Staff Reports
The long-standing complaint among conservatives regarding Democrats’ grip on the mainstream media finds its latest confirmation in a rather amusing incident involving President Joe Biden. This week at the Creator Economy Conference, rather than addressing concerns directly, Biden seized the moment to enlist journalists as cheerleaders for his economic policies. In what might be considered a bizarre twist to the press conference playbook, his candid directions to the media came through loud and clear: “My policies are working. Start writing that way. Okay?”
This revelation occurred when a reporter dared to inquire about the rapidly rising inflation numbers. Despite the economic turmoil that many Americans face, Biden responded with a blustery confidence, insisting on a “soft landing” and demanding that the press reflect this optimistic narrative. The president’s insistence on the media echoing his talking points raises eyebrows and points to a troubling trend where the news is less about reporting and more about aligning with party lines.
Biden: “Yes, yes, yes. I told you we’re going to have a soft landing … My policies are working. Start writing that way, OK?”pic.twitter.com/dwe6Cndba2
— Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) August 14, 2024
The real kicker came after Biden’s directive, when CNN’s MJ Lee, a correspondent known for her usual reluctance to challenge Democratic narratives, instead appeared almost supportive of the president’s request for a more favorable media portrayal. Not too long afterward, Jared Bernstein, the chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, confirmed Biden’s sentiment that the media has been unfairly critical of the administration’s performance. Instead of pushing back, Bernstein leaned into the analysis that media coverage was getting increasingly negative, as if this were some breaking news revelation.
For those who might think this was all in good fun, they might want to reconsider. Biden not only attempted to script the narrative, but he also poked fun at the press’s integrity, asking if they were “the real press or the fake press.” This cheeky comment encapsulates a growing frustration among conservatives who recognize that the mainstream media seems more like a Democrat propaganda machine than an objective outlet. It certainly seems like Uncle Joe is having a good chuckle while many poor souls are trying to make sense of their dwindling bank accounts.
With such overt manipulation of the press, a deeper question arises—where does this leave journalistic integrity? If its job is to serve as a watchdog, it’s instead looking like a house pet, happily following orders from its master in the Oval Office. It will be interesting to see how the media reacts moving forward. Will they continue to toe the party line or will they reclaim their backbone? In the meantime, conservatives are left to navigate through the fog, keeping a keen eye on the press’s role in the political circus that continues to unfold.
