Haven’t had time to keep up on the Tweetinator this week, Donald, and I don’t propose to touch every tweet now. But it is worth highlighting a bit of the zaniness that keeps you in the hearts, minds, and acid stomachs of so many Americans.
THE DASTARDLY MEDIA!
You were on a tear this week regarding the Unfair Media, the Fake Media, the Lying Media, and NBC. Ten tweets dedicated to it, as many as you mentioned Las Vegas in or the FEMA/Puerto Rico fluster-cluck. So … what was that about?
Well, you started off with retweets of two journalistic icons, exemplars of probity and completely unbiased reporting:
FNC dominated ratings last night. MSNBC-disaster demonstrating folks don't trust the network. https://t.co/rryWmyXe7C tonight-Vegas analysis
— Bill O'Reilly (@BillOReilly) October 3, 2017
So Bill’s comments have some element of truth — on Monday, 2 October, Fox News was the top cable channel in total viewers and in the 25-54 age demo. CNN was in second place across the board.
The question of trust of the network is a bit dodgier. While Maddow did win an Emmy both for analysis and reporting this last week, my sense of MSNBC is that its strength is in that analytical side of things. If I am looking for up-to-the-second live coverage, I’m usually going with CNN before MSNBC; if I am looking at further discussion as to what it all means, the political interplay following, and so forth, I’m going to go to the MSNBC side.
It’s not a matter of “trust” Bill — it’s a matter of strengths. That’s echoed later in the week — the margin between FNC and MSNBC on Thursday, for example, is much tighter. The overall audience was much smaller, too; Monday was a sport due to the Las Vegas shooting. And while FNC’s Thursday prime time numbers were still higher than MSNBC’s, MSNBC’s were up from Monday, vs FNC’s being down.
FNC has also rolled out its biggest gun to go head-to-head with Maddow, Sean Hannity, and by and large he seems to be winning one-on-one On the other hand, if one talks about a “right wing” media world of Fox and a “left wing” media world of CNN / Headline News and MSNBC, then the latter is eating the former’s lunch. Even on that Monday night in question. Even against Hannity.
And, for what it’s worth, though MSNBC was actually 3rd this week vs FNC and CNN/Headline News, it’s the only one of the three that has shown year-over-year growth. Fox and CNN’s news share has actually dwindled in that time, while MSNBC’s has gone up.
Ultimately, a robust media environment is a good media environment, Donald. Your insistance on making this a horse race, with only the “winner” to be considered Real News (assuming it’s a “winner” that you like) speaks more to your frail ego or autocratic preferences than who’s doing the best journalism.
Speaking of Sean Hannity, you retweeted:
https://twitter.com/seanhannity/status/915356118536167424
Apparently this was Hannity going on about how the Left is “politicizing” the Las Vegas shooting. By “politicizing” he seems to mean “talking about it” and “suggesting solutions.” That Hannity is getting all pissy about people he doesn’t like “politicizing” tragic events is, itself, highly hypocritical to an almost laughable state.
Of course, it gets even better when you realize that Hannity himself has a financial interest in not having further restrictions on gun sales. Fair and balanced, amirite, Donald?
But enough about them — let’s look at what you were saying yourself.
Wow, so many Fake News stories today. No matter what I do or say, they will not write or speak truth. The Fake News Media is out of control!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2017
Media! Gone! Wild!
Specifics, Donald. Specifics. I mean, we already know that you’re being hyperbolic here (you still give interviews to the New York Times, for example, and just this week you were praising a Washington Post article that said something you liked). So “They will not write or speak truth” is clearly an exaggeration.
The hint that you are struggling to get them to do so is a bit amusing, too.
The specifics were soon in coming:
NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2017
Actually, Donald, NBC’s Evening News ratings are quite strong, Donald. They’ve been beating ABC and CBS in the age 25-54 demo, which is what advertisers want to see. And we’ve talked already about MSNBC side of the house.
I’m sure you’d love it if running stories you don’t like led to an automatic downturn in ratings, but … well, it just really doesn’t seem to work that way.
Anyway, it seems this tweet-storming was all about an NBC News report that Rex Tillerson had been so angry at you, Donald, that he called you a “moron” and had to be talked down from quitting.
The @NBCNews story has just been totally refuted by Sec. Tillerson and @VP Pence. It is #FakeNews. They should issue an apology to AMERICA!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2017
Rex Tillerson never threatened to resign. This is Fake News put out by @NBCNews. Low news and reporting standards. No verification from me.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2017
Tillerson denied that he had threatened to resign (because of course he did), but declined to comment about whether he had called Trump a moron [20]. (One of the journalists involved says, ‘My source didn’t just say he called him a moron, he called him an f-ing moron.”)
I get it, Donald. It’s irksome to hear reports — whether they are true or not — that one of your top appointees was thinking of quitting, let alone that he said (in a private meeting) something uncomplimentary about you.
