CNN and MSNBC, stop trying to get Fauci fired

Scientists, medical experts, and epidemiologists are the new astronauts and firefighters. I recall theories that Silence of the Lambs and CSI Wherever led to increased numbers of behavioral science and forensic medicine students. I suspect that a lot of 20 somethings will be looking at health-related public policy programs in the wake of the coronavirus.

Anthony Fauci, an expert in infectious diseases, is having his 15 minutes. Let’s hope he doesn’t have his 15 months. He’s been at the National Institutes of Health forever. That link is to, of course, Wikipedia. I skimmed through it. He’s clearly a remarkable person, and I think most of us are happy that a dedicated, accomplished scientist is advising the federal government during these frightening times.

We want him there, we need him there. But we understandably worry that our reality TV star president, who does not like sharing the spotlight, will tire of his presence. I think most of us recognize the pattern with Trump. He hires people, sings their praises, tires of them, fires them, and then goes to great lengths to mock and belittle him. Trump’s supporters invariably claim that the people he lets go betrayed him or revealed their Deep State stripes.

I hope Fauci manages to navigate DC’s treacherous waters. If he does, it’ll be no thanks to the main stream soap opera media. When it comes to big media, I take a balanced approach – healthy skepticism across the board. Flailing freelance documentary photographer shoots self in foot with a hollow point candor bullet.

The media knows that Trump doesn’t like for lights to shine brighter than his, and that’s a pretty low bar. They’ve been circling like hyenas from the get go, simultaneously touting Fauci’s rock star status and probing for press conference gaps. At what point are you helping to create the scenario you’re supposedly investigating?

CNN, MSNBC, Fox – they’re all flawed. (Note: I changed the wording there. The original version used a stronger description.) I feel bad saying that. I believe that they want to put out meaningful reporting and journalism. Unfortunately, they make bad decisions over and over that do not help us. I’m a hypocrite – I still visit their sites. I don’t rely on them for any in depth information, but they are useful for showing breaking developments. It’s not reassuring at all that Trump, Fox, CNN, and MSNBC are locked in a loop of pettiness and ratings concerns.

Do any of you follow good, reliable news sources? I think the last TV news program I thought highly of was McNeil Lehrer (sp?).