Yes, it is hard to read complete coverage. I read the full 345-page special counsel report by Robert Hur on President Joe Biden’s collection of classified documents from his vice presidency.
And I concur with Mr. Hur’s assessment and decision not to prosecute Mr. Biden.
However, I’m a little more skeptical than the special counsel regarding ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer, who erased the audio recordings of his interviews with Biden after learning of the Mr. Hur’s assignment to investigate the president.
Although Hur asserts that Zwonitzer cooperated fully and his explanation of the erasure seemed plausible, I’m still suspicious of the timing. But the media didn't cover this.
Despite criticism of the final report from the White House, Department of Justice (DOJ) and several leading democrats, both the White House and DOJ had an opportunity to redact the document. But they declined to do.
Although not defending Mr. Biden, the report cites many instances of those interviewed saying they, too, could not remember their words, events and actions during specific times. In some cases, this seems true. But in others it may be that they are protecting their backsides.
I have no criticism of Hur’s assessment of the president’s memory. Hur inserted that as part of his explanation of why he believed a jury probably would not convict.
Furthermore, as I read the 345 pages, it was apparent that Hur was sympathetic with Biden’s explanation of his possession of documents. And he stated that he believed the president’s explanations.
Regarding recent comments comparing James Comey’s report of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he also criticized her for sloppy work but declined prosecution.
Did his near-the-end of the 2026 presidential campaign affect the outcome? I don’t know. Will Hur’s report affect this year’s outcome? Given Americans short attention spans and that fact that many Americans already have strong opinions about Donald Trump and Joe Biden, I doubt it.
“Since that was the only sound bites to come from scene, that’s what the stories emphasized.” That is true because the nature of video news favors performers. Trump is happy to perform for the cameras, and the news departments oblige him. It’s good for ratings, but less so for conveying the story.
Read and watch for substance, content and deep understanding? Carefully analyze with a critical eye? Trump doesn't want that, ever! He wants his base, and any others he can hypnotize with his cult, to just BELIEVE! And, they do!
It's not the media's fault. When even our elected leaders, such as Senators Grassley and Ernst and Iowa's entire Congressional Delegation, sit idly, silently by, those are the folks who are actually responsible. My view from my personal studied interest is that they are committing treason, they know it, and apparently don't care. Party over Country.
They probably banned cameras from the courtroom to prevent a show trial like the ones John Gotti received many times. They're getting show trials anyway.
Nobody every thinks of it as a journalism movie, but there's three great lines from one of my favorite Westerns, "The Man Who Shot Libert Valance."
The first is when Jimmy Stewart as Ransom Stoddard, is teaching class, holds up a copy of the Shinbone star and says, "Here's the world's best textbook - an honest newspaper."
The second is when the great Edmund O'Brien as Star editor Dutton Peabody hears the news from John Wayne's character that two ranchers have been killed by Liberty Valance's gang and Wayne admonishes Peabody, "Print that, and he'll kill ya, sure as hell."
O'Brien as Peabody says, " But it's news. And I'm a newspaperman."
The last one is from Peabody's latter day successor as Star editor who says, after hearing the whole true story of "the man who shot Liberty Valance" from Mr. Stewart's character says, "This is the West, sir. When legend becomes truth, print the legend."
I just hope 50 to 100 years from now, that the legends future generations hear about these times are also true. True legends do happen -- as straight and as true as a Caitlin Clark three-pointer from the center court logo.
Thanks for making your articles concise and factual. I wish easy to read reviews of current happenings , like yours, would be more mainstream for people to come across.
Perception IS reality. Definitely a lesson for thinking. Another is that things are not always as they seem; I learned that one at church when i was a kid. The fine fellow dressed to the nines who served as a lector embezzled from his employer, my bank. Several of the embezzlement dates were times he served at church. Yes, analyzing what is before us needs time and energy. A lesson many have never learned. Thank you Dave, you are a good thinker and writer.
