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Axios Continues to Unravel Over the Election, and Who Needs Journalism Ethics When Bringing Down Hegseth?

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Jan 23, 2025
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Presentation Paradox – VARIOUS OUTLETS

  • Based on this failed Hail Mary attempt, these outlets should instead go to confessionals and ask for grace.

As Pete Hegseth is approaching his confirmation in the Senate, it is not going to be an easy process, as the Democrats will throw all manner of interference. Helping their cause is the press, arriving in the 11th hour with a “new” claim that there is proof of Hegseth's past character issues.

It is actually the prior claim that he was abusive with his ex-wife, this time though the story is corroborated by his former sister-in-law, who states in an affidavit filed with the Senate that Pete's ex-wife confided in her about fearing for her safety. However, it may not be accurate to say it is corroborated, given the supposed victim – Pete’s ex – has come forward to deny the charge:

I do not have representatives speaking on my behalf, nor have I ever asked anyone to share or speak about the details of my marriage on my behalf. There was no physical abuse in my marriage.

Now, one might think this is considered disqualifying evidence, but that one does not work in the press. Numerous outlets ran with this new commentary, blaring the accusation while giving his ex-wife’s words of denial light work. A prime example of this corrupted version of journalism is seen from Karoun Demirjian and Sharon LaFraniere at The New York Times. They lead heavily with the claim filed in this affidavit – but take 18 paragraphs before finally getting around to the wife categorically denying the claim.

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Low-Octane Gaslighting – FOX NEWS

  • Say, Jennifer, did you peek at the timestamp by any chance…?

With the first days of Trump’s presidency already leading to illegals being picked up by ICE agents, Fox’s Pentagon correspondent Jennifer Griffin tried to paint a sympathetic picture of these raids. She tried, but failed while miscasting what was taking place.

Bill Melugin was following ICE in the city of Boston as agents were apprehending illegals who are violent gang members and sex offenders, but Griffin tried painting a picture of innocent crop-picking migrants being yanked out of the fields. A few problems here.

One, if they are illegal immigrants, they have broken the law, ergo they are not innocent. But the story she provided was dated January 10, about raids occurring on January 7. Trump was not in office until Monday of this week, Jennifer, so you are getting teary about raids that were overseen by Joe Biden.

Artisanally-Crafted Narratives – CBS NEWS

  • Your sorrow has been noted.

The network’s go-to obsessive about January 6 is Scott MacFarlane, and the arrival of Donald Trump is cause for much sadness for Scott as you can imagine. Donald Trump has pledged to go after the J-6 committee members suspected of altering evidence, manipulating witnesses, and contorting the entire investigation. The formation of a new committee to reinvestigate the matter is also a bother. But Scott displayed his petty obsession by also noting that another act of Trump is taking down the DOJ’s web page from the investigation.

News Avoidance Syndrome – ASSOCIATED PRESS

  • Welcome back from your four-year vacation, gang.

This marks Trump's fourth day in office, and already the Associated Press is pretending that he has contorted our Republic in unforeseen ways. We say “pretending” because the items they are claiming to be taking place have been seen for the four years of Joe Biden, and yet they managed to not lodge any valid complaints. Lawfare, unrealized pardons, and even President Silver Alert declaring we have a new Constitutional Amendment somehow escaped their purview, but since January 20, the AP has been noticing these kinds of actions.

Stealth Story Evolution – AXIOS

  • After being called out, it has recalled its position.

Axio made a rather odd complaint about Donald Trump – his newly enacted declarations are defying Christianity. We say  “odd” here because the outlet spent much of the presidential campaign barking about the religion and the nefarious effects it was sure to deliver.

Then it went back in and made some alterations, including to the headline, rendering the link to its piece dead. Axios changed tactics and NOW it says Trump’s policies are opposed by the Christian leaders it managed to find to come out against him. They are the ones saying this is wrong, it’s not us! (Uh, now…)

BlueAnon – AXIOS

  • Are you guys doing okay over there? No, seriously, we are getting concerned.

It is more than fair to say that Axios may be among those taking the election result the hardest. Let’s recall that founder Jim VandeHei was the one who unspooled at a media gathering and gave that unhinged speech about Elon Musk declaring, “We are the media now.” 

Well, Jimmy V. is back at it, this time delivering his unhinged theories about what Trump may do in the future. In the latest fever-dream newsletter, he drops this nugget of prognostication:

Trump or future presidents could simply run for a de facto third term — as the vice presidential nominee, with the understanding they will take power back once elected. That's but one of the once-unthinkable scenarios that seem more thinkable than ever.