I’ve no doubt that KRISTEN WELKER, newly appointed host of NBC’s creaky, tired, old MEET THE PRESS, is good at something. Journalism however ain’t it. Even when she was just a regular member of NBC News’ reporting corps, Kristen regularly demonstrated that she was a mediocre little girl trying to fill a skilled, grown woman’s sensible shoes.

That our news media continues to treat DONALD TRUMP like a normal presidential candidate running in a normal election proves that they’re light years behind the story curve. They’re not oblivious of the fact that Trump is corrupt, outrageous and abnormal. They report it all the time. But then, they turn to camera two and switch back into “horse race” mode – and forget they ever thought Trump was the least bit abnormal.

Performative Outrage v Real Outrage

This began at the very same instant Trump’s first campaign began – as he rode that absurd golden escalator down to the microphone where he insisted that Mexicans are rapists. Our news media expressed performative outrage. Mexicans felt outrage. There’s a difference.

Performative outrage about Mexicans became performative outrage about women after Trump’s “pussy-grabbing” quote. I’m sure a few members of the press really did feel “outrage”. But, it was remarkable how quickly they let go of that outrage because of “But, her emails”.

Apparently, that really outraged the press angry.

Our news media has never known what the truth is where Donald Trump’s concerned. They’ve always deferred to Trump’s version of events because they don’t know how to contradict him in real time.

This doesn’t have to be. The press has the tools. What they lack is the will. Or maybe they fear losing face more than they fear losing our democracy.

Put Your Foot/Feet Down!

Imagine, when Trump was still POTUS, if the White House Press Corps – rather than sitting down when Trump ordered them to – instead resisted and demanded that Trump answer their question. Imagine also if the rest of the White House Press Corps – rather than asking the next question when Trump tries to move on – dug in their collective heels and insisted that Trump answer the question still on the table.

I’m not sure the entire White House Press Corps could muster that much backbone even if they put all their backbones together!