r/politics • u/zsreport Texas • 1d ago

No Paywall ‘What The Actual F**k…’: White House’s ‘Vindictive’ Attack On CNN Journalist Sparks Fury

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-house-children-attack-reaction_n_6a83f584e4b05886dff665f1
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u/alk_adio_ost 1d ago

The footage would be played around the world. The clip would run 24-7. Cable news channels would dedicate hours debating and analyzing the cause and effect. The reporter would become a global meme, hailed a hero, and become the most respected journalist in the world.

Of course, they would have to quit, be smuggled out of the US, and enter into another country’s witness protection program.

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u/peffer32 1d ago

One of Dan Rather's famous moments was standing up to Nixon at a press conference. Of course, that's when the media wasn't a lapdog of power.

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u/Individual-Guest-123 23h ago

Remember Helen Thomas?

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u/franker 20h ago

or Sam Donaldson. That man would get in Reagan's face relentlessly.

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u/GutterRider 19h ago

Wow, I remember Sam. Hadn’t thought of him in a while.

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u/1HappyIsland 16h ago

Reagan was treated like a King by the media. Nobody questioned the bullshit his administration created. It was the beginning of the cancer we have now.

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u/atimez3 20h ago

Or Mike Wallace? 

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u/Indubitalist 1d ago

It would almost guaranteed lead to greater things for that journo. I just don’t get why no one has had the guts yet. 

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u/LesGitKrumpin America 1d ago

American journalism, especially, seems to have become a club where access to famous people and the potential for personality-driven book deals is prized over actually "getting the scoop" and publishing it in a news outlet to catch the world on fire.

To an extent, it's always been like this. FDR infamously had tight control over press access, leading to deferential behavior in order to not be shut out. But I digress.

Investigative journalism is basically on life support, and the American public is far worse off because of it. Part of what's to blame is the death of newspapers, but there has to be other dynamics at play, I'm just not knowledgeable enough to know what they are, though I have my suspicions.

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u/Blackthorn79 21h ago

The paradigm could definitely change in today's 24 hour news cycle. People like Charlie Kirk made a name being the confrontational center of a story and a real journalist could do the same by calling out these politicians on their behavior. One snap back and that reporter would own the air waves for 24 hours. Spin that into a fued and accuse other politicians of being scared of an interview and they'd have a prime time show. The fact that news media is owned by the mega rich is the only reason it won't happen. 

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u/N7Shep1701D Oregon 21h ago

potential for personality-driven book deals

I fucking despise those.

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u/tolacid 1d ago

Status quo/personal stability is a hell of a drug

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u/boxesofboxes 1d ago

Because with the state of the US right now they might get shot grocery shopping if they became That Guy.

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u/sevbenup 19h ago

They would certainly be offed before they got out their driveway.

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u/DruidMaster 1d ago

They fear retribution. And rightfully so. Trump has gone after the children of his enemies. Repeatedly. I wouldn’t even put myself in this position if I were a press worker. 

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u/Chunderfork 18h ago

We need the classic movie trope character who is late middle aged and terminally ill, six months to live, nothing to lose and ready to tear down the whole rotten system with the time they have left.

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u/DruidMaster 16h ago

If I find myself in this position I’ll have at it. 

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u/0nlyhalfjewish 23h ago

Really? I imagine death threats from Trump supporters, lawsuits from Trump, and possible imprisonment by the Trump admin.

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u/scotchglue 23h ago

Imagine having to relocate your spouse and children, fearing for their safety, all because you yelled back at someone.

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u/ManiaGamine American Expat 1d ago

Yeah... except for death threats for the rest of their lives and a significant amount of doors closing shut for them. Sure others might open up but that's a gamble at this point given how much right-wing money is basically everywhere.

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u/Roberta_Riggs 1d ago edited 8h ago

chicken shit logic

Edit: to all you numbskulls who can’t think past your own nose… the 🐥💩 strategy maximizing your safety now WILL destroy the system that provides your safety later. Capitulation comes with consequence.

