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When Maddow Hated a Term MS NOW Now Loves, ABC Deceptively Edits Trump's Hockey Locker Room Phone Call

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Feb 27, 2026
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Reporting on the Mirror – CNN

  • It seems if things were going great and people were doing great work this would not be a concern.

There has been some intrigue in media circles this week as it was learned that the bidding war over Warner Bros. Discovery between Netflix and Skydance Media has ended, with the streaming giant pulling out of negotiations after the last hostile offer by Skydance.

This is leading to speculation that, upon the merger, there would be an effort to combine CBS News with CNN. This prospect is apparently causing panic and anxiety in the distant-third-rated cable news channel, so much so that its CEO had to issue a letter to the troops imploring them to calm their mammeries and stop being melodramatic.

Anti-Social Media – THE ATLANTIC

  • Tell us more about how you have no male friends…

There was a curious, unintended admission from Nicolas Thompson, the head of The Atlantic. Nick was perusing the recently released book by Gavin Newsom (you know, the book he wrote, while admitting he cannot read…?), and he came across a passage concerning President Trump.

In it, Newsom detailed an exchange with the president, in the presence of Jared Kushner, where Trump said he wanted his daughter to be set up with Tom Brady, but learned she was already dating Kushner. He proceeded to call him a schmuck and insult him some more.

It is telling to see that not only is Gavin Newsom unfamiliar with the practice of two men bonding by trash-talking each other, but apparently, this is also a foreign concept to Thompson.

Pathological Media Amnesia – MS NOW

  • So that thing you said was the worst thing you could do is now an acceptable thing? Because…your network is doing that thing.

In a great find by the account @MazeMoore, he has a clip of Rachel Maddow from a few years ago. In it, she is not only admonishing against accusing people of being a pedophile, but she calls it about the worst thing you could do.

And if you are having the “hold on, wait, whut?!” GIF moment, that is for good cause. Yes, since President Trump re-entered the White House, Maddow’s worst possible behavior has suddenly become extremely acceptable – on her own network.

Low-Octane Gaslighting – ABC NEWS

  • Their behavior was SO horrendous that you had to fake the evidence.

At ABC World News Tonight, they got in on the attempted dogpile on USA hockey, and the supposed controversy that has only outraged non-hockey fans and the press. In the report from Will Reeve, he played a portion of the “controversial” phone call in the locker room from President Trump, and the players laughing.

What is notable is the editing done in just the 10-second, or so, long clip. For reasons you can speculate on, the reporter removed the portion of the call when the players were more than pleased to hear the women’s team would be invited, with a few calling out, “2 for 2!”, referring to both teams going together.

That there was a need to deceptively edit this clip explains quite a bit.

Artisanally-Crafted Narratives – THE ATHLETIC

  • “Can you believe this behavior we are engaged in is happening?!”

Also prodding this anti-Team-USA cycle is the crew at The Athletic. The need to keep this story going and to get those damned hockey players to bend the knee to the press is evident in the report (at least the sixth from the outlet on this topic), where many of the players were returning to their teams and the NHL schedule.

The Athletic reports on the fact that many of the players were facing “questions about the politicization of their Olympic win.”

That is to say, the petulant reporters who for days badgered players with questions politicizing the win are now reduced to suggesting it is news that they have been facing these questions.

News Avoidance Syndrome – VARIOUS OUTLETS

  • She seems to have the inside sourcing; better avoid the details she provides.

As the press has tried to insist that the men’s hockey team denigrated the women’s team, these “journalists” have had to avoid the core truth that both squads were extremely close and supported each other. This becomes evident when gold medalist Abbey Murphy spoke with the crew from the Spittin’ Chicklets podcast and described the relationship they all shared in the Olympic village. This counters every hostile narrative that is out there this week.