Day 719: Yet Again, TV Networks are the Frog, Donald Trump is the Scorpion

The Donald Trump administration reached out to the major TV news networks earlier this week, asking that they cover an Oval Office address about immigration at the southern border. In the past, the networks have declined to cover issues they deemed as overtly partisan, such as when Barack Obama had similar requests about immigration and health care.

However, apparently worried about being called out by Trump, every major TV network agreed to run the speech live, despite the fact that the speech was supposed to simply regurgitate old talking points. Trump, who is a notorious and unapologetic liar about all things big and small, indeed repeated most the same false claims that he has for years. The underlying goal for the speech was also the same: driving national support for a border wall.

And while many outlets later fact-checked the speech, by letting the lie-ridden speech air at all — much less live — the bell had already been rung.

For the media, being worried about being labeled as “fake news” by a man who will call them that anyway is cowardice of the highest order. A journalist’s job is to report the facts and explain what those facts mean to the public. It’s not the role of news outlets to let everyone get equal speaking time like it’s a kindergarten show-and-tell.

In this case, networks would be apt to remember the fable The Scorpion and the Frog. In the fable, a scorpion asks a frog for help crossing a river.

“But you’ll sting me,” the frog protests.

“No I won’t, since I don’t want to die too,” the scorpion answers.

The wary frog agrees with the scorpion’s logic and agrees to provide transport. Halfway across the river, the scorpion stings the frog. “Why did you do that? Now we’re both doomed!” the frog cries.

The scorpion replies, “I can’t help it, I’m a scorpion. It’s just my nature.”

Here, the TV networks are the frog: they carry every Trump message — no matter how truthful — even though they know they probably shouldn’t. Meanwhile, Trump is the scorpion: unrepentant in his lying, swearing this time he’ll be better, but stinging the frog anyway.

Tuesday’s remarks should be yet another reminder to the frog that they’re under no obligation to help the scorpion cross the river.

719 days in, 743 to go

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