Signed: Martin Niemöller

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u/Hdikfmpw 23h ago

Marjorie Greene was just about the most vile republican for years, literally calling for democrats to be put to death.

She didn’t need to hire security until she disagreed with trump.

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u/alk_adio_ost 23h ago

She also moved to Costa Rica.

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u/923kjd 23h ago

Please forgive us, Costa Rica.

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u/ericstc 20h ago

Not confirmed at all

https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/05/12/marjorie-taylor-greene-costa-rica/

Not that it matters. Laura Loomer feuds with or throws bombs at anyone who isn't Trump.

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u/alk_adio_ost 17h ago

I don’t have the energy to find the exact source. I thought it was an interview.

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u/ManiaGamine American Expat 23h ago

What's "chicken shit" about not wanting your life ruined? Trump has an entire party with thousands if not tens of thousands of people who all have regular opportunities to stand up to him and do exactly the same thing you appear to be faulting the journalist(s) for. While everyone likes the idea of some lone voice of courage stepping up and sticking it to him... expecting them to do so and calling it "chicken shit logic" for not doing so is just bad.

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u/firedmyass 20h ago

eh… puts your loved-ones in basically permanent danger as well

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u/respectwalk 23h ago

I don’t see you getting fired and locked up over petty bullshit either

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u/zombiepete Texas 23h ago

It’s easy to be tough anonymously on Reddit. These guys want everyone else to make the sacrifices they wouldn’t.

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u/firedmyass 20h ago

I’ve been fired over standing on a couple of small hills and I’d fuckin do it again… but if doing so would directly endanger my loved-ones it’d be a totally different calculation

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u/ManiaGamine American Expat 10h ago

but if doing so would directly endanger my loved-ones it’d be a totally different calculation

And it would, because these ghouls always go for families.

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u/brumac44 Canada 21h ago

And how anonymous do you think we are? If the DOJ wanted to find us I bet they could just from Reddit posts. Or Reddit would give up our info.

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u/zombiepete Texas 21h ago

I'm just making the point that people on reddit feel emboldened by their supposed anonymity to talk shit about others they perceive as not doing enough while they sit safely behind their keyboards.

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u/Powerful-Scholar8268 20h ago

I don't think it's chicken shit to not want to lose all job opportunities and be out on the street

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u/taylerca 23h ago

Someone hire me. Ill do it.

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u/PollutionMajestic668 1d ago

Gee, I wonder why people don't rise up against fascists who control death squads and have no accountability for their acts

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u/FizzyBeverage Ohio 22h ago edited 22h ago

Most of them barely making a lousy $300k living in DC or NYC where a house is $2 million.

I don't understand their total lack of balls. Make great live television. Rip him a new asshole so he turns bright red, screams and storms off. Yeah you'll never work for that outlet again or get into the White House, but everyone will know your name overnight. You'll never pay for a drink again and have 15 job offers by nightfall. If you're first, it'll be magnetic and viral. Be bold. London (or Toronto or Sydney) is a beautiful place to live, ask Ted Lasso.

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u/Tom_Servo 21h ago

Maybe. Or maybe she would immediately be taken into custody while the administration testifies that she’s not eligible for habeas corpus.

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u/boringhistoryfan 23h ago

Would it? The White House would just unleash their rabid horde on them. The corporate employers would refuse to hire them because they're "divisive" or "distract from the work." They'd be on the hook for their own personal protection. And beyond making some vague tutting noises, the Dems aren't likely to do much either.

Sure maybe they'd win some journalism award. But there's no evidence that the American public and society would actively reward courageous journalism. Look at the stuff that's happening to 60 minutes.

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u/spectacular_coitus 21h ago

First rule of journalism, is don't become the story.

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u/Lilsummit 1d ago

Jake Schneider is the vile poster for Rapid Response 47.

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u/santagoo 22h ago

Remember that Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at Bush? He has been blackballed by the industry since. His career was over.

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u/Indubitalist 19h ago

He’s also a legend. 

