In 2008, Hunter wrote an excellent piece after the disastrous ABC Debate called The Collapse of the National Press
After the first forty minutes of last night's Democratic debate, it was clear we were watching something historic. Not historic in a good way, mind you, but historic in the sense of being something so deeply embarrassing to the nation that it will be pointed to, in future books and documentary works, as a prime example of the collapse of the American media into utter and complete substanceless, into self-celebrated vapidity, and into a now-complete inability or unwillingness to cover the most important affairs of the nation to any but the most shallow of depths.
Congratulations are clearly in order. ABC had two hours of access to two of the three remaining candidates vying to lead the most powerful nation in the world, and spent the decided majority of that time mining what the press considers the true issues facing the republic. Bittergate; Rev. Wright; Bosnia; American flag lapel pins. That's what's important to the future of the country.
Tonight I sat down to watch Rachel Maddow and was instead greeted by an MSNBC BREAKING NEWS banner announcing Trump Speaking from the Deck of the USS Iowa.
What. The. Fuck.
That is breaking news? Didn't I just watch him live last night? What on earth is he saying today that merits more breathless, "breaking" news coverage?
Switched to CNN...Nope, he's live there too.
Fox? Commercial for a car.
Last night I watched Trump brag about using his own money to run for office. That should be pretty easy to do since the national press is willing to advertise for him every night for at least an hour for free.
In 2008 MSNBC had a lineup of Tucker Carlson, Keith Olberman and Joe Scarborough.
Way better than my hour of Trump every night.