Kristen Welker's tenure as the new host of NBC's Meet the Press began on Sunday with an interview with former President Donald Trump. NBC News promoted Trump's appearance as his "first broadcast network interview since leaving office." Since leaving office, however, Trump has relentlessly promoted brazen lies about the 2020 election, the 91 felony criminal charges he faces in state and federal court, and a variety of other topics. The interview could have been an opportunity to confront Trump about these lies and hold him to account for his public dishonesty.
The problem, of course, isn't Trump or Trump's lies. The problem is MSM treating him like a normal candidate and giving him a platform and free airtime. But, MTP has been off the rails for years, now.
By treating this sociopathic liar’s candidacy as normal & allowing his lies to stand during AND after the interview, MTP has paved the way for all other MSM outlets to do more of the same, which obviously will help him in polling & possibly on Election Day 2024. We know this because we see absolutely no one in the MSM arena willing to criticize Welker, for whom I have lost all respect. Only independent media like Popular Information & a few on Sirius XM Progress have pick up this mantle. They deserve our support more than anyone on cable or network “news”. Popular Info readers must spread the word to combat the lies that will continue to be allowed elsewhere. Post this article on your social media, talk to friends, neighbors & relatives, call into talk shows. Promote media that tells the truth without a wink & a nod. Thanks to Judd & staff!
Great report, Judd. I see no one in the Press is suggesting that 45 might have lost track of the lies he tells. They always assume he is a competent liar who knowingly lies, not just an aging airhead who can’t remember the things he has said (unlike Biden, supposedly “aging”, who actually remembers his script).
Here's what it comes down to for me--for the MSM, Trump is great for ratings. That's all that matters to them. So, if he's a candidate, or if he wins (re)election, their profits tick up. If our country is destroyed in the process, well, too bad.
I wish the network never gave the insane ex president any air time. I’m SICK of seeing his face, hearing his words and I’m disappointed that the media gives him any air time at all.
This has always been a problem. Ever since the right wing buy-out of almost all media conglomerates (hiring mostly incapable reporters), the support of Fascism became clearer and clearer.
The biggest danger out there is this...repeating the lies with broad reach.
I wrote to NBC to complain about airing a criminal and seditionist inciter. Everyone should. The atrocities never seem to end. Trump should be imprisoned rather than threatening everyone on tv.
No one really cares if Trump lied or NBC failed. Trump is a moronic, compulsive liar and most people, theoretically, will reject him. But he makes tons of money for the media so they will pretend he's legitimate for the time being. Outrage is dead.
Sadly, too many in the media are star-struck, celebrity lovers who fawn over the ultra rich as having some magical charisma. I am glad you called out the errors and lies in the interview. We would not be in this mess if the media was not so obsessive over Trumps' candidacy in 2016, giving his every hostile word credibility. In fact it started with Trump's attacks on Obama's birth certificate with the media waiting with bated breath for Trump's declaration of its legitimacy. Who gave him the exclusive right to rule on what he considers truth? Since then he has lied with impunity.
This is why the "traditional" news media has become unwatchable. In 2016 those "traditional" news media sites legitimatized Trump's candidacy in the first place, fawning over him just to get that reality star interview. Now, in 2023, those for profit news media sites are once again fawning over Trump to once again get the reality TV star interview. NBC & Welker did themselves no favors with this interview as anyone with an ounce of common sense sees it for what it is-an attempt to bolster their ratings at the expense of claims not challenged and thus left out there for the public to take as real facts. Job really badly done NBC! Don't expect me to be watching your networks programs for anything other than the comedy value.
When The Apprentice was on air, I never watched it. Trump is just such an outright awful person, I couldn’t stomach it. But so many (even liberals) loved it for “the entertainment”. That’s all media cares about- views that equal dollars. I’m sure every last mainstream media person (regardless of their personal political leanings) wants to see 45 re-elected, simply for the ghastly spectacle which is their business model.
These are all big lies, but the one that bothers me most...the golden calf idol repeatedly says that taking a test for dementia...they found he's a genius...i lost all respect for Welker when she let that gem slip right past her...kill corporate tv...before it kills us.
I said this as I read the articles and watched myself. The press has no spine with trump. They let him lie with impunity. Our country is going to be taken over by trump and his enablers because they don't want to push back on anything he says. They want his ratings.
My first reaction was shock when watching Kristen Welker interview Mr. Trump: the appearance of a man with high blood pressure, all flushed and puffy, expressing great anger and upset. [I actually felt immediate compassion for what appeared his huge distress.]
Trump never lets anyone speak without interrupting them--he's a master at bombast and talking over people and then accusing them of interrupting him. He seems to have an easier time verbally railroading women (no matter how bright or strong they seem) than men. Although painful to be subjected to this performance by Trump, we heard him take ownership of his campaign that the election was stolen from him! So the legal argument that he was just listening to advice of counsel (Rudolph Giuliani or others) is no longer an arguable defense.
However, at the end of any fact checking--done way too late--I feel sickened that so many of his lies were given pre-eminent exposure.
