| From | Tom Jones | Poynter <[email protected]> |
| Subject | Five years after Jan. 6, the fight over truth is still unfolding |
| Date | January 7, 2026 12:30 PM |
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** OPINION
------------------------------------------------------------
** Five years after Jan. 6, the fight over truth is still unfolding
------------------------------------------------------------
Rioters storm the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Tuesday was the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Supporters of then-outgoing President Donald Trump broke into the Capitol in an effort to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election.
It’s a cliché, but it’s true. It’s truly a day that will live in infamy — the day that democracy nearly broke in this country.
But the events of that day didn’t end when order was restored that night, and the election was certified. Jan. 6 wasn’t the end of Trump’s reign, but maybe just the beginning.
In a strong editorial published Tuesday ([link removed]) , The New York Times wrote, “A visual archive of Jan. 6, 2021, through the lenses of those who were there. That day was indeed a turning point, but not the one it first seemed to be. It was a turning point toward a version of Mr. Trump who is even more lawless than the one who governed the country in his first term. It heralded a culture of political unaccountability, in which people who violently attacked Congress and beat police officers escaped without lasting consequence. The politicians and pundits who had egged on the attack with their lies escaped, as well. The aftermath of Jan. 6 made the Republican Party even more feckless, beholden to one man and willing to pervert reality to serve his interests.”
And here we are, five years later, with Trump back in the White House.
The Times editorial board wrote, “Once Mr. Trump won election again in 2024, despite his role in encouraging the riot and his many distortions about it, it emboldened him to govern in defiance of the Constitution, without regard for the truth and with malice toward those who stand up to his abuses. Tragically, America is still living in a political era that began on Jan. 6, 2021. Recognizing as much is necessary to bring this era to an end before it has many more anniversaries.”
It’s a lengthy, well-reasoned editorial that deserves your attention, a reminder that the events of that day should not be forgotten. The Times wrote, “The anniversary will always be a mournful one for America. The nation’s challenge now is to ensure that the day is ultimately viewed as it initially was: as an aberration. Americans must summon the collective will to bring this era to an end and make certain that the violence, lawlessness and injustice of Jan. 6 do not endure.”
But as The Washington Post’s Amber Phillips points out ([link removed]) , “(Trump’s) words have resonated with his supporters. While polls have found a strong majority of Americans oppose pardoning Jan. 6 rioters, particularly violent criminals, a majority of Republicans approve, a December CBS News-YouGov poll found. That poll also found only 30 percent of Republicans strongly disapprove of the attack — a new low among Republicans.”
In a guest essay for the Times ([link removed]) , Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland wrote, “Five years after Jan. 6, 2021, we are still caught up in a struggle between forces who are willing to use authoritarian violence outside the Constitution to take and wield power and those who stand up nonviolently for our Constitution in the streets and in the polling places. Neither side can claim victory yet. It’s still very much Jan. 6 in America.”
Like many ruinous national events, we easily recall the general or overall story of the day, but we forget the details.
That’s why it’s important that news organizations continue to publish investigative stories such as this one from The Washington Post’s Daranee Balachandar, Ellie Silverman and Amy Brittain: “Five years after Jan. 6, officers describe the toll of defending the Capitol.” ([link removed])
And we need astute pieces such as this one from Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic: “MAGA’s Foundational Lie.” ([link removed]) Goldberg writes, “We are in a long Lord of the Flies moment, led by a man who, to borrow from Psalm 10, possesses a mouth ‘full of cursing and deceit and fraud.’ For many people—government scientists seeking cures for diseases; FBI agents investigating corruption and terrorism; military leaders trying to preserve respect for the rules of warfare; and, in particular, police officers who were brutalized by Trump’s army of deluded followers—these days can seem infernal. Trump’s term is one-quarter over; a piece of advice often attributed to Churchill has it best: When you’re going through hell, keep going.”
