(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . How Does the Press Keep From Laughing When Interviewing Republican Politicians and Spokesmen? [1] ['A Pagan In Arizona', 'Thom Hartmann', 'Greg Dworkin', 'Black Kos'] Date: 2026-08-21 The press is starting to look more like actors playing roles than professional interviewers as they fail to react to Republican’s increasingly ridiculous answers to their questions. It is hard to keep a straight face as the answers look more and more absurd and clearly made up. Reporters are remaining serious no matter how difficult the task. For instance, recently Senator Ron Johnson complained about the 40 trillion-dollar deficit as “mortgaging our children’s future”. But his party with the complete support of the President stood by mute as he added 12 trillion to the deficit. When his complaints (along with numerous Republicans over the years) are not considered funny, reporters seem to be terminally lacking in a sense of humor. In the President’s first term, he claimed over and over he had a plan to improve healthcare that would replace the Affordable Care Act. He further claimed it would be released “next week”, week after week. But after many years, he finally said he had “the concept of a plan”. How does the news media keep a straight face listening to this blather? Is it professionalism, are they sedated, or perhaps taking too many shots of Botox as their expressions do not seem to change when confronted with a flurry of absurd and disingenuous statements? I am reminded of Carol Burnett comedy reruns where actors go to great lengths to avoid breaking character by suppressing their laughter as Tim Conway and others do unexpected and hilarious ad-libs. They lose the role they are playing as laughter breaks through and they are helpless to stop it. How is it that the Washington Press Corp does not disintegrate into gales of laughter at White House briefings? As the President becomes like Optimus Prime and transforms from an anti-war, America first, affordability-focused leader to a “war president”, “America Last” , and inflation-fueled decorator of the White House and grounds, can any of the press fail to see the humor from the mind-blowing confusion of his policies? Certainly, Fox News talking heads and Republican leaders are aware of how absurd the positions that they must defend appear. They should also be considered for Oscar-level performances as they in a dignified fashion ignore the clear disintegration and increasing dementia of their beloved President and the disappearance of the former Republican leader of the Senate who is either dead or AWOL. When the President ducks difficult questions by calling reporters stupid or telling them (as if they are children) to “be quiet”, he is obviously the stupid one for not knowing how give coherent answers based on his policies. One appropriate response to these outbursts would be humor among the press. But they remain serious and stone-faced perhaps from rigorous dramatic training in journalism school. They remain “in character” regardless of how absurd the answers, non-answers, and distortions of the truth appear. Recent claims that Democrats are communists should be the basis of a hilarious comedy skit as the President repeatedly shows he is BFFs with Putin and Kim Jong Un. If this does not demonstrate his love of communism, it would be difficult to find a better example of how the President is a “red” and, like these dangerous dictators, an enemy all democratic countries including the United States. Am I the only the one who realizes that these extreme levels of confusion belong in a comedy skit. It has been a long time since the comedian Stephen Colbert became famous by giving absurd arguments in support of Republican policies. Perhaps the press should consider replacing him in print and on TV by satirizing the statements of the courtiers (Republican politicians) who live to serve their king . One secretly suspects that the White House communications team is full of comedy writers who provide directions to White House officials telling them to deliver their statements with great seriousness and dramatic effect. This helps hide the fact they are often quite funny and contradictory. Their statements often belong more as part of a script in a Theater of the Absurd play than in a White House briefing. If the press cannot reach the lofty level of seeing Republican talking points as humor, perhaps some satirical expressions and eye rolling would help Inform their listeners. Repeated incredulous looks by interviewers might suffice to give people a clue to the right wing lies and nonsense they are being fed. Viewers are being treated as if they are unthinking livestock rather than educated citizens of the greatest country in the world. Finally, let us all admit it. We are all just so tired of winning – winning with inflation and the economy, winning with the unpredictable business climate that tariffs create, winning by disrespecting our troops in harm’s way, winning with the Iraq war, winning with a new ball room, a new reflecting pool, and a new bunker, and winning with a gold leaf covered White House. I, for one, am exhausted from winning. Let us get back to losing with a new democratic administration as soon as possible. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/21/800087447/community/how-does-the-press-keep-from-responding-with-laughter-when-interviewing-republican-politicians-and-spokesman/ Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/