A real fact-check of Trump's appearance on Meet the Press
The problem, of course, isn't Trump or Trump's lies. The problem is MSM treating him like a normal candidate and giving him a platform and free airtime. But, MTP has been off the rails for years, now.
By treating this sociopathic liar’s candidacy as normal & allowing his lies to stand during AND after the interview, MTP has paved the way for all other MSM outlets to do more of the same, which obviously will help him in polling & possibly on Election Day 2024. We know this because we see absolutely no one in the MSM arena willing to criticize Welker, for whom I have lost all respect. Only independent media like Popular Information & a few on Sirius XM Progress have pick up this mantle. They deserve our support more than anyone on cable or network “news”. Popular Info readers must spread the word to combat the lies that will continue to be allowed elsewhere. Post this article on your social media, talk to friends, neighbors & relatives, call into talk shows. Promote media that tells the truth without a wink & a nod. Thanks to Judd & staff!
Great report, Judd. I see no one in the Press is suggesting that 45 might have lost track of the lies he tells. They always assume he is a competent liar who knowingly lies, not just an aging airhead who can’t remember the things he has said (unlike Biden, supposedly “aging”, who actually remembers his script).
Here's what it comes down to for me--for the MSM, Trump is great for ratings. That's all that matters to them. So, if he's a candidate, or if he wins (re)election, their profits tick up. If our country is destroyed in the process, well, too bad.
I wish the network never gave the insane ex president any air time. I’m SICK of seeing his face, hearing his words and I’m disappointed that the media gives him any air time at all.
This has always been a problem. Ever since the right wing buy-out of almost all media conglomerates (hiring mostly incapable reporters), the support of Fascism became clearer and clearer.
The biggest danger out there is this...repeating the lies with broad reach.
I wrote to NBC to complain about airing a criminal and seditionist inciter. Everyone should. The atrocities never seem to end. Trump should be imprisoned rather than threatening everyone on tv.
Let's also not ignore his lie that cities like Portland and Seattle were "totally destroyed" and "burned down". Literally none of that happened.
No one really cares if Trump lied or NBC failed. Trump is a moronic, compulsive liar and most people, theoretically, will reject him. But he makes tons of money for the media so they will pretend he's legitimate for the time being. Outrage is dead.
Sadly, too many in the media are star-struck, celebrity lovers who fawn over the ultra rich as having some magical charisma. I am glad you called out the errors and lies in the interview. We would not be in this mess if the media was not so obsessive over Trumps' candidacy in 2016, giving his every hostile word credibility. In fact it started with Trump's attacks on Obama's birth certificate with the media waiting with bated breath for Trump's declaration of its legitimacy. Who gave him the exclusive right to rule on what he considers truth? Since then he has lied with impunity.
This is why the "traditional" news media has become unwatchable. In 2016 those "traditional" news media sites legitimatized Trump's candidacy in the first place, fawning over him just to get that reality star interview. Now, in 2023, those for profit news media sites are once again fawning over Trump to once again get the reality TV star interview. NBC & Welker did themselves no favors with this interview as anyone with an ounce of common sense sees it for what it is-an attempt to bolster their ratings at the expense of claims not challenged and thus left out there for the public to take as real facts. Job really badly done NBC! Don't expect me to be watching your networks programs for anything other than the comedy value.
Excellent and thorough assessment, as always! For another viewpoint/dimension of this complex topic, Lucian Truscott came through last night with an alternative take. https://luciantruscott.substack.com/p/kristen-welkers-interview-with-trump
When The Apprentice was on air, I never watched it. Trump is just such an outright awful person, I couldn’t stomach it. But so many (even liberals) loved it for “the entertainment”. That’s all media cares about- views that equal dollars. I’m sure every last mainstream media person (regardless of their personal political leanings) wants to see 45 re-elected, simply for the ghastly spectacle which is their business model.
Link this to the Meet the Press facebook page. Commenting here is just preaching to the choir.
These are all big lies, but the one that bothers me most...the golden calf idol repeatedly says that taking a test for dementia...they found he's a genius...i lost all respect for Welker when she let that gem slip right past her...kill corporate tv...before it kills us.
I said this as I read the articles and watched myself. The press has no spine with trump. They let him lie with impunity. Our country is going to be taken over by trump and his enablers because they don't want to push back on anything he says. They want his ratings.
My first reaction was shock when watching Kristen Welker interview Mr. Trump: the appearance of a man with high blood pressure, all flushed and puffy, expressing great anger and upset. [I actually felt immediate compassion for what appeared his huge distress.]
Trump never lets anyone speak without interrupting them--he's a master at bombast and talking over people and then accusing them of interrupting him. He seems to have an easier time verbally railroading women (no matter how bright or strong they seem) than men. Although painful to be subjected to this performance by Trump, we heard him take ownership of his campaign that the election was stolen from him! So the legal argument that he was just listening to advice of counsel (Rudolph Giuliani or others) is no longer an arguable defense.
However, at the end of any fact checking--done way too late--I feel sickened that so many of his lies were given pre-eminent exposure.