**
------------------------------------------------------------
A MESSAGE FROM POYNTER
[link removed]
** Contest now open!
------------------------------------------------------------
The 2026 Poynter Journalism Prizes contest is now open for entries. Awards honor journalism excellence in accountability, public service and justice reporting, to writing, editorials and columns, innovation, diversity and First Amendment work. Two new categories for climate change and poverty coverage are being added this year. Early bird entry fee of $75 until Jan. 31. Deadline is Feb. 13.
Enter now ([link removed])
** Trump’s comments
------------------------------------------------------------
Trump is still pushing false lies about the 2020 election. On Tuesday again — the anniversary of Jan. 6 — Trump said at a House Republican retreat in Washington, “The election was rigged.”
He later added, “Our elections are crooked as hell.”
Obviously, Trump’s comments were rife with errors ([link removed]) .
Meanwhile, an official White House website ([link removed]) paints a picture of Jan. 6 that doesn’t line up with reality. The site really is so unhinged that, for a moment, you have to double-check to make sure it’s real.
It celebrates Trump pardoning Jan. 6 defendants, describing them as “patriotic Americans prosecuted for their presence at the Capitol—many mere trespassers or peaceful protesters treated as insurrectionists by a weaponized Biden DOJ.”
In the section chronicling the timeline of Jan. 6, 2021, just some of the subheads on the website say:
* President Trump Delivers Powerful Speech
* Patriots March to the Capitol
* Capitol Police Response Escalates Tensions
* Leaked Pelosi Video Reveals Security Lapses
* Ashli Babbitt Murdered in Cold Blood
* Mike Pence Refuses to Act
* Stolen Election Certified
* Mass Arrests of Patriotic Protesters
Under the “Stolen Election Certified" section, it reads, “After law enforcement clears the Capitol, Congress reconvenes late that night and certifies Joe Biden’s electoral votes—votes from battleground states marred by massive mail-in ballot fraud, hidden suitcases of ballots, exploding water pipes, voting machine irregularities, and unprecedented pandemic-era rule changes that bypassed state legislatures. 2020 is considered the greatest election theft in U.S. history, with widespread fraud deliberately ignored by courts, officials and the media.”
This is just a fraction of claims made on this bonkers site. And, mind you, this is an official White House of the United States website.
Mediaite’s Colby Hall writes ([link removed]) , “The newly launched The WhiteHouse.gov page does not merely reinterpret January 6 and dispute prosecutorial judgment. It asserts falsehoods as fact about one of the most exhaustively documented events in modern American history, using the institutional authority of the federal government to overwrite the evidentiary record. This is not another escalation in President Donald Trump’s long war on truth. It is the elimination of the line itself.”
Mediaite’s Isaac Schorr has “The 5 Most Unhinged Claims Made on Trump’s Jaw-Dropping New January 6 Website.” ([link removed])
** NPR’s excellent work
------------------------------------------------------------
While the White House website offered its version of the events from Jan. 6, 2021, NPR has a more accurate version with their impressive piece: “A visual archive of Jan. 6, 2021, through the lenses of those who were there.” ([link removed])
If you haven’t seen it, it’s a stunning collection of videos, recordings and reporting that encompasses all of Jan. 6 — from the lead-up of that day to the events of that day and the aftermath.
Meanwhile, here’s more good work from NPR. It’s Bronson Arcuri, Tom Dreisbach and Barrie Hardymon with “2 police officers relive Jan. 6 through their own bodycam footage.” ([link removed])
** News from the evening news
------------------------------------------------------------
As I wrote in Tuesday’s newsletter, Tony Dokoupil made his debut as anchor of the “CBS Evening News” on Monday. Well, sort of. Dokoupil was supposed to make his debut on Monday, but he actually anchored last Saturday following the breaking news that the U.S. had invaded Venezuela.
In Monday’s sort-of debut, Dokoupil looked the part of an evening news anchor — at least before and after a screw-up in which Dokoupil thought they were going to one story when the graphics and video were about another story.
