Ep. 1179 - Biden’s Lies Have Begun, But The Media Are On Vacation

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode argues that the Biden White House and much of the press are engaging in selective transparency, hypocrisy, and media sycophancy on COVID policy, while left-leaning commentators normalize breaking democratic norms when it benefits their side. It also criticizes flawed vaccine allocation policies, the treatment of National Guard troops after January 6, declining trust in journalism, and the broader collapse of comedy and media objectivity.

Main Topics: Media cover for Biden’s “honesty” narrative (Priority: 5/5): The host argues CNN and other outlets are portraying Biden’s team as refreshingly honest and competent, despite what he describes as immediate contradictions and falsehoods on day one. COVID policy hypocrisy and messaging (Priority: 5/5): The show focuses on Biden’s mask mandate, his own public mask violation, and what the host sees as unserious or symbolic pandemic policy rather than substantive control measures. Vaccine distribution claims and statistical spin (Priority: 5/5): The Biden team’s claim that Trump left ‘no plan’ and that Biden is ‘doubling’ vaccinations is attacked as misleading, especially given preexisting rollout momentum and Fauci’s contradictory remarks. National Guard treatment after January 6 (Priority: 4/5): The host highlights reporting that Guard troops were moved to parking garages with poor facilities, arguing the media would have blamed Trump immediately if he were still president. DC vaccine prioritization and equity over science (Priority: 4/5): Washington, D.C.’s broad preexisting-condition criteria are criticized as medically unsound and driven more by ideological equity goals than public-health logic. Collapse of media trust and objectivity (Priority: 4/5): A poll and multiple CNN examples are used to argue that journalism now functions as partisan advocacy and that public trust has fallen sharply, especially among Republicans. Left-wing commentary, comedy, and norm-breaking (Priority: 3/5): The segment claims comedians and pundits now serve as moral enforcers for the left, crying over Biden and advocating norm-breaking when it advances progressive goals.

Key Arguments: The media are applying a double standard: Biden officials are treated as honest and ‘normal’ even when their statements are quickly contradicted. Biden’s mask emphasis is portrayed as symbolic and inconsistent because he himself did not wear a mask in the situation his policy addressed. The claim that Trump left no vaccine distribution plan is presented as false, since rollout was already increasing rapidly before Biden took office. Jen Psaki’s use of averages to claim Biden was ‘doubling’ vaccine output is criticized as misleading statistical framing. The National Guard parking-garage story shows how media blame assignment changes depending on which party controls power. D.C.’s vaccine eligibility rules are framed as medically irrational because they prioritize broad, self-reported conditions and overweight status instead of age or severe risk factors. Trust in traditional media is collapsing because audiences increasingly see journalists as ideological participants rather than neutral observers. Comedians and liberal pundits are described as abandoning humor and instead functioning as emotional propagandists for the new administration. Ezra Klein’s call to break the filibuster is cited as an example of norm-breaking justified in the name of saving democracy.

Data Points: National trust in traditional media: 46% - Share of Americans who say they trust traditional media, according to an Edelman poll referenced in the episode. Republican trust in journalists: 18% - Share of Republicans who say they trust journalists after the 2020 election. Democratic trust in media: 57% - Share of Democrats who trust the media, illustrating partisan asymmetry. Perception of journalistic bias: 58% - Percentage of respondents who think news organizations are more interested in ideology than facts. Vaccine goal: 100 million vaccinations in 100 days - Biden administration’s stated target for COVID vaccine rollout. Prior vaccine output cited by administration: About 500,000 shots/day - Jen Psaki’s comparison of the Trump-era average, used to argue Biden would double production. Current rollout pace referenced: About 1 million shots/day - Host says vaccination was already near this level by the time Biden took office. Trump-era doses received: 36 million doses in 38 days - Figure cited by Jen Psaki in discussing inherited vaccine supply. Shots administered by Trump administration: About 17 million - Figure used to support the claim that Biden is inheriting a weak rollout. National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C.: 15,000 troops - Troops sent to the capital after January 6. Temperature in Washington: Low 40s - Weather conditions cited when troops were placed outside/near parking garages. Guard facilities detail: 1 electrical outlet and 2-stall bathroom for 5,000 troops - Specific logistical complaint from the Politico-reported National Guard story. D.C. vaccine risk cutoff: BMI over 25 - The district’s broad eligibility criterion criticized as too expansive.

Pivotal Quotes: "the adults are back in the room" — Dana Bash: CNN commentary praising the tone of the Biden White House as more honest and competent than Trump-era coverage. "Give me a break, man." — Joe Biden: Biden reacting sharply when asked whether his 100-million-vaccinations goal was ambitious enough. "They have repeatedly proven themselves more committed to preserving the status quo of the political system than fulfilling their promises to voters." — Ezra Klein: From his New York Times argument urging Democrats to overcome the filibuster and push major legislation.

Implications: The episode predicts deeper media distrust, more partisan journalism, and continued norm-breaking justified by one’s own side. It suggests COVID policy, political accountability, and public discourse will remain shaped by ideological loyalty rather than consistency or evidence.