horse posted on 2024-11-22 09:47:06 Reply Private Reply
#2: Horse To: All (#1)
Fast food now a luxury for 80% of Americans under Biden policies.
Has a trip through the drive-through become an extravagance? The vast majority of Americans say so.
A recent nonprobability survey conducted by LendingTree found 78% of consumers now consider fast food to be a “luxury” purchase due to how expensive the meals have become.
Horse posted on 2024-11-22 09:48:18 Reply Private Reply
#3: Esso To: Horse, 4um (#2)
I don't get fast food much, but last time I got a 12 pack of tacos (which lasts a couple days), it was about $25. It's been so long that I ordered a pizza, at least a couple of years, I have no idea how much that would be now.
Kimmy won't let me get fast food when she's here, she wants me to cook because she does DoorDash and GrubHub all week. I don't know if she's been in a grocery store for years. LOL. If we ever get two consecutive days together, I should take her. It might give me a clue as to what she likes.
Esso posted on 2024-11-22 10:27:49 Reply Private Reply