Dokoupil lost his cool for a second by saying, “First day, big problems here.” The awkwardness, silence and sorting it all out only took a few seconds, but in TV, a few seconds feel much longer. In the end, it wasn’t that big of a deal, and it’s not going to define this new newscast. But seeing as how it was Dokoupil’s unofficial debut and, according to The US Guardian's Jeremy Barr ([link removed]) , new CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss was in the newsroom, and all eyes were on his first broadcast, it stood out as an embarrassing moment.
Entertainment Weekly’s Joey Nolfi reports ([link removed]) that the flub was edited out of the West Coast airing of the “Evening News,” as well as the edition that aired on streaming. That’s not unusual, and there’s nothing wrong with cleaning up such a mistake for later airings.
Meanwhile, Variety’s Daniel D'Addario had a scathing review ([link removed]) of Dokoupil’s “Evening News” that had nothing to do with the confusion over the order of the stories.
D’Addario wrote, “Thankfully … viewers have some options for themselves — and few, it seems likely, will choose this reboot. The hypothetical viewer who wishes their news were pitched at a more conservative tenor is super-served by Fox News and Newsmax; evening newscast viewership has been dropping across the board, and, in terms of comfort in the chair and ability to convey thought, Dokoupil has a way to go and will likely move in the wrong direction.”
D’Addario added, “Say this much, though: Weiss’ management of ‘60 Minutes’ has so far been a tragedy, in that it is shattering the credibility and prestige of what remains to this day one of the signature, and most popular, programs of any type in American television. The ‘Evening News’ has been ebbing into irrelevance for years for reasons entirely beyond political slant. Perhaps sequestering Dokoupil there might contain the damage that might be done by an anchor whose ambitious ability to see which way the wind blows has so far outstripped his broadcasting talent.”
** Start of the tour ends with some cringe
------------------------------------------------------------
Dokoupil began his multicity tour around the country Tuesday night by anchoring the “CBS Evening News” from Miami. Tonight’s newscast will be from Dallas.
Tuesday night’s “Evening News” ended with a short little segment on Secretary of State Marco Rubio that can only be described as … weird. The point, I suppose, is that Rubio is from Miami — the locale of Tuesday’s newscast. Dokoupil talked about Rubio's political resume, in addition to how there are now popular memes going around featuring Rubio in various jobs, including humorous occupations such as the Michelin Man.
Then he said, “For Rubio’s hometown fans, for which there are many around here in Miami, it’s a sign how Florida — once an American punchline — has become a leader on the world stage. Marco Rubio, we salute you. You’re the ultimate Florida man.”
We salute you?!
Again, it was just weird.
** Give Trump this much
------------------------------------------------------------
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while in flight on Air Force One on Sunday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
You may or may not like President Donald Trump, but give him this much: He makes himself available to the media. Aside from press conferences, he constantly talks to reporters on Air Force One and on the lawn of the White House and at events in the Oval Office. He relentlessly posts on Truth Social, often announcing breaking news there — like he did with the invasion of Venezuela last weekend. He regularly calls into TV shows — usually those that are friendly to him and his policies.
He is even known to pick up his cellphone when a reporter calls out of the blue.
What he says is often littered with his own political spin, half-truths and flat-out lies. But he is available, unlike many of his predecessors.
On Monday of this week, he gave NBC News’ Kristen Welker about 20 minutes ([link removed]) , talking about Venezuela. And he gave her real news, saying Venezuela would not have new elections in the next 30 days.
He also said the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela, saying, “No, we’re not. We’re at war with people that sell drugs. We’re at war with people that empty their prisons into our country and empty their drug addicts and empty their mental institutions into our country.”
Again, you might like or not like what he has to say. You might believe or not believe what he has to say. But, for as much as he says he detests the media, Trump doesn’t run from the media.
