As I read this column, my overwhelming feeling is it's too late. Too late for mainstream media to change course meaningfully, too late to win back disillusioned readers/viewers. If they couldn't summon the courage to cover Trump accurately before the election, when all was still possible, then why would it be different after the election, when their own personal safety, job, or finances might be threatened??
I take your point, of course, but am unwilling to throw in the towel. Also, there’s enough really good work out there to provide encouragement— and we have to try to preserve it.
So glad you are on the threats in store for journalism in this country. Patel is a screaming warning bell, but we can’t say we didn’t see this coming. The press needs to buck up the spines of R senators to demand FBI vetting across the board and to vote against dangerously anti-Constitutional candidates whose names Trump puts out there.
Pardoning Hunter was a brave moral act by his father who can see not only the malicious prosecution of his son already accomplished but the ongoing fervor of persecution coming at him as retribution for whatever Trump imagines his father has done. Bravo, Joe. Taking the heat so his son is spared it.
Humbug. Trump's cronies in Justice would've just sought to delay sentencing past Jan. 20. Rules and norms are only any good when everyone agrees to abide by them. Trump and his ilk have signaled unmistakably that they will not be abiding by them.
I sent this as an email with a screenshot (as the visual juxtaposition was jarring), but I saw two back-to-back headlines, one from the NY Times and the other from PBS Newshour. See if you can guess which is which.
"Kash Patel Would Bring Bravado and Baggage to F.B.I. Role"
"Trump taps 'deep state' conspiracy theorist Kash Patel to lead the FBI"
Thank you, Margaret, I’m not sure if my first comment went through, but I will make amends. This heralds the beginning of the end of freedom of the press. And possibly the demise of democracy as we know it. I don’t know anyone who wants to live in a autocracy, which is the direction we may be headed.
I was speaking to a friend of mine from Germany, a few days ago, who told me that her mother lived in Germany during Hitler’s reign. Her mother said that the beginnings of the loss of their freedom and their place in the world, began with very similar circumstances that we are facing now. The rest of the world is watching us, and we, our world leaders, and information is one of the most important tools to deal with the lies of the Trump machine. I will send this to my contact list as well as our local politicians, newspaper, and Chamber of Commerce. I can guarantee you it will not be received well because we are a red state, but I really don’t care. This is important information. Thank you so much Kelly McCurdy.
Re: the pardon, it seems to me that media coverage will be very telling. I'm certainly not suggesting that it ought not to be covered, but if there is wall to wall coverage of it as a huge scandal (I'm not even going to get into the actual merits here) that drowns out what meager coverage of the dangers of Trump's cabinet picks we are already getting, it will be incredibly telling and troubling about the media's plan for the next four years. As I've seen some put it, a lot of what we're seeing from Friedman, et al, is a kind of pre-obeyance to the dear leader in advance. And unlike what the feckless Washington Post says, that's how democracy dies. Thanks for your continued work, Margaret.
[[if there is wall to wall coverage of it as a huge scandal (I'm not even going to get into the actual merits here) that drowns out what meager coverage of the dangers of Trump's cabinet picks we are already getting, it will be incredibly telling and troubling about the media's plan for the next four years.]]
This right here. I no longer give a damn what most pundits think about anything, because most pundits have shown that they have a higher bar for Democrats than for Republicans and most pundits have shown that they either don't recognize or don't care that Republicans no longer abide by the rules and norms that politicians of both sides customarily have abided by. Let them clutch their pearls and collapse onto their fainting couches for all I care. I hope the couch legs break. Our pundits are morally stillborn.
On the Hunter Biden pardon, I see the NYT is up to their usual tricks today with a short article claiming that it was "the judge, not political pressure" that "scuppered the plea deal." The judge goes unnamed in the article, and in fact you have to click on a link, then another link in the second article to find the judge's name, and then another link to a third article from 16 months ago to discover that the judge is -- you guessed it -- a Trump appointee. No "political pressure" needed when the foxes are guarding the henhouse. Why did the Times not find this "news fit to print"?
