Psaki is a real pro, a delight to see and watch as she stays very much in charge, calm while commanding. Thanks for this piece Eric. Imo, she is earning her place as one of the best in the role and the biz. She also represents the sanity and deep knowledge, expertise of the administration she speaks for. A+ in my book.
Psaki's professionalism and competence stand in stark - and welcome - contrast to the dissembling carnival barking delivered by KayLIE McEnany, Sara Sanders and Sean Spicer. I have only one complaint - and that is Psaki's verbal tic in which almost every other word has an up inflection that turns a declarative into an interrogative. But I'll gladly take that over endless gaslighting.
Any useful effect? is lost? when the up note? is continuous. It's not just Psaki who is doing this. It appears to be a thing, as is the tendency to lower one's voice at the end of a sentence and slip into a bit of growl. That "vocal fry" was amply demonstrated by Deborah Birx in her CNN appearance last week. (I'm being a curmudgeon!)
C.J. Cregg is exactly who Psaki reminds me of too. She is without doubt a rockstar and I love to see it. Great and well-deserved article. Thanks for this.
All you need to know about the DC political media brothel is that they will defend Douchey over not getting called on but won't tie together what DeSantis is doing with the entire republican party.
And may I say, Jen Psaki is terrific. I don't think there has been this impressive a press secretary in a long time. We tend to forget that Obama and Clinton had good people, and they did.
Yes Eric. Thank you for this. I have been touting her talents at every turn. Like her boss she turns out to be the right medicine for the problems we are all trying to fix. My favorite by far is rejecting "people are saying" lead-ins.
I think it is no accident that she quickly refers to her very young children when asked about her job. She is a working Mom, yes, but I think there's another less obvious reason. She is suggesting so much of what she deals with from the DC press is childish.
Exactly right. And she must be such a patient mom. I'm in awe of her composure in the face of such silly gotcha stuff from some of the "press" in that room. I'd have put those reporters in permanent time out.
Indeed. She makes the press people and many of their questions look as lame as they are. It would be nice if the journalists learned from her example and upped their game as a result. Hope springs eternal. Point of personal privilege, my grandson is in journalism school and he plainly sees what’s wrong with journalism these days and he’s 21. Smart kid; next generation is giving me hope that they come to the profession with keener eyes for what’s wrong with the press now. Btw, I sent him a copy of PressRun this morning!
This cock eyed optimist is looking forward to an insider’s view of the press should he/grandson get a job; I’m hoping at the local level first. Until then, I’m with you.
Who was the reporter who asked about changing the tone used to address voter suppression? I guess he’s afraid Republicans will get their feelings hurt.
I wish Biden would sic Psaki on whoever vets the headlines for the WaPo. It has been relentlessly presenting Biden’s agenda in a negative light mostly as irresponsibly expensive. But they even managed to frame an article about how Biden is getting Democrats behind his infrastructure bill in terms of conflict: “How Biden tamed the left — at least for now”. As George Lakoff would point out using the term “tame” immediately invokes the frame of conflict between a wild, unruly animal and the person in charge of keeping it under control. Talk about insulting the left!
The “for now” crack makes it clear that the Post’s favorite frame “disarray among Democrats” will soon resume.
The most reasonable headline would have been framed in terms of Biden uniting Democrats because that is exactly what the article was about. It gets harder and harder not to think that the editors have a hard time allowing a factually accurate, positive report without putting a negative spin on it. I haven’t seen the same tendency at the NY Times — for now.
That figures. I just looked at today’s WaPo and saw this headline:
“A surprise of Biden’s presidency: Harmony with the left”. Maybe the criticism is having an effect — for now. It’s the same article and it uses the “tames the left” frame in the first paragraph but at least the headline is more positive.
I wonder if they really forget their role or if they do these things on purpose. Either way it is really damaging to public perception of our politics.
I, too, am tremendously gratified by the change of tone in the press briefings and the dramatic improvement in overall integrity and maturity being shown by Biden and his administration. That's why I cringe a little bit at the "rock star" label. With all due respect, it is the kind of pop-culture mindset that has increasingly infected American politics in my lifetime and seems in direct opposition to the environment of respectful, measured, courteous professionalism that Ms. Psaki seems to be trying to foster in her job as White House Press Secretary. Rock Stars are cool, but I'm not sure they should be looked at as role models for good government.
We ship Psaki here. The Psaki Pstiletto, to paraphrase Billy Joel, is so sharp that they don’t feel the cut. She also really, really knows her stuff.
Only criticism to this piece is that the press secretary’s job is essentially echo POTUS. If POTUS doesn’t want transparency, it’s not the press secretary’s job to throw them under the bus.
Psaki is a real pro, a delight to see and watch as she stays very much in charge, calm while commanding. Thanks for this piece Eric. Imo, she is earning her place as one of the best in the role and the biz. She also represents the sanity and deep knowledge, expertise of the administration she speaks for. A+ in my book.
