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  • Double standards? Media did Biden’s bidding. Now they freak out over Trump.


    The weekend before President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, “Saturday Night Live’s” cold open featured a fictional panel of progressive MSNBC journalists. At numerous intervals, their commentary was interrupted by breaking news alerts over any minute thing Trump had said or put on social media.

    It’s funny because it’s true. It also highlights a troubling double standard within the legacy news media.

    Two recent revelations offer examples of just how disparately the media approached covering former President Joe Biden – and how it once again covers Trump.

    President Donald Trump, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaks to reporters on Air Force One on Jan. 27, 2025.

    President Donald Trump, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaks to reporters on Air Force One on Jan. 27, 2025.

    When it came to Biden, too many journalists tossed their curiosity out the window, accepting whatever came out of the White House as truth.

    Even worse, some publications actively sought to curry favor with the Biden administration, and in doing so helped hide information from the public that the president didn’t want to get out − whether that related to the origins of COVID-19, his son Hunter’s laptop or to his declining mental and physical health.

    That’s the opposite of what the media should be doing.

    Can you imagine the outrage that would follow if journalists sought to do the same with Trump? The same standard should apply, regardless of who is president.

    Opinion: Liberals want to erase women. Trump is standing up for our most basic rights.

    News outlet decided to ignore Hunter Biden laptop story

    The latest revelations aren’t “news” per se, and I’ve written frequently about the mainstream news media’s lackluster coverage of the Biden administration. But they provide additional contrast to how the press is now covering Trump.

    A recent podcast interview involving two former Politico reporters sheds light on how decisions were made by editors to either quash negative stories about the Biden family or to slow-roll their publication.

    President Joe Biden greets son Hunter Biden at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024.

    President Joe Biden greets son Hunter Biden at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024.

    The worst example came from Marc Caputo (now with Axios). In the weeks leading up to the 2020 election, the New York Post broke the story about Hunter Biden’s laptop, which contained evidence of his shady business dealings and influence peddling.

    While Politico was happy to run an article calling the news “disinformation,” just as Biden himself described the matter, it was not interested in pursuing the matter any further.

    Opinion: Trump’s executive orders really aren’t ‘shock and awe’ after Biden’s overreach

    “I was covering Biden at the time, and I remember coming to my editor and saying, ‘Hey, we need to write about the Hunter Biden laptop,’” Caputo recalled. “And I was told this came from on high at Politico: Don’t write about the laptop, don’t talk about the laptop, don’t tweet about the laptop. And the only thing Politico wound up writing was that piece that called it disinformation, which charitably could be called misinformation, at the least.”

    Politico, of course, was far from alone in not giving the Hunter laptop story any credence. Pretty much all major news outlets refused to acknowledge its veracity until Biden was safely in the White House and Trump defeated.

    Trump administration releases report on COVID-19 origins. Biden hid it.

    The media also worked in lockstep to tamp down the possibility that COVID-19 could have originated in a lab. That’s because it was Trump and other Republicans who expressed their concern about a lab leak.

    So, they were painted as kooky conspiracy theorists by the media.

    It turns out Trump and Co. were probably right. An increasing number of experts now say a lab leak is the more likely origin of the global pandemic.

    President Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd before addressing a Republican congressional conference on Jan. 27, 2025, in Doral, Fla.

    President Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd before addressing a Republican congressional conference on Jan. 27, 2025, in Doral, Fla.

    Just days into the new Trump administration, for example, CIA Director John Ratcliffe released an assessment that a lab leak is the more likely cause of the pandemic. The FBI came to the same conclusion several years ago.

    The CIA’s  “low confidence” assessment had taken place under the Biden administration, but Biden officials didn’t bother letting the public know.

    A more skeptical media would have tried harder to get to the truth.

    Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don’t have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

    We’re less than two weeks into the Trump administration, but the difference in media treatment could not be more night and day. While the media’s instinct under Biden was to take him at his word, the opposite is true with Trump.

