With only a week till Donald Trump takes the oath of workplace that can reignite his wildfire of a presidency, the MAGA motion is already in open civil warfare over who will get to be a part of Trump’s unique (and extremely highly effective) interior circle. Nowhere was that clearer than in Steve Bannon lambasting billionaire Elon Musk as “truly evil,” whereas urging the Tesla CEO to “go back to South Africa.” Yikes!
You wouldn’t have heard about that for those who watched the cable information reveals this previous week. It shouldn’t shock you to know that the main media networks are all in a complicated state of “anticipatory obedience” to Trump’s incoming authoritarianism. Which means no extra criticism of MAGA bigwigs—particularly Musk, the largest, richest wig of all of them.
That media silence feels even weirder when you think about that the Bannon vs. Musk feud is likely one of the dominant points burning up the terminally on-line right-wing punditverse. Actually, we dwell in two mutually unique worlds.
From MAGA brawls to the high-stakes combat to bury particular counsel Jack Smith’s report on Trump’s misconduct, cable TV’s speaking heads missed fairly a couple of massive tales this week.
The states of Greenland and Canada
The most important broadcasters wrote off Donald Trump’s stunning threats to annex Greenland, make Canada a U.S. state, and seize management of the Panama Canal nearly as shortly because the president-elect issued them. Whereas it’s clear the company media plans to deal with Trump’s more and more hostile threats with a watch roll, the reality is extra severe. Trump’s gambit isn’t only a slap within the face to America’s allies, it’s a possible political minefield each at dwelling and overseas.
Every day Kos’ Andrew Mangan wrote Sunday about how Trump’s effort to show Canada into America’s 51st state would possibly trigger The Donald extra complications than he could understand. That features welcoming 5 new political events into the American political sphere, lots of whom are so progressive they make America’s Democrats appear like a bunch of right-wing radicals. However Trump’s troubles don’t cease with a brand new Congress: The state of Canada would possess 50 electoral votes—an enormous electoral shift.
Elsewhere at Every day Kos, Alix Breeden tackled Trump’s aggressive threats to economically sanction Denmark until they comply with hand over Greenland to america. And as Breeden notes, Trump’s lust for an island within the Arctic Circle isn’t pushed by delusion alone. Greenland’s enormous provide of helpful minerals and shut entry to Arctic oil fields would show an enormous boon as america seeks to weaken China’s grip on strategically vital uncommon earth metals.
Trump is severe sufficient about his territorial expansionism that he’s refused to rule out seizing Greenland via army drive. Company media shops could deal with Trump’s statements as foolish punchlines, however world leaders don’t threaten warfare on NATO nations frivolously—even dopes like Donald Trump. Happily for the GOP, cable information shops have made certain voters received’t see Trump’s newest assault on America’s allies.
DOGE goes digging
You’ll assume the goings-on of the world’s richest and most politically related man can be absolute catnip for cable information shops looking forward to scandal and sensationalism. But most People have barely heard a peep about Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity because it was first introduced months in the past. As John Adams as soon as wrote, it’s marvelous how political crops develop within the shade—and DOGE is spreading like kudzu.
As a substitute, among the most incisive protection of Musk’s unofficial presidency comes from media shops in Europe, the place Musk is being (appropriately) branded a democracy-threatening villain by political leaders, together with France’s Emmanuel Macron. Every day Kos’ Oliver Willis has additionally been scorching on Musk’s path, together with a fantastic piece on how DOGE is already harassing authorities officers regardless of not being an actual authorities company and holding no precise energy.
This all comes regardless of rising numbers of presidency officers—on either side of the aisle—telling Musk and his DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy that they merely received’t discover $2 trillion in federal spending cuts. Every day Kos’ Emily Singer experiences that every one these conferences have led Musk to decrease expectations round what DOGE can obtain. When pressed, Musk couldn’t even title any spending areas he would minimize. That is going to go nice, y’all.
Singer additionally reminds Republicans of a fact they’d reasonably neglect: Any spending cuts approaching something even near $2 trillion would essentially embody slashing the nation’s huge protection funds. That’s a no-go space for the GOP. Ramaswamy has stated DOGE isn’t even contemplating trimming the protection funds, which suggests DOGE will battle to hit even sharply decreased spending objectives. This was purported to be the simple half!
It’s straightforward to grasp why the media has closed their eyes to Musk’s wild claims. In spite of everything, Musk’s sprawling community of enterprise and funding relationships means lots of the executives accountable for figuring out TV information protection have at the least a tangential connection to the notoriously litigious Musk. Most shops would reasonably keep away from scrutiny and a possible lawsuit altogether by merely permitting Musk to function exterior of the realm of press accountability.
Democracy, as they are saying, dies in darkness—and it’s getting fairly dim on the market, people.
Attain out!
Hold the dialog going all week by sharing tales you assume the media missed with me at @themaxburns on Bluesky! And keep in mind: If you happen to’re tuned to cable information, you aren’t even getting half of the story.
Till subsequent week, maintain your eyes peeled and keep inquisitive, pals.
