Staff Reports
ABC News recently settled a defamation lawsuit with President-elect Donald Trump, agreeing to pay a staggering $15 million to his presidential library after the network expressed regret over incorrect remarks made by George Stephanopoulos. The media seems to be having a meltdown over this development, as evidenced by the reaction of CNN’s Jim Acosta and Brian Stelter, who appear to think they are fighting a noble battle for free press instead of grappling with the consequences of their own inaccuracies.
Acosta took to the airwaves, lamenting the supposed “chilling effect” this settlement would have on journalists everywhere. It’s almost comical to see Acosta worry about press freedom while disregarding the fact that decent journalism relies on accuracy. He was beside himself, positing that this judgment could somehow dampen the critical role of the media, as if the media has a right to peddle falsehoods without accountability. The irony of Acosta crying over potential repercussions from fabrications speaks volumes about the disconnect between journalists and the truth.
Stelter joined in on the theatrics, claiming that media lawyers are now sweating over the implications of the settlement. The two seem more concerned about themselves than the fabric of journalism. After all, if the truth were genuinely pursued, they wouldn’t have much to worry about in the first place. Acosta’s fantasy of a heroic press doing battle against Trump’s alleged tyranny ignores a fundamental reality: the media’s credibility has been eroded through its own missteps. Their hand-wringing suggests a clearer message about their own inadequacies rather than a genuine concern for the future of reporting.
Jim Acosta and Brian Stelter Fret About What ABC's $15 Million Settlement With Trump Meanshttps://t.co/Y9dfQXQVdy
— Biff Smallberries (@B_Smallberries) December 17, 2024
The audacity of Acosta to declare journalism a noble calling is laughable. When he states that the industry should stand firm, one must ask what they are really standing firm against. Are they protecting the integrity of the news, or are they just bracing themselves to weather the storm caused by their own misinformation? The true concern should be whether they are willing to report facts rather than indulging in their partisan narratives.
Moreover, the notion that Stelter and Acosta are working for the viewers is hilariously misguided. The ratings tell a different story, with networks like CNN struggling to keep their audience engaged. The American people are voting with their remotes, and the message cannot be clearer: they are tuning out the melodrama and bias. Instead of grappling with this reality, Acosta and Stelter engage in self-pity, revealing that they might not be the champions of free speech they purport to be, but rather outdated foot soldiers in a waning war against accountability. They should perhaps start concentrating on delivering news that reflects reality rather than their personal grievances.
