Journalists seem poised to learn all the wrong lessons from Donald Trump’s victory this week, repeating a pattern they’ve been unable to shake since the frenzied days of 2016. A moment from CNN’s “Inside Politics” on Thursday is especially instructive — and an ominous portent of the media’s ability to recapture influence.
Laura Barrón-López is the White House correspondent at PBS News and a political analyst at CNN. On a panel with Dana Bash and John King — the network’s chief political and chief national correspondent respectively — Barrón-López made a claim so objectively false is almost defies believability. Bash and King, of course, found it deeply compelling.
Reflecting on Trump’s success, Barrón-López mused, “Maybe it’s not so much Democrats policies or messaging or the words that they use specifically, but there is an entire right-wing media ecosystem doesn’t exist on the left, does not exist in center or mainstream, and people are getting their information in very different ways now.”
No self awareness! @lbarronlopez, a correspondent for PBS, while on CNN, blamed Kamala Harris loss on how “there is an entire right wing media ecosystem that doesn’t exist on the left and it does not exist in the center or mainstream.” pic.twitter.com/QKPjTGHhvO
— Brent Baker 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) November 7, 2024
“Oh yes. It does not exist on the left,” agreed Bash. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,” King repeated.
“And,” continued Barrón-López, “Donald Trump and Republicans and Elon Musk and Joe Rogan know exactly how to reach Americans where they
