Dear Commons Community,

Former CNN political analyst Chris Cillizza argued on Monday that journalists’ own unconscious biases stopped them from noticing then-President Joe Biden’s decline.

Cillizza released a video titled, “Why it *still* matters that the media missed the big Biden story,” where he reflected on how Axios’ Alex Thompson used his award speech at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner to “call out how both the Biden White House and the media mishandled President Biden’s cognitive decline during the 2024 election.” 

Had it been a Republican in office rather than Biden, he suggested, it may have been a very different story.

“They didn’t ask enough questions. Their skepticism meter was not honed—turned up high enough. And I think that had it been a Republican in that office, particularly if that Republican had been Donald Trump, there would have been less credulity. There would have been less willingness to just go along with what the Trump White House was saying like, ‘Oh he’s fine, you don’t see him in his great times He’s amazing.’”

He added, “I think there would have been more hard questions asked, and I think there should have been more hard questions asked by the media of Joe Biden and Joe Biden’s staff about his health. I absolutely think that’s true.”

I agree.  The media especially outlets like CNN and MSNBC took a pass on Biden’s mental decline and misled their viewers.

Tony

Dear Commons Community,

Over forty-thousand British citizens have signed a petition demanding Donald Trump be blocked from addressing parliament during his upcoming state visit.

Trump has said he expects to visit the UK in September.  As reported by The National and other media.

Keir Starmer handed over an invitation letter from King Charles when he visited the White House in February.

A group of MPs and peers have already urged the Speakers of the House of Commons and House of Lords to turn down any request for Trump to address them while he is here.

It has now emerged that a petition on the change.org website echoing that demand has attracted 43,000 signatures in just one week.

The petition has been set up by philanthropist and campaigner Corin Dalby.

He said: “President Trump has shown a consistent disregard for democratic values.

“He has made troubling remarks about the UK and its institutions, and is unable to clearly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine – which all UK political parties have strongly opposed. 

“The UK parliament should not provide a platform to a figure whose actions and words are so at odds with the principles we hold dear.”

Dalby added: “We are a proud democratic country, and we should be protective of that status. Therefore, we should be extremely vigilant by not affording anyone, regardless of their position or status, and who do not align themselves, either verbally or by actions, with our own values with the privilege of addressing parliament.”

The last American president to address parliament was Barack Obama in 2011.

Former Commons Speaker John Bercow blocked Trump from doing so the last time he was president.

A spokesperson for current Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said: “Should a request be made to address the Houses of Parliament, it will be considered in the usual way. No request has been received, but any decision would be made by both speakers.”

Trump – the leader of the free world – HAH!

Tony