The challenge for the media is to sift through all that he says, point out the lies and give it context.
** From helmets to headsets
------------------------------------------------------------
Networks and streaming services that air sports are always on the lookout for the latest superstar athlete or coach who retires and might be interested in broadcasting.
The biggest name to enter sports broadcasting in recent years was Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Fox Sports brought him in to be its No. 1 game analyst, giving him a 10-year deal worth $375 million. And after an uneven rookie season in the booth, he rebounded nicely this season and appears to be well on his way to becoming a top-notch broadcaster.
Now two more big names could be ready to make the jump to broadcasting. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, perhaps better known as Taylor Swift’s fiancé, could probably pick his broadcasting job if he decides to retire. He’s 36 and might still want to play a bit longer, although the feeling is that he is going to retire. The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports that Kelce could probably get $10-20 million a year either as a game or studio analyst.
Meanwhile, another intriguing name is future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has revived his career this season by leading the Pittsburgh Steelers into the playoffs. Rodgers is 42 and hasn’t announced if he wants to keep playing. But if he retired, networks and streaming services would line up for his services.
Rodgers did a guest stint as host of “Jeopardy!” in 2021 following the death of Alex Trebek, and there was some speculation that he would have been interested in being the permanent host. He also has flirted with politics. He has shown no indication that he is interested in broadcasting.
Then again, as Richard Deitsch pointed out in The Athletic ([link removed]) , we have seen plenty of former sports stars who ended up in media who we didn’t think would want to be broadcasters. Think people such as Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Bob Knight.
Like Kelce, Rodgers could probably command a boatload of money doing pretty much anything he wants: games, studio work or guest appearances.
And, oh, speaking of retired athletes going to the broadcasting booth, Marchand reports ([link removed]) that NBC is targeting just-retired Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw to be a studio analyst. Kershaw spent 18 seasons in the majors and almost certainly will make the Hall of Fame. Starting in 2026, NBC will be the home of “Sunday Night Baseball.”
** Media tidbits
------------------------------------------------------------
* Correction: In Tuesday’s newsletter, I pointed out how the “CBS Evening News” bungled which story it was supposed to be doing, which led to a few moments of awkward silence and anchor Tony Dokoupil saying, “First day, big problems.” And here I was dropping the ball myself. I’ve written at least 100 times in this newsletter that Pete Hegseth is the secretary of defense. But, in my first reference to Hegseth in Tuesday’s newsletter, I also wrongly appointed him secretary of state. That led one Poynter Report reader to write, “Please don't give Hegseth another job in the administration. He shouldn't have the one he holds, let alone another.”
* The New York Times is suing the Pentagon over press restrictions. The Times’ Erik Wemple with “New York Times Case Against Pentagon Will Move Quickly.” ([link removed])
* Will Welch is stepping down as editor of GQ. The New York Times’ Jessica Testa reports ([link removed]) , “Mr. Welch, who was named the editor of American GQ in 2018 and its global editorial director in 2020, will leave the company to work in a new role with Pharrell, the musician and men’s creative director of Louis Vuitton, in Paris. A successor has not been named.”
* Nieman Lab’s Joshua Benton and a slew of contributors with “What’s coming for news in 2026? These predictions offer a clue.” ([link removed])
* Pete Wells — a reporter for The New York Times food section who was the Times’ chief restaurant critic for 12 years — with “Our Former Restaurant Critic Changed His Eating Habits. You Can, Too.” ([link removed])
* The New York Times has hired eight journalists for its video department. Here ([link removed]) is the official announcement.
** Hot type
------------------------------------------------------------
* The New York Times with “52 Places to Go in 2026.” ([link removed])
** More resources for journalists
------------------------------------------------------------
* Today’s your last chance to join 650+ women leaders transformed by this leadership program since 2015. Apply by Jan. 7 ([link removed]) .
* Join a foundational career and leadership development 101 course — fully virtual for ambitious media professionals without direct reports. Apply now ([link removed]) .
