What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[merithyn]

Isn't Oex Canadian?

[Sheilbh]

Yeah, imagine of Mike Wallace had actually taken the cognitive test Trump was so proud of, and confronted him with first-person evidence that the test was a doddle!

Sadly, he is an American journalist, and the smug Euros tell me American political journalists don't do those sorts of things.  And they would know.

Fair - it's not impossible but I did notice lots of people going on about that because it was unusual. But this is just going to something I think Yi and I have gone back and forth on for a while - and this is a really good example of the type of journalism I mean in that back and forth. And I've no idea about interviews anywhere else in Europe, just the UK/Aussie approach.

Of course it may be a political culture thing (and we're getting more and more agressive/heading down the Aussie path) rather than the journalists. I can't think of a time a politician's complained about "gotcha questions" and, despite lots of moaning about BBC bias, I can't think of an example like Ben Shapiro immediately saying that his interview with the Andrew Neil (a conservative) was a left-wing hatchet job because it was on the BBC.

Edit: And on smugness - maybe. I'd say the UK/Aussie press style is abrasive, coarse and possibly it's slightly corrosive because it treats everyone like Trump (ie Jeremy Paxman's line that when he's interviewing someone his internal thought is "why is this lying bastard lying to me?") - I don't think anyone would have me as entirely supportive of our media style. I think it's part of the reason why so many good MPs just don't get a fair hearing or have a chance. I feel like maybe the American style is possibly more suited to a time of broad consensus and shared truths rather than, say, Trump.

[Oexmelin]

Isn't Oex Canadian?

Yes. Not that it matters, apparently.

FWIW, my sense is that Canadian interviews are broadly on par with the sort of interview that Americans produce, and French interviews with politicians are even worse - deferential and spineless. 

[PDH]

Yo, Semites!

[Sheilbh]

Overall interview is here:
https://www.axios.com/full-axios-hbo-interview-donald-trump-cd5a67e1-6ba1-46c8-bb3d-8717ab9f3cc5.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic&utm_content=1100

I'm not sure I have the stomach for that. Maybe on the weekend, with alcohol.

Incidentally I think my favourite moment was when he was asked if he supported the Inspector General's investigation into the unmarked Homeland Security people in Portland and he replied "I haven't seen the result yet". Which I think is inadvertently honest.

[Valmy]

French interviews with politicians are even worse - deferential and spineless. 

Maybe they saw what happened to Émile Zola when he published some accusatory commentary.

[The Brain]

I haven't watched a Swedish interview with a politician in ages and ages.

[crazy canuck]

French interviews with politicians are even worse - deferential and spineless. 

Maybe they saw what happened to Émile Zola when he published some accusatory commentary.

[katmai]

Yo, Semites!

Ah yes, named after that incomparable American hero Yo Semite Sam.

[Sheilbh]

Yo, Semites!

Ah yes, named after that incomparable American hero Yo Semite Sam.

I saw "yo Semite" trending and was surprisingly reassured at how benign it was

[grumbler]

Chris Wallace.

Brain fart.  You are correct.

[DGuller]

Chris Wallace.

Maybe it's time for grumbler to take that test?

[The Brain]

Chris Wallace.

Brain fart.  You are correct.

To hear is to obey.

[Syt]

The possible next US ambassador to Germany:

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/08/04/politics/kfile-douglas-macgregor-german-ambassador-pick/index.html

[Syt]

The whole article is worth reading, btw, for example about his views on the Russia/Ukraine conflict, or the NATO intervention in the Serbia/Kosovo conflict or his ideas to use the US military to fortify the Mexican border.