It’s President Trump’s 100th day in office. We are journalists from six newsrooms reporting extensively on the new administration. Ask us anything.

29 comments

1. Why aren’t you asking the hard questions? Why do you all keep kids gloves on for this entire administration? Why do you repeat their lies without calling them lies?

2. Has there been substantial pressure from your newsrooms and editors to not cover the escalating war on the Judiciary?

3. A strategy of this administration has been to make so much noise that journalists cannot possibly cover every big move that trump is making. What are some big moves that you felt have gone largely unnoticed by the public due to larger stories drowning them out?

4. Are you gonna cover the administration with any care this time? The absolute failing of the media over the last decade is disgusting. Why should anyone trust journalists anymore? Y’all are gonna fold at the first bit of pressure.

5. Many media outlets have faced criticism for “sanewashing” Trump. The criticism goes that, by describing Trump using the vocabulary and tone of typical political discourse, the media has normalized Trump’s antidemocratic actions. How do you respond to this criticism?

6. I really want to see journalists asking him the hard questions. I don’t see it though. Has he effectively stifled the media with his lawsuits and his control of Whitehouse media pool?

   We need more questions thrown at him on his lies.

7. There is a lack of trust in journalism due to how this administration is covered. How are you hoping to earn the trust back of the American people and what are you doing to keep true honest journalism alive?

8. How likely do you think it is that Trump is taking orders from Russia, either through coercion or blackmail?

   edit for extra context:

   The actions Trump has taken seem so targeted at hurting the US both economically and reputationally, that it is difficult to believe that he has done these things with the intention of improving the country or it’s standing in the world. Over the course of a few weeks he has taken the States from a position of control and trust amongst its allies, to one of absolute distrust and disdain. Over the next 2-3 years the cost to the States will almost certainly equate to trillions of dollars via lost tourism, lost defence sales and self inflicted financial harm.

   To me it seems such self inflicted wounds could only be done at the behest of a hostile state which has power over the person in charge. It could be manipulation, bribes or blackmail; or a combination of them all. I wouldn’t be surprised if years from now, it comes out that Russia holds sway over Trump via embarrassing bedroom videos or other financial strings.

9. Is the fear of lack of access influencing your decision to treat the administration with kid gloves?

10. Are you ashamed of the way you handled election coverage? Do you accept blame for the sanewashing that you did and the attempt to please both sides.

    For the Wapo member, how do you feel about the crackdown on editorials and decision to not endorse a candidate?

11. In general, why is the press not boycotting official White House comms opportunities such as the disgusting Oval Office ‘chats’ or Leavit’s propaganda sessions? Why do you keep allowing the White House to spread misinformation THROUGH you?

12. I’m curious to your views on the likelihood of the mid-terms elections being a “free and fair” election. In authoritarian regimes in this modern era, the illusion of democracy is often maintained while elections are manipulated and controlled performative exercises. To what degree can elections provide an opportunity for the population to truly express their views on the direction of the country and provide a meaningful judgement of this regime?!

13. Is there anything you want to say or report about Trump that you are not allowed to? Does your company control how much you can criticize him, for any reasons?

14. 1 How much time do any of you spend working on the wording of your questions? When it’s your turn to ask, do you read the question you’ve written down or do you wing it? If you wing it, why would you do that?

    2 Given Trump’s short attention span, lack of intelligence, arrogance, ego, inability to ever admit he’s wrong, and penchant for lying or just making crap up on the spot, shouldn’t your questions be more bulletproof? Shouldn’t you say stuff like “Tariffs are paid to the US government by whatever company imports a product or part. Can you clarify and explain why you keep saying other countries pay the tariff? Can you give us a single example of another country paying a tariff on a good or part imported by an American company?”

    3 If Trump or a republican politician doesn’t answer a question satisfactorily, or obfuscates, or lies, why doesn’t the next journalist up ask the same question/ask for clarification/point out the misinformation?

15. Why can’t journalists find a way to highlight the fact that this man talks like a mentally challenged 13/15 year old? You guys must talk about this with your colleagues I don’t doubt it, but why are most of your peers sane washing what he says when it comes to writing the articles and doing the TV bits?

    And it’s not just what he says it’s the way he says it. Why are you treating him on the same level as any other President?

    I lose brain cells listening to him and when I read whatever the press writes it’s just another Tuesday

16. Why did so many journalist engage in sanewashing Trump?

    Biden was repeatedly criticised by the media for his apparent cognitive decline.  Trump literally sounds insane when he speaks and makes no sense.  Why has he not been covered the same?  Why aren’t concerns about Trump’s own cognitive abilities regularly discussed by the media?  

