This has been a furiously busy segment, with supposed scandals erupting and fizzling, programs becoming canceled and refunded, and Biden-era machinations continuing to be exposed. It has been a lot to take for the press...meaning a lot for them to get wrong.
We had everything from threatened journalists, hateful Muppets, soda reformulated, and more border melodrama. It has been a busy time. That said, let’s tug on the hip waders and begin trudging through the muck and mire that is our media complex and determine who took top (bottom) honors this week.
THE CONTENDERS
NBC News – In a hilariously inept piece, the network attempted to defend Joe Biden and the mounting Autopen scandal by stating James Comer is just as guilty for using e-signatures on documents. Following President Trump announcing that Coca-Cola will start using cane sugar for its soda, the network came out with knee-jerk expert-supported claims favoring corn syrup. After Sesame Street’s puppet Elmo had its social media account hacked to display antisemitic comments, Melanie Zanona used it to spin into the defunding effort on The Hill.
CBS News – The announced cancellation of Stephen Colbert on “The Late Show” had many pundits and outlets weeping loudly about Trump silencing a critic. (This, of course, lacked proof, and even those like Brian Stelter wanting to push that narrative had to admit losing $40 million annually was the driving factor.) Scott MacFarlane had possibly the most self-centered hot take on the Trump assassination, claiming HE came close to dying that day and had been diagnosed with PTSD, all because Trump fans looked at him.
New York Times – Peter Baker was upset that Trump used the word “evil” to describe journalists who have called him every possible evil label for years. An op-ed suggests that liberals who cut off MAGA family members reconcile with them. (They did not ask how the MAGA family felt about this.) In another, they actually brought on a former Biden staffer who worked on the border to explain how to be successful at the border. In yet another, they had an expert going through an emotional meltdown after seeing an airport limousine, thinking it might be an ICE vehicle.
MSNBC – While the alleged “scandal of the week” was being laughed off as ridiculous, Lawrence O’Donnell arrived on the scene to only turn more ridiculous; he tried selling the conspiracy that JD Vance had been the source of this exposé, all for the sake of pushing Trump out of office and obtaining power. Chris Hayes declared that Stephen Colbert being fired is a test of whether we are a free society. After delivering the most unhinged and blatantly disproven quote about Joe Biden being mentally fit last year, Joe Scarborough was easily ignored as he now proposes that all presidential medical records be made public. On one panel, the brilliant wizards proposed that violence against ICE agents was justified.
NPR / PBS – Congress passed the rescission package, meaning that wailing was heard throughout the media environment over supposed silencing of the networks. As claims of needed emergency broadcasts were made, evidence exists showing the networks dropped the ball in that regard. It was revealed that in Texas, the regional NPR station took 19 hours before it mentioned any of the flood warnings. Jonathan Capehart proposed that the press cover Trump’s alleged sliding mental condition like they did with Biden; he was oblivious that this means they would not cover it.
THE WINNER
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
It took the delivery of just one story to earn this week’s dishonor. The Journal put out the scathing report about a letter Donald Trump supposedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein for his birthday. This story set the news industry on fire – for roughly a few hours. In its report – based on details fed by an anonymous source and with evidence it did not display – it says Trump typed a dramatic dialogue between him and Epstein, and sketched a nude female form.
This letter is over two decades old, was allegedly sent prior to Epstein’s legal involvements, and the content was possibly blush-worthy but contained nothing at all scandalous.
The report was made by the journalist who had ties to Hillary Clinton and the Russian collusion fiasco.
The White House not only strongly denied the content before publication but stated they were never provided the letter to confirm or refute, and Trump promised a lawsuit if they printed what he said was a fraudulent letter.
Despite the deeply questionable journalism, many journos were defending WSJ by saying reputable news outlets would not print unverified news items. (Uh…huh…)
Later, it was learned that, among other notable figures to send Epstein similar birthday greetings, the WSJ chose to ignore Bill Clinton being another name who participated.
It was Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday, and Ghislaine Maxwell was preparing a special gift to mark the occasion. She turned to Epstein’s family and friends. One of them was Donald Trump.
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) July 18, 2025
Maxwell collected letters from Trump and dozens of Epstein’s other associates for a 2003… pic.twitter.com/RKQKJwWnsz
Editor's Note: The mainstream media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie about President Trump, his administration, and conservatives.
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