Trump Launched a War on the Press. GOP Lawmakers Are Boosting It.

[DonViejo]

Republican senators have become more aggressive and personal in their criticisms of reporters and media organizations.

Maxwell Tani, Andrew Desiderio
11.24.18 9:28 PM ET

Lawmakers have complained about the coverage they’ve received from the press since the inception of the country. But in the past few months, some on Capitol Hill have taken their criticism to new heights—offering blistering critiques of stories they dislike and personally singling out and fighting with individual reporters whom they view as biased. And they’re doing it all in real time.

It is a strategy Donald Trump honed and perfected during his 2016 campaign and has continued to deploy well into his first term. And although senators lack the same zeal and bite as the president, the posture is similar.

In recent months, many GOP lawmakers have repurposed their Twitter accounts into platforms for media criticism. Perhaps no one has been as dutiful about it as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who has dedicated a good deal of time nitpicking various aspects of media coverage in the Trump era.

Rubio provoked local criticism for a tweet lamenting that some media outlets printed the F-word, and said reporters were giving too much air time to people like conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. He tweeted that many Republicans who want to criticize Trump refuse to do so because they’d rather not side with “the media.” He has criticized a Mother Jones reporter, an opinionated GQ correspondent, and CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta.

“I’ve seen media bias firsthand. But vast majority of reporters try to be fair & professional. Very few act like Acosta does,” Rubio wrote. “He regularly showboats to make himself the story. Instead of reporting the news he wants to be the news Revoking his WH pass gives him spotlight he craves.”

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https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-launched-a-war-on-the-press-gop-lawmakers-are-boosting-it?ref=home

[chowder66]

1. GOP Lawbreakers.