Meet the Press’ insufficient improvement
I have written from time to time about “Meet the Press (MTP),” the granddaddy of news analysis shows that analyzes newsmakers and critical issues through the eyes of the press.
Each week I watch on NBC and, through Baltimore Post-Examiner and the social medium of Facebook, I have critiqued their choices of topics, moderator give-and take, press analysts and guests by criteria of the quality of the show’s choices and the fairness of the interviews and give-and-take.
https://baltimorepostexaminer.
https://baltimorepostexaminer.
Over the last six months, there have been some improvements, although none significant enough to bring it to the level of decades ago or to raise the level of moderation to that of the great moderator Tim Russert-a liberal who gave all sides rigorous cross-examination regardless of their politics-as was the case with Lawrence E. Spivak (1966-1975), (Bill Monroe 1975-1984), Marvin Kalb (1985-1987).
Today’s moderator, Kristen Welker, is a slow learner regarding how to improve her show, despite the fact that she is bright and well prepared.
Today’s show was the best, but not absolutely overly impressive.
Why?
Because MTP now has two major guests from opposite sides of the political spectrum, whereas from the beginning of Welker’s tenure through just a month or two ago, she always – and I mean always – had two from the Democratic left and one from the Republican right. And recently she has had, unlike in the past, strong and competent conservatives.
Second, the panel following the question-and-answers with the invited principals was today composed of two participants from the left – there have always been three plus Welker – and one from the right.
Also, the extra topic — Whither AI — was today quite interesting and important, whereas it has usually been some extraneous and boring topic. – e.g. a contrived discussion with a Republican and Democrat discussing how they support “dignity,” with “Common Ground” conversation with the Governor of Oklahoma, Republican Kevin Stitt and the fake-dignified Maryland Democrat, Wes Moore.
Today’s show had a great relevant guest on the right, Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and the literate former Transportation Democratic Secretary Pete Buttigieg, over-discussing Trump’s proposed $5000 gift to all citizens if Republicans win Congress-to the point of Johnson’s asking why she won’t get off this topic. The topic was relevant but not for most of the interview. Issues like Trump’s dead-on-arrival $5000 proposed semi-bribe to citizens if Republicans take the House and Senate must be disposed of, not beaten into the ground.
With Buttigieg, Welker asked about the creeping creepy socialism and communism infecting the Democratic Party. Buttigieg ignored the question and Welker typically dropped it.
No follow-up…again bright woman; bad journalistic judgment.
The panel, including Jonathan Martin, Politics Bureau Chief at Politico, Marc Short, former director of Legislative Affairs for President Donald Trump and Ashley Etienne, former communications director for former Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (now there’s a disinterested panelist), waxed literately about Trump’s desperation. But why was Etienne on again? She adds little insight on each show.
The panel, always three to the left, except for today’s two to the left, and one in the center-right, was innocuous, all vaguely anti-Trump with Etienne thoroughly anti-Trump.
Uncharacteristically, the added topic at the end, AI and its dangers, was riveting.
AI researcher Jacob Coxon, who resigned in protest, left AI giant Anthropic, but was clear and appropriately frightening.
Warning AI could kill us all…how? What is the mechanism…should be asked explicitly, and Welker does approach it.
Coxon warns chillingly that AI is vulnerable to hacking which makes it go rogue; we need international coordinated effort to stop it.
Welker: Good question: What is the worst case scenario that keeps you up at night?
Coxon: Biological research of autonomous robot control…hacking could create bioweapons…and ability to control autonomous drones.
Welker: Is a kill switch possible? Coxon: It might not work.
Interesting interview and great “Catch” for Welker.
She can do her job well but chooses to swing left too often…every show.
Overall Grade: B–
Richard E. Vatz https://wp.towson.edu/vatz/ is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of political rhetoric at Towson University and author of The Only Authentic of Persuasion: the Agenda-Spin Model (Bookwrights House, 2024) and over 200 other works, essays, lectures, and op-eds. He is the benefactor of the Richard E. Vatz Best Debater Award at Towson. The Van Bokkelen Auditorium at Towson University has been named after him.