Morning Wire: Trump's Triumph and the Legacy Media’s Blind Spots | November 23, 2024

Presented by John Bickley and Georgia Howe, Morning Wire explores Donald Trump's overwhelming presidential victory and critically examines the legacy media's persistent failures to understand and engage with his substantial support base. In this episode, John Bickley sits down with Gerard Baker, Editor at Large for the Wall Street Journal, to delve into the intricate dynamics between Trump's triumph and the declining trust in mainstream media.

I. Media's Failure to Learn from the Trump Phenomenon

Gerard Baker opens the discussion by reflecting on the aftermath of Trump's unexpected 2016 victory. He highlights how the media was blindsided by Trump's appeal, misjudging the electorate's preferences.

Gerard Baker [01:38]: "After the shock of the 2016 election... the media companies didn't know it."

Baker criticizes the legacy media for its inability to adapt and comprehend the motivations of Trump's supporters. Despite initial attempts at "soul searching," the media largely continued its antagonistic stance toward Trump, failing to bridge the understanding gap with a significant portion of the American populace.

Baker [01:38]: "The continued willful failure to even try to understand what it is that animates so many Americans to vote for Donald Trump... that failure by the media is a staggering failure."

II. The Partisan Media Landscape

The conversation shifts to the current electoral map, dominated by "red" states, a trend that underscores the deepening political divide in the United States. Baker attributes this to media's insular "bubble" culture, predominantly centered in coastal, highly educated regions that lack direct connections to the heartland.

John Bickley [03:48]: "It is stunning to see the amount of red... is it that the media is in these traditional bubbles of the east and west coast?"

Baker [04:21]: "They tend to be quite highly educated and essentially from the coasts. They don't have any experience of the rest of the country."

This geographic and demographic homogeneity within media organizations leads to a fundamental disconnect, preventing journalists from truly understanding and reporting on the sentiments in red states.

III. The Labeling of Trump as a Fascist by Legacy Media

Baker vehemently criticizes the media's aggressive labeling of Trump as a fascist, a characterization he argues is both inaccurate and detrimental. He points out the inconsistency and lack of basis for such extreme labels, especially when considering the diverse and substantial support Trump garners from various demographic groups.

John Bickley [06:34]: "Trump described as an actual fascist, as the next Hitler... despite having four years of him as a successful president."

Baker [07:08]: "It's a kind of a weird sort of fascism that gets the support of 45% of Hispanic voters, 21% of black male voters... voters don't see him as racially exclusionary."

Baker asserts that the media's portrayal ignores the genuine reasons many voters support Trump, such as his stance against the political establishment, rather than any inherent authoritarian or racist tendencies.

IV. Declining Trust in Media

Addressing the alarming decline in public trust towards the media, Baker offers a comprehensive analysis of the underlying causes. He identifies two primary factors: the shift in journalist demographics towards more ideologically driven individuals and the transformation of the news business model from advertising-dependent to subscription-based.

John Bickley [08:57]: "Poll after poll shows the trust in media at an all-time low... lower than Congress."

Baker [09:19]: "Journalism became a business practiced increasingly by ideological activists... the demand side of the equation, which is people who seek out news that comports with their political viewpoint."

The move to subscriptions has incentivized media outlets to cater to specific political demographics, exacerbating existing biases and alienating broader audiences. This commercial pressure reinforces the ideological leanings of both the supply and demand sides of the media ecosystem.

V. Future of Legacy Media and Market Response

Looking ahead, Baker expresses skepticism about the legacy media's ability to moderate its partisan stance. He believes that internal changes are unlikely, given the entrenched ideological commitments within these organizations. However, he remains optimistic about market dynamics fostering the emergence of more balanced and diverse news platforms.

John Bickley [13:00]: "Do you believe we're about to see genuine moderation toward the center here from some of these left-wing outlets?"

Baker [13:20]: "I don't think the staff are going to change... the market will actually develop new platforms and new products."

He cites the success of alternative news outlets like the Daily Wire as evidence that there is a significant market demand for unbiased reporting, which could pressure traditional media to diversify and adapt to a more balanced approach.

VI. Conclusion

Gerard Baker's insights paint a picture of a legacy media struggling to remain relevant and trusted in an increasingly polarized political landscape. The failure to understand and engage with Trump's diverse support base, coupled with internal ideological biases and shifting business models, has eroded public trust. However, the rise of alternative news platforms offers a promising avenue for restoring balanced discourse and rejuvenating the media landscape.

Baker [15:07]: "Thank you very much indeed, and keep up the good work."

As Morning Wire wraps up this in-depth analysis, it underscores the critical need for media organizations to reassess their strategies and biases to rebuild trust and effectively serve a diverse and evolving audience.

Notable Quotes:

1. Gerard Baker [01:38]: "The continued willful failure to even try to understand what it is that animates so many Americans to vote for Donald Trump... that failure by the media is a staggering failure."

2. Gerard Baker [04:21]: "They tend to be quite highly educated and essentially from the coasts. They don't have any experience of the rest of the country."

3. Gerard Baker [07:08]: "It's a kind of a weird sort of fascism that gets the support of 45% of Hispanic voters, 21% of black male voters... voters don't see him as racially exclusionary."

4. Gerard Baker [09:19]: "Journalism became a business practiced increasingly by ideological activists as much by people who simply wanted to report."

5. Gerard Baker [13:20]: "I don't think the staff are going to change... the market will actually develop new platforms and new products."

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