Eric Boehlert: In praise of Jen Psaki

[babylonsister]

https://pressrun.media/p/in-praise-of-jen-psaki

In praise of Jen Psaki
#PsakiBomb
Eric Boehlert


The day after President Joe Biden's first press conference last month, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy arrived at the White House press briefing feeling unloved. Having not been called on at the formal Q&A with Biden, and dwelling on his oversized sense of importance, Doocy raised his hand and asked if there as an official White House policy of not calling on him — he wanted to know if there was a coordinated campaign to ignore the Fox staffer constantly in search of a partisan fight.

Looking slightly bemused while giving her patented third-grade-teacher head tilt that conveys a willing patience, but also an unspoken and stinging, "really?", White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki patiently addressed the grievance:

PSAKI: We’re here having a conversation, aren’t we?

DOOCY: Yes, but.

PSAKI: And do I take questions from you every time you come to the briefing room?

DOOCY: Yes, but…

She soon concluded the back-and-forth by complimenting the reporter on his “awesome socks.”

The episode confirmed that Doocy vs. Psaki remains one of the great media mismatches of our time. It also made clear that Psaki's the right woman for the right time, and she's emerged as Biden's silent slayer who carries out covert media missions with a smile. She's our real-life C.J. Cregg who has brought smarts and wits back the White House briefing room, after four years of the Trump infection, where mindless sycophants at the podium waged war on the free press.

"Press Secretary Jen Psaki is kind of badass at her job, and it's because of the extremely non-combative way she is just FINISHED WITH YOUR SHIT," Wonkette observed. "It's just like ... some kind of assassin thing where some idiot asks her an idiot question and she handles it so quickly and quietly and effectively, the poor idiot's liver is bleeding out before they even feel a thing."

In less than three months, Psaki has put her permanent stamp on the job, taking over the high-profile position at a time of national crisis. Working hard to reestablish an open, professional relationship with the Beltway press corps, Psaki has perhaps done more than anyone in the administration — including Biden himself — in terms of changing the tone in our politics, and creating a new path forward towards a transparent form of government, in the wake of the Trump's ransacking of the norms.

snip//

Online, fans refer to those as a #PsakiBomb, the disarming way she dispenses with bad faith or plainly misleading questions. The "bomb" part of that description is slightly off, though. The good-natured Psaki remains a quintessential non-bomb thrower. She’s not trying to tear anything down. But her pointed answers can leave a nasty mark when necessary. That's her super power.

And that’s why she’s the understated rock star of the Biden era.

[mitch96]

1. What amazes me is she is on top of every question.. She must do a massive amount of

homework or have a photographic mind to remember all this "stuff"...
m

[mopinko]

3. as someone who has one, can confirm.

runs in my family. yup. she's got it.

[mitch96]

5. I knew a MD who had a photographic mind. When a person came in with a strange diagnosis

he would just look up the symptoms in his mind and nail it.. On the other hand he was absolutely horrible with anything that had to do with his hands. Forget starting an IV or doing a spinal tap. His way of dealing with it was to act like a sewing machine. Jab, jab, jab. Thank god he did not take up surgery..
m

[mopinko]

11. there's only so much room in the human brain.

every genius i know has some weak spot in there.

[Unwind Your Mind]

41. It's true

I can remember most everything I’ve written or seen written down.

My memory for events and names, terrible.

The brain is such an interesting thing.

[brewens]

6. I get laughs when I'm given something to read that I'm not going to. I glance at it and say, "I

have a photographic memory, I'll read it later."

[AZ8theist]

39. As someone whose memory resembles a colander...

I AM SO JEALOUS!!!!!

[mopinko]

40. it's not as good at 67

as it was when i was younger.
my sister is sharper that way than i am, tho. she forgets nothing.

[gratuitous]

9. She also probably spends more than an hour a day on her job

Remember McEnany's big fat binder with its dozens of tabs for subjects? For the short time she was actually doing briefings, she resolutely stayed on message regardless of how dumb it was shown to be. Spicer and Sanders just ridiculed any reporter who asked them an inconvenient question, following the pattern set by their boss.

But all three of them (ignoring Stephanie Grisham, who never hosted a gaggle) gave off the vibe that their job didn't take up much of their time. Maybe 10 minutes of prep, enduring the ordeal, and a nice hot toddy afterwards, heavy on the toddy. I get the sense that Psaki spends a good deal of time each day immersing herself in what's going on in the building, talking with the people involved, checking over what's being said in the popular media, and generally making sure she's the most prepared person in the room when she steps up to the podium.

[PatSeg]

12. I will give McEnany a certain amount of credit

She actually was quite good at her job, but unfortunately in her case, that job was to evade, mislead, and out-and-out lie to the media. However, she did that very smoothly and professionally, with little or no hesitation. Just imagine if she used her skills to actually speak the truth.

[NNadir]

4. I'm a fan. I had some tears of joy when I first saw her in action.

[lastlib]

26. The best PressSec since Bill Moyers, methinks.

[bluestarone]

7. Just like Joe and Kamala are the RIGHT people for the moment,

So is Jen Psaki the PERFECT fit!

[PatSeg]

13. Joe sure does have a knack for

choosing the RIGHT people. No wonder he is off to such a successful start.