Yes, it is hard to read complete coverage. I read the full 345-page special counsel report by Robert Hur on President Joe Biden’s collection of classified documents from his vice presidency.
And I concur with Mr. Hur’s assessment and decision not to prosecute Mr. Biden.
However, I’m a little more skeptical than the special counsel regarding ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer, who erased the audio recordings of his interviews with Biden after learning of the Mr. Hur’s assignment to investigate the president.
Although Hur asserts that Zwonitzer cooperated fully and his explanation of the erasure seemed plausible, I’m still suspicious of the timing. But the media didn't cover this.
Despite criticism of the final report from the White House, Department of Justice (DOJ) and several leading democrats, both the White House and DOJ had an opportunity to redact the document. But they declined to do.
Although not defending Mr. Biden, the report cites many instances of those interviewed saying they, too, could not remember their words, events and actions during specific times. In some cases, this seems true. But in others it may be that they are protecting their backsides.
I have no criticism of Hur’s assessment of the president’s memory. Hur inserted that as part of his explanation of why he believed a jury probably would not convict.
Furthermore, as I read the 345 pages, it was apparent that Hur was sympathetic with Biden’s explanation of his possession of documents. And he stated that he believed the president’s explanations.
Regarding recent comments comparing James Comey’s report of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he also criticized her for sloppy work but declined prosecution.
Did his near-the-end of the 2026 presidential campaign affect the outcome? I don’t know. Will Hur’s report affect this year’s outcome? Given Americans short attention spans and that fact that many Americans already have strong opinions about Donald Trump and Joe Biden, I doubt it.
“Since that was the only sound bites to come from scene, that’s what the stories emphasized.” That is true because the nature of video news favors performers. Trump is happy to perform for the cameras, and the news departments oblige him. It’s good for ratings, but less so for conveying the story.
Read and watch for substance, content and deep understanding? Carefully analyze with a critical eye? Trump doesn't want that, ever! He wants his base, and any others he can hypnotize with his cult, to just BELIEVE! And, they do!
It's not the media's fault. When even our elected leaders, such as Senators Grassley and Ernst and Iowa's entire Congressional Delegation, sit idly, silently by, those are the folks who are actually responsible. My view from my personal studied interest is that they are committing treason, they know it, and apparently don't care. Party over Country.
They probably banned cameras from the courtroom to prevent a show trial like the ones John Gotti received many times. They're getting show trials anyway.
Nobody every thinks of it as a journalism movie, but there's three great lines from one of my favorite Westerns, "The Man Who Shot Libert Valance."
The first is when Jimmy Stewart as Ransom Stoddard, is teaching class, holds up a copy of the Shinbone star and says, "Here's the world's best textbook - an honest newspaper."
The second is when the great Edmund O'Brien as Star editor Dutton Peabody hears the news from John Wayne's character that two ranchers have been killed by Liberty Valance's gang and Wayne admonishes Peabody, "Print that, and he'll kill ya, sure as hell."
O'Brien as Peabody says, " But it's news. And I'm a newspaperman."
The last one is from Peabody's latter day successor as Star editor who says, after hearing the whole true story of "the man who shot Liberty Valance" from Mr. Stewart's character says, "This is the West, sir. When legend becomes truth, print the legend."
I just hope 50 to 100 years from now, that the legends future generations hear about these times are also true. True legends do happen -- as straight and as true as a Caitlin Clark three-pointer from the center court logo.
Thanks for making your articles concise and factual. I wish easy to read reviews of current happenings , like yours, would be more mainstream for people to come across.
Perception IS reality. Definitely a lesson for thinking. Another is that things are not always as they seem; I learned that one at church when i was a kid. The fine fellow dressed to the nines who served as a lector embezzled from his employer, my bank. Several of the embezzlement dates were times he served at church. Yes, analyzing what is before us needs time and energy. A lesson many have never learned. Thank you Dave, you are a good thinker and writer.
Dave: Very good article. I believe that segments of our electorate don't believe in the reality before them. Our democracy is at risk.