NPR is finally recognizing that the extremist MAGA cult candidates are refusing to engage with any form of media that asks real questions.
Danielle Kurtzleben wrote about difficulties speaking with Republicans on the campaign trail.
However, they are also a part of a trend of Republican candidates ignoring or actively avoiding legacy media — particularly national outlets.
The phenomenon is impossible to quantify, but many Republican candidates are showing that they don't want – or need – to get their messages out via legacy media outlets. That can reduce the scrutiny they face while running for public office, hampering voters' ability to make informed choices.
A large group of reporters was kept out of a rally this spring for Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania.
Here's a video of a former NRO and now CBS reporter, Robert Costas, being bullied and refused entry into Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano's event in Pennsylvania over the weekend.
The man abusing the reporter looked to be wearing a 1776 kind of hat.
"If you're with the campaign, we can have a dialogue," Costa said.
"No dialogue," the man responded.
Costas brought up his first amendment right to be there, but to MAGA, it only applies when Christian nationalists scream about conspiracy theories, homophobia and racism.
The man refused to give any information other than to block Costas' entry.
I would have barged past him, but maybe the CBS reporter was afraid he'd be shot.
DeSantis is doing the same thing. The Florida governor is only talking to Christian nationalist and fascist media outlets.
I've written for over fifteen years that Republicans' goal was to turn all news media into opinion shows. Conservatives have whined about the press for over seven decades, but now, with Trump calling the media, "the enemy of the people," Republicans are building their own media infrastructure -- an echo chamber of creeps.
Of course, it's not everywhere at this point; it goes from district to district, but if you're an election denier and conspiracist, then that campaign most likely will not engage with traditional media, because their ideas are indefensible.
It's worth a read.