    The fact-checkers are back in force and journalists are playing hardball. Watch Vice President JD Vance’s weekend interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” and try to picture host Margaret Brennan asking pointed questions like that of Joe Biden or former Vice President Kamala Harris.

    To Trump’s credit, he does not shy away from the press – unlike his predecessor, who essentially hid from the media for years.

    Journalists should be tough yet fair with the new president. When there is such a clear double standard in coverage, though, it’s hard to take them seriously.

    Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques

    You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.

    This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Media go hard after Trump but soft-pedaled Biden news | Opinion





    The media’s double standards when it comes to covering President Biden and former President Trump have never been more evident. Throughout Biden’s campaign and presidency, the media has largely done his bidding, providing favorable coverage and downplaying any missteps or controversies.

    However, now that Trump is back in the spotlight and potentially eyeing a 2024 presidential run, the media is once again in a frenzy, obsessively covering his every move and statement with a critical eye. The same outlets that were content to act as stenographers for Biden are now quick to pounce on any perceived misstep or controversial statement from Trump.

    The blatant double standards are clear for all to see. It’s time for the media to hold all politicians to the same standard, regardless of their party affiliation. The American people deserve fair and unbiased coverage, not partisan pandering. It’s time for the media to do better.

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    – Media bias
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    – Trump presidency
    – Political hypocrisy
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    #Double #standards #Media #Bidens #bidding #freak #Trump

  • Resident Evil Reboot with Zach Cregger Ignites Bidding War


    The fight for Zach Cregger’s new movie is on.

    In what seems to have become the first major auction of the year, an intense bidding war is underway for a reboot of Resident Evil, the horror action movie franchise based on the popular video games. Cregger is attached to write and direct.

    Four studios are elbowing for the win, among them Warner Bros. and Netflix, according to sources.

    Constantin Film, which has held the screen rights to the title since the late 1990s and has been behind the previous movies, will produce the reboot along with PlayStation Productions. Shay Hatten, who worked on John Wick: Chapter 4 and Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, is co-writing.

    The movies, six starring Milla Jovovich plus one origin feature made during the pandemic, have been moneymakers. But Cregger is the reason studios are willing to shell out major money.

    Cregger was an actor and comedian who reinvented himself as a cutting-edge filmmaker with Barbarian, the 2022 cult hit that he wrote and directed. It also established him as a new voice in horror, and when he went out with his follow-up horror project, a bidding war erupted. That upcoming film, titled Weapons, was won by Warners’ New Line division and saw him become a final cut director. The horror movie has Josh Brolin and Julia Garner in its ensemble cast.

    The word on Weapons is that it’s very strong and has been testing quite high, according to sources. And Warners, which has not yet dated the movie, is likely doing everything it can to keep Cregger in its talent fold. (The filmmaker is also gearing up to release his first major film as a producer, the horror thriller Companion, which is receiving glowing reviews ahead of a Jan. 31 opening.)

    And the combination of Cregger paired with an established intellectual property is also likely to be something too tempting to pass up, no matter the cost.

    The Resident Evil movies, based on the Capcom video games, were a mix of horror, sci-fi and action genres and followed the adventures of a heroine who fights zombies and the Umbrella Corporation, the bio warfare company that let loose the monsters. The movies have grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide.

    Cregger’s take is described by sources as a revamp that will take the title to its horror roots and be more faithful to the initial games, which date back to 1996.



    Exciting news for Resident Evil fans! The upcoming reboot of the popular video game franchise has ignited a fierce bidding war among studios, all vying for the rights to bring this beloved series back to the big screen. And at the center of it all is none other than Zach Cregger, who has been tapped to star in the lead role.

    Cregger, known for his roles in hit comedies like “The Whitest Kids U’ Know” and “Miss March,” is set to bring a fresh and dynamic take to the iconic character at the heart of the Resident Evil universe. With his unique blend of humor and charisma, Cregger is sure to captivate audiences and breathe new life into this beloved franchise.

