With our new feature we assess the news landscape from the past seven days and ascertain if one news organization rose up by lowering itself on a consistent basis. Using our strict arbitrary measurement process, we compile the news outlets departing furthest from journalism standards. This week, Pete Hegseth becomes a theme, as he was a notably focused topic in the press all week.
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Let’s scratch our heads and hold our noses as we delve into the mayhem.
THE CONTENDERS
ESQUIRE – In an amazing dose of media malpractice, Charles Pierce defended Joe Biden’s pardon of his son by asserting that George H.W. Bush did the same for his son Neil. The article had to be cleaned up due to a small detail – that pardon never took place. After it was highlighted that this massive blunder had passed through all of the editorial channels unchecked, the outlet spiked the column entirely.
CNN – Dana Bash led a panel that spent a lengthy dose of time about Pete Hegseth drinking beer at Fox News — on St.Patrick’s Day. (Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon getting blasted on New Year’s Eve was never a concern.) Jake Tapper spoke with a seismologist to ask if earthquakes were caused by climate change. Brian Stelter regrets now not including Hegseth drinking gossip from nameless sources in his book on Fox News.
WASHINGTON POST – Military correspondent Dan Lamothe covered Pete Hegseth’s history of drinking, and it led to the web dredging up Dan’s own recorded drinking past. WaPo showed its duality in covering the Bronze Star, depending on which political party is involved. The paper put out a pro-puberty-blockers-for-minors propaganda article, ignoring Europe is banning their use.
NBC NEWS – This was the outlet that sparked the week of Pete Hegseth and a drinking problem by claiming 10 current and former Fox News people detailed his issues. That they — and most other outlets — ignored numerous named individuals going on the record to call the claim garbage and instead relied on nameless and jobless randos for their smear speaks volumes. On the “Today” show, they could not bring themselves to say Biden lied in his pardon decision, calling it instead a “stunning reversal.”
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WINNER
THE NEW YORK TIMES
The paper followed its failed targeting of conservatives on YouTube by now going after content providers on Rumble. Michele Goldberg proposed that Biden pardon all FBI people in trouble before Kash Patel takes over. Donald Trump is demanding loyalty from his nominees, as if this is a unique feature when presidents build their cabinets. Paul Krugman announced he is retiring from his column; this is good news, but serves as a reminder the paper kept him on for two decades.
In covering Biden’s pardon, it was reported (not an op-ed) that he decided on the decade-long excusal after leaving church, then Joe was tormented by a family in crisis – but Trump had trampled the legal system with his pardons.
NYT on Trump’s pardon // NYT on Biden’s pic.twitter.com/UzeWUryhLE
— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) December 5, 2024
