As a journalist, I find the mere fact that this insipid event is happening this year to be several steps beyond disqualifying. You’re watchdogs, not lapdogs. Have some damn integrity.

April 06, 2026 - 02:36 UTC

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What they don’t have little signs to hold up?
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Embarrassing. Turn in your press credentials
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They clearly FEEL like part of the Capital Club. It's professionally incestuous. 🤔 For instance, why was there no reporting on Noem's DH having a blackmail worthy side life? She's fired, *then* it's all over the news. Clearly some knew, but kept it quiet? Why?
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Sad to say, the Capital Hill reporters have been mostly terrible. Pocket squares, etc, just proves where their allegiances lie, and it isn't with the public. It's with themselves. The public deserve, and need, better.
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As a non-journalist, I’m genuinely curious, where is the disconnect?

My instinct is to side with the reporter that can’t afford to lose a job. To first blame the publication for not backing them, for not rolling over to frivolous lawsuits, for not fighting back.

Am I far off? Really asking.
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<<I can't afford... this or that ...>> is often an excuse .
USA thought education was expensive, and is now experiencing the cost of ignorance.

As to people who should quit their jobs in order to stop fascism, what if they could expect solidarity ?
Oh wait... unions are already threatened ?
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I agree. It's not only disqualifying, it's pointless and just dumb.
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seriously? next thing it will be thoughts and prayers
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Wow. It’s the absolute least they could do. The most tepid protest when they should be boycotting this event because they are so busy loudly and incessantly broadcasting the horrors of this administration
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Because subtle is exactly what’s needed right now. 🤦‍♀️
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The courage...
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Please name and shame
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Did @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social and @schumer.senate.gov recommend they do that?
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Every single journalist who shows up at this event should be mocked ceaselessly.
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For decades Journos and rights advocates have all stood up for, and protested in defense of rights of speech, and now pins and pocket squares, is the beat they can come up with? This is weak! What a soft generation of journos.
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Straight outta Watergate.
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Oh boy that’ll show him.
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The Stenographers' Ball.
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The same day as journalists are sane washing THAT tweet, you are accusing them of having integrity.
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They should form a band and call themselves The Biddable's
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And none of them realize we are all embarrassed for them.
I can't even.
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They're just incapable of meeting the moment. For the last 10 years.
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Are other journalists planning an alternate event? Seems worth doing!
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He shits all over them and welcome it
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and *they* welcome it
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This event should not exist. Sidling up to the powerful by pretending everyone is equally glamorous & powerful is the opposite of a being free press. Also it is tacky as fuck.
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Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone chucked a sickie on the night. I mean it will not be a witty speech, like Obama's when he mocked the very idea that a game show host might stand as president.
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Not a pocket square 😱
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Yes, the dreaded pocket square will show him what's what? 🙄
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Maybe they could put little dabs of chocolate on their noses to complete the symbolism
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Eau de Jake.
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Priceless
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🏆🏆
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Pass out tissues at the door so they can wipe off the brown spot as they leave.
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These “journalists” are an embarrassment and traitors to their country. Trump and his ilk won’t last forever, but the stench of their complicity will live on.
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Their pins will adorn their “Fvck your feelings’ shirts, right?
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Too late.
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W ⚓️ s

