How cable news handled Biden and Trump at the southern border

How cable news handled Biden and Trump at the southern border

Nicolle Wallace devoted most of her afternoon talk show to the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision Wednesday to accept Trump’s claims of presidential immunity. Ms Wallace opened her 4pm show by warning that the court had jeopardized the cherished notion that no individual is above the law. She spoke with Andrew Weissmann, the lead prosecutor in Robert S. Mueller’s investigation into Trump, and Charlie Sykes, a former conservative pundit who identifies as a Never Trumper.

Wallace did not notify his viewers when Trump or Biden began speaking in Texas, although he aired clips of Biden’s comments later in the show.

CNN aired appearances by both Biden and Trump. After Trump concluded, host Kaitlan Collins told viewers, “Apparently, as we do after every Trump speech, we have to conduct a series of fact checks.” Collins noted that Trump had “told several lies about the border” and misrepresented his past actions on the issue. Daniel Dale, a CNN fact-checker, hosted a segment analyzing falsehoods in Trump’s comments.

Later, after Biden spoke, Dale appeared on screen again. He noted that Biden had strictly adhered to his prepared remarks, which were “precisely written,” unlike Trump’s freer approach. “I don’t have any fact checks on President Biden here,” Dale said, “but that’s for an obvious reason.”

Given Americans’ fatigue with political news and general dissatisfaction with the expected candidates, it may not be surprising that CNN offered viewers a broader mix of topics. Shortly before Trump spoke, CNN brought in Bill Nye, the famous “scientist,” to explain the leap day phenomenon. Mr. Nye offered an astronomy lesson, complete with a miniature globe.

“Bill, that was a lot of what I wanted and more,” said CNN anchor Boris Sánchez. “I appreciate you and all your accessories.”

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John C. Johnson

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