With the exposure of Trump’s tax returns last night, the country was treated to one of the biggest duds of a “bombshell” in political history. After years of breathless predictions regarding what they would include, we were instead treated to a guy who legally did his taxes. To say that disappointed a media that is otherwise desperately trying to spin this into something it’s not is an understatement.

CNN, which is now pretending legally filing taxes is a scandal, isn’t known for producing high-quality journalistic content, and their old takes are now coming back into view. For example:

This aged well. https://t.co/kJ7RwZwpAY

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) September 28, 2020

It wasn’t just CNN, though. That supposition has been the mainstay of every single moment of consternation among media members in demanding Trump’s taxes. Rachel Maddow has created a cottage industry out of speculating that the Russians have blackmail material on the President and that his taxes would reveal vast debts that compromise him.

But that’s not what the Times revealed at all. There are no connections to Russians included in Trump’s taxes. There’s also no indication of any illegal activity at all. All they show is that Trump is smart enough to not pay taxes he doesn’t owe. In fact, the President has never been shy about the fact that he’s lost money running for president and while being president. That he’d take losses and not pay income taxes on income he didn’t make isn’t surprising at all. It’s certainly not a scandal.

What’s most hilarious about this entire ordeal is just how much of a let down it truly is for those who have put everything into Trump’s taxes blowing the race apart. There’s no doubt in my mind the Times has had this information for months or possibly even years. They’ve patiently waited to unleash this right before the debates in an effort to further influence the election. But in the end, there’s nothing really here. Does anyone think voters care one iota about how much in taxes Trump has or hasn’t legally paid? Is that going to move a single vote? I think we know the answer to that.

Meanwhile, the media are exposed again as being the absolute worthless hacks they are.

(Please follow me on Twitter! @bonchieredstate)