Filling in for Cassandra today, and I wanted to mark this honor by referring to one of her posts last year: Are You Not Entertained?
That February 2024 post was about a particularly silly suggestion by New York Times Take Haver Ezra Klein. A quick note on Klein: I found his writing interesting, empathetic, and well-thought-out at Vox but with the Times, he’s sort of turned into the kind of Times writer who everyone dunks on.
Cassandra took him to the well for his ridiculous idea to have Biden step down so there could be a free-for-all battle royale at the Democratic Convention because Ezra found the idea entertaining. I had not really quite grasped the importance of being entertained for the DC media contingent until I read a recent article by the Columbia Journalism Review.
White House reporters are excited that after four years of boring interviews with subject-matter experts they now get the adrenaline rush that comes from the personal attention of a president who threatens to have them executed. http://www.cjr.org/political_pr…
— Jamison Foser (@jamisonfoser.bsky.social) 2025-01-22T02:36:54.154Z
So, despite some pretty fascist things already, the DC press is STOKED at the idea of four more years of Trump because they were bored and missed their friend! Make Media Fun Again, seems to be the thinking.
In fact, their new crush is Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s new press secretary. The New York Times seemed especially smitten. Not everyone of course was as thrilled, with either Leavitt or the Times.
Appears like Karoline is something of a liar, which makes her perfect to be Trump’s press secretary. She also has a sort of shady background. Even better!
In any event, Karoline’s time as press secretary isn’t off to the best start, not because of any lies she told, but because she may have given too much away about their dumb strategy with freezing federal funds. Put out a memo, rescind it, then have Karoline tweet that the MEMO was rescinded but not the fund freeze.
Okay, then, that’s not confusing at all! But what it did do was convince a judge to continue with his restraining order decision. Masterful gambit, my dear, you gave away the game.
At least, I guess, Maggie Haberman is entertained.
The last word goes to The Clarks.