    Trump regularly claims he “knows nothing” about critical things going on in his administration – why is he not pressed on his ignorance?

    He’s claimed he wasn’t aware the supreme court ruled 9-0 against his deportation of Garcia.

    He claimed he wasn’t aware of the US service members who died on exercise in Poland.

    He claimed he knew nothing about the signal chat scandal after it broke.

17. Some of the administrations actions, like suspending due process for immigrants, is blatantly anti-American. To the point that the conservative Supreme Court is blocking Trump’s action.

    Why are there not more questions specifically forcing the President, admin officials and congressmen to address the illegal actions? How is it not a daily discussion/article pointing out how the administration is violating the Constitution and calling on Congress to do its job and initiate impeachment hearings and remove this lawless administration from office?

18. Aren’t you guys ashamed of yourself? I get most of my news from overseas sources anymore. Grow some fucking balls.

19. Why are you not calling out the atrocities happening in real time. WHY.

20. My question is in two parts: 1. Would you say that you sane-washed trumps statements and actions in order to generate more views for your business?

    2. Now that he’s President, and actively writing illegal retaliatory executive orders to shut down anyone who stands in his way, do you feel that your actions may have contributed to the daily hell we are all on the precipice of existing in?

21. I get asking politely the first time, but when the politicians refuse to answer and go on tangents, why don’t you push back harder? The last 10 years or more, I’ve never heard an American journalist to respond with “why are you refusing to answer a simple question?” It’s infuriating.

22. Thanks for doing the AMA. Can all of you acknowledge that the information coming from the white house is following a structured release in the vain of Steve Bannons “flood the zone” strategy. They will release information, then dodge questions and accountability on any question asked about that information. I wouldn’t presume to know how media and reporters should handle this, but from the outside looking in it feels like every single reporter is chasing their own stories and all they need to put off the trail is for the administration to fire hose out a hundred issues and then the administration moves on.

    Each individual reporter gets something they can write a story about, the administration dodges tough questions and gets to look competent and the American people are left wondering what in the world is going on. From the outside looking in it appears that a change of strategy is necessary, what are your thoughts on potential options (should we even change strategy)? Should things stay the same as they are now? What would you do to change the flow of the conversations with the White House?

    Just to clarify, this is mainly focused on press interactions with the white house or president. Overall I think media organizations are doing a good job of following all the disparate threads they are left, outside of talking with the white house.

23. Do any of you ever feel guilty or actually worry about your role in things for trying to keep your access and thus jobs by continually trying your best to rationalize, to yourself and your consumers, Trump and his administration’s mental and ethical fitness for their offices or jobs, the lies that they tell, the illegal if not outright criminal acts they engage in, and that “both sides” are essentially “the same”?

24. Why does the media continue to downplay how bad the tariffs are going to get for every day Americans?

25. Why don’t you ever ask follow up questions? When he says “who are you with?” why don’t you respond with “it doesn’t matter who I’m with, are you afraid to answer the question?”

    Stop coddling him FFS. It will not bode well for you long-term. I’d take one epic question where I get banned from the press pool over the hundreds of worthless questions you guys have been asking him so far. Be a legend, not a coward.

26. Why do you both sides everything or instantly pivot to blame Democrats for not doing enough to stop it?

    I agree that Dems aren’t doing enough but you are making it look like Democrats are to blame for Trump’s actions instead of blaming Trump, Republicans and Trump voters.

    It’s exhausting.

27. What’s it like not having a fucking spine?

28. Superman, was chosen to be a journalist, for a very particular reason when he was created. Because ultimately he stood up for truth justice in the American way. And it is civilian guys that was the most easy simplistic way that he could do so and affect societal change. 

    Obviously Superman’s accountable character. But obviously the creators of that were very respectable of journalism and the role that it plays in society. 

    So my question is this, where are the Superman of today? Where are the journalists that are willing to stand up and actually ask the hard questions? Where are the people standing up for truth, justice, and dare I say the American way? 

    I’m sure some people will scoff at this question, or not get the overall point or think it’s a joke, but I’m being dead serious.

29. Two questions. 1) Why has no one done a comprehensive review comparing the movements of the first 100 days and telegraphing of intentions to Project 2025 section-by-section? 2) Why has no one done a comprehensive look at the present and future likelihood of discrimination (workplace, housing, education, banking/lending etc.) that has been de-emphasized at DOJ in favor of comparatively tangential pursuits of trans rights and antisemitism that occur much less frequently and affect significantly fewer of the American population? Nearly half of DOJ’s lawyers have already resigned based on the focus shift at the top. The only thing that’s remotely been close to any of this is some of Mother Jones’ work and in Foreign Policy regarding stress tests on American institutions and their traditional checks and balances.

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