C-SPAN's Coverage of TFG Rally Sparks Widespread Criticism: 'A Rally Isn't News. It's Propaganda'

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Former president Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa, broadcasts live on C-SPAN, Saturday evening…and people are fighting mad about it.

Despite lack of a formal announcement of his candidacy, Trump and C-SPAN are promoting the Iowa event as “Campaign 2024,” prompting those on social media to aggressively question why the network would broadcast such an event, as it usually televises U.S. government proceedings in the House of Representatives and Senate.

“What campaign? Has he officially filed with FEC? If not, he is breaking federal law. Again. @cspan used to be respected. This is not news,” one Twitter user wrote.

That sentiment was repeatedly echoed.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/c-spans-coverage-of-trump-rally-sparks-widespread-criticism-a-rally-isnt-news-its-propaganda/ar-AAPk3SL

[LakeArenal]

1. Tho media will continue to call it a campaign.

[jimfields33]

11. Congress is not in session so they had open space?

I don’t know, but people really watch CSPAN on a Saturday night?

[Salviati]

2. If the corporate news industry gives him a ton of free press like they did last time

It's time to organize some mass boycotts of their advertisers. They are not going to be able to help themselves, unless there is a severe disincentive to indulge in chasing the orange dragon again...

[Alexander Of Assyria]

5. The mass media coverage of the fascists since Sedition Day is incredibly pro-fascist.

I don’t know how else to describe the consistent media negligence other than mass media sympathizing for fascist, seemingly well coordinated across the media spectrum.

Is it mainstream media anymore when it’s pro-fascist?

[calimary]

15. Hey, I like that! "Sedition Day"!

We could also call it “Insurrection Day”. Either one works. And, more importantly, reminds.

Both of ‘em label January 6th as exactly what it turned out to be - right out in the open for everybody everywhere to see, LIVE and on camera.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

7. Then there is ATT actively birthing and nourishing OAN Propaganda. Sense a pattern?

[bluestarone]

3. THIS is crazy!

Who makes the decision to allow c-span to cover this? Needs to be investigated.

[joetheman]

4. Why the hell is C-SPAN showing a rally for a guy who tried to overthrow the government and never

honored a subpoena issues by the House or Senate? WT absolute F!

[Alexander Of Assyria]

6. Incredible. It's like we all woke up in an episode of the twilight zone.

“And, with C-SPAN’s televising of today’s Iowa rally, it is being accused of taking part in the effort by Trump’s “2024 campaign” to dodge campaign finance law.”

That’s in addition to the media coverage…in addition there is Trump using PAC money, legally, to pay all his not for sure apolitical campaign event campaign event.

So as always, multiple layers of horror.

[GoCubsGo]

22. Good question. Why the hell are they covering him at all?

Attempted coup aside, have they ever covered any of the other former presidents this way? I don't think so.

[DownriverDem]

25. Sadly

trump is in charge of the repub party. repubs want his blessing & go down to FL and kiss his a**. C-Span sees him as a player.

[Nictuku]

8. That makes me so angry

I have a twitter account, but I don't usually tweet. Not totally sure if I did it right to get to their attention.

Here is what I posted (used every single character, but said what I wanted to say. Feel free to copy)

@cspan Why are you airing a propaganda rally under the guise of Campaign 2024? Who is the declared candidate? No one. Propaganda/FEC violations to spread his Big Lie. How can I continue to admire c-span's broadcast ethic? Your hands will not be clean if there is a civil war.

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Don't tax payers pay for most of C-Span?

[Nictuku]

10. No

Cable Companies (so cable subscribers) pay for C-Span.

[Takket]

12. I tweeted at them and told them i was holding a rally for myself today at 6PM

and I asked when I could expect their camera crew to arrive.

For some reason, no one answered.

I guess I am confused because I don't understand why CSPAN would cover a rally for one civilian/private citizen and not another???????

[AllaN01Bear]

13. tfg following the law? since when has he followed the law?

[BlueIdaho]

14. Time to shitcan C-Span's leadership.

We really need to go through all agencies and root out the fascists. That ugly orange shit is just a symptom of a much larger cancer on our society.

[tritsofme]

21. C-SPAN isn't a government agency.

[marieo1]

16. Shame on Iowa

I am so depressed about djt's rally in Iowa. I was born and raised in Iowa and I am so disappointed in that state for even letting the derelict campaign there. I always knew there were a lot of reps in Iowa but I don't understand how could they support such a loser having a rally there?

[tritsofme]

20. What do you mean "letting" him campaign there?

The First Amendment, is you know, a thing.

[Buns_of_Fire]

30. I'm disappointed that the earth didn't open up

and swallow him and his MAGAts-in-Attendance whole.

Now that would be TV worth watching!

[lambchopp59]

17. On top of inappropriate, why bother?

Just piece together all TFG's tirades from former rallies, a few hate filled crowd chants, and voila--- the whole shebang.

[CanyaDigIt]

18. I also wondered why they would cover it.

But they were talking with Bob Costa the co-author of "Peril" while they were waiting for dump to take the stage. I shut it off after that.

[flying_wahini]

19. And is the GOP paying for these? Trump isn't, he's broke. Wish they wouldn't cover them.

[GoCubsGo]

24. The suckers and dupes who contribute to his PAC are paying for it.

So are the ones paying $1500 for "VIP" tickets. He's also doing these things on the cheap. They're being held in what's essentially parking lots and fields, rather than in more expensive stadiums.

[vanlassie]

23. Do they think it's newsworthy?

So is the capital punishment of a serial killer, but it’s not televised. And, yes, I compared TFG to a killer.

[Leith]

27. SNL had a good joke last night

Something along the lines of "for those of you watching CSPAN on Saturday night..." and left it there with a facial expression.

Yes, it is worse than watching a comedy sketch show on Saturday night.

[Slammer]

28. C-Span

C-Span has covered all sorts of political rallies in the past, for both parties, both before and after candidates have formally announced.

They were my go-to preference for coverage because they'd stick around after the speech was over and show the candidate interacting with his audience. You can tell more about a candidate from that than from their canned speech.

Can they handle unexpected questions? Can they show empathy? Do they have a good breadth of knowledge? Do they bluff when they don't have the knowledge or do something else?

In this instance, I think C-Span made a mistake by covering Trump at all considering the legal problems he's created. But there's no doubting that he's flirting with the idea of running again and that his event was the largest political rally of the week. On that basis, if nothing else, it's something C-Span would (in terms of their programming history) show.

[halfulglas]

29. Lost a lot of respect for C-SPAN over this. There was no reason to cover a vanity rally.