If I'm Joe Biden, and see the vengeful bloodlust of Trump47's soon-to-be empowered justice department coming after one of my kids, for whatever Hunter did, I pardon immediately. The way Trump pardoned Jared Kushner's felonious father, and last week had the chutzpah to name that former jailbird, Charles Kushner, ambassador to France. Give me a break with the "no one is above the law" stuff. We're in a different country now. The abuse of power? I'm afraid we ain't seen nuthin' yet.
The NY Times could have done so much more during the election process. Their silence is now what may well shutter them as well as many others critical of dear donald. This was all so clear - and they chose sanewashing. This is now an “I told you so” moment - tragically. Kash Patel will be ruthless.
Regarding Hunter Biden's pardon, Joyce White Vance says in her newsletter today that:
"My office would not have brought these charges, and other former federal prosecutors feel the same way. Former Attorney General Eric Holder tweeted, 'Here’s the reality. No US Atty would have charged this case given the underlying facts.' Barb McQuade posted on BlueSky, 'Pardon of Hunter Biden is in the best interests of justice. Based on the facts, most federal prosecutors would have declined to charge him.' Former Delaware U.S. Attorney Charlie Oberley said he would not have indicted the case."
I agree 100%. This has always been a political rather than a legal issue, and with Trump returning to office, there was a very real chance he'd add new charges to feed his rabid base with fresh blood. If Biden had skirted typical legal practice, I'd be upset with him. He did not. He just called this out for the human sacrifice it has been and would continue to be.
Unfortunate use of the past tense. THE PUNDITS do that dumping, and they do it because they are morally stillborn and incapable of (or unwilling to engage in) contextual accuracy.
Personally, I believe legacy media will continue its 8-year downward spiral, with occasional hard-hitting pieces to preserve the veneers of legitimacy.
We need these limited forays into truth, which will aid independent journalists in preserving an accurate historical record.
Expecting more is an exercise in futility. Legacy journalists and their editors have shown us who they are.
The Hunter Biden pardon. The Bulwark people are clutching their pearls about it. Charlie Sykes and David French are claiming that it makes our path forward much more difficult without really explaining why that’s the case. But look, Biden was convicted by a jury of his peers in a case that DOJ never should have brought in the first place. It was a miscarriage of justice, a poster child for appropriate use of the pardon power. The ONLY thing that makes this controversial is the name “Biden.” As Eric Holder points out, if this was a Joe Smith, DOJ would have declined to charge or we wouldn’t blink an eye at the pardon. But we all seem to be living in Plato’s Cave now, where appearances mean much more that reality.
I would have been extremely angry with Biden if he had not pardoned his son. After all we've taken from Joe Biden, how dare we insist that he live out his final years without his remaining son, who was railroaded in a farcical attempt at nonpartisanship. Donald Trump already set enough dangerous precedents with his transactional pardons the last time around and will continue to operate in a pay-for-play fashion, regardless of what Biden does or does not do.
Hunter Biden had agreed to a plea deal that he and most Democrats, including the president, apparently could live with. But, no, the Republicans got greedy and wanted MOAR, so they torpedoed it, another classic case of Republicans effing around and finding out. Political persecution is exactly the kind of thing the pardon power was created to prevent or undo, and the president's use of it here was perfectly appropriate.
1. I think Trump naming Kash Patel as FBI Director nominee was the catalyst for the Hunter Biden pardon.
2. Thomas Friedman: WTF?
3. RFK JR? I’ve no doubt Those in the inner circle will have access to vaccines if they want, but Hegseth who doesn’t wash his hands is a goldmine for bacteria&viruses which do exist. Trump supporters are not immune to deadly disease.
MSM has failed us. Thank you for speaking up about this crisis in American democracy. Not all is lost - I am a federal government employee and many of my colleagues are resisting Trump's fascism: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/public-servant-democracy-defender-introduction
As I read this column, my overwhelming feeling is it's too late. Too late for mainstream media to change course meaningfully, too late to win back disillusioned readers/viewers. If they couldn't summon the courage to cover Trump accurately before the election, when all was still possible, then why would it be different after the election, when their own personal safety, job, or finances might be threatened??
