Media reporters are a new thing. CNN had, and then brought back, Brian Stelter to watch FOX News 24 hours a day and report on what they were or weren't reporting. The Washington Post and FOX News both have media reporters. NPR has David Folkenflik, and he's probably the worst of the bunch.
As you know, the House heard testimony from the CEOs of NPR and PBS about the leftist bias at both outlets. NPR CEO Katherine Maher admitted Wednesday that the network should have pursued the Hunter Biden laptop story sooner and more aggressively.
NPR CEO Katherine Maher acknowledges at House hearing on bias in public media that NPR was mistaken in not coverning Biden laptop "more aggressively."
— Joe Flint (@JBFlint) March 26, 2025
NPR’s CEO just admitted it, on camera.
— Delia_Jones (@Delia_Jones06) March 26, 2025
They failed to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story. They downplayed COVID’s origins. They got it wrong when it mattered most.
And now they want grace… with your tax dollars?
Defund NPR. pic.twitter.com/NqQDo2aiI9
Failed to cover it more aggressively? They came right out and said they would not be reporting on it.
“Why do you want NPR defunded?”
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) March 26, 2025
This is why. 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/5Iz7SyMtYo
Folkenflik can explain:
Let's go back to Hunter Biden's laptop
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) March 26, 2025
Then exec editor Terry Samuels was quoted by public editor's office: "We don’t want to waste the listeners’ and readers’ time on stories that are just pure distractions."
Critics took this to mean NPR wasn't reporting on it.
But...
"Critics"? How about everyone? "More aggressively" is not the same as "why haven't you seen any stories on NPR" about the laptop. NPR made a special effort to let the public know they would not be doing stories on it.
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Behind the scenes, NPR reporters working under Samuels were seeking to get access to the laptop. Giuliani's camp declined to share it, as they did to NYT and others, because they didn't trust the outlet to portray the story the way they thought it should be done.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) March 26, 2025
"Behind the scenes." Why were they working to get access to the laptop if it was just a "distraction"?
The laptop was ultimately authenticated and confirmed criminal personal activity by the future president's son.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) March 26, 2025
it didn't show what the NY Post claimed about Joe Biden.
Despite Rep Comer's investigations, the larger claims agst Joe Biden have not to date held up.
The larger claims about Joe Biden are all true, and the press, including NPR, did everything it could to cover for "the big guy."
NPR actually one of the most careful major news outlets in covering allegations about Russia/Trump 2016 ties. Others did report things later deemed unsubstantiated.
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) March 26, 2025
One lesson Samuel & others took: be careful in covering allegations on material that you can't review.
Oh yeah, NPR was very careful about covering the Russian collusion hoax. Covering it 24/7.
You know it and I know it — NPR ignored the laptop story because they knew it would hurt the Biden campaign.
Folkenfik is a clown, and your and my tax dollars go to pay his salary.
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