Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
In First WH Briefing, Spicer Upsets Media Pecking Order
The major media have warned that Donald Trump would wage a war on the First Amendment. His quick draw to call out bad reporting, boot disruptive journalists, and mock fake news were obvious signs that the freedom of the press would hang by a squib during the Trump administration.
And, lo, it came to pass Monday that all their fears were realized. Did the new President sent red-hatted mobs to smash printing presses and hijack the cable news to run non-stop ads for Trump Steaks? Even worse. In his first official White House press briefing, Sean Spicer called on reporters from the wrong side of the tracks.
#BREAKING: New York Post, not the @AP as tradition has dictated, gets the first question at @PressSec briefing. pic.twitter.com/otoGMNRP6H
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) January 23, 2017
First question at @PressSec‘s 1st briefing went to @nypost, then Christian Broadcast net. Traditionally, @AP gets 1st Q. All out the window
— Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) January 23, 2017
Priorities, Day 1: Spicer calls on NY Post, CBN, Univision, Fox News. So far top newspapers & broadcast networks shut out.
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) January 23, 2017
a;jsidn’ae’lk4i’31;;,,, <cracks ampule of smelling salts> Sorry, had a fainting spell there.
Apparently, in an unwritten rule precious only to careerist Beltway journos, the Press Secretary calls on an Associated Press reporter first then follows with questions to other large media companies. For the first time, Spicer chose less storied agencies for the first handful of questions. Did he blacklist journalists from CNN, the New York Times, etc? No, he got to them a few minutes later. In fact, Spicer stayed as long as the reporters wanted, answering questions for well over an hour.
What so appalled the press was that Spicer upset the media’s caste system. After calling on the New York Post, he went to CBN (Christian cable network), Univision (Spanish-language channel), Fox Business Network, and American Urban Radio Networks (African-American focused service). He also announced the creation of “Skype seats” that will allow reporters who live 50 miles or more from Washington DC to ask questions.
Opening questions to journalists outside of the Acela corridor seems like a big win for the First Amendment and the freedom of the press. More diverse questions and voices are sure to result. It seems the only casualties are the egos of reporters for traditional media.
Published in Politics
Wait for them to start rotating people in and out of the room. They reason they wanted to move the briefings was to get more people in there. You can accomplish the same thing with rotation, meaning that on some days the AP and NYT might not even be in the room.
A win for alternative new sources. I am grinning like a mad fool.
A short video captured the MSM reaction:
You’re far too kind, Jon. I’m reveling in the baby-wah-wah tears.
Only to these *sshats does it matter if their precious protocol is followed or not. How about the protocol of doing journalism instead of performing weekly toadyism? Seems not to hit their radar, much.
Well, that’s it, then. It is the end of the Constitution. You MUST start with the always unbiased Associated Press, or else you have suspended the First Amendment forever. What’s next? Letting the unwashed masses have guns for self-protection? This could have a chilling effect on the ACLU. My God, man, could this lead to America being forced against their will to follow the Rule Of Law? Someone PLEASE think of the children and stop this madman!
They weren’t elected, so they don’t get to pick the protocol. It’s like these stale clowns haven’t had a new idea in 40 years.
HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!
Ssssooooo much joy!
In their defense, no one is attracted to dumpy and frustrated middle-aged people. So there’s a certain bitterness that, um, shines through.
Both sides are going to exhaust themselves overreacting to every thing done by this administration.
To the left: wah.
To the right: meh.
Okay, now that’s well-played.
Good. The MSM is fairly close to being disintermediated. Make them quake!
Elections have consequences.
So the trolling goes on unabated. Well, let’s see how it goes…
We have a free press again. This may be the most consequential aspect of the Trump presidency. Seriously.
I happened to be driving to an appointment during a part of this presser. I heard the part where they were trying to perseverate on the “who was sitting in row one of the CIA talk…blah, blah, blah” and Spicer finally had had enough. He went on a little rant about the press. He said stuff about that very overreacting. He pointed out that the administration felt that all the press could do is respond negatively to every proposal, or every endeavor. He cited several examples. They kept trying to interrupt him, and finally he just called on another reporter who—Amazingly!!—didn’t bring up the dead horse topic again. The press conference moved on.
And the sound of Wagner echoed in the background.
President Underwood’s response to the White House press:
Or only the most so far. I can’t wait to see what idol falls next.
Abortion funding is on the chopping block… check out the memoranda at whitehouse.gov…
While the media wouldn’t shut up about crowd sizes, abortion took a hit.
The new puppy won’t pee on the pad.
Still waiting for them to call on the reporter from Ricochet.
This is great, buhlieve me! But, if the media feels it has to compete again, it is much more likely that the American people will have the truth, the whole truth, and… well, I won’t go that far.
On one of the Skype seats maybe.
This has been my daily prayer for years. I don’t expect my prayers answered this quickly or decisively, but I remain optimistic we’re finally in the right direction.
I never… ever… would have thought Trump would have been the change agent for this. I’m tickled I might be wrong.
Actually, I’m starting to love this idea. @exjon, do a post to get suggestions, do a poll to get a good question, and ask it from a Skype seat.
Could be good main feed content.
In my mind, the AP lost their mandate in this incident, (from 2006). I have referred to them as the Associated (with terrorists) Press since then.
The Bush administration should have booted them from their vaunted position at that time.
This chicken took too long to roost.
This is standard practice now. The R enacts the Mexico City rule, the D takes it down. It’s happen every party switch since Reagan first enacted it in ’84. It would only be news if Trump hadn’t done it.
What a glorious day.
Y’all realize, though, that they’re going to dedicate themselves to completely and utterly destroying him. I don’t mean be mean, or snide. I mean get him impeached and worse. I think they’re going to constantly assault him in ways that will make their treatment of Nixon look friendly in comparison.
Of course, he knows this, which is part of why he’s doing what he’s doing: going around them.
As should be done with every president.