22 Comments

I saw the following quote on another forum and it seemed so spot on for our times. The more things change...

“If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.” - Lyndon B. Johnson

Expand full comment

Great writing, Steven. CNN proved no longer news channel but in demented donny's pockets. Wondered ahead of time if Colllins could do it - she did but not as unbiased, go-for-truth journalist. Could she have? Maybe but we doubt it. Did not watch; the after reports & snippets fr other sources proved cnn a

fox wannabe. Recrently had viewed cnn only rarely & now like fox , will never air n our house again.

Expand full comment

My father fought in world war two his army uniform hung in our garage until the end of his days he wore his combat boots to do yardwork. Threat of World War II- Hitlerism was always there, always a reminder, and now I see so much of the USA swallowed up in the insanity of Trump, the Q garbage Nazi flags!!! Have we become Germany all over again??

Expand full comment
May 12, 2023Liked by Steven Beschloss

Great piece, Steven. I particularly enjoyed your coverage on the trial. A different perspective than the many others I’ve read so far and one that puts the cravenness of the GOP in stark contrast.

I wonder about CNN. I don’t disagree that the town hall was a bad idea. I don’t know, though, about what the best way to handle Trump is. Give him a platform and you help him spread lies. Don’t give him a platform and you spread conservative grievances about censorship. It strikes me that, in this case, the error wasn’t in airing something with Trump in it, but in airing a town hall. They didn’t do the same for the sinking ship in Florida so why Trump? Hard to make an argument from a fairness perspective.

Expand full comment
May 12, 2023·edited May 12, 2023Liked by Steven Beschloss

Steven, thank you for addressing the virtual free ride that CNN provided for Trump. I had NO expectation that it would be an orderly or acceptable presentation, and so true to my word, I did NOT watch the live coverage. Excerpts of his brutish and lie-based performance have been featured on other news platforms. He is undeniably a bully with no guardrails for decency. Providing an opportunity for him to preach his deranged and untrue doctrine, was as criminal as he is. Kaitlan Collins, stoically dressed in a classic white outfit, was bulldozed and talked over repeatedly, and tagged with one of his favourite monikers 'a nasty woman'. CNN's hollow defence to hold this Town Hall, especially with a select and supportive Trump audience, did NOT serve them well. It was a desperate attempt to increase their slumping TV ratings. There is no logic in pitting the antithesis of evil, with a 'damsel' Reporter being the spoils for a voracious Gladiator. Donald Trump, as you wisely said, is 'a bully, untethered from reality', and showcasing him had, the credibility of a Freak Show exhibit from bygone days. His disingenuous sycophants like Graham and Rubio have succumbed to Trump's alter-ego spell, in an act of self-preservation, and seek favour through acceptance. By choosing to align with the GREAT loser, they will likewise descend in his fall from grace trajectory. Ultimately, we need the better angels to prevail, and to respect and support those who are brave enough to speak their truth, and stand up for the rule of law.

Expand full comment
May 12, 2023Liked by Steven Beschloss

Trump cannot be interviewed by anyone, anywhere because an interview involves an interview-ee and interview-er; but, Trump always refuses to acknowledge the interview-er and takes over the "show" allowing no one other than himself to control everything from the first to the last second. It's a fact and it should be accepted by the News Media that it cannot overcome the only true Trump reality which is he just will not adhere to any form of interview that requires a "back and forth." Trump only has a "forth," which allows only his voice to be heard. It would be better if he's so featured in the future to have the pretend interviewer begin with a long listing of his failures and idiotic stands on issues and dunderheaded policy proposals and then just turn it over to this ego maniac for only a few short, very short minutes.

Expand full comment
May 12, 2023Liked by Steven Beschloss

Great piece Steven. Personally I will NEVER watch CNN again

Expand full comment
May 12, 2023Liked by Steven Beschloss

‘... Chris Licht doubled down yesterday by claiming “America was served very well” by the event.’

How were we served? We were reminded how truly deranged, cruel, and delusional he - and his cult members - are, and what the future holds if we allow him back in the WH. Let’s hope the country heard that loud and clear. And VOTES.

Expand full comment

The only things served by that 70 minutes of disgrace was CNN’s pockets and the deeper imbedding of Trump’s lies in his “blind” followers. It will take those media outlets and individuals with courage and financial backing to consistently debunk the spread of Trump’s contagion.

