It’s frustrating when discussions on social media veer into the land of wild theories, and it’s even more disheartening when journalists treat these fantasies with seriousness.
Democratic lawmakers and activists often inject absurd rumors and conspiracy theories into the public debate, presumably to generate funding and elevate their personal profiles. Surprisingly, it seems you don’t even need a news anchor to stir the pot.
This week, CNN’s Dana Bash and Jake Tapper entertained the idea that President Trump might try to cancel upcoming elections.
“Governor Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker are two Democrats being closely watched as potential candidates for 2028,” a cable news commentator remarked. “Both are increasingly expressing concerns that a fair election might not happen.”
It’s quite the situation.
The governors are not necessarily convinced by their own claims; rather, they recognize that such sensational rhetoric gets attention. Bash has been around long enough to know this, and her questions about it seem disingenuous, despite presenting as inquisitive.
“What I hear from Democrats most is,” she continued, “that this midterm election will set the tone. How do we know they’re not tampering with it? That’s the pressing reality.”
She probably noticed the implications of her own words. When Trump supporters questioned election integrity, it was scrutinized; when Democrats do so—well, that might be a valid concern!
To explore the governors’ serious worries, Bash consulted former Obama advisor Dan Pfeiffer.
“We should be very worried that Donald Trump could disrupt these elections,” he warned. “We must be ready for anything. It’s better to prepare for the worst and hope for the best than to be caught off guard.”
Bash asked Pfeiffer how to prepare for potential panic, particularly in response to anxiety-driven thinking.
“Start by naming it,” Pfeiffer advised. “Talk about it now. Let people realize what’s at stake, and prepare them for what could happen.”
He also mentioned that while he doesn’t think Trump would outright cancel the election, tactics like intimidating voters, possibly by stationing federal agents at polling places, could be on the table. He suggested that House Speaker Mike Johnson might refuse to seat Democratic members in tight races.
On another segment, Tapper discussed the situation with Newsom and Pritzker alongside former ABC reporter Terry Moran, exploring the ramifications.
The National Guard was reported to be deployed in cities like Los Angeles, raising questions about the necessity behind their presence.
Tapper hinted at a possible unseen connection between National Guard deployments and an impending executive order concerning military operations.
“It’s intriguing to see these troops being deployed in urban areas seemingly without cause,” Tapper noted, almost with a wink.
His guest, David Axelrod, responded, “Absolutely. We now have an active military presence in American cities.”
Despite all the discussions regarding Trump’s disregard for election integrity, it’s striking how the sharpest critiques from CNN seem to inadvertently promote a narrative of Democratic paranoia while validating conspiracy theories from the left.
In an ironic twist, the network that once denounced anti-Semitic rhetoric is now facilitating discussions about the 2028 election fears from two prominent Democrats. If you’re a Democrat voicing doubts, you seem to receive serious attention regardless of baselessness.
So, what’s the overarching message from these CNN segments? Is it only harmful sometimes to distrust elections, while at other times it’s deemed acceptable? Or is the underlying message something like, “It’s fine when we do it”?
If there’s no double standard, then, honestly, there’s no standard at all.