* Join 300 newsrooms receiving free digital preservation training and Internet Archive services. Apply by Jan. 9 ([link removed]) .
* New managers: Get the critical skills you need to help forge successful paths to leadership in journalism, media and technology. Apply now ([link removed]) .
Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
The Poynter Report is your daily dive into the world of media, packed with the latest news and insights. Get it delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday by signing up here ([link removed]) . And don’t forget to tune into our biweekly podcast ([link removed]) for even more.
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** OPINION
------------------------------------------------------------
** Five years after Jan. 6, the fight over truth is still unfolding
------------------------------------------------------------
Rioters storm the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Tuesday was the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Supporters of then-outgoing President Donald Trump broke into the Capitol in an effort to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election.
It’s a cliché, but it’s true. It’s truly a day that will live in infamy — the day that democracy nearly broke in this country.
But the events of that day didn’t end when order was restored that night, and the election was certified. Jan. 6 wasn’t the end of Trump’s reign, but maybe just the beginning.
In a strong editorial published Tuesday ([link removed]) , The New York Times wrote, “A visual archive of Jan. 6, 2021, through the lenses of those who were there. That day was indeed a turning point, but not the one it first seemed to be. It was a turning point toward a version of Mr. Trump who is even more lawless than the one who governed the country in his first term. It heralded a culture of political unaccountability, in which people who violently attacked Congress and beat police officers escaped without lasting consequence. The politicians and pundits who had egged on the attack with their lies escaped, as well. The aftermath of Jan. 6 made the Republican Party even more feckless, beholden to one man and willing to pervert reality to serve his interests.”
And here we are, five years later, with Trump back in the White House.
The Times editorial board wrote, “Once Mr. Trump won election again in 2024, despite his role in encouraging the riot and his many distortions about it, it emboldened him to govern in defiance of the Constitution, without regard for the truth and with malice toward those who stand up to his abuses. Tragically, America is still living in a political era that began on Jan. 6, 2021. Recognizing as much is necessary to bring this era to an end before it has many more anniversaries.”
It’s a lengthy, well-reasoned editorial that deserves your attention, a reminder that the events of that day should not be forgotten. The Times wrote, “The anniversary will always be a mournful one for America. The nation’s challenge now is to ensure that the day is ultimately viewed as it initially was: as an aberration. Americans must summon the collective will to bring this era to an end and make certain that the violence, lawlessness and injustice of Jan. 6 do not endure.”
But as The Washington Post’s Amber Phillips points out ([link removed]) , “(Trump’s) words have resonated with his supporters. While polls have found a strong majority of Americans oppose pardoning Jan. 6 rioters, particularly violent criminals, a majority of Republicans approve, a December CBS News-YouGov poll found. That poll also found only 30 percent of Republicans strongly disapprove of the attack — a new low among Republicans.”
In a guest essay for the Times ([link removed]) , Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland wrote, “Five years after Jan. 6, 2021, we are still caught up in a struggle between forces who are willing to use authoritarian violence outside the Constitution to take and wield power and those who stand up nonviolently for our Constitution in the streets and in the polling places. Neither side can claim victory yet. It’s still very much Jan. 6 in America.”
Like many ruinous national events, we easily recall the general or overall story of the day, but we forget the details.
That’s why it’s important that news organizations continue to publish investigative stories such as this one from The Washington Post’s Daranee Balachandar, Ellie Silverman and Amy Brittain: “Five years after Jan. 6, officers describe the toll of defending the Capitol.” ([link removed])
And we need astute pieces such as this one from Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic: “MAGA’s Foundational Lie.” ([link removed]) Goldberg writes, “We are in a long Lord of the Flies moment, led by a man who, to borrow from Psalm 10, possesses a mouth ‘full of cursing and deceit and fraud.’ For many people—government scientists seeking cures for diseases; FBI agents investigating corruption and terrorism; military leaders trying to preserve respect for the rules of warfare; and, in particular, police officers who were brutalized by Trump’s army of deluded followers—these days can seem infernal. Trump’s term is one-quarter over; a piece of advice often attributed to Churchill has it best: When you’re going through hell, keep going.”