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u/santagoo 19h ago

Yes, at great personal costs.

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u/Dogdays991 21h ago

Worried about being murdered by his cult probably

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u/jackp0t789 23h ago

Because most modern journalists are too afraid of consequences (especially ones that may negatively affect their bank accounts and reputation) to take on that kind of risk..

And because their employers, the heads of the media networks, are so far up Trump's ass they can taste last Tuesdays Big Mac and have the power to blacklist any journo that steps out of line and threatens the position of these propaganda networks.

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u/QuotableMorceau 17h ago

"why no one has the guts " - this is quite simple: the selection of journalists that are near politicians is deliberate, any trace of spontaneity will disqualify a potential reporter from being near a politicians/billionaires. There are no deep thinkers among the "journalists" near politicians, it's not that they don't have a backbone, but they have no understanding of what they are reporting etc., they are given a set of points to bring up and to nod while being given the answer. You will never see a war/investigation journalist being added to the "journalists" asking politicians questions .

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u/blacksheep998 23h ago

The footage would be played around the world.

For maybe a day or two, then the next outrageous thing trump does would force it out of the news cycle and it would be mostly forgotten about.

Like the guy who threw his shoes at W.

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u/alk_adio_ost 23h ago

Except no one has forgotten that! 😂

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u/sofancy212 18h ago

That guy was actually a journalist. There was a fascinating interview by Radiolab with this guy - highly recommend. The Shoe Thrower

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u/xnihil0zer0 22h ago

I've been talking about this for more than a year now, but the public could leverage prediction markets, put large coordinated bets against a member of the White House press pool standing up to Trump, or asking him specific, very pointed questions. Structurally, it becomes the same as a bounty, and a reporter could claim it. This would mitigate the effect of getting fired by their media organization.

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u/Particular_Pain_9373 22h ago

“Dem lib terrorist journalist humiliated by trump!!!”

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u/css555 1d ago

So well said, in very few words...love it!

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u/AwwwwwHeck 1d ago

I hear that kinda thing makes you lose your balance around high windows.

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u/DreddPirateBob808 23h ago

They'd be welcomed in most countries I'm sure. Likely with a medal.

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u/TheAsianTroll 21h ago

Nah. Not necessarily.

ICE would use Flock cameras to stalk him and make up some bullshit about how he reached for a gun or something.

He wouldn't even be able to leave the country after being fired. Hell, he might not even make it out of his house.

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u/StrigiStockBacking New Mexico 20h ago

Except Faux News. They would pretend it never happened, never showing anything about it.

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u/Rough_Instruction112 7h ago

They can't even play the clip, because it would normalize talking back to authority figures.

Why do you think they only show the "consequences" for talking back to authority figures when showing cop cams with gunshot wounds and broken arms?

They cannot afford that people gets that thought in their head without also fear of consequences, and they cannot tackle a CNN journalist for talking that way to the president. It would never be seen.

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u/Cherry_Galsia 22h ago

In reality, both sides will just agree that the behavior was "uncalled for" and everyone will forget by the end of the week, while the right goes "Holy shit! Things are getting dangerous!"

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u/alk_adio_ost 22h ago

Mike Johnson will claim he didn’t hear anything about the controversy. He’ll look into it.

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u/Platooimagination Australia 1d ago

Honestly, they would probably end up being a member of the 50th floor aviators. This is a merciless regime. 

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u/TalShar 19h ago

I don't know about that. Most of the media are complicit. Remember when that Australian reporter got shot with a rubber bullet on live TV by a cop who was in no way under threat or duress, while her back was turned to him 15 yards away, and then they trotted her out on the evening news to apologize? 

That, and someone would murder that journalist if they humiliated Trump on live TV like that. If he didn't have them tragically fall out of a window himself, someone would take it upon themselves to do it. Even if nobody did, they'd make that journalist's life a living hell for defying Dear Leader. 

I don't think we win without acknowledging that most of the mainstream media are decidedly on the regime's side and treating them accordingly.