Unicorns, Gnomes, and Plea to the Press on Covering Trump
On January 11 finally Trump held his much awaited press conference. And it was a terrifying success. The press faithfully covered a wild and strange show. But we don't need to be told about the show that was performed. What we needed was a consistent grounding in reality.
It was as if, covering the moment when Dorothy and her friends finally get their meeting with the Wizard of Oz, the press covered the strange images the wizard produced and the fascinating way he produced those images. Rather than reporting on the small man from Kansas who had lost his way and had managed to dominate a nation based on is ability to create illusions and distractions.
USA Today was almost unique in cutting through the illusion and reporting only on the lies that were told. Reading their coverage, I felt such a surprising sense of clarity about the way forward for how we talk about the house of mirrors we are trapped in.
The Daily Show's Trevor Noah argues that when Trump starts talking about a competition between unicorns and gnomes, if the press in any way focuses unicorns and gnomes, we have lost. We lose when we enter the world of unicorns and gnomes.
The story of the appalling press conference of January 11 needs to be the story of the lies that were told, the status of the very real and legitimate questions that the reporters asked but which were not answered, and the insistence on the importance of getting answers to those real questions.
We need to stay grounded in our shared and dangerous reality, and not get sucked into an analysis of the illusions created by a master illusionist.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Cynthia Kaufman is a writer and educator. She is the author of six books on social change: Solidarity Economics: Building Sustainable Social Relations (Routledge 2026),Consumerism, Sustainability, and Happiness: How to Build a World Where Everyone Has Enough (Routledge 2023), The Sea is Rising and So Are We: A Climate Justice Handbook (PM Press 2021), Challenging Power: Democracy and Accountability in a Fractured World (Bloomsbury 2020), Getting Past Capitalism: History, Vision, Hope (Lexington Books 2012), and Ideas for Action: Relevant Theory for Radical Change (2nd Edition PM Press 2016). Visit her website.
On January 11 finally Trump held his much awaited press conference. And it was a terrifying success. The press faithfully covered a wild and strange show. But we don't need to be told about the show that was performed. What we needed was a consistent grounding in reality.
It was as if, covering the moment when Dorothy and her friends finally get their meeting with the Wizard of Oz, the press covered the strange images the wizard produced and the fascinating way he produced those images. Rather than reporting on the small man from Kansas who had lost his way and had managed to dominate a nation based on is ability to create illusions and distractions.
USA Today was almost unique in cutting through the illusion and reporting only on the lies that were told. Reading their coverage, I felt such a surprising sense of clarity about the way forward for how we talk about the house of mirrors we are trapped in.
The Daily Show's Trevor Noah argues that when Trump starts talking about a competition between unicorns and gnomes, if the press in any way focuses unicorns and gnomes, we have lost. We lose when we enter the world of unicorns and gnomes.
The story of the appalling press conference of January 11 needs to be the story of the lies that were told, the status of the very real and legitimate questions that the reporters asked but which were not answered, and the insistence on the importance of getting answers to those real questions.
We need to stay grounded in our shared and dangerous reality, and not get sucked into an analysis of the illusions created by a master illusionist.
Cynthia Kaufman is a writer and educator. She is the author of six books on social change: Solidarity Economics: Building Sustainable Social Relations (Routledge 2026),Consumerism, Sustainability, and Happiness: How to Build a World Where Everyone Has Enough (Routledge 2023), The Sea is Rising and So Are We: A Climate Justice Handbook (PM Press 2021), Challenging Power: Democracy and Accountability in a Fractured World (Bloomsbury 2020), Getting Past Capitalism: History, Vision, Hope (Lexington Books 2012), and Ideas for Action: Relevant Theory for Radical Change (2nd Edition PM Press 2016). Visit her website.
On January 11 finally Trump held his much awaited press conference. And it was a terrifying success. The press faithfully covered a wild and strange show. But we don't need to be told about the show that was performed. What we needed was a consistent grounding in reality.
It was as if, covering the moment when Dorothy and her friends finally get their meeting with the Wizard of Oz, the press covered the strange images the wizard produced and the fascinating way he produced those images. Rather than reporting on the small man from Kansas who had lost his way and had managed to dominate a nation based on is ability to create illusions and distractions.
USA Today was almost unique in cutting through the illusion and reporting only on the lies that were told. Reading their coverage, I felt such a surprising sense of clarity about the way forward for how we talk about the house of mirrors we are trapped in.
The Daily Show's Trevor Noah argues that when Trump starts talking about a competition between unicorns and gnomes, if the press in any way focuses unicorns and gnomes, we have lost. We lose when we enter the world of unicorns and gnomes.
The story of the appalling press conference of January 11 needs to be the story of the lies that were told, the status of the very real and legitimate questions that the reporters asked but which were not answered, and the insistence on the importance of getting answers to those real questions.
We need to stay grounded in our shared and dangerous reality, and not get sucked into an analysis of the illusions created by a master illusionist.