**
------------------------------------------------------------
A MESSAGE FROM POYNTER
[link removed]
** Contest now open!
------------------------------------------------------------
The 2026 Poynter Journalism Prizes contest is now open for entries. Awards honor journalism excellence in accountability, public service and justice reporting, to writing, editorials and columns, innovation, diversity and First Amendment work. Two new categories for climate change and poverty coverage are being added this year. Early bird entry fee of $75 until Jan. 31. Deadline is Feb. 13.
Enter now ([link removed])
** Trump’s comments
------------------------------------------------------------
Trump is still pushing false lies about the 2020 election. On Tuesday again — the anniversary of Jan. 6 — Trump said at a House Republican retreat in Washington, “The election was rigged.”
He later added, “Our elections are crooked as hell.”
Obviously, Trump’s comments were rife with errors ([link removed]) .
Meanwhile, an official White House website ([link removed]) paints a picture of Jan. 6 that doesn’t line up with reality. The site really is so unhinged that, for a moment, you have to double-check to make sure it’s real.
It celebrates Trump pardoning Jan. 6 defendants, describing them as “patriotic Americans prosecuted for their presence at the Capitol—many mere trespassers or peaceful protesters treated as insurrectionists by a weaponized Biden DOJ.”
In the section chronicling the timeline of Jan. 6, 2021, just some of the subheads on the website say:
* President Trump Delivers Powerful Speech
* Patriots March to the Capitol
* Capitol Police Response Escalates Tensions
* Leaked Pelosi Video Reveals Security Lapses
* Ashli Babbitt Murdered in Cold Blood
* Mike Pence Refuses to Act
* Stolen Election Certified
* Mass Arrests of Patriotic Protesters
Under the “Stolen Election Certified" section, it reads, “After law enforcement clears the Capitol, Congress reconvenes late that night and certifies Joe Biden’s electoral votes—votes from battleground states marred by massive mail-in ballot fraud, hidden suitcases of ballots, exploding water pipes, voting machine irregularities, and unprecedented pandemic-era rule changes that bypassed state legislatures. 2020 is considered the greatest election theft in U.S. history, with widespread fraud deliberately ignored by courts, officials and the media.”
This is just a fraction of claims made on this bonkers site. And, mind you, this is an official White House of the United States website.
Mediaite’s Colby Hall writes ([link removed]) , “The newly launched The WhiteHouse.gov page does not merely reinterpret January 6 and dispute prosecutorial judgment. It asserts falsehoods as fact about one of the most exhaustively documented events in modern American history, using the institutional authority of the federal government to overwrite the evidentiary record. This is not another escalation in President Donald Trump’s long war on truth. It is the elimination of the line itself.”
Mediaite’s Isaac Schorr has “The 5 Most Unhinged Claims Made on Trump’s Jaw-Dropping New January 6 Website.” ([link removed])
** NPR’s excellent work
------------------------------------------------------------
While the White House website offered its version of the events from Jan. 6, 2021, NPR has a more accurate version with their impressive piece: “A visual archive of Jan. 6, 2021, through the lenses of those who were there.” ([link removed])
If you haven’t seen it, it’s a stunning collection of videos, recordings and reporting that encompasses all of Jan. 6 — from the lead-up of that day to the events of that day and the aftermath.
Meanwhile, here’s more good work from NPR. It’s Bronson Arcuri, Tom Dreisbach and Barrie Hardymon with “2 police officers relive Jan. 6 through their own bodycam footage.” ([link removed])
** News from the evening news
------------------------------------------------------------
As I wrote in Tuesday’s newsletter, Tony Dokoupil made his debut as anchor of the “CBS Evening News” on Monday. Well, sort of. Dokoupil was supposed to make his debut on Monday, but he actually anchored last Saturday following the breaking news that the U.S. had invaded Venezuela.
