With our weekly feature we assess the news landscape over the past seven days and ascertain if one news organization rose up by lowering itself on a consistent basis. Using our very strict arbitrary measurement process, we compile the news outlets departing furthest from journalism standards. 

As we get waist-deep into the holiday season the press continues to be filled with unjoyous merriment and bad tidings. It was a close battle this week, with two networks delivering major screwups. With plenty taking place, there has been no shortage of media coal for the stockings, so let’s see who was the worst.

     THE CONTENDERS

NEW YORK TIMES - The outlet meekly admitted finally that Biden is in a state of disrepair. Bret Stephens pathetically says he quits being a Never-Trumper after a nine-year snit. Correspondent Annie Karni made the odd claim that figures posting messages on Bluesky are sending a message. During a columnist podcast, they suggested that you can learn about conservatism by watching “Yellowstone.” 

 MSNBC - Joe Scarborough tries saying Trump has no mandate because he only won Wisconsin by one percent. Jen Psaki was complaining that voters were threatening politicians with primaries if they did not vote properly, as if this was wrong. With ratings plunging we learned Stephanie Ruhle and Joy Reid are hit with salary cuts. Chris Hayes blamed Elon Musk and Republicans for the funding of cancer children being cut from the budget bill when the truth was Chuck Schumer had been sitting on the House bill since March. 

ABC NEWS - The big story was that the network settled a $15 million defamation suit with Trump, angering many in the press. Then we learned why they buckled - George Stephanopoulos was told repeatedly before airtime not to call Trump a “rapist,” but he went ahead with the charge anyway. In response, George Stephanopoulos quit Xitter in a huff.

     WINNER

CNN - 

This week CNN edged out ABC on sheer volume. The big story of late last week was correspondent Clarissa Ward helping to spring a prisoner from a Syrian jail. The big story this week was that she actually ended up freeing an oppressive lieutenant from Assad’s deposed regime. The network had to admit that this story blew up in their faces. 

Elsewhere we had Jim Acosta getting sour that ABC News settled its defamation suit with Trump, ignorant that there was sound reasoning for the decision. Daniel Dale woke up from a four-year hibernation to deliver fact-checking once again. (On Trump, not Biden, natch.)

Brian Stelter tried to paint Fox as extreme for touting the now-exposed FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, the small problem being that CNN had also reported on Smirnov being a valid witness. Dick Durbin showed that CNN bringing up salary arguments is a bad idea in light of the disappearing ratings at the network.