Staff Reports
The mainstream media’s devotion to the Biden administration is transforming into an all-out protective blanket for Vice President Kamala Harris, offering a clear glimpse at the lengths the press will go to shield the administration from any tough questions. Much like Grigory Potemkin, the 18th-century Russian figure known for building facades to impress Empress Catherine, today’s media is crafting an elaborate illusion that presents Harris as a competent leader rather than a stumbling politician who often seems lost in the spotlight.
Potemkin’s clever trickery was designed to fool observers about the actual state of affairs in Russia, and it appears the media is taking notes. With three weeks passing since Harris has faced any independent journalist, it almost feels like the press has taken on a protective role akin to a social media influencer curating only the most flattering angles of their life. Harris’s upcoming interviews will be pre-packaged events, likely staged with a friendly outlet, where any tough questions will be akin to cotton candy—sweet but ultimately lacking any natural substance.
The mainstream media is covering for the Harris ~Walz ticket.
Don’t expect them asking her any questions anytime soon! pic.twitter.com/3X7WOJrHgC
— Gary D (@KMGGaryde) August 8, 2024
The media’s love affair with Harris won’t come without some carefully rehearsed public chastisement, where they will feign surprise over her media avoidance. Following a token interview, where she’ll dodge hard-hitting questions like a dodgeball champion, expect a flurry of articles touting her as the next great beacon of hope for the middle class—because nothing says “relatable” quite like a vice president who has managed to dodge the press effectively while promoting her campaign.
Voters wanting to see Harris truly tested may wonder if her handlers are just scared of what would happen if she really faced a panel of tough, independent journalists. Instead of handpicked reporters from soft-soap outlets, one could imagine how enlightening it would be to have real journalists like Luke Rosiak or Bari Weiss take on her in a transparent, open forum. Such a scenario would elicit a mass media meltdown akin to what happens when a cat catches sight of a cucumber.
In the meantime, the media’s portrayal of Harris will feature her as a fearless warrior for democracy while conveniently sidestepping any real scrutiny. This construct of Harris as the heroic guardian of what’s left of American values is sure to be a ratings bonanza for the ever-loyal “Potemkin Protective Press.” Suppose the public is waiting for substantive discourse. In that case, they might as well stand in line for a rollercoaster because the real fun is not coming from any actual crumbling façade but rather from how creatively the media spins those very falsehoods.
