Staff Reports
The mainstream media, predictable as ever, has taken a moment to swoon over Joe Biden’s recent Oval Office speech. This isn’t any ordinary address; instead, it marks his farewell from the presidential race and the apparent elevation of Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s shiny new candidate. The coverage has reached new heights of absurdity, with pundits claiming that Biden’s speech aligns him with the likes of George Washington. That’s right—Biden’s parting words are supposedly on par with the founding fathers. This begs the question: is this an example of a serious analysis or just wishful thinking?
Adding to the spectacle, a family snapshot featuring Biden and his son Hunter, who has seen his own fair share of legal troubles, was heralded as an inspiring reflection of the Biden saga. The media has been quick to name the perceived themes of “pain, ambition, and resilience” present in the images. One can only hope that the press doesn’t think such family drama qualifies as a comprehensive political narrative, but then again, these are the same folks who still insist on seeing Biden as a heroic figure rather than a fading leader caught in a web of his own making.
Perhaps the most notable event of the evening wasn’t even Biden’s moments in front of the camera but rather the ice cream treat that followed his speech. Yes, that’s right—ice cream was served to the press corps and White House staff. As if to punctuate the moment, the media couldn’t resist reminding everyone of Biden’s ice cream affection, celebrating a National Ice Cream Day that had barely passed. It’s hard to fathom how this qualifies as newsworthy, yet here we are, once again treated to the culinary habits of a man who is supposed to be leading the nation.
My item for @POLITICO Nightly on what Biden likes to eat and drink: lots of pasta with red sauce, cheese and pepperoni pizza, ice cream, Orange Gatorade and Diet Coke. “He has the taste buds of a 10-year-old kid,” joked a former Biden aide. https://t.co/pF9SRgJhP8
— Daniel Lippman (@dlippman) January 6, 2021
With Biden taking a step back, the corporate press has swiftly pivoted to insight about the new leading lady of the Democratic Party. Shockingly, the headlines now reveal Kamala Harris’ favorite pizza topping—anchovies. It seems that while vital issues for Americans are left unexamined, the media finds more value in trivial tastes and wardrobe choices. The contrast couldn’t be clearer; while the nation wrestles with serious economic and social issues, Harris’ pizza preferences take center stage. Surely this kind of hard-hitting journalism warrants some type of award, right?
It’s also telling how reminiscent this is of the media’s previous fascination during the 2020 campaign. Back then, the press treated Biden’s mundane choices—like selecting a milkshake flavor—as the pinnacle of political coverage. Fast forward to today, where Kamala Harris’ penchant for sequined jackets drew breathless admiration from certain female reporters. Instead of engaging with the substantive questions of leadership, they gushed over superficialities. Once relegated to tabloid journalism, such trivial reporting now seems to be the norm in the political arena. It’s clear why many Americans find themselves turning to alternative news sources: the legacy media is more concerned with style than substance, illustrating perfectly why their monopoly on information is fading swiftly.