Stand up, be loud, be counted or GTFO
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These are supposedly the most plugged-in, alert people in Washington, D.C. That they think this is what'll hit would be hilarious if the stakes weren't so high.
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It’s the most meaningless event that any correspondent could attend and it’s demise started last year when Axios reporter Alex Thompson was given an award for the book about Biden.
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You can add 25th amendment too.
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Let's at least make sure that it has the lowest ratings in its history.
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I’ve been furious at journalists this evening. And then some of my favorites are all just right there:
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I was a reporter for 19 years, including a wire service in D.C., and I am shocked this event is happening. When guys at the bar complain that journalism is a joke, I have to defend myself by saying back when I was a reporter, it wasn't like this. It wasn't.
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💯 agree 👍
absolutely disgusting
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There's been no reason, for as long as I can remember, at least the last 25 years, for this thing to exist. Stephen Colbert, who is pretty white bread, called them out 20 years ago. The White House press core is shameless.
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RSVP then don’t show up. Let him sit alone in an empty banquet hall.
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Remember when th Clintons were so afraid of annoying the press pool they ginned up a smear
On bill dale to get rid of him rather than take the hit from firing him?
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As if the felon can read or even knows what the First Amendment means.
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Trump doesn’t understand subtle, he probably won’t even notice. Cancel it.
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I don’t use or even check in on predictions markets but one smug self important chump that sucks up a lot of oxygen in that room that must be trending near 100% probability of attending - Peter Alexander.
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All these journalists are really going to show Trump they are serious this time.
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This "Subtle but pointed" stunt is about as impactful as a wet fart. Its less than nothing.
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they’re doing the best they can
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How bout just eating the grub, drinking the booze and then walking out with some coordination? Might mean banishment from the royal hall, but c’mon. If Orang does a faceplant into his Jello, someone else can capture it.
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I've always hated the existence of this event.
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Spot on.
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They, as a group, never seem to stand up for those who get called out by DJT. “Piggy”, or “fake news” are examples.
WHCA are lapdogs indeed.
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They demand their prom!
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1000%
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I let them know how I feel. You can too.

whca.press/contact/
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Access über alles.
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The pocket squares will teach him a lesson Rex. Let them cook.
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Please don't be subtle, our democracy is at stake. Are you afraid he might call you names?
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Anyone who goes is not a serious journalist.
Simple as that.
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No guts.
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I will want a list of attendees so I can cancel them.
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At least send “a strongly worded letter!” Unbelievable.
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That would be new
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Not one journalist with an iota of integrity to show up.
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💯
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Oooh! Pins and pocket squares! That’ll show ‘em!
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Live near? Sign at tally.so/r/VLYdVj
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Fucking pocket squares???
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Yup!
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bsky.app/profile/photoonist.bsky.social/post/3miskwx5xqk2p
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This feels like an opening scene in a Margaret Atwood novel.
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Not the dreaded pocket square. Lol eye roll
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Have it.
Invite the President, if he shows up, walk out.
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Sadly, they are in fact lapdogs
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In Trump land, compliance is complicity.
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it's also because they love to posture as "insiders".
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How bold.
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Remember that dinner Hitler had and his opposition and media wore pins to disapprove of all the mass murder and war? I hear it really bothered him.
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You mean the same media who lied about Biden, and sanewashed Trump? The ones who are there because of connections, not courage and craftsmanship? I'm SHOCKED that those irredeemable, grifting traitors to democracy won't boycott their special dinner. Something like that requires integrity.
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Well congress isn’t any better at their event.
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They are supposed to be watchdogs. They have been turned into coddled lapdogs because mean tweets.
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Those assholes wouldn't even back up Michelle Wolff.
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100% agree.

To even have a dinner legitimizes the way he treats the media ("Quiet piggy!").

Have some damn integrity, yes. And also, have some self-respect!
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and that zero of the male journos have defended their female colleagues against him!
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Got balls like a steer
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💯 … the press should stop being his stooges!
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Exactly
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sane-washing this ogre.
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They should all boycott it. But then they would have to have a spine.
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Where did they learn that kind of pussyfooting useless demonstration? From the Democrats?
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ah... I was wondering why he had chosen this particular flex (again) as an escape valve for the serial defeats he has been experiencing

no, this is not an old one, it's from yesterday

www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-orders-fox-news-fire-115407968.html
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Trump's going to verbally berate the press and they are going to sit their and silently take it. Maybe they'll even applaud him.

If it plays out like that, it signals that the press is no longer free and exists only to serve him. That is a disastrous message to send. Cancel this damn thing.
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The gesture described is neither particularly subtle nor pointed. It's worse than the dumb thing last year with the ping-pong paddles.
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There are zero watchdogs at this event.
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Oh, come on. Grow a pair and refuse to go. Make up your own dinner and invite Joe Biden to be your guest speaker.
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1000% agree
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