Step aside, lazy both-sides-ism, Judd is having none of it: Wow, imagine that, a journalist able to merely point out that a "response" offered in defense of anti-democratic political maneuvering has no actual substance and doesn't address the underlying behavior. Can you imagine being part of the White House press pool, and having Lying Barbie trot out for the 50th time to yell over you and ignore follow up questions addressing her lies, but apparently you didn't learn shit from Spicer, the 'Mooch, Huckabee-Sanders, so you don't feel any need to change your tactics? Like someone's pressing the press secretary on Trump's latest treason, and she's like "THAT WILL BE ALL", then she calls on you, and you're like "Ah, it says here on my clipboard that I'm supposed to help you pivot away from accountability". And I know, there's not much money in journalism these days, but the Old Guard have gotten pwned at the podium. sigh OK, anyway, it's time to make like twenty goddamn constitutional amendments. Maybe we could go full sequel with Constitution 2: When an Entire Party Pushes the 'Treason' Button.In response, a spokesperson for Tabas did not claim he was misquoted or deny that Tabas had discussed the possibility with the Trump campaign. Instead, the spokesperson described The Atlantic article as "an out of context, pre-emptive farce that projects conspiracy, delay and even violence onto Republicans."
I've been wondering what the net effect would be of just boycotting. The Democrats boycotting the SCOTUS hearings. The press boycotting the briefing room. Etc, etc. This monster gets its power from the attention. SCOTUS is going to be a joke either way. McEnany is going to lie through her teeth either way. Why should they have an audience?
I think most career journalists know that 'DMs are open' is the journalism equivalent of self-publishing your book on Amazon. I mean, if you can't text Giuliani on deep background you might as well be a blogger. The 4th Estate has long since become an ADU in the back yard.
This one delighted me (source): We've found a horcrux, everyone! This looks like the first subject where communication from the top completely stops. White House spokespeople are apparently on their own. For posterity: We have switched Judds, and this Judd will receive no attaboys. I hadn't thought about how the NYT is no doubt strategically dumping all this in the hours leading up to the first debate, thanks for pointing that out, Judd #2.In response to a request for comment [on NYT's coverage of Trump's tax records], a White House spokesman, Judd Deere, did not dispute any specific facts. Instead, he delivered a broad attack, calling the article “fake news” and “yet another politically motivated hit piece full of inaccurate smears” appearing “before a presidential debate.”