[brewens]

8. Thinking how much the right must hate her makes me smile. Compare her to what the former guy sent

out there. LOL

I remember Kayleigh McCockamamie's first appearance. She did the ditzy hair flip thing a few times. I was waiting for her to do the little upward blow move! I know either she looked at the video later and realized that made her look like an idiot, or someone else said something, because she never did that again.

[Wounded Bear]

10. Kind of sad that MSNBC stopped showing her pressers. She's definitely good...

[panader0]

30. Who shows her pressers now? What time?

[Glaisne]

14. Maybe instead of #PsakiBomb

it should be #PsakiBurn.

As in, "You're gonna need some ointment for that #PsakiBurn".

[Tommymac]

17. I kinda like plain ole' #Psakied

I'd love to see that term become an official word in Webster's:

psak-ied (soc-eed) v. 1) To have been verbally neutered publicly for stupidity in a polite yet pointed way. 2) Verbally cut down to size with sublime wit that is sharp as a knife. 3)pwnd

[Mickju]

22. Yes, that needs to be in the dictionary.

[Unwind Your Mind]

42. I love that!

To have been verbally neutered publicly for stupidity in a polite yet pointed way.

[mountain grammy]

15. I might be a bit biased

but I think she's the best Press Secretary I've seen in my lifetime. Maybe it's just the times we live in, but Jen Psaki is a wonder to watch. Some days I just want to cry tears of absolute joy.

[Volaris]

23. I second that sentiment. Only Bill Clinton was as good at an open presser,

And shes better. Obama had a knack for dealing with the press, but not 1-50 like that. One on A Few was his wheelhouse.

Shes a fucking master. I love watching her.

[librechik]

16. Psaki's words are music to my ears!

I too was moved to tears during her first appearance. Thank god, the cavalry has arrived!

[apnu]

21. Agreed. Her first briefing on the first day did more for my nerves than anything else so far.

I could feel myself relaxing half way through that first briefing. That, more than anything else, signaled that adults were back in charge.

[lookyhereyou]

18. brilliant

and refreshing,

[apnu]

19. Jen Psaki takes no B.S. and gives no B.S.

That's the secret to her success. People will faff about in conversation, saying something while meaning something else. "Bless your heart" for example. Psaki doesn't play that game. She says exactly what's on her mind rips open indirect insincere interactions with straight forward, exposed to the whole room, openness and clarity.

She's not bombing anyone. She's not deconstructing anything, its much simpler. She is not going to play footsie with anyone and double-talk.

In a city built on double-talk, a frank directness in conversation seems like a blade.

[Labiglabocce]

20. She is great.

I had some tests done when I was a younger and
they told me I had a photographic memory.

I’m just out of film!

[Mopar151]

38. With you!

Godamm archivist is out back , burnin' one with John Prime! The librarians believe they'll have another drink. I wander around, things turn up.

[Unwind Your Mind]

43. Lol!

[SergeStorms]

24. She is, without a doubt...

the best White House Press Secretary I've ever seen in any administration in my life, and that goes back to the Kennedy administration. It's like she was born for that job.

[North Shore Chicago]

25. Shhhh

Don't tell my bride, but I have a big 'ol crush on Jen Psaki!

Smarts, cutting wit, what else is there? Oh, and quite stunning.

[Caliman73]

27. I am wondering if she belongs to the Gracie Clan...

Her verbal Jiu Jitsu is amazing. Dumb reporters end up on their head without even knowing what happened. And it is true, she is as transparent as they come. Granted, every administration wants to spin information into what paints them in the best light, but she is a purveyor of information, not a liar like the people in the last 4 years.

[BobTheSubgenius]

28. I. Agree. With. Every. Word.

And then some. Can someone offer a benchmark by which we can measure her skill and spot-on delivery? Someone that she is "the best since...?" She is the sliced bread.

[dlk]

29. Rock star, indeed!

Psaki is the best!

[panader0]

31. I think she's great too.

Her job is made a bit easier because she doesn't have to lie. But her intelligence, preparation,
verbal ability and wit are unmatched in my 70 year old memory.

[Cha]

32. Aww.. Eric Boehlert does an

a Brilliant description of Jen Psaki at her job!

And, Wonkette!

"Press Secretary Jen Psaki is kind of badass at her job, and it's because of the extremely non-combative way she is just FINISHED WITH YOUR SHIT," Wonkette observed. "It's just like ... some kind of assassin thing where some idiot asks her an idiot question and she handles it so quickly and quietly and effectively, the poor idiot's liver is bleeding out before they even feel a thing."

[3catwoman3]

36. That description reminds me of what Nancy Pelosi's daughter...

...says about her - “She’ll cut our head off and you won’t even know you’re bleeding.”

[Cha]

37. lol right! I laughed

again when I read Wonkette's ..

"Press Secretary Jen Psaki is kind of badass at her job, and it's because of the extremely non-combative way she is just FINISHED WITH YOUR SHIT.."

[mjvpi]

33. She's the star, but every time that I see her I think staff, staff, staff.

[trickyguy]

34. Love that head tilt as Psaki forms the perfect answer to an ignorant press question.

And I love seeing that beautiful auburn hair of hers just fold down to frame
a beautiful woman with an even more beautiful brain.

Joe did the American people the right thing by putting Jen Psaki in the drivers seat
on these press conferences.

A joy to watch and hear an intelligent answer. Go Jen. Go PsakiBomb.

[Martin68]

35. Best WH press secretary of all time. Of course, she follows a series of the Worst press secretaries

of all time. But she still must rate among the top 3 of all time.