#NNPA BlackPress

Misplaced Priorities: Press Corps Attacks Jean-Pierre, Ignores Trump’s Alarming Record

NNPA NEWSWIRE — In an era where critical issues often are overlooked, the mainstream media’s priorities remain deeply troubling at best, or at worst, very partisan.
The post Misplaced Priorities: Press Corps Attacks Jean-Pierre, Ignores Trump’s Alarming Record first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

11 months ago

July 10, 2024

Oakland Post

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

In an era where critical issues often are overlooked, the mainstream media’s priorities remain deeply troubling at best, or at worst, very partisan. While the nation faces urgent matters like the implementation of Project 2025, significant Supreme Court rulings, and the global rise of right-wing movements, the media remains fixated on baseless health rumors about President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, it conveniently ignores Donald Trump’s incoherent speeches, convictions for 34 felonies, sexual assault, and massive business fraud, along with his clear authoritarian aspirations and lack of White House transparency during his term. The media’s treatment of White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre recently reached new lows, reflecting a broader problem of disrespect and hostility in the press corps. Following an onslaught of combative questioning regarding President Biden’s health, Jean-Pierre made a powerful statement addressing reporters’ unfair accusations and lack of respect.

“I want to take a step back for a second. I do take offense,” Jean-Pierre asserted. “I come out here every day. We do our best to give you the information we have at the time. We understand the freedom of the press. I appreciate the back-and-forth we have. I try to respect you and hope you respect me. My team does everything we can to get the answers to you. Sometimes, we’re not in agreement, but you know what? That’s democracy. That’s important to have that healthy back and forth. To say that I’m holding information or alluding to anything else is really unfair. I think people who are watching or have been watching can say we are doing our best. I will admit that sometimes I get it wrong. Sometimes I don’t have the information. I will admit that. But I do take offense to what’s happened in this briefing. It’s not okay.” The backlash from the press towards Jean-Pierre’s earnest efforts has drawn condemnation from various quarters. Mississippi Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson called the disrespect “absolutely despicable.” Writer Charlotte Clymer praised Jean-Pierre’s grace and competence while denouncing the unacceptable treatment she endured. “I have the utmost respect for Karine Jean-Pierre,” Cylmer noted. “Her unyielding grace and superlative record of communications competence have made her one of the most effective messaging professionals of this era. The disrespect she experienced today is unacceptable and pathetic.”

Actress and activist Heather Thomas criticized the New York Times for its “lazy reporting” and the press corps for their “piggish treatment” of Jean-Pierre. “The NYT should change their name to Enquirer. That neurologist treats over 1,000 service members with neurological issues at the White House. He was there for them. Shame on the NYT for lazy conspiracy reporting and shame on the press corps’ piggish treatment of Karine Jean-Pierre today,” Thomas stated. However, the White House Correspondents’ Association has done little to address this troubling behavior. The association’s silence is particularly glaring in light of the White House’s transparency about visitor logs, a practice that starkly contrasts the secrecy of the Trump administration. President Biden’s doctor, Kevin O’Connor, had to release a letter explaining that the Parkinson’s expert who visited the White House was there for other patients, not the President. This clarification did little to deter reporters from their relentless and unfounded speculation. Historian Heather Cox Richardson reminded the public of the stark difference in transparency between the Biden and Trump administrations: “A reminder that when this administration took over, it reinstated daily press briefings after Trump killed them. Remember Trump had a press secretary who held not a single briefing, appearing only on right-wing media.”

MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell also criticized the White House press corps for their behavior, describing it as a circus. “The White House press corps, many at their absolute worst in the way they approached Karine Jean-Pierre, who was trying to be responsive to medical questions where there are limitations in what she could say,” O’Donnell noted. “The New York Times’ reporting that she dodged the question is untrue. She responded to the questions; she didn’t give the answer the New York Times or other reporters wanted, but she did answer every single question, and the New York Times and other reporters kept banging on. Out-of-control behavior by most of the White House press corps was as bad a circus as it looked.”

O’Donnell further highlighted the unfair scrutiny.

“So, the White House press corps wanted the White House to confirm this neurologist had visited the White House eight times,” O’Donnell continued. “That’s information only available to the press corps because the Biden White House reveals records of every visitor. How many times did the neurologist visit the White House under Trump? The press will never know because the White House under Trump never released that information. How many times has a cardiologist visited? Trump hid that information. The New York Times knows about visits only because the Biden White House makes that information public.” Political commentator Bakari Sellers emphasized the absurdity of the media’s focus. “I think it’s patently absurd that we’re having this discussion,” Sellers said on CNN. “I think we’re chasing this rabbit of The New York Times saying that a Parkinson’s expert visited the White House eight times without even corroborating that with whether the President was there or who that doctor actually saw.

“It’s extremely clear now that he did not see the President of the United States, and to use visitor logs to simply say or deduce that someone has Parkinson’s is not journalism. We spent more time talking about Joe Biden’s age than we have Project 25, the Chevron ruling, the ruling on presidential immunity. And I think that’s a disservice to voters in this country.”

The post Misplaced Priorities: Press Corps Attacks Jean-Pierre, Ignores Trump’s Alarming Record first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

PRESS ROOM: Disney Dreamers Academy Makes Dream Come True for Teen Entrepreneur with Visit to ‘Shark Tank’

Don't Miss

PRESS ROOM: Florida Leaders Slam Trump’s Extreme Project 2025 Agenda

Oakland Post

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

1 day ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

2 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

3 days ago

May 28, 2025

admin

https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: