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After the State of the Union, the Press Is in a State of Bafflement

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Mar 02, 2022
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.

"Riffed from the Headlines" is Townhall's daily VIP feature with coverage on the deeply flawed aspects of journalism in the nation. We'll look to bring accountability to the mishaps, malaprops, misdeeds, manipulations, malpractice, and manufactured narratives in mainstream media.

03.02.22

DNC PR Firm – CBS NEWS

Most who objectively watched the State of the Union speech last night had to come away thinking it was a garbled mess of empty claims and bold falsehoods. Biden wants to secure the border?! Democrats stand and applaud funding the police?! Wow, their internal polling must be worse than even we thought!

And speaking of worse polls, CBS News attempted to dress up the aftermath, suggesting in their flash poll that most who watched the speech came away uplifted. Maybe – just maybe – this buoyant feeling comes about when you poll over twice as many Democrats as you do Republicans. 

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Glossary Over Things – CNN

  • The way you present this, Brian, makes it sound significant.

After the Biden speech, CNN's media maven stepped in and provided some keen insight into what was delivered. Get ready, gird yourself – this is landmark reportage about to be delivered. 

Life has just been made easier for the Joe Biden campaign squad. This historical nugget will all but assure that Joe has cemented his reelection. 

Artisanal-Crafted Narratives – WASHINGTON POST

  • Mourning the loss of a lengthy narrative.

Among those filled with relief over the nation finally easing away from Covid mandate protocols are citizens, parents, employees, business owners, and the list goes on. As for those who bemoan the country getting back to normal – journalists. Gone are their daily opportunities to deliver lectures and instructions on how we can comport our lives. 

Just look at Washington Post's Dan Diamond's jarring reaction to the good news of an unmasked congressional chamber. 

Legalized Press-titution – CNN

  • Implying Biden is a skilled uniter by use of stolen agenda items.

As mentioned above, Biden gave us a good laugh-line when he boldly declared that financially backing our law enforcement officers was a solid idea. CNN's Lauren Fox saw this as a shimmering moment in the speech, where the president managed to sway Republicans to support him…um, by uttering a long-standing Republican agenda item. 

Blue-anon – CBS NEWS

  • Speaking about topics they just cannot let go…

After President Biden spoke, the CBS News post-game panel tossed it to their D.C. reporter Scott McFarlane to get his impressions on the speech. Mc-F gave his impressions on the differences seen and felt in the chamber, with distancing still taking place and members occupying seats in the balcony normally reserved for guests. Then he noted what was not heard in the speech.

- "There were - Zero references to January 6 in the address tonight. And even as President Biden walked through those doors, that they had furniture blockading January 6, 2021, to keep - the - violent - mob - out."

The real amusement – after Scott's hysterical melodramatic reading – was the way Norah O'Donnell and the rest of the panel fidgeted and found a way to bypass the topic that Democrats are becoming aware is a drain on their agenda. 

Anti-Social Media – CNN

  • Is there a point being made here, Ms. Cupp?

It is one thing to point out the partisan pettiness seen in the press, but this desperate lurch at making a point is so far off the mark that there has to be some collateral damage from this hot take. S.E. Cupp drew up a list of GOP congresscritters who decided not to attend the SOTU, allegedly over Covid tests being mandated to enter the Rotunda. 

Cupp then juxtaposed her list with a Ukrainian ballet dancer in fatigues and brandishing a weapon, because…for reasons, or something. 

We have to suppose that she was making some kind of commentary on bravery or such. Her effort was strained to begin with, but her inclusion of Crenshaw means she feels that an untrained ballerina is somehow braver and more fit for action than a former Navy SEAL member.