    The buzz surrounding the Resident Evil reboot has already sent shockwaves through Hollywood, with major studios scrambling to secure the rights to this highly anticipated project. And with Cregger on board, it’s no wonder that the competition is fierce.

    Stay tuned for more updates on the Resident Evil reboot and the exciting bidding war that is sure to follow. This is one reboot you won’t want to miss!

    Tags:

    Resident Evil Reboot, Zach Cregger, Bidding War, Horror Movie, Hollywood News, Movie Remake, Entertainment Industry, Blockbuster Film, Casting Updates, Film Production, Zombie Apocalypse, Popular Franchise.

    #Resident #Evil #Reboot #Zach #Cregger #Ignites #Bidding #War

  • 76ers should spurn bidding war for coveted forward before the deadline


    Another day, another loss for the Philadelphia 76ers. Still without Joel Embiid, who has not played since 2019 in Denver, the team registered their seventh straight loss in a 35-point drubbing. The Nuggets imposed their will early and never looked back, cruising past the visitors to send them packing with a 15-27 record.

    The 76ers’ odds of sneaking into the playoffs seem to get smaller by the day. Their record is the worst it has been since, well, the 2017-18 season, and it is extremely unlikely that this freefall would come to a stop anytime soon.

    Philadelphia’s billing as a buyer before the trade deadline is now as futile as it can get. There is little to no reason for this team to seek roster upgrades in the middle of the season while parting with assets, as they similarly have little to play for in the present campaign. By that same vein, they must refrain from engaging teams to potentially snag win-now players.

    The 76ers should now stay far away from the Cameron Johnson sweepstakes

    Back when the 76ers were only five games below .500 with all the momentum in the world to even inch sloer to a deadlock, a player like Cameron Johnson seemed like a savvy trade target for the franchise. But now, Philly should completely abandon the idea of pitching an offer for the coveted forward.

    Given his high demand, the Nets will most likely try to fleece another team by demanding a lot for his services, perhaps more than he should theoretically warrant. Johnson is having a career year, and his combination of size and lethal three-point shooting is plenty attractive for teams looking to make a deep playoff run.

    Unfortunately, despite the 76ers having that same goal, the reality bodes starkly different for them. They are way behind their contemporaries in the playoff race out East, and parting with multiple players to match salaries with Johnson (and draft compensation at that) would be counterintuitive given the lack of healthy bodies this team already faces.

    If Philly really wants to have a shot at landing Johnson, they would have to hope that he does not get moved before the deadline, which is a real possibility given Brooklyn’s relentless price gouging.

    But speaking for the present, the Philadelphia 76ers should now stay far away from the bidding war for Cameron Johnson. While he would have been the perfect player to pursue, the team simply is in no position to make any more win-now moves.



    With the NBA trade deadline quickly approaching, the Philadelphia 76ers should consider spurning any potential bidding wars for coveted forward before the deadline.

    While adding a top-tier forward to their roster could potentially strengthen their championship aspirations, it’s important for the 76ers to carefully evaluate the cost and impact of such a move. Giving up valuable assets or overpaying for a player could ultimately hinder their long-term success.

    Instead of getting caught up in a bidding war, the 76ers should focus on making strategic and calculated moves that will benefit the team both now and in the future. By maintaining a level-headed approach, they can ensure they are making decisions that align with their overall goals and objectives.

    In the end, it’s crucial for the 76ers to prioritize building a strong and cohesive team rather than getting caught up in the frenzy of a bidding war. By staying true to their vision and being patient in their decision-making, they can set themselves up for success both in the short term and the long term.

    Tags:

    76ers, bidding war, coveted forward, NBA, trade deadline, Philadelphia 76ers, basketball, sports news, player trade, team strategy

    #76ers #spurn #bidding #war #coveted #deadline

  • MrBeast is officially bidding for TikTok


    YouTube and TikTok star MrBeast is looking to buy TikTok as part of a group of investors, as a 75-day time limit ticks down for the social media company to find a non-Chinese owner or risk being permanently banned.

