Funny, isn’t it, how ever since the inauguration, you really don’t read anything in the news about Russian hacking, which absolutely dominated the political conversation in December and early January.
Like so many other election-related crises that were presented as threats to the very core of America, that one was dropped like a hot rock, and after a bit of a scramble to find the next controversy, journalists were given a gift by new White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer — the claim that the audience for Donald Trump’s inauguration was the biggest ever.
What really matters is the size of the crowd at Hillary Clinton’s inauguration, but both the administration and the media are doubling-down on the crowd size controversy, which has been on a low boil since Saturday. Check out the New York Times, rested and refreshed, delivering the beat down with its unflinching fact-checks:
Fact check: Sean Spicer said "This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration." That is false. https://t.co/8pWu89QRdU pic.twitter.com/mGT0iYjGe3
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 23, 2017
Fact check: Trump said the sky cleared soon after he began his inaugural address. That is false. https://t.co/8pWu89QRdU pic.twitter.com/3XvSATh1cz
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 23, 2017
Amazing work there: Trump had claimed the sky cleared Saturday, but actually, it began to rain almost exactly as Trump began to speak.
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On Tuesday, the side-by-side aerial photos of Obama’s and Trump’s inauguration crowds that have been circulating online made the transition from social media posts to Rep. Mick Mulvaney’s confirmation hearing — no, really.
Jeff Merkley quizzes Trump budget nominee on crowd sizes https://t.co/b2KAbeE7Rf pic.twitter.com/sPapo5QTsb
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 24, 2017
WATCH: (This requires caps) SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY JUST HELD UP PHOTOS OF INAUGURAL CROWDS + MADE A TRUMP APPOINTEE ADMIT TRUMP'S WAS SMALLER pic.twitter.com/baOZldIiBn
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) January 24, 2017
THAT REQUIRED CAPS.
Sooo Jeff Merkley just showed inauguration photos during the OMB confirmation hearing and asked Mick Mulvaney which crowd is larger pic.twitter.com/BoU3yr4CAW
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) January 24, 2017
Epic, epic trolling. Right from Bernie Sanders' playbook.
— Pete Masalsky (@PMasalsky) January 24, 2017
@chrislhayes look at Tim Kaine! He can't hold back the laughter! Just awesome!
— Sabine A. (@alania1985) January 24, 2017
What was Kaine doing there at a confirmation hearing anyway? Shouldn’t he have been helping unpack at the vice president’s office? Oh …
At least they have their priorities straight. This solves all sorts of problems now. Thank you dems and thank you MSNBC.
— ulcimd1 (@ulcimd1) January 24, 2017
@jamestaranto Was the next photo of a dress and did he ask if it was black and blue or white and gold?
— David Eike (@ikers62) January 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/AlexPappas/status/823992201965346818
Why? Isn’t it obvious? Merkley posted a clip of his exchange from C-SPAN along with the answer.
We need an OMB head who uses real facts, not #alternativefacts like myth that giant tax cuts for wealthy lower deficits. https://t.co/i737rSBSR7
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) January 24, 2017
@SenSchumer @cspan Dumbest line of questioning ever on Senate floor. Gillebrand now number 2.
— William (@the315er) January 24, 2017
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