OPINION
Premium

Team USA Attacked for Love of Country As Prominent Figure for Both Hockey Teams Kills the Narratives

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Feb 24, 2026
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.

Get access to Brad Slager's "Riffed From the Headlines," a daily VIP feature where he looks to bring accountability to the mainstream media. Use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership!

Low-Octane Gaslighting – VARIOUS OUTLETS

  • Those calling to support women are trying to cancel the main woman they should listen to.

The press continues to attempt to ignite the wet logs of outrage toward the Men's USA hockey team. As the men continue to celebrate with patriotism that is unapologetic, the press continues to be apoplectic.

What has been the linchpin in all of this fabricated outrage is how the team allegedly acted in a sexist or hostile manner toward the women's team. This claim defies their very actions during the Olympiad, where both squads were close and supportive of each other. But now a new voice has joined the discussion.

Ellen Hughes is a key figure in Olympic hockey, with prominent ties to both teams. The former Olympian serves as the player development coach for the women and is the mother of two of the heroes on the men's team, Jack and Quinn. Ellen appeared for an interview and blasted apart the narratives and laid out how close the teams are and how this should serve as a proud bond for the nation.

Both Kinds of Standards – MS NOW

  • She did everything the same, save for pounding a beer.

Let's recap the complaints we heard regarding Kash Patel. He flew a government plane to Italy, did so on the taxpayer's expense, scheduled "convenient" meetings, all to justify the chance to watch the hockey game.

Now let's look at Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The probable Democratic presidential candidate took a government flight to Italy, on taxpayer expense, scheduled trade talks in the region, all to end up watching a hockey game.

Yet, after a weekend of hyperactive reporting on Kash Patel's visit, the MS NOW duo of Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian has no such outrage to report about her.

Pre-Written Field Reports – THE ATLANTIC

  • She was so SURE she had a major point.

Sally Jenkins wanted to join in on the Corgi pile that the press is attempting on the hockey team, and she latched onto a golden nugget.

The WNBA has higher TV ratings than NHL games. You could parse this by suggesting that at least half of the hockey audience is in Canada, fractured broadcasting outlets, etc. But there is a more valid comparison.

The WNBA had three decades of losing money and existing solely because of NBA welfare, while all the NHL teams are profitable and draw independent revenue exceeding that of the basketball league.

Anti-Social Media – GAVIN NEWSOM COMMUNICATIONS

  • Suddenly, attacks on the media are acceptable.

Gavin Newsom is struggling mightily to get his campaign off the ground. He is still dealing with the backlash from his recent speech (given not in California, yet again), where he insulted the black audience by claiming he had a low SAT score and cannot read – just like them.

He tried to explain that this reading challenge was due to having dyslexia since childhood, so reporter Susan Crabtree reached out to his office to ask if they could provide medical documentation showing this condition had been diagnosed.

She received a vulgar response from the office, and we are struck by the hypocrisy, given that the Democrats LOVE to wail about any instance when President Trump crudely treats the media.

Deadline Gambit – NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO

  • It is an explosive that fizzled long ago.

NPR comes out with what is claimed to be deeply revealing details from the Epstein files. The outlet claims it knows of "dozens of pages" involving an investigation of Donald Trump being accused of sexual abuse with a minor. The claims are a decade old, alleging activity from the 1980s.

If that sounds familiar, this is the same story that has long been debunked, regarding the woman who pulled back her own accusations, refusing to take them forward after challenged with providing evidence.

The DOJ replied to this and indicated that, along with the Oversight Committee, they also spoke to NPR directly ahead of publication. 

Apparently, those corrective comments did not fit in with its narrative framework.