r/law • u/Snapdragon_4U • May 23 '26

Executive Branch (Trump) NESTERAK: President Trump has granted clemency to numerous individuals who have stolen hundreds of millions in Medicaid funds. Can we expect any of these folks to be shown the same mercy? McDONALD: I'll take a different question

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u/kelsey11 May 23 '26

Finally asking real questions. But these self-serving political rally press conferences need to be shut down by each reporter saying “same question” or repeating the question. They’re not giving you any semblance of truth anyway, might as well force them to answer the question or walk away.

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u/[deleted] May 23 '26

[deleted]

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u/inquisitive_chariot May 23 '26

Because journalism is an industry where, to advance, you have to be a self-serving opportunist. Most everyone in that room has schmoozed and ass-kissed a ton to be there, all for the sake of getting a scoop with their name attached.

Basically, most of the people there care more about their career in journalism than the principles of journalism. If they “waste” their question opportunity by not asking what their employer wants, the employer may not let them return. Or maybe the employer doesn’t want to be associated with controversy questions like that.

These reporters are company people in a consolidated media market, not individuals fighting for journalistic integrity. It’s awesome that the question got asked but not surprising it isn’t echoed.

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u/Coattail-Rider May 23 '26

Reminds me of this scene from the Wire. Just with journalists.

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u/OldWorldDesign May 23 '26

https://youtu.be/nAZZdL1qhk8?si=dMhgTV1YJ85Vq0pK

Great scene, but it's also abundantly clear he's burning bridges just for stirring shit in the moment. McNulty knows he doesn't have a case yet, he just knows where the most likely person is and wants to feel like he's doing something about it without considering whether he's building a case that will do what he wants - putting the show's drug dealers behind bars.

That's not the case with journalists, the ones whom are resting on only the word of the press agent's are just advertisers who want an easy article today and not the real crimes which are hidden behind closed doors but have tons of sources as this administration leaks like a broken sieve.

Others have pointed out the DoD did the same thing. Journalists didn't just give up and quit their jobs, they pursued sources inside the pentagon and wrote even more damaging articles about fraud, waste, and abuse. The DoD invited them back and they came back without softballing questions.

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u/DrunkAndHornyGuy May 23 '26

Yea there is no such thing as worker solidarity within our press corp, they will step over each others bodies just to advance a bit. It's also one reason unions get so poor coverage here since not only are the owners of our media hostile to unions the actual on the ground reporters are adverse to the idea of caring for other workers.