The media, which earned a reputation for being tough on former President Donald Trump’s administration, threw softballs at President Joe Biden’s administration.
CNN host Brian Stelter had what may have been the most famous softball interview with White House press secretary Jen Psaki. During the interview, Stelter asked her what she thought the press was getting wrong when it came to coverage of Biden and his administration.
“What does the press get wrong when covering Biden’s agenda, when you watch and read the news, what do you think we get wrong?” Stelter asked.
Next, the CNN host asked her why she bothers calling on networks like Fox News and Newsmax and inquired about how Psaki kept her cool when asked repetitive or irritating questions. He also asked Psaki what she learned from her position as a CNN commentator and how it applies to her current job. (RELATED: Media Helps Push White House Line On Social Media Censorship)
During Psaki’s first press briefing, Associated Press reporter Zeke Miller asked if the press secretary was committed to providing the “unvarnished truth.”
“When you are up there, do you see yourself in your primary as promoting the interests of the president or are you there to provide us the unvarnished truth so we can share that with the American people?” Miller asked.
First Psaki question comes from AP’s Zeke Miller….one hell of a softball: “When you are up there, do you see yourself in your primary as promoting the interests of the President or are you there to provide us the unvarnished truth so we can share that with the American people?” pic.twitter.com/izGzZlK0Wu
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 21, 2021
PBS reporter Yamiche Alcindor asked National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan if Biden could heal the “scars” that Trump left on the international community after his presidency.
“Can you talk a bit about how President Biden plans to convince our European allies that former President Trump was an anomaly in some ways, all of the things that he did in some ways traumatized those leaders, calling into question the need for NATO, what’s the plan there and is there concern that those scars are gonna be deeper than his ability to address them?” Alcindor asked.
Sullivan responded that Biden would work on showing that the U.S. is “capable” of being a world leader.
MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace praised Psaki during an interview and said she is getting “such high marks” from everyone in the room during press conferences.
“Stand your ground is my only advice for you,” Wallace told the press secretary.
Wallace to Psaki: “You get such high marks from the vast majority of the people in the room. You spar a bit with some of the president’s detractors. I’m sure privately they give you grudging respect. How do you feel it’s going?
“Stand your ground is my only advice for you” pic.twitter.com/oZWfyiJr8V
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) June 24, 2021
During one press briefing, a reporter asked if Biden was interested in meeting the Queen of England.
The previous administration would have never gotten a softball like this.
Reporter: “Would President Biden like to meet the Queen?”
Psaki: “Who wouldn’t want to meet the queen?” pic.twitter.com/X28KTaWKSr
— MRCTV (@mrctv) April 23, 2021
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper also asked Biden a series of easy questions during a town hall in September of 2020. Cooper asked Biden questions on how he was preparing for his upcoming debate with then-President Donald Trump, what he expects “the days and weeks after the election to look like,” and if he thought it was “still possible to reach across the aisle.”
Biden went out for ice cream, and a reporter asked him what flavor he got (it was chocolate, chocolate chip.)
“Mr. President, what did you order?”
President Biden: “Chocolate chocolate chip.”
Crowd: “Ooooooohhh” “Oh yeahhh.”pic.twitter.com/4FjDIFqEpr
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 27, 2021
When Fox News white house correspondent Peter Doocy pressed Psaki on social media censorship, establishment media quickly rushed to smear him. The Washington Post, CNN, and Vanity Fair all jumped in to complain when Doocy asked about the White House promising to help Facebook flag misinformation.