I agree—she’s a consummate pro
Psaki's professionalism and competence stand in stark - and welcome - contrast to the dissembling carnival barking delivered by KayLIE McEnany, Sara Sanders and Sean Spicer. I have only one complaint - and that is Psaki's verbal tic in which almost every other word has an up inflection that turns a declarative into an interrogative. But I'll gladly take that over endless gaslighting.
I’ll take it, too!
Any useful effect? is lost? when the up note? is continuous. It's not just Psaki who is doing this. It appears to be a thing, as is the tendency to lower one's voice at the end of a sentence and slip into a bit of growl. That "vocal fry" was amply demonstrated by Deborah Birx in her CNN appearance last week. (I'm being a curmudgeon!)
Larry - you're my mirror image. Share the giddy. Peace & Love.
C.J. Cregg is exactly who Psaki reminds me of too. She is without doubt a rockstar and I love to see it. Great and well-deserved article. Thanks for this.
Now if we could add Danny Concannon of The Washington Post.
All you need to know about the DC political media brothel is that they will defend Douchey over not getting called on but won't tie together what DeSantis is doing with the entire republican party.
And may I say, Jen Psaki is terrific. I don't think there has been this impressive a press secretary in a long time. We tend to forget that Obama and Clinton had good people, and they did.
Yes Eric. Thank you for this. I have been touting her talents at every turn. Like her boss she turns out to be the right medicine for the problems we are all trying to fix. My favorite by far is rejecting "people are saying" lead-ins.
I think it is no accident that she quickly refers to her very young children when asked about her job. She is a working Mom, yes, but I think there's another less obvious reason. She is suggesting so much of what she deals with from the DC press is childish.
I wonder if she and Nancy Pelosi trade ideas about how to deal with obnoxious, immature ideologues.
Exactly right. And she must be such a patient mom. I'm in awe of her composure in the face of such silly gotcha stuff from some of the "press" in that room. I'd have put those reporters in permanent time out.
Indeed. She makes the press people and many of their questions look as lame as they are. It would be nice if the journalists learned from her example and upped their game as a result. Hope springs eternal. Point of personal privilege, my grandson is in journalism school and he plainly sees what’s wrong with journalism these days and he’s 21. Smart kid; next generation is giving me hope that they come to the profession with keener eyes for what’s wrong with the press now. Btw, I sent him a copy of PressRun this morning!
This cock eyed optimist is looking forward to an insider’s view of the press should he/grandson get a job; I’m hoping at the local level first. Until then, I’m with you.
Who was the reporter who asked about changing the tone used to address voter suppression? I guess he’s afraid Republicans will get their feelings hurt.
I wish Biden would sic Psaki on whoever vets the headlines for the WaPo. It has been relentlessly presenting Biden’s agenda in a negative light mostly as irresponsibly expensive. But they even managed to frame an article about how Biden is getting Democrats behind his infrastructure bill in terms of conflict: “How Biden tamed the left — at least for now”. As George Lakoff would point out using the term “tame” immediately invokes the frame of conflict between a wild, unruly animal and the person in charge of keeping it under control. Talk about insulting the left!
The “for now” crack makes it clear that the Post’s favorite frame “disarray among Democrats” will soon resume.
The most reasonable headline would have been framed in terms of Biden uniting Democrats because that is exactly what the article was about. It gets harder and harder not to think that the editors have a hard time allowing a factually accurate, positive report without putting a negative spin on it. I haven’t seen the same tendency at the NY Times — for now.
I believe it was a Fox Biz reporter who asked abt “tone”
That figures. I just looked at today’s WaPo and saw this headline:
“A surprise of Biden’s presidency: Harmony with the left”. Maybe the criticism is having an effect — for now. It’s the same article and it uses the “tames the left” frame in the first paragraph but at least the headline is more positive.
Looks like I’m not the only who took issue with that headline:
https://twitter.com/postpolitics/status/1378516204206354435
Headline writers forget their role in journalism often. You've pointed out a doozy!
I wonder if they really forget their role or if they do these things on purpose. Either way it is really damaging to public perception of our politics.
Brilliant read!
thanks!
I, too, am tremendously gratified by the change of tone in the press briefings and the dramatic improvement in overall integrity and maturity being shown by Biden and his administration. That's why I cringe a little bit at the "rock star" label. With all due respect, it is the kind of pop-culture mindset that has increasingly infected American politics in my lifetime and seems in direct opposition to the environment of respectful, measured, courteous professionalism that Ms. Psaki seems to be trying to foster in her job as White House Press Secretary. Rock Stars are cool, but I'm not sure they should be looked at as role models for good government.
Check out True Love Always from Arlington, Va. if you like upbeat pop songs.
100% on Psaki. Total pro. Also agree on Minor Moon. That track conjures REM for me.
We ship Psaki here. The Psaki Pstiletto, to paraphrase Billy Joel, is so sharp that they don’t feel the cut. She also really, really knows her stuff.
Only criticism to this piece is that the press secretary’s job is essentially echo POTUS. If POTUS doesn’t want transparency, it’s not the press secretary’s job to throw them under the bus.