According to Fox News host Sean Hannity, news networks like CNN and MSNBC that are considering no longer carrying the daily coronavirus press briefings live because they don’t want to give President Donald Trump a platform for spewing misinformation and his airing his petty grievances are doing so because they’re jealous of the president.
On his radio show Friday, according to the Daily Beast, Hannity attacked the “mob in the media” and explained that he thinks he knows the real motivation behind producers and journalists at news outlets other than Fox might decide they won’t be covering the briefings:
“Well, maybe we shouldn’t cover these press conferences, he’s doing too well, he looks too presidential, he’s actually doing all of these things.”
What “things” exactly is Trump doing or has he done? He’s repeatedly whined that he’s not getting enough praise for his tepid response to the virus, which has now claimed the lives of 1,704 Americans and infected another 104,000. He even made it clear Friday that if governors in states such as Michigan and Washington don’t adequately kiss his butt, he’ll refuse to send needed supplies to them.
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow had the perfect take on what is happening with Trump and why she’s personally opposed to carrying the coronavirus briefings live:
“If it were up to me, and it’s not, I would stop putting those briefings on live TV Not out of spite, but because it’s misinformation. If the president does end up saying anything true, you can run it as tape. But if he keeps lying like he has been every day on stuff this important, we should, all of us should stop broadcasting it. Honestly, it’s going to cost lives.”
Shouldn’t that be the bottom line? Is the information helpful or hurtful? Should Trump be given up to an hour a day of free airtime to attack those he disagrees with and disseminate outright propaganda?
If Trump says anything valuable, as Maddow noted, it can immediately be replayed. But until he does, maybe the networks need to give us medical and scientific experts who can provide us with facts we all need.
Featured Image Via Fox News Screenshot
