[2006alum]

The media never learns.  They overcovered him like crazy during the 2016 primaries, thinking he'd self destruct. Instead, they publicized him, and made him look like a leader to people who vote based upon lawn signs. Then, the media is shocked, SHOCKED when America elects him President.  The media didn't even acknowledge their complicity, not even as it dawned on them on Election Day, that they got him elected.  They actually accomplished what they pretended the Russians sought to do.

Now, they think they can ask him snide leading questions because that approach befuddles and embarrasses regular politicians. But this is Trump we're talking about, Trump who is actually eager for have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife style questions.  It drags the media down to his level where his chances of success are much greater.

Maybe I'm just too cynical, but I actually think they know what they're doing. Most major national publications have had brobdingnagian increases in subscribers since Trump was elected. Obama, especially the second term, was a clickbait snoozefest. And it's in pretty much everyone's interests to have these stunts: 

-The reporter gets to be "hero of the day" among his/her cohort;
-The confrontations generate tons of clicks because they're brief, vivid, and ostensibly notable, which drives ad revenue; and
-Trump gets to control the narrative, distract from coverage of his substantive failings, and situate his political rivals as back-page afterthoughts. 

Really, the only losers are democracy and anyone who wishes our national dialogue were even a tiny bit substantive. But who cares about that?

[2006alum]

The media never learns.  They overcovered him like crazy during the 2016 primaries, thinking he'd self destruct. Instead, they publicized him, and made him look like a leader to people who vote based upon lawn signs. Then, the media is shocked, SHOCKED when America elects him President.  The media didn't even acknowledge their complicity, not even as it dawned on them on Election Day, that they got him elected.  They actually accomplished what they pretended the Russians sought to do.

Now, they think they can ask him snide leading questions because that approach befuddles and embarrasses regular politicians. But this is Trump we're talking about, Trump who is actually eager for have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife style questions.  It drags the media down to his level where his chances of success are much greater.

Maybe I'm just too cynical, but I actually think they know what they're doing. Most major national publications have had brobdingnagian increases in subscribers since Trump was elected. Obama, especially the second term, was a clickbait snoozefest. And it's in pretty much everyone's interests to have these stunts: 

-The reporter gets to be "hero of the day" among his/her cohort;
-The confrontations generate tons of clicks because they're brief, vivid, and ostensibly notable, which drives ad revenue; and
-Trump gets to control the narrative, distract from coverage of his substantive failings, and situate his political rivals as back-page afterthoughts. 

Really, the only losers are democracy and anyone who wishes our national dialogue were even a tiny bit substantive. But who cares about that?