In this photograph provided by “Meet the Press,” New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg speaks on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in Washington Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009. Bloomberg opened with remarks about midair collision between a helicopter and, and a single-engine plane over the Hudson Saturday, which killed nine people, including a 15-year-old boy, and Italian tourists on a tour helicopter. Bloomberg said a recovery effort is still underway, that both aircraft are in 30 feet of water with low visibility, that a couple of bodied had been recovered, and that the search would continue until all bodies are found. (AP Photo/NBC, William B. Plowman)

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg made his formal announcement today that he would be entering the race for the Democratic nomination for president.

But it wasn’t his announcement that shocked people.

It was what came with it.

Bloomberg News Editor-In-Chief John Micklethwait made an astonishing statement that the editorial board, which reflected Mike Bloomberg’s views, would now be suspended and would be joining his campaign. Micklethwait said they would be continuing their policy of not investigating Bloomberg, his family or his foundation and that they would extend that same policy to his Democratic rivals. Meanwhile of course, at least for now, they would continue to investigate President Donald Trump and the Trump administration as the administration currently in power.

Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait just sent this note to staffers: "There is no point in trying to claim that covering this presidential campaign will be easy for a newsroom that has built up its reputation for independence in part by not writing about ourselves…" pic.twitter.com/RvfvpsZgDV

— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) November 24, 2019

This is astounding. An admission that they had a “tradition” of not investigating Bloomberg, his family or his foundation. That they will cut that break to all Democrats now (but not to Trump). And the editorial board joining his campaign.

Was this really a news organization or just an extension of Mike Bloomberg?

The reaction was fierce in response.

To review:

1) "Journalists" are joining the Bloomberg campaign

2) Bloomberg "News" announces they will not investigate any Dems running

Incrediblehttps://t.co/lce4VgcsaR

— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) November 24, 2019

Wow — @TimOBrien & David Shipley (former NYT op-ed editor) are joining @MikeBloomberg 2020 campaign, per this memo https://t.co/ORZKCOiOhr

— Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 24, 2019

https://twitter.com/dmartosko/status/1198663914575351808

https://twitter.com/dmartosko/status/1198666561843798016

https://twitter.com/KatzOnEarth/status/1198675803191595011

This is…messy https://t.co/xZEAkGScdE

— Tim Stenovec (@timsteno) November 24, 2019

Um. So Bloomberg will not investigate Bloomberg or his Democratic presidential opponents. What will it do with Trump? And this is supposed assuage American readers' concerns about a biased media, how? https://t.co/WQvl7KFlUN

— Christopher D. White (@ZanderKelly30) November 24, 2019

All this for what is a likely vanity run that Bloomberg has very little chance of winning.

HT: Twitchy