WSJ Memory Holes Trump’s Near-Assassination of His Vice President

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In an 800-word story on the rise of political violence, this what WSJ’s Katy Stech Ferek and Tim Hanrahan wrote about Trump’s incitement of thousands of rabid followers, their attack on cops protecting Congress and their open chants calling for the assassination of Mike Pence, Nancy Pelosi, and Mitch McConnell, Trump’s pardon of most of them (and release of the others), and DOJ’s payment of $5 million to Ashli Babbitt’s estate:

 

 

WaPo’s Sarah Ellison and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez said little more in its equivalent piece, ascribing to Trump no role in the January 6 attack and making no mention of his pardon for those who did attack cops and the Capitol.

The January 2021 attack on the Capitol saw a mob of Trump supporters threaten lawmakers gathered to certify the 2020 election.

NYT’s Lisa Lerer, at least, did mention the pardon, but not the things Trump had done to get his mob to chant “hang Mike Pence.”

Mr. Trump has had a hand in that. Since his 2016 candidacy, he has signaled at least his tacit approval of violence against his political opponents. He encouraged attendees at his rallies to “knock the hell” out of protesters, praised a lawmaker who body-slammed a reporter and defended the rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, who clamored to “hang Mike Pence.” One of his first acts in his second term as president was to pardon those rioters.

None of these outlets have the simple journalistic courage to say that Trump nearly got his Vice President assassinated, that Trump incited a brutal attack on a co-equal branch of government, and that his reward for the people who did this has fostered violence against Trump’s adversaries.

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20 replies
  1. zirczirc says:

    I think there is supposed to be a quotation of Katy Stech Ferek and Tim Hanrahan after your first paragraph, but I can’t see it.

      • Peterr says:

        I think there *is* supposed to be one, but they never said anything about J6, so Marcy couldn’t fill the space. It’s kind of hard to talk about political violence and not mention J6, but they apparently pulled it off.

        Well played, Marcy.

      • Rod Heisler says:

        Not a WSJ apologist, but the 13th paragraph reads:
        There has been a series of violent political incidents in recent years. Democrats have pointed the finger at Trump’s abrasive style of politics, saying it could spur extremists to target politicians. Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and the president was impeached for his role in the riot.

  2. Rugger_9 says:

    Between ownership clubbiness and ‘access’ journalism the performance of the courtier press doesn’t surprise me at all. All that is missing here is something about how Biden couldn’t stop J6 because he’s too old something something and isn’t it an outrage that Hunter was pardoned.

    The main thing holding the Ds back aside from sclerotic leadership is the lack of a media outlet with reach and gravitas. The D leadership refuses to look for alternatives to get their message out repeatedly and loudly because they see no openings to do so and they are partially right,

    • emptywheel says:

      Huh.

      And yet Gavin Newsom is doing such a good job Stephen Miller appears to have stopped targeting him.

      • Rugger_9 says:

        GGG is the exception that proves the rule. And FWIW, I think the ascendancy is temporary given how the courtier press covered the ‘perade’ and the No Kings protests. I would also submit that the only two real reasons GGG got his foot in the door is that the Marines are in CA violating Posse Comitatus as well as GGG’s sucking up to the RW twerps like Charlie Kirk signaling that he’s a ‘centrist’ safe enough to give air time.

        Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while, and while Governor Goodhair Gavin is doing well vis-a-vis Convict-1 / Krasnov / TACO he also belched forth his budget submission (CA’s FY starts on July 1) that has some curious clauses in it. We’ll see what makes it out of the Sacramento sausage factory which is why it’s not worth linking to now.

        • P J Evans says:

          Newsom is cutting a lot of social stuff to fund his fcking water project that will kill a big part of the state to benefit a few in Big Ag.

    • Anhedonia says:

      Waiting for this protest sign in DC:
      “Hang Donald Trump!
      And if you disagree with this tourist’s legitimate political discourse, well,
      PARDON ME!”

      • Vthestate says:

        This is way good, I may have to take it up! …. Thanks Anhedonia . One thing which does not get mentioned nearly enough…how may jurors help with convicting the Jan 6 rioters….trial by our peers, thrown out by the the the press pampered (Felon )plutocrat. Denial of the american way (seldom have I posted…not sure if I am doing this correctly)

  4. Matt Foley says:

    Kyle “Killer” Rittenhouse wannabe?

    A Malvern man was arrested on firearms charges for bringing a loaded handgun and a bayonet to a “No Kings” protest in West Chester on Saturday, police said.

    Kevin Krebs, 31, was charged with carrying a Sig Sauer P320 without a concealed-carry permit, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest. Krebs was released after posting $250,000 bail.
    https://www.inquirer.com/crime/kevin-krebs-no-kings-protest-west-chester-arrest-20250616.html

  5. Bay State Librul says:

    Why wasn’t the FBI (Patel) tracking the political assassin to prevent the shooting?
    Can someone ask Patel.

  6. Rugger_9 says:

    This is also how come Mike Lee can soil himself claiming the shooter was a Marxist or Convict-1 / Krasnov / TACO can refuse to do the decent thing and call Tim Walz for condolences. The courtier press refuses to hold any kind of social norm, and so I would expect more of this as long as the RWNM rhetoric remains as it is. The bothsidesing press needs to call it out much more loudly.

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