The Pentagon has recently undergone a shift in its press corps, with several right-wing outlets and influencers, including Laura Loomer, gaining credentials. These new arrivals, however, immediately faced criticism after mistakenly claiming to occupy the desk of a Washington Post reporter, leading to mockery and corrections from the ousted press corps. The transition has raised concerns about the objectivity of reporting, especially with the Trump administration’s defense strategies and its military buildup in the Caribbean, coming under scrutiny. The shakeup comes amidst increasing questions regarding the legality of military actions.
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The political success of Trump and his allies hinges on cultivating an illusion of strength, similar to authoritarian regimes, although the US system allows for greater vulnerability. Trump and his supporters depend on projecting an image of power to mask underlying weaknesses, which is why any perception of weakness is strongly countered. When this carefully constructed image is challenged, the very tactics used to promote it, such as over-the-top praise, can backfire and undermine the leader’s standing, leading to a loss of influence.
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The MAGA coalition is reportedly collapsing, with the departure of key figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and others in the media, signaling a potential loss of political power for President Trump. This fracturing could be further exacerbated if Democrats gain control of the House after the midterm elections, leading to investigations into Trump’s actions. The situation could create opportunities for Republicans who distance themselves from the former president.
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The White House has initiated a weekly tracker that identifies and critiques news stories deemed objectionable by the Trump administration, categorizing them as “lies” or “bias.” This “media offenders” page features a leaderboard of news outlets and a “hall of shame” highlighting specific stories and reporters. The administration’s move comes amid escalating tensions with the media, including legal battles and stricter rules for journalists at the Pentagon. Furthermore, President Trump has been criticized for making personal insults toward female reporters, adding a personal dimension to the ongoing conflict.
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While the public has scrutinized the extensive communication between Jeffrey Epstein and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, resulting in Summers’ professional downfall, another prominent figure, Steve Bannon, has seemingly avoided similar repercussions. Emails reveal that Bannon maintained a close relationship with Epstein, including assistance with travel arrangements and political advice. Bannon even collaborated with Epstein on a documentary aimed at improving his public image and fueled public interest in conspiracy theories about the elite and child abuse. Bannon’s involvement, however, has not yielded the same condemnation as Summers, despite the former’s actions being considered far more egregious.
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The White House recently launched a “Media Bias” webpage designed to expose “fake news,” but the site initially contained factual errors. The page was briefly taken down and altered after incorrectly attributing questions to a Fox News reporter. Currently, the site lists 31 “fake news offenses” from 21 publications, and the White House has come under fire for inaccurate claims against outlets such as The Daily Beast. This new initiative is part of the administration’s ongoing anti-media campaign, which includes restrictions on journalists and legal challenges against news organizations.
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Seattle elected Katie Wilson, a community organizer and democratic socialist, as mayor, echoing New York City’s recent mayoral election. Wilson’s victory was attributed to her campaign’s focus on affordability and public safety, in response to rising living costs amid tech company growth. Corporate media outlets, including the Seattle Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post, criticized Wilson’s win and priorities, labeling her policies as anti-business and questioning her ability to govern. These criticisms, especially from Bezos-owned media, highlighted the fear that Wilson’s policies, aimed at addressing income inequality, could gain wider popularity, potentially challenging the status quo.
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Mamdani was recently asked if he planned to retract previous criticisms of President Trump, including accusations of being a “despot” and having a “fascist agenda,” in an effort to improve their relationship. Mamdani declined to retract any remarks, stating that both he and the President have clear views, and emphasized the meeting focused on shared goals for New Yorkers rather than disagreements. Another reporter later followed up, directly asking if Mamdani was affirming his belief that President Trump is a fascist.
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The BBC is facing accusations of another misleading edit of Donald Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech, predating a similar controversy with the Panorama documentary. A 2022 Newsnight segment presented Trump’s words, including “we fight like hell,” in a way that suggested the statement immediately preceded the Capitol riots. Former White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney criticized the clip, stating it spliced together different parts of the speech. The BBC has responded by stating it is looking into the matter, while Trump’s legal team has accused the BBC of defamation.
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ProPublica found that Fox News falsely portrayed old footage from 2020 protests as current events in Portland while covering resistance to the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The network aired a segment on September 4th, using clips from July 2020 of clashes between law enforcement and protesters outside a federal courthouse, alongside footage of an American flag burning. None of the footage was accurately labeled, implying it was current and in a different location. The network later added an editor’s note clarifying that the report utilized footage from 2020 and 2025.
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John Q. Hosedrinker