- The New York Times on Thursday released a statement claiming that US Pres. Joe Biden “has granted far fewer press conferences and sit-down interviews with independent journalists than virtually all of his predecessors.” FOX News (LR: 4 CP: 4)
- The statement further claimed that “systematically avoiding interviews and questions” not only “undermine[s] an important norm” but also “establishes a dangerous precedent that future presidents can use.” The New York Times Company
- The statement coincided with a Politico report on an alleged tense relationship between Biden and the paper. The report said Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger was mad about a lack of access to the president and he “quietly encourages all the tough reporting on his age.” Politico.com
- The report also said some reporters at the Times see the White House’s anger with the paper as a “misguided effort to control its coverage.” Politico.com
- This comes as Biden on Friday was interviewed by radio host Howard Stern, who asked mostly personal questions. The interview had not been noted on Biden’s public schedule. The Hill
Right narrative:
- Even after being called out by the Times, Biden continued to duck hard questioning and instead sat down for a softball chat with Stern. By avoiding a wider array of established journalistic entities, Biden is ducking accountability for his policies and failing to prove he’s competent to serve a second term. The left-leaning “paper of record” is late to a realization that has long been known.
NEW YORK POST (LR: 5 CP: 5)
Left narrative:
- Biden isn’t the only one running for president this year who’s avoiding difficult interviews. Former Pres. Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, also limits his accessibility to outlets he deems as friendly. Regardless of the effect this has on the election, it’s simply a reality of the modern media landscape.
AXIOS.COM
Nerd narrative:
- There’s a 65% chance that, if Joe Biden is inaugurated as president in 2025, he will complete the full four-year term, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)
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NYT is throwing a hissy-fit because he’s not interested in talking to them. It is disingenuous to claim that they are speaking for independent journalists.
Of course he is! All your communication being one-way is an effective way to avoid uncomfortable questions that might inform the populace about what you’re doing in their name and why.
Such as ones about the fact that the US government is actively participating in a genocide and dozens of other human rights violations by providing the weapons used for the crimes against humanity that the Israeli government is committing with absolute impunity beyond the odd “hey, please tone it down a bit, friends. You’re exposing my craven sycophancy!”