In Monday’s sort-of debut, Dokoupil looked the part of an evening news anchor — at least before and after a screw-up in which Dokoupil thought they were going to one story when the graphics and video were about another story.
Dokoupil lost his cool for a second by saying, “First day, big problems here.” The awkwardness, silence and sorting it all out only took a few seconds, but in TV, a few seconds feel much longer. In the end, it wasn’t that big of a deal, and it’s not going to define this new newscast. But seeing as how it was Dokoupil’s unofficial debut and, according to The US Guardian's Jeremy Barr ([link removed]) , new CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss was in the newsroom, and all eyes were on his first broadcast, it stood out as an embarrassing moment.
Entertainment Weekly’s Joey Nolfi reports ([link removed]) that the flub was edited out of the West Coast airing of the “Evening News,” as well as the edition that aired on streaming. That’s not unusual, and there’s nothing wrong with cleaning up such a mistake for later airings.
Meanwhile, Variety’s Daniel D'Addario had a scathing review ([link removed]) of Dokoupil’s “Evening News” that had nothing to do with the confusion over the order of the stories.
D’Addario wrote, “Thankfully … viewers have some options for themselves — and few, it seems likely, will choose this reboot. The hypothetical viewer who wishes their news were pitched at a more conservative tenor is super-served by Fox News and Newsmax; evening newscast viewership has been dropping across the board, and, in terms of comfort in the chair and ability to convey thought, Dokoupil has a way to go and will likely move in the wrong direction.”
D’Addario added, “Say this much, though: Weiss’ management of ‘60 Minutes’ has so far been a tragedy, in that it is shattering the credibility and prestige of what remains to this day one of the signature, and most popular, programs of any type in American television. The ‘Evening News’ has been ebbing into irrelevance for years for reasons entirely beyond political slant. Perhaps sequestering Dokoupil there might contain the damage that might be done by an anchor whose ambitious ability to see which way the wind blows has so far outstripped his broadcasting talent.”
** Start of the tour ends with some cringe
------------------------------------------------------------
Dokoupil began his multicity tour around the country Tuesday night by anchoring the “CBS Evening News” from Miami. Tonight’s newscast will be from Dallas.
Tuesday night’s “Evening News” ended with a short little segment on Secretary of State Marco Rubio that can only be described as … weird. The point, I suppose, is that Rubio is from Miami — the locale of Tuesday’s newscast. Dokoupil talked about Rubio's political resume, in addition to how there are now popular memes going around featuring Rubio in various jobs, including humorous occupations such as the Michelin Man.
Then he said, “For Rubio’s hometown fans, for which there are many around here in Miami, it’s a sign how Florida — once an American punchline — has become a leader on the world stage. Marco Rubio, we salute you. You’re the ultimate Florida man.”
We salute you?!
Again, it was just weird.
** Give Trump this much
------------------------------------------------------------
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while in flight on Air Force One on Sunday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
You may or may not like President Donald Trump, but give him this much: He makes himself available to the media. Aside from press conferences, he constantly talks to reporters on Air Force One and on the lawn of the White House and at events in the Oval Office. He relentlessly posts on Truth Social, often announcing breaking news there — like he did with the invasion of Venezuela last weekend. He regularly calls into TV shows — usually those that are friendly to him and his policies.
He is even known to pick up his cellphone when a reporter calls out of the blue.
What he says is often littered with his own political spin, half-truths and flat-out lies. But he is available, unlike many of his predecessors.
On Monday of this week, he gave NBC News’ Kristen Welker about 20 minutes ([link removed]) , talking about Venezuela. And he gave her real news, saying Venezuela would not have new elections in the next 30 days.