I take your point, of course, but am unwilling to throw in the towel. Also, there’s enough really good work out there to provide encouragement— and we have to try to preserve it.
So glad you are on the threats in store for journalism in this country. Patel is a screaming warning bell, but we can’t say we didn’t see this coming. The press needs to buck up the spines of R senators to demand FBI vetting across the board and to vote against dangerously anti-Constitutional candidates whose names Trump puts out there.
Pardoning Hunter was a brave moral act by his father who can see not only the malicious prosecution of his son already accomplished but the ongoing fervor of persecution coming at him as retribution for whatever Trump imagines his father has done. Bravo, Joe. Taking the heat so his son is spared it.
He should've waited for sentencing and then commuted. He could have then been true to his country, his word and his parental love.
Humbug. Trump's cronies in Justice would've just sought to delay sentencing past Jan. 20. Rules and norms are only any good when everyone agrees to abide by them. Trump and his ilk have signaled unmistakably that they will not be abiding by them.
Indeed Myra!! The unctuous derps of this miasma of MAGA coterie wanted blood for charging their mobbed up, career criminal, ignoble poltroon!
I sent this as an email with a screenshot (as the visual juxtaposition was jarring), but I saw two back-to-back headlines, one from the NY Times and the other from PBS Newshour. See if you can guess which is which.
"Kash Patel Would Bring Bravado and Baggage to F.B.I. Role"
"Trump taps 'deep state' conspiracy theorist Kash Patel to lead the FBI"
Not hard to guess!
False equivalency from Peter Baker: "In pardoning his son, Biden sounded a lot like his successor by complaining . . . "
Thank you, Margaret, I’m not sure if my first comment went through, but I will make amends. This heralds the beginning of the end of freedom of the press. And possibly the demise of democracy as we know it. I don’t know anyone who wants to live in a autocracy, which is the direction we may be headed.
I was speaking to a friend of mine from Germany, a few days ago, who told me that her mother lived in Germany during Hitler’s reign. Her mother said that the beginnings of the loss of their freedom and their place in the world, began with very similar circumstances that we are facing now. The rest of the world is watching us, and we, our world leaders, and information is one of the most important tools to deal with the lies of the Trump machine. I will send this to my contact list as well as our local politicians, newspaper, and Chamber of Commerce. I can guarantee you it will not be received well because we are a red state, but I really don’t care. This is important information. Thank you so much Kelly McCurdy.
Thank you, Kelly.
Re: the pardon, it seems to me that media coverage will be very telling. I'm certainly not suggesting that it ought not to be covered, but if there is wall to wall coverage of it as a huge scandal (I'm not even going to get into the actual merits here) that drowns out what meager coverage of the dangers of Trump's cabinet picks we are already getting, it will be incredibly telling and troubling about the media's plan for the next four years. As I've seen some put it, a lot of what we're seeing from Friedman, et al, is a kind of pre-obeyance to the dear leader in advance. And unlike what the feckless Washington Post says, that's how democracy dies. Thanks for your continued work, Margaret.
[[if there is wall to wall coverage of it as a huge scandal (I'm not even going to get into the actual merits here) that drowns out what meager coverage of the dangers of Trump's cabinet picks we are already getting, it will be incredibly telling and troubling about the media's plan for the next four years.]]
This right here. I no longer give a damn what most pundits think about anything, because most pundits have shown that they have a higher bar for Democrats than for Republicans and most pundits have shown that they either don't recognize or don't care that Republicans no longer abide by the rules and norms that politicians of both sides customarily have abided by. Let them clutch their pearls and collapse onto their fainting couches for all I care. I hope the couch legs break. Our pundits are morally stillborn.
On the Hunter Biden pardon, I see the NYT is up to their usual tricks today with a short article claiming that it was "the judge, not political pressure" that "scuppered the plea deal." The judge goes unnamed in the article, and in fact you have to click on a link, then another link in the second article to find the judge's name, and then another link to a third article from 16 months ago to discover that the judge is -- you guessed it -- a Trump appointee. No "political pressure" needed when the foxes are guarding the henhouse. Why did the Times not find this "news fit to print"?
