Stephanie Ruhle, the anchor of MSNBC's "The 11th Hour," recently drew a stark contrast between the accessibility of former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris.
Ruhle's comments underscore the growing concern among journalists about the lack of transparency and openness from the current administration.
According to RedState, Ruhle recalled an instance when she spontaneously decided to request an interview with Trump during his candidacy. Despite his refusal, the fact that he personally answered the call was noteworthy. "If I were to want to connect with VP Harris or President Biden, theres 50 people between me, and that I could write a note that maybe could get to somebody to get somebody that (through) Pony Express and a pigeon, something might end up in a mailbox near them," Ruhle said, highlighting the stark difference in accessibility.
Ruhle's anecdote about her attempt to interview Trump after a rally at Madison Square Garden further illustrates this point. "I called; I said I want an interview. Obviously, he said no. But my point is, I was able to get to him by dialing his phone," she explained. The ease with which she could reach Trump contrasts sharply with the current administration's approach to media engagement.
The MSNBC anchor also humorously recounted her conversation with Trump. "And I called DJT to say, Yo, can I get an interview? and he told me to go f**k myself, but I still was able to connect with him," she recalled. This anecdote, while amusing, underscores the former President's willingness to engage directly with the media, even if in a brusque manner.
Ruhle's comments come amid a broader discussion about the media's relationship with the current administration. As reported by RedState's Becky Noble, MSNBC's ratings have been struggling in the post-Trump era. Noble noted that the Tuesday before Thanksgiving saw MSNBC record its lowest-rated non-holiday weekday since July 19, 2004, with an average of just 38,000 viewers in the coveted 25-54 age demographic. Ruhle's show, in particular, saw its lowest "total viewers ever."
Ruhle has been critical of the media's approach to covering the current administration, suggesting that journalists have lost credibility by failing to challenge the administration's narrative. She likened the media to "fat chickens" being targeted by right-wing critics for their perceived bias and lack of objectivity.
Trump's relationship with Ruhle has been contentious, with the former president once referring to her as the dumb as a rock bimbo Stephanie Ruhle." Despite this, Ruhle's recent comments suggest a level of respect for Trump's willingness to engage directly with the media.
On the issue of media accessibility, Trump seems to agree with Ruhle's assessment. He has criticized Harris for refusing to make herself available to mainstream media outlets, opting instead for less challenging interviews with figures like Stephen Colbert and the hosts of "The View." "I think they made a big tactical mistake by literally not talking to the press, even if a really friendly...a friendly interview, and they turned everybody down. They wouldn't do the basic," Trump said of the Harris campaign's media strategy.
Trump's critique raises questions about the current administration's commitment to transparency and openness. When Harris did venture into more challenging territory an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, for instance the result was widely regarded as a disaster. This incident, coupled with Ruhle's comments, suggests that the current administration may need to reassess its approach to media engagement.
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