    “Okay fine, I’ll buy Tik Tok so it doesn’t get banned,” MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, posted on X on January 13th. But while his tone was joking, Donaldson – the single most popular YouTuber and the third-most popular TikToker – was serious, his lawyer told CNN Tuesday.

    The bid from Donaldson and a group of investors is just the latest twist in what’s been an extraordinary few days for TikTok.

    It went dark on Saturday night as a nationwide ban was looming but was back online about 12 hours later, after President Donald Trump announced he would sign an executive order to delay the ban by 75 days.

    Two days after his post on X, Donaldson posted a video on TikTok, where he announced his intention to buy the social media platform.

    “I just got out of a meeting with a bunch of billionaires., TikTok we mean business,” Mr. Beast said in the video. “This is my lawyer right here, we have an offer ready for you, we want to buy the platform.”

    The bid comes in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the federal law banning TikTok unless it is sold to a non-China-based company, a spokepserson for the Paul Hastings law firm, which represents the consortium in the bid, told CNN in a statement.

    The investor group, which is led by Jesse Tinsley, the founder and CEO of Employer.com, is made up of “institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals,” who don’t want to see the app go away.

    The proposal would not disrupt TikTok’s operations and would ensure continuity for its 170 million American users, according to the investor group.

    “Our offer represents a win-win solution that preserves this vital platform, while addressing legitimate national security concerns,” said Tinsley in a statement. The statement did not disclose the amount of the bid.

    CNN has reached out to TikTok for comment.

    Talks about a possible TikTok sale to a US-based company have been circulating since 2020, when President Trump, during his first term in the White House, issued an executive order attempting to ban TikTok.

    Last week, after the Supreme Court unanimously agreed to uphold a federal law banning TikTok unless ByteDance, its parent company, sells the platform to a non-China-based company.

    TikTok went dark on Saturday, as a message on the app read: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

    The app was back online after Trump announced he would sign an executive order following his inauguration Monday in order to “extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect.”

    While the executive order, which was signed Monday evening, delays the enforcement of the TikTok ban for 75 days, it does not provide a permanent solution.

    ByteDance will either sell to a new buyer—despite stating it has no intention of doing so—or the Trump administration would need to enact a new law to overturn the previous one, an improbable scenario given the strong bipartisan support the existing legislation received in Congress.

    Chinese officials have been considering selling at least a portion of the app to tech tycoon Elon Musk, the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg reported. CNN has not independently confirmed the discussions, and both ByteDance and Elon Musk did not respond to CNN’s requests for comment.

    A group called “The People’s Bid for TikTok” which includes Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary and billionaire Frank McCourt, has also offered to buy TikTok.

    The People’s Bid is backed by investments from Guggenheim Securities as well as world wide web inventor Tim Berners-Lee.

    TikTok’s US assets, without the algorithm, are estimated to be worth between $40 billion and $50 billion, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives.

    But since the algorithm may be where much of TikTok’s value lies, putting a firm dollar figure on the company is difficult.

    McCourt’s group is not saying publicly how much it offered, although the billionaire previously indicated he valued the assets at around $20 billion.

    “We will refrain from publicly sharing the financial specifics of our offer until ByteDance is in a position to review our proposal,” O’Leary and McCourt’s group said in a statement last week.





    MrBeast, the popular YouTuber known for his philanthropic efforts and extravagant challenges, has officially thrown his hat into the ring for TikTok. With the future of the social media platform uncertain due to potential bans and buyouts, MrBeast has expressed interest in potentially acquiring TikTok.

    Known for his massive following and ability to create viral content, MrBeast could bring a fresh perspective and innovative ideas to TikTok. His track record of giving back to his community and supporting small businesses could also benefit the platform in these uncertain times.

    While nothing is set in stone yet, MrBeast’s bid for TikTok is definitely something to keep an eye on. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting development!

    Tags:

    MrBeast, TikTok, social media, influencer, bid, acquisition, YouTube, internet personality, online video, viral marketing

    #MrBeast #officially #bidding #TikTok

  • Magic must win bidding war for coveted forward before the trade deadline


    The Magic have not been able to catch a break on the injury front. Paolo Banchero is back, but they still have to play without Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Gary Harris, Moritz Wagner, and Goga Bitadze at the moment. After a few tough losses, the Magic have fallen to seventh in the Eastern Conference. 

    Ending the season in a favorable position for the playoffs is still well within reach, however. Soon enough, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs will be back, and that may be just enough to get the Magic back on track. Still, it seems it may be time for the Magic to make a move before the trade deadline. Even with Wagner and Suggs in the lineup, there are significant concerns about the Magic’s offense in the playoffs. 

    Orlando currently has the second-worst offensive rating in the league, ahead of only the Washington Wizards, and ranks last in 3-point percentage. Those are the same issues that hurt the Magic in last year’s playoffs. If they do not address the team’s offensive shortcomings, winning a series will be challenging once again. The Magic do not often make significant moves during the regular season and have been incredibly patient during their rebuild, but now seems like the right time to change that. 

    Bobby Marks wants Magic to trade for Cameron Johnson

    The Magic have been connected to several players, from De’Aaron Fox to Anfernee Simons. Recently, on the Kevin O’Connor Show, Bobby Marks said that the Magic should actually have their eyes on Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson to improve the team’s shooting. 

    Johnson is currently shooting 42.6 percent on 7.6 3-point attempts per game—significantly better than any Magic player. Adding a shooter like Johnson, who can space the floor as well as defend but does not require the ball in his hands a lot, could really help the Magic. 

    If the Magic are healthy, Johnson likely would not start and play quite as many minutes as with the Nets. In turn, he also probably would not shoot over seven threes a game. That would not change the positive impact he could have on the Magic’s offense, though. 

    Even when Johnson primarily came off the bench in Phoenix during his first three seasons, he always attempted at least 4.8 threes per game and only shot less than 39 percent once. That would still be much better than what the Magic have right now. Four Magic players are averaging at least four threes per game but none of them are shooting more than 35.8 percent. 

    Plus, Johnson has a reputation as a 3-point threat. Just his presence on the court would space the floor. Trading for him would also add another scoring option and a player with playoff experience to the bench unit. Johnson could end up being a real difference-maker for the Magic but would not cost nearly as much as chasing an All-Star would. 

    And yet, landing Johnson may not be as easy as it sounds. The Nets seem ready to part ways with Johnson after already trading Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith, but if the Magic decide to look into a trade, they will have plenty of competition. Teams looking to compete always need 3-and-D forwards. 

    So, if the Magic choose to make a move before the trade deadline—which would significantly improve their playoff chances—they cannot afford to hesitate. 



    As the NBA trade deadline approaches, the Orlando Magic find themselves in a crucial position. With the team struggling to make a playoff push, they are in desperate need of a game-changing forward to bolster their roster.

    Rumors have been swirling around a coveted forward who is reportedly on the trading block. This player has the potential to elevate the Magic to the next level and help them compete with the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

    However, the Magic are not the only team interested in acquiring this forward. Several other contenders are also vying for his services, which has sparked a bidding war for his talents.

    In order to secure this player before the trade deadline, the Magic must pull out all the stops and make a compelling offer that outshines the competition. This may involve parting ways with key players or future draft picks, but the potential payoff could be well worth it.

    Time is running out for the Magic to make a move, and the pressure is on to make a deal before the trade deadline passes. Magic fans are anxiously awaiting news of a potential acquisition, hoping that their team can make a splash and position themselves for a successful postseason run.

    Stay tuned as the Magic make their final push to win the bidding war for this coveted forward and potentially change the course of their season.

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    #Magic #win #bidding #war #coveted #trade #deadline

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