He also said the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela, saying, “No, we’re not. We’re at war with people that sell drugs. We’re at war with people that empty their prisons into our country and empty their drug addicts and empty their mental institutions into our country.”
Again, you might like or not like what he has to say. You might believe or not believe what he has to say. But, for as much as he says he detests the media, Trump doesn’t run from the media.
The challenge for the media is to sift through all that he says, point out the lies and give it context.
** From helmets to headsets
------------------------------------------------------------
Networks and streaming services that air sports are always on the lookout for the latest superstar athlete or coach who retires and might be interested in broadcasting.
The biggest name to enter sports broadcasting in recent years was Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Fox Sports brought him in to be its No. 1 game analyst, giving him a 10-year deal worth $375 million. And after an uneven rookie season in the booth, he rebounded nicely this season and appears to be well on his way to becoming a top-notch broadcaster.
Now two more big names could be ready to make the jump to broadcasting. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, perhaps better known as Taylor Swift’s fiancé, could probably pick his broadcasting job if he decides to retire. He’s 36 and might still want to play a bit longer, although the feeling is that he is going to retire. The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports that Kelce could probably get $10-20 million a year either as a game or studio analyst.
Meanwhile, another intriguing name is future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has revived his career this season by leading the Pittsburgh Steelers into the playoffs. Rodgers is 42 and hasn’t announced if he wants to keep playing. But if he retired, networks and streaming services would line up for his services.
Rodgers did a guest stint as host of “Jeopardy!” in 2021 following the death of Alex Trebek, and there was some speculation that he would have been interested in being the permanent host. He also has flirted with politics. He has shown no indication that he is interested in broadcasting.
Then again, as Richard Deitsch pointed out in The Athletic ([link removed]) , we have seen plenty of former sports stars who ended up in media who we didn’t think would want to be broadcasters. Think people such as Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Bob Knight.
Like Kelce, Rodgers could probably command a boatload of money doing pretty much anything he wants: games, studio work or guest appearances.
And, oh, speaking of retired athletes going to the broadcasting booth, Marchand reports ([link removed]) that NBC is targeting just-retired Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw to be a studio analyst. Kershaw spent 18 seasons in the majors and almost certainly will make the Hall of Fame. Starting in 2026, NBC will be the home of “Sunday Night Baseball.”
** Media tidbits
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* Correction: In Tuesday’s newsletter, I pointed out how the “CBS Evening News” bungled which story it was supposed to be doing, which led to a few moments of awkward silence and anchor Tony Dokoupil saying, “First day, big problems.” And here I was dropping the ball myself. I’ve written at least 100 times in this newsletter that Pete Hegseth is the secretary of defense. But, in my first reference to Hegseth in Tuesday’s newsletter, I also wrongly appointed him secretary of state. That led one Poynter Report reader to write, “Please don't give Hegseth another job in the administration. He shouldn't have the one he holds, let alone another.”
* The New York Times is suing the Pentagon over press restrictions. The Times’ Erik Wemple with “New York Times Case Against Pentagon Will Move Quickly.” ([link removed])
* Will Welch is stepping down as editor of GQ. The New York Times’ Jessica Testa reports ([link removed]) , “Mr. Welch, who was named the editor of American GQ in 2018 and its global editorial director in 2020, will leave the company to work in a new role with Pharrell, the musician and men’s creative director of Louis Vuitton, in Paris. A successor has not been named.”
* Nieman Lab’s Joshua Benton and a slew of contributors with “What’s coming for news in 2026? These predictions offer a clue.” ([link removed])
* Pete Wells — a reporter for The New York Times food section who was the Times’ chief restaurant critic for 12 years — with “Our Former Restaurant Critic Changed His Eating Habits. You Can, Too.” ([link removed])
* The New York Times has hired eight journalists for its video department. Here ([link removed]) is the official announcement.
** Hot type
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* The New York Times with “52 Places to Go in 2026.” ([link removed])
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Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
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