The quickest way to become a darling of the broadcast networks is to get on the wrong side of President Donald Trump. The most dramatic recent example is the defection of Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, whom Trump labeled “Marjorie Traitor Greene.”
There are varying degrees of opposition to Trump, from a single-issue position to going all-out Liz Cheney. Greene looked like she was moving dramatically toward Democrats and away from her fire-breathing image. She then pulled the plug on her congressional career on Friday evening, November 21, and effectively resigned at the start of the new House year in January.
In October, when Greene supported extending Obamacare tax credits during the shutdown, ABC comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who regularly referred to her as “Klan Mom,” exclaimed, “I know this sounds crazy, but I’ll say it for the second time in a month: Marjorie Taylor Greene is right.” …I need something to rinse my mouth out.” Greene was then welcomed to “The View” on ABC on November 4, Election Day. This left-wing habitat had not welcomed a Republican guest in more than a year. Co-host Joy Behar said: “Trump is reportedly calling his MAGA goons because they say you criticize Republicans too much. You’re taking my job away.” She added, “Maybe you should become a Democrat, Marjorie.”
Sunny Hostin proclaimed that she was moving beyond the strange conspiracy theories about “Jewish space lasers” and the like: “But it seems like you’ve grown past that, and I feel like I’m sitting next to a very different Marjorie Taylor Greene. Why that change? Why that evolution?’
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE SAYS TRUMP’S ‘TRAITOR’ LABEL COULD PUT HER LIFE IN DANGER
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., holds her “Make America Great Again” hat during the news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The news shows followed. On November 14, Greene was praised on “CBS Mornings” for demanding the release of the Epstein files. Co-host Tony Dokoupil asked, “You guys are on that side despite President Trump saying only a very bad or a stupid Republican would stand where you stand. Why is this so important to you?” She said she is “for the victims.”
Gayle King asked Greene about the poorly named “Affordable Care Act” subsidies. “You seemed to be siding with the Democrats on this. At one point, Hakeem Jeffries called Marjorie Taylor Greene an ally,” she underlined, “so I’m wondering what you think about this. Are you surprised that you’re on the same page as the Democrats on some of these issues? And President Trump says you seem to have lost your way. Can you respond to both of those about you?” Greene said, “I haven’t lost my way. I’m just for the American people.”
On November 16, CBS’s “Weekend News” praised Greene’s feud with Trump, saying Trump had called her a “traitor” and that Greene felt it endangered her safety. Reporter Willie James Inman added a clip of her on CNN: “And now the Georgia Republican says she wants an end to toxic politics.” Greene said, “I would like to humbly say that I am sorry for participating in the toxic politics. It is very bad for our country.’
Even after Trump backed away from releasing the Epstein files, television reporters pressed Greene for skeptical words about Trump. On ABC, congressional reporter Rachel Scott asked her, “Do you take the president at his word when he says he’s going to sign the bill?” And are you confident that these files will actually be released?’ Greene responded, “I only take people’s actions seriously. No more words.”
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The broadcast networks will downplay and hide Democrats’ internal squabbles until they can’t anymore — as with former President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance in 2024. But they reliably jump on any fights between Republicans and play up their differences as a sign they’re losing ground. Republicans always lose in their stories.
Amna Nawaz, co-host of PBS NewsHour, praised Greene’s “rift” with Trump on November 19. Her guest, NPR political analyst Domenico Montanaro, looked forward to Trump’s dwindling support among Republicans: “I think that’s a big reason why there might be an opening for other Republicans to show some independence.” says yes. If she doesn’t, I wonder what that will mean if Trump continues to look like a lame duck and be on the wrong side of these issues.
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Greene emerged again after Trump heavily criticized Democrats in Congress for making a video asking military personnel to defy Trump’s orders, suggesting sedition could get you the death penalty. CBS reporter Nancy Cordes reported on November 20: “Trump’s comments come at a time when threats against lawmakers are already at record levels. Just a few weeks ago, a man was arrested for threatening to kill Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. And Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene says even her son received death threats after Trump recently called her a traitor.”
All of this shows that the broadcast networks have a very situational ethic when it comes to reporting on the Republicans. Their level of coverage often corresponds to how “helpful” your statements are to their deeply held democratic beliefs. The “Klan Mom” could turn into “Cool Mom” overnight if the opposition to Trump hits the right note.
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