CNN’s Stelter gets storm of criticism for ‘fawning’ Psaki interview
June 8, 2021
CNN’s Brian Stelter is facing a storm of criticism after his softball interview with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. The interview was in stark contrast to the network’s coverage of the White House during the four years of President Donald Trump. Then, CNN seemed to part of the “resistance” to the Republican Party, now critics say, they look like cheerleaders for the Biden team.
The CNN reporter opened the interview by asking, “What does the press get wrong when covering Biden’s agenda?” as if Psaki were the head of communications for a PR team rather than President Biden’s Press Secretary.
Stelter also asked Psaki if she had any fears about her young daughter given the fact the GOP is the opposition party.
“You have a daughter going into kindergarten, I have a daughter going into pre-K, and I think to myself, what kind of country is this going to be when they are our age? Do you fear that given the craziness we’re seeing from the GOP?” asked Stelter.
Critics took to social media to blast the interview, saying that it was symptomatic of the “fawning” media coverage of Democrats and resembled propaganda produced by state-controlled media, rather than by the free press.
“How can we better serve you, Master?” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) asked on Twitter.
“How can we better serve you, Master?” https://t.co/kC9MuCfuHQ
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 7, 2021
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald was the most scathing critic.
I'm not using hyperbole when I say the "interview" that @brianstelter did with Jen Psaki yesterday should be studied in journalism school. It's one of the most sycophantic interviews of a state official you'll ever see. This is how state TV functions:https://t.co/jhsvhOSpJQ
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) June 7, 2021
“I’m not using hyperbole when I say the ‘interview’ that @brianstelter did with Jen Psaki yesterday should be studied in journalism school. It’s one of the most sycophantic interviews of a state official you’ll ever see. This is how state TV functions,” tweeted Greenwald.
In March, Stelter accused the press of being out of touch with the concerns of the American people because instead of tossing the Biden administration softball questions on the improving economy and the improving outlook on the pandemic, the press asked about the crisis on the border in Biden’s first press conference.
The event was widely considered bad for Biden because it didn’t concentrate on the “Biden agenda” which Stelter seems intent on pushing for progressives.
“Why are there so many critiques of the Biden coverage right now?” Stelter asked rhetorically. “Are reporters missing the big picture and the historic nature of Biden’s agenda?”
Since when is that the job of reporters?