Expand full comment

Remember the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923. If someone pulled down Hitlers pants and laughed him down, millions of lives would have been saved. Instead his BS was taken seriously. Same with Trump. Tell the truth. That he’s a limp dick loser. A life long dumbass who doesn’t deserve our attention.

Expand full comment

Question for the group. Why doesn’t the DNC tell the truth about Don? That he is not a legit candidate for any public office. Their weak messaging only enables him. Is this a cynical strategy? Pretty darn dangerous.

Expand full comment

This trial, and the juror's verdict against the former president, is so important. It is a testament to the power of truth. E. Jean Carroll would not remain silent. She told the truth; and in the end, truth won. We had so many years when the former president put truth in the background for his own political gain. Actually, before that, in his personal life, and in his business life, he spoke whatever lies would boost his ego, would make him seem bigger than others, would try to get him out of the trouble he created for himself. It is a breath of fresh air that truth is now winning. I don't know how long it will take for those political people who went along with the former president's lies because they were afraid to stand up to him, because he is a bully, to come to the realization that truth wins, and the stance that these political people took will not serve them well in the long run. They made their choices; and now they will have to live with the repercussions of those choices. I have always stood for the truth. That comes from my family. When I was a teenager, and although I was a good, very compliant daughter, my Mom always said: it's not what you might do wrong, just don't lie to me about it. I carry those words with me very day. Mom, you live now in my heart, and your words and your teachings stay with me forever.

Expand full comment

Bullies are always people who are insecure and afraid they are a fraud. This comes out as a malignant narcissism. I have witnessed this first hand with a boss who was just another version of Trump, but from coal country PA. The best way to stand up to bullies is direct confrontation. Smack ‘em in the mouth twice as hard. It is the only language they understand. It also helps to have the attitude of “what else worse could happen to me?”. I applaud E Jean Carroll for her courage to hit the bully and clearly articulate no fear in that what worse could she endure?

In short, it is not just honesty and speaking truth to power...that is the result, but underlying it all is having no fear and being just as aggressive as the bully. E Jean Carroll is a role model for all that!

Expand full comment

I never saw you as cynical until I read that last line. Lord help us, all of us.

Expand full comment

We should boycott CNN and its sponsors. I didn't watch last night and will never watch CNN again.

Expand full comment

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. trump's are the exception. This scourge of Mar a Lago's incessant big lying, disgusting babble has caused chaos and mayhem in this country for 7 years. Should he be reelected, (and reelected and reelected-he talked of a third term and keeping it in the family ) I believe , like his pal, Putin and his casino day's KGB buddies, he would not hesitate to carry out the dirtiest deeds known, for one of the first things he uttered concerned his shooting someone on Fifth Avenue. His words have incited MTG to talk of shooting Pelosi in the head. Capital trash to howl Hang Mike Pence. Crazies to shoot children after a ball rolls into the yard, to murder families who ask for some silence from gunfire. He wouldn't do it himself of course, this bone spur patriot, for bullies, underneath , are after all, spineless cowards.

Now this is who CNN gave an hour and a half to never shut his mouth. And had only his followers in the audience. No matter what excuses for doing so given by Anderson Cooper can legitimize this flawed decision, a number of those network top dogs need fired. And Kaitlyn Collins? Only 24 when he became president, then worked for him???? I insisted my daughters wait to be 27 before even considering marriage and somewhat knowing their own minds, abilities, outlooks. And they did !!

As Shakespeare wrote, be fire with fire. You can't put out a prodigious fire with a sprinkler. Good for Biden saying, Will you shut up, man ? This programming fiasco was much worse than what got Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo fired. Now, had one of them been host, I think some sparks would have flown.

Trouble is, people believe the sexual assault accusation and decision was a load of bull; so a t supporter told me. And these pantywaist senators like Rubio put job over country, over truth. And who knows what is being held over Graham's head?

Heavens knows what will happen to us if trump gets back in the saddle again. Won't be Woopi-ti-aye-oh ! Or God, himself, Ron DeSantis ( who just nixed almost all the history books in Florida schools).

I truly don't think they will, but meantime, as Hardy Har Har says in response to Lippy the Lion, Oh me, oh my, oh dear.

Expand full comment