5. As if to substantiate that allegation, neither NBC nor ABC covered the speech itself but offered rebuttals. CBS went to The White House at about the 4 minute mark, followed most of it live, then went broke back to the studio for analysis and rebuttals. CBS also brought us fake news, highlighting the fact that Trump almost claimed again the 2020 election was stolen. “He came close to it. He didn’t use some of the rhetoric he has used in the past, but he inferred that there was still something problematic about the election when there was not,” said Major Garrett. (There was a great deal “problematic” about the 2020 election.) That something that didn’t happen almost happened is a particularly contrived news category except in cases where a disaster was averted.
6. It didn’t help avoiding the “Nah, there’s no mainstream media bias!” brand that the unprecedented network disrespect of a prime time Presidential address appeared to be a response to AOC’s exhortation earlier in the week for them not to cover the speech at all. “I don’t think we should be contributing to any platforming of lies about our elections,” the New York Congresswoman said. “Many of these outlets often receive transcripts, and I think we have an ethical obligation not to air things that undermine our election and are not rooted in evidence and fact.”
7. That said, I have long felt that all news networks covering the same speech live is a silly and wasteful tradition, and borderline unethical because it appears that the networks are colluding with the White House to force Americans to watch something they may choose not to. The availability of cable, satellite and streaming services now mitigates that problem sufficiently. However, does anyone believe that any address by Barack Obama as President would have been treated the way Trump’s speech was treated last night?
8. I’m tempted to post some of the hysterical tweets and statements by Democrats and the Trump-Deranged over the speech. All of them could be fairly characterized as “Methinks thou dost protest too much”: Why are Democrats so afraid of proof of identity and citizenship being required in elections? Why are they so devoted to mail-in ballots for people who can vote in person?
9. Oh, if you insist: Here’s one of Gavin Newsom’s tweets:
“Tonight, America watched the ramblings of a mad king. Donald Trump’s address was not about the last election — it was THIS one. Before a single vote has been cast, he’s already laying the groundwork to rig this election and convince YOU not to trust the results if they don’t go his way. This is what authoritarians do. Don’t fall for it. Organize. Mobilize. SHOW UP and VOTE in November!”
Note that all of the attacks last night were made by people who had not reviewed or read the documents the President said he was releasing.
10. I found this exchange in the White House briefing before the speech infuriating, and agree with the X poster.
It is the “move on” mentality that was used so flagrantly to defend Bill Clinton: “Hey, it happened, we got away with it, it’s over, why can’t you let it go?” This is Rationalization #52. The Underwood Maneuver, or “That’s in the past.”
Ethics Alarms 
Also, CBS was fact-checking it and labeling the President’s information false. They didn’t even air the speech. How much you want to bet they prepped their post before they even got the transcript?
“He didn’t use some of the rhetoric he has used in the past, but he inferred that there was still something problematic about the election….”
I’m supposed to listen to someone who doesn’t know the difference between inferred and implied?
I was going to make the same comment.