41:I[185,["/_next/static/chunks/3xnt26d00_zk-.js","/_next/static/chunks/1s-yni1uf2lwd.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/06x30xgfe6iur.js","/_next/static/chunks/3b4qrzgkt_l12.js","/_next/static/chunks/15lgs8s22dk5l.js"],"SendEmailButton"] 43:I[63625,["/_next/static/chunks/3xnt26d00_zk-.js","/_next/static/chunks/1s-yni1uf2lwd.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/06x30xgfe6iur.js","/_next/static/chunks/3b4qrzgkt_l12.js","/_next/static/chunks/15lgs8s22dk5l.js"],"AddToLibraryButton"] 44:I[29721,["/_next/static/chunks/3xnt26d00_zk-.js","/_next/static/chunks/1s-yni1uf2lwd.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/06x30xgfe6iur.js","/_next/static/chunks/3b4qrzgkt_l12.js","/_next/static/chunks/15lgs8s22dk5l.js"],"ShareButton"] 45:I[58016,["/_next/static/chunks/3xnt26d00_zk-.js","/_next/static/chunks/1s-yni1uf2lwd.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/06x30xgfe6iur.js","/_next/static/chunks/3b4qrzgkt_l12.js","/_next/static/chunks/15lgs8s22dk5l.js"],"ProcessEpisodeButton"] 46:I[45269,["/_next/static/chunks/3xnt26d00_zk-.js","/_next/static/chunks/1s-yni1uf2lwd.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/06x30xgfe6iur.js","/_next/static/chunks/3b4qrzgkt_l12.js","/_next/static/chunks/15lgs8s22dk5l.js"],"SignupCTA"] 39:["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"2026-07-31T07:00:00.000Z","children":"July 31, 2026"}] 3a:["$","span",null,{"aria-hidden":true,"children":"·"}] 3b:["$","span",null,{"children":"00:01:00"}] 42:T4a1,

Mentalist Oz Pearlman was featured at the recent, rescheduled dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association. The choice of a “mentalist” for the entertainment portion of the program was apt. Performers in that category combine psychology, suggestion, observation, misdirection and showmanship to create the illusion of mind reading.

For the reporters in the room, Pearlman could even be categorized as continuing education. Members of the legacy media are relying on the practices employed by Pearlman to draw conclusions about President Donald Trump.

Keep your eyes and ears open for reporting in print or on broadcasts that relays what the president or vice president is “thinking” or “feeling,” as opposed to what they have said or done.

And that’s not "reporting," of course. It’s guessing.

The appearance of a mind-reader among the Beltway’s news business elites was just so “on the nose.” Did any of the assembled reporters even notice the mirror in the room?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.