The Media's Changing Coverage of President Biden

Introduction

• Megan Kelly introduces the topic: Media's shift in coverage of President Biden.
• Media previously downplayed concerns about Biden's cognitive abilities, now openly discussing them.
• Media and Democratic establishment concerned about Biden's capability to beat Trump in the next election.

Key Points Discussed

Initial Observations

• Reversal in media coverage noticeable after a recent debate performance by Biden.
• Megan predicted Biden's campaign was over after the debate; initial media responses aligned with this.
• Snowball effect in media coverage criticizing Biden's cognitive state.
• Pressure mounting for Biden to step down as nominee or even as president.

Shift in Language

• Notable shift in language from the White House and Biden's advisors: acknowledging concerns rather than outright dismissing them.
• Repeated use of phrases like "we believe" instead of definitive statements about Biden's health.
• Potential worry about congressional hearings or investigations influencing their softer stance.

Media's Role and Bias

• Morning Joe and the New York Times cited as major players in the media's shift in stance.
• NYT's significant change from defending Biden to now leading the charge against him.
• Discussion of Morning Joe's coverage and their close relationship with Biden.
• The role of social and internal penalties in media reporting on Biden's state.

Specific Examples of Media Coverage

Previously Dismissed Incidents

• Media's earlier dismissals of videos as "cheap fakes":
  • D-Day event in France.
  • Juneteenth celebration.
  • G7 summit incident.
• Contrasts these with recent admissions of Biden's apparent cognitive decline.

Examples of Event Coverage

• D-Day Event: Media initially downplayed Biden's early exit; later acknowledged awkward interactions.
• Juneteenth Celebration: Biden appeared stationary and unresponsive during the event.
• G7 Summit: Biden wandered off during an event, with media initially defending it as him greeting paratroopers.

Larger Implications

• Media's recent reporting is not a newfound realization but rather an acknowledgment of pre-existing issues.
• The urgency to replace Biden stems from the belief that he cannot defeat Trump in the upcoming election.

The Question of Succession

• Speculation around who might replace Biden if he steps down:
  • Concerns about Kamala Harris or others stepping in without proper vetting.
  • Potential media bias in favor of new Democratic candidates.

Conclusion

• Media will likely continue pressuring Biden to step down.
• If Biden does step down, the media will heavily favor the new Democratic candidate.
• The continued responsibility of independent sources to highlight media biases and provide thorough vetting of candidates.
• The outcome remains uncertain, and developments will continue to be closely watched.

Next Steps

• Keep an eye on how the media's narrative evolves.
• Anticipate further discussions about potential Democratic candidates.
• Remain critical of media biases and their implications for public perception.