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riversedge

(69,730 posts)
Fri Jun 2, 2017, 06:16 PM Jun 2017

Its time for cable news to unplug the White House press briefings

I agree. enough. Especially now that Sean will not answer any questions about Russiagate.







It’s time for cable news to unplug the White House press briefings

https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/06/02/it-s-time-cable-news-unplug-white-house-press-briefings/216749





Blog ››› 8 hours 57 min ago ››› ERIC BOEHLERT

Sarah Wasko/Media Matters

During a press briefing this week, White House press secretary Sean Spicer was asked a straightforward question about whether the president believes that human activity contributes to climate change. “Honestly, I haven't asked him. I can get back to you,” was Spicer’s non-answer.

Spicer acts as one of the president’s closest aides, but he hasn’t asked Trump if he believes in the simple premise of global warming? This, despite the fact that Trump this week took the radical position of triggering the withdrawal process for the United States to leave the historic Paris climate agreement.

If Spicer can’t address simple questions, then what’s the point of Spicer’s press briefings?

More importantly, why are cable news channels still devoted to airing virtually every minute of every Spicer briefing?

Even people on CNN agree, although they’re not quite framing it that way. In the wake of Spicer’s new brand of nearly news-less briefings where the press secretary aggressively delivers few answers and virtually no insights in response to reporters’ questions, CNN hosts had this exchange on Wednesday morning (emphasis added):
........................................

That same day, CNN’s Dylan Byers detailed just how little substance Spicer now delivers at the briefings, ........................




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Its time for cable news to unplug the White House press briefings (Original Post) riversedge Jun 2017 OP
They are a waste of time and electrons. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2017 #1
The lawyers told him to STFU and he finally listened Warpy Jun 2017 #2

Warpy

(110,913 posts)
2. The lawyers told him to STFU and he finally listened
Fri Jun 2, 2017, 07:00 PM
Jun 2017

because it really is inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation. There are plenty of other things to ask him, like who's really behind the stupidity of withdrawing from the Paris Accords?

However, I agree. The only members of the press who are being called on can be shut down with "no comment" or trusted to toss softballs.

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