The question answers itself.
If I'm Joe Biden, and see the vengeful bloodlust of Trump47's soon-to-be empowered justice department coming after one of my kids, for whatever Hunter did, I pardon immediately. The way Trump pardoned Jared Kushner's felonious father, and last week had the chutzpah to name that former jailbird, Charles Kushner, ambassador to France. Give me a break with the "no one is above the law" stuff. We're in a different country now. The abuse of power? I'm afraid we ain't seen nuthin' yet.
The NY Times could have done so much more during the election process. Their silence is now what may well shutter them as well as many others critical of dear donald. This was all so clear - and they chose sanewashing. This is now an “I told you so” moment - tragically. Kash Patel will be ruthless.
Regarding Hunter Biden's pardon, Joyce White Vance says in her newsletter today that:
"My office would not have brought these charges, and other former federal prosecutors feel the same way. Former Attorney General Eric Holder tweeted, 'Here’s the reality. No US Atty would have charged this case given the underlying facts.' Barb McQuade posted on BlueSky, 'Pardon of Hunter Biden is in the best interests of justice. Based on the facts, most federal prosecutors would have declined to charge him.' Former Delaware U.S. Attorney Charlie Oberley said he would not have indicted the case."
I agree 100%. This has always been a political rather than a legal issue, and with Trump returning to office, there was a very real chance he'd add new charges to feed his rabid base with fresh blood. If Biden had skirted typical legal practice, I'd be upset with him. He did not. He just called this out for the human sacrifice it has been and would continue to be.
It’s unfortunate that it all gets grouped together with Trump’s ongoing disregard for the rule of law.
Unfortunate use of the past tense. THE PUNDITS do that dumping, and they do it because they are morally stillborn and incapable of (or unwilling to engage in) contextual accuracy.
You quote some pretty flaky ex-journalists at times…😎
Personally, I believe legacy media will continue its 8-year downward spiral, with occasional hard-hitting pieces to preserve the veneers of legitimacy.
We need these limited forays into truth, which will aid independent journalists in preserving an accurate historical record.
Expecting more is an exercise in futility. Legacy journalists and their editors have shown us who they are.
The Hunter Biden pardon. The Bulwark people are clutching their pearls about it. Charlie Sykes and David French are claiming that it makes our path forward much more difficult without really explaining why that’s the case. But look, Biden was convicted by a jury of his peers in a case that DOJ never should have brought in the first place. It was a miscarriage of justice, a poster child for appropriate use of the pardon power. The ONLY thing that makes this controversial is the name “Biden.” As Eric Holder points out, if this was a Joe Smith, DOJ would have declined to charge or we wouldn’t blink an eye at the pardon. But we all seem to be living in Plato’s Cave now, where appearances mean much more that reality.
I would have been extremely angry with Biden if he had not pardoned his son. After all we've taken from Joe Biden, how dare we insist that he live out his final years without his remaining son, who was railroaded in a farcical attempt at nonpartisanship. Donald Trump already set enough dangerous precedents with his transactional pardons the last time around and will continue to operate in a pay-for-play fashion, regardless of what Biden does or does not do.
Hunter Biden had agreed to a plea deal that he and most Democrats, including the president, apparently could live with. But, no, the Republicans got greedy and wanted MOAR, so they torpedoed it, another classic case of Republicans effing around and finding out. Political persecution is exactly the kind of thing the pardon power was created to prevent or undo, and the president's use of it here was perfectly appropriate.
1. I think Trump naming Kash Patel as FBI Director nominee was the catalyst for the Hunter Biden pardon.
2. Thomas Friedman: WTF?
3. RFK JR? I’ve no doubt Those in the inner circle will have access to vaccines if they want, but Hegseth who doesn’t wash his hands is a goldmine for bacteria&viruses which do exist. Trump supporters are not immune to deadly disease.
I could go on&on