Politics
Liberal Media Gets Called Out By One Of Their Own: ‘Cover-Up’
In a rare moment of honesty from within the media itself, Axios reporter Alex Thompson shocked the crowd at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend by accusing the press of failing to cover former President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline — and participating in a broader “cover-up” that eroded public trust.
Thompson, who was awarded the Aldo Beckman Award for excellence in White House coverage, used his acceptance speech to blast the very industry that was honoring him. “President Biden’s decline and its cover-up by the people around him is a reminder that every White House, regardless of party, is capable of deception,” Thompson said. “Being truth-tellers also means telling the truth about ourselves. Myself included, we missed a lot of this story.”
Thompson’s remarks struck a nerve in a room usually known for self-congratulation rather than self-reflection. “We bear some responsibility for faith in the media being at such lows,” he added, acknowledging that journalists had, in many cases, simply gone along with efforts by Biden’s team to shield the president from scrutiny — through shorter meetings, heavily scripted press conferences, and managed appearances.
“Being truth tellers also means telling the truth about ourselves,” Thompson added. “We, myself included, missed a lot of this story. And some people trust us less because of it. We bear some responsibility for faith in the media being at such lows.”
WATCH:
The moment stood in contrast to the rest of the event, which largely featured media figures defending their profession against the “fake news” charges frequently leveled by President Donald Trump and his supporters. With Trump overseas attending Pope Francis’ funeral, the Correspondents’ Dinner lacked the usual roast of the sitting president. Instead, it became a rare night where the media’s failures were called out from within.
Thompson, who is co-authoring a forthcoming book with CNN’s Jake Tapper titled Original Sin, emphasized that this problem was larger than partisan politics. His comments served as a sharp reminder that journalism’s credibility hinges not just on calling out political leaders but also on holding itself accountable.
Meanwhile, Trump’s visit to Europe brought its own share of drama. At Pope Francis’ funeral, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, sparking speculation about his stance toward Russia. After the meeting, Trump posted a fiery message on Truth Social, suggesting he’s beginning to doubt Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war in Ukraine, even hinting at tougher sanctions against Moscow.
Trump’s post slammed the media, particularly the New York Times and reporter Peter Baker, for downplaying former President Obama’s failures in Crimea. “It makes me think [Putin] doesn’t want to stop the war. Too many people are dying,” Trump wrote.
Back home, two judges made headlines for the wrong reasons. In Wisconsin, Judge Dugan was arrested after allegedly helping a violent illegal alien escape ICE agents inside his courthouse. In New Mexico, Judge Kano and his wife were arrested for allegedly harboring a gang member linked to Venezuelan organized crime — going as far as smashing a cellphone with a hammer to destroy evidence.
Attorney General Pam Bondi called both cases “a breathtaking abuse of public trust,” while federal authorities are pursuing charges ranging from obstruction of justice to harboring violent criminals.
