Final week’s version of “What the Media Missed” sparked a great religion debate within the feedback over whether or not I used to be proper to incorporate Kash Patel’s more and more doubtless Senate affirmation as FBI director as certainly one of final week’s missed tales.
Let’s dig into that earlier than we soar into this week’s roundup.
One commenter slapped my knuckles with a ruler for failing to notice that MSNBC has been overlaying Patel’s nomination since its earliest days—which was completely proper. One other talked about David French’s considerate column criticizing Patel in The New York Occasions.
These two exceptions are half of a bigger, extra regarding pattern: When all mainstream media retailers are totaled, in-depth protection of Patel’s nomination and values has really decreased each week during the last month. MSNBC is doing obligatory work, but it surely’s largely doing that work alone—and to enormously lowered rankings—till Jan. 20, that’s.
This week, cable information’ most-watched exhibits spent as a lot time yapping about Donald Trump’s go to to the Tremendous Bowl as they did detailing the president’s unprecedented assault on USAID. Listed below are two of the largest tales the mainstream media missed.
A extra harmful ICE
As Trump continues to roll out his always-on media circus, it’s essential to keep watch over the massive adjustments the White Home decides not to speak about. That’s very true with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the place Every day Kos’ Alix Breeden experiences that Trump’s large speak round mass deportations hides the truth that his administration is releasing extra undocumented immigrants again into the nation than President Joe Biden did. Huh?
That doesn’t imply Trump isn’t serving to ICE flex its muscle mass in new and harmful methods. ICE underneath Trump is much less correct at detaining the proper individuals than it was underneath Biden. In a single embarrassing scenario reported by NBC Information, almost half of the 1,200 migrants detained by ICE throughout a current raid turned out to be incorrectly held. And as Oliver Willis reported in January, n some circumstances, even Americans, together with army veterans, discovered themselves unjustly caught in ICE’s immigration dragnets.
These are pricey errors, each in time and payroll, and that type of sloppy enforcement dangers draining ICE’s annual finances with file velocity.
Trump can also be making clear he isn’t within the temper to be advised no. On Sunday, Markos Moulitsas reported on Trump’s effort to sue sanctuary states into cooperating along with his mass deportation plan, a transfer which may considerably develop the variety of migrants rounded up and detained in coming months. It’s clear Trump lacks the planning and ICE infrastructure to assist such widespread deportations—which suggests his courtroom case, like so many others, is simply one other effort to develop presidential energy on the expense of Congress and the states. I assume we will put all that “small government” stuff to mattress now.
All of that pales compared to Trump’s newest scheme: Why not simply ship undocumented migrants to El Salvador? That nightmare concept emerged after Salvadoran strongman chief Nayib Bukele floated the thought of housing deportees within the nation’s infamously powerful prisons. The truth that most migrants aren’t really from El Salvador didn’t appear to concern the mind geniuses accountable for pitching the coverage to Trump’s crew.
Solely one of the best individuals.
Democrats’ rising contender
It might appear odd to consider billionaire businessman and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker as Democrats’ finest reply to Trumpism, however Prtizker is shortly rising as one of many occasion’s best assault canines. For months Pritzker has been urging Democrats to undertake a extra aggressive—and sarcastic—strategy, and the governor stepped out early as a number one critic of Trump’s unlawful try and revoke birthright citizenship.
Final week Pritzker struck once more, releasing a satirical video mocking Trump’s flurry of outrageous declarations and government orders. However Pritzker’s headline-grabbing stunts are about greater than poking enjoyable at Trump’s extremes—they’re additionally nice at driving media consideration to Pritzker’s actual efforts to Trump-proof Illinois, together with his current order barring any pardoned Jan. 6 convicts from holding state jobs.
Whereas Pritzker could also be constructing his nationwide profile in large new methods since November, he’s lengthy been thought of one of many Democratic Celebration’s best backroom gamers. He’s additionally one of many few Democratic governors who media retailers scramble to cowl, that means he’ll wield a robust microphone whereas Democrats face two lengthy years out of energy. With little to lose after November’s wipeout, occasion leaders lastly seem prepared to offer Pritzker’s in-your-face messaging technique a strive.
For his half, Pritzker is aware of his household possession of the Hyatt lodge chain presents an actual downside for the occasion’s progressives. That’s one motive Pritzker has charted one of many most progressive governorships in America. Together with his occasion caught in a ditch, Pritzker hopes battered Democratic voters will hear out his name to drop the civility and begin pointing fingers. Can the person the media can’t assist however cowl convey his occasion out of the political wilderness?
Attain out!
Maintain the dialog going all week by sharing tales you assume the media missed with me at @themaxburns on Bluesky! And bear in mind: In case you’re tuned to cable information, you aren’t even getting half of the story.
Till subsequent week, preserve your eyes peeled and keep inquisitive, mates.