I mean, I know how you love to set up a big table full of people who work for you and then have them go around the table, one by one, on the record, talking about how wonderful you and your actions are. You did it early on with your cabinet, and you did it on your trip to Puerto Rico.
But, honestly, Donald, by going all ballistic on this sort of thing, you’re just letting the folk who don’t like you call the shots. You’re letting them get to you. And you simply add to the sense that you are driven more by a pathological ego than by your own good sense. None of that is good, Donald.
Why Isn't the Senate Intel Committee looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up-FAKE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2017
Um … because even in Russia journalistic standards aren’t under the purview of international Intelligence committees?
Late Night host are dealing with the Democrats for their very "unfunny" & repetitive material, always anti-Trump! Should we get Equal Time?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017
More and more people are suggesting that Republicans (and me) should be given Equal Time on T.V. when you look at the one-sided coverage?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017
But, but, Donald, it was Ronald Reagan of Blessed Memory who got rid of the “Fairness Doctrine,” stopping its enforcement by the FCC. It was the GOP and conservatives who were livid over trumped-up rumors under Clinton then under Obama that the liberals were going to try to bring the Fairness Doctrine back
But even in its heyday, the Fairness Doctrine was about news coverage, not about late night talk hosts. Are you telling us that you think we should have some sort of equal time / fairness / political joke tally to be sure that people aren’t being unfairly mean to you?
Here’s an idea — maybe Fox News or some other conservative outlet can put together a pro-Republican (and pro-you!) late night show. Let the American people voice their preferences through ratings. See how that works for you, Donald.
.@NBCNews is so knowingly inaccurate with their reporting. The good news is that the PEOPLE get it, which is really all that matters! Not #1
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017
And if they’re not “#1” then clearly they’re worthless and a bunch of lying loser liars, right, Donald? Because only the bestest, toppest, winningest winner is the real winner. Only the guy who got the most votes —
— oh, wait, never mind.
POLITICS!
A few interesting thoughts from you that weren’t obsessions about the unfair media.
I called Chuck Schumer yesterday to see if the Dems want to do a great HealthCare Bill. ObamaCare is badly broken, big premiums. Who knows!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017
It is interesting that you reached out to Schumer on this, though by his report is was just to ask his support for another Repeal and Replace, which he unsurprisingly told you was not going to happen.
The ACA would be in much better shape if you weren’t doing everything in your power, administratively, to break it further, and keep people from enrolling.
Ralph Northam,who is running for Governor of Virginia,is fighting for the violent MS-13 killer gangs & sanctuary cities. Vote Ed Gillespie!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2017
Speaking of despicable …
Northam is, of course, a decorated military vet, who served eight years of active duty, rather than dodging the draft and then getting “bone spurs”. Why do you hate our vets so much, Donald? Especially by basically accusing one of treason as a cheap political ploy?
Could it be that you’re just worried that Northam actually has a lead in the polls?
Also, don’t you think it’s kind of weird that Gillespie didn’t retweet your endorsement?
OTHER STUFF!
So what other topics did you tweet/retweet on this past week, Donald? By tally …
10 – FEMA and My Government Response to Disasters, even Puerto Rico, is Awesome!
10 – Las Vegas was terrible but LV response was wonderful! Warmest condolences!
3 – Everyone loves me!
2 – The Economy is Awesome!
1 – My government is working smoothly!
1 – Random “God bless America!”
If the press said nice things about Trump, they would indeed be liars, fakes, traitors, and in an odd sense, liberal. I guess that's why he is so dumbfounded by the profound lack of praise.
You're welcome always Peace be with Me. PRESIDENT 🌐💥
Trump doesn't realize he is the liar and delusional
And you dumbass people voted for Hillary? Trump is a Saint compared to her
+Mike Frazier I was not an enthused about Hillary as a choice, but I regret only not being more vigorous in encouraging folk to vote for her in order to keep Trump out of the White House. Trump is a dangerous man, and he's surrounded himself with folk who are even more so because they aren't hampered by their own narcissism.
Americans? Go figure!
Do so appreciate these Dave…
This is this one sick president trump who don't pay for his taxes off and like to disrespectful women's and kids any kinds .I think it's time all kids who can learn from this president trump u can finish in school and go to college the way God want you to don't do wat the president trump did like disrespectful women's keep y'all head up following your dreams ok
You have to be willing to "LISTEN" whole heartedly & willing to "COMPROMISE" inorder to get a job done successfully. The man we have in the Oval Office representing our nation now refuses to do either. He's playing a dangerous game in which can cost alot of innocent people their lives. Yes sir Mr. Dave this is some very serious stuff happening here!!! I just pray the ending results of his psychotic & incompetent behavior won't have us going to war while he's sitting back in his chair tweeting.
U got that right we need justice for every body who was shot by police officers who walking free in our freedom cities and we deserve better justice not having ours kids of any kinds and colors to be dead hands up don't shoot