CBS News National Correspondent Jan Crawford expressed strong criticism towards the Pulitzer Prize Committee on Tuesday for overlooking a Wall Street Journal report regarding the cognitive decline of former President Joe Biden as the 2024 election approaches.
In the report by Wall Street Journal reporters Annie Linsky and Siobang Hughes, discussions with 45 lawmakers and their staff highlighted concerns about Biden’s mental faculties. The June 4th article titled “Behind the locked room, Biden shows signs of slipping” delved into these issues.
Crawford called out those who dismissed or attacked the implications of this report, especially in light of recently published books uncovering efforts by the White House to mask Biden’s fading stamina.
“I recall when many people were reluctant to trust these important reporters’ revelations about Biden’s decline, but now there seems to be a consensus that those reports were justified,” she stated.
She went on to criticize the Pulitzer Prizes, asserting, “I shamed @pulitzerprizes for not adequately recognizing what I believe to be one of the most courageous and significant reports from the past year.” The latest Pulitzer Prize announcement bore no connection to the issues raised about Biden’s mental condition.
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In their article, Linsky and Hughes noted Biden’s difficulties in articulating basic points during political conferences. For instance, at a January 2024 meeting on potential additional funding for Ukraine, sources indicated that Biden appeared to rely heavily on his notes, even pausing and closing his eyes at times.
This WSJ report has drawn significant criticism from both the Biden administration and mainstream media. Former CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy remarked that the report displayed “obvious issues” and asserted that the WSJ owed its readers a clearer perspective.
He added that it was hard to envision any media outlet publishing a similar narrative about a past president without substantial backlash, noting how the report painted a damning picture of Biden.
MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” co-host, Jaws Carborough, remarked that the report was akin to finding faults in Biden that previously were solely attributed to Trump.
Several members of Biden’s Cabinet quickly defended him after the WSJ article. Jennifer Granholm, the Energy Secretary, bluntly called the claims “BS,” insisting that Biden is fully engaged and the most perceptive individual in discussions, asserting his capability to tackle tough questions with insight.
The Biden White House Urges Democrats to Reject the Wall Street Journal’s Claims
CNN’s Jake Tapper, who plans to release a book detailing Biden’s controversies, shared Crawford’s remarks online, expressing his agreement with emojis. Although he highlighted some insider revelations, he acknowledged in a morning broadcast that he had not thoroughly addressed these matters during Biden’s presidency.
Crawford commended the Wall Street Journal for reporting on Biden’s condition, labeling it one of the most “underreported” stories of 2024. She noted, “As his advisors begin to assert more control over him, we’re starting to see a clearer picture. For years, this was reported, yet he still maintained he could run for president.”
She continued, suggesting that if more media scrutiny had been applied, it might have prompted a Democratic primary challenge.
