Trump obsessed with his ‘idiot box’
That was one of my high school English teachers’ favorite term for the ol’ television. Keep in mind that we were talking about the era of “Green Acres” and “The Beverly Hillbillies,” not “Homeland” or “The Man in the High Castle.” But I digress…
President Donald Trump is obsessed with the media — consuming it, reacting to it and desiring positive depictions in it. That obsession arises not only out of egotism but also, as recent reports have revealed, from a seemingly uncontrollable fixation on them. (The word “addiction” is not being used here literally but when reading about his media consumption habits, a fitting substitute is difficult to come up with.)
“Print copies of three newspapers,” wrote Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei of Axios in a Tuesday article describing the president’s media habits on Tuesday. “When Billy Bush was on, ‘Access Hollywood’ every night. TiVo of the morning and evening news shows so he can watch the tops of all of them. Always ’60 Minutes.’ Often ‘Meet the Press.’ Lots of New York talk radio.”
Allen and VandeHei also reported that Trump doesn’t read books and avoids reports and briefings that he considers too lengthy. That doesn’t mean that Trump is hip to advancing technologies, however — he doesn’t use computers and rarely uses his phone for anything but calls. Even his infamous tweets are often dictated and then submitted by others. He doesn’t follow online news outlets, instead preferring traditional outlets including newspapers like The New York Times and The New York Post (which one friend referred to as “the paper of record for him”) and journalistic programs like “60 Minutes.”
He is particularly obsessed with TV:
Most mornings, Trump flicks on the TV and watches “Morning Joe,” often for long periods of time, sometimes interrupted with texts to the hosts or panelists. After the 6 a.m. hour of “Joe,” he’s often on to “Fox & Friends” by 7 a.m., with a little CNN before or after. He also catches the Sunday shows, especially “Meet the Press.” “The shows,” as he calls them, often provoke his tweets. The day of our interview with him, all of his tweet topics were discussed during the first two hours of “Morning Joe.”
Indeed, Trump’s emotional dependence on positive TV coverage has led to some of his earliest mistakes in his presidency.
And, no doubt, more to come.
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Copyright 2017 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
49 responses to Trump obsessed with his ‘idiot box’
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Budda January 25th, 2017 at 06:43
So he has an Achilies heal. 60 Minutes etc. just need to report bad things about him and he’ll go off the rails on Monday.
Duke Woolworth January 25th, 2017 at 08:17
Try Achilles heel. And he’ll be off the rails within minutes, not hours, with unhinged tweets. Dig in for a long four years.
fahvel January 25th, 2017 at 09:24
many out side the usa do not see how it is possible for a fragile ego maniac to contain its teeny weeny touch of sanity for 4 years.
Suzanne McFly January 25th, 2017 at 09:53
Many of us in the US can’t believe he isn’t impeached yet.
Willys41 January 25th, 2017 at 10:58
Hell, it’s been 6 days. What’s the delay???
granpa.usthai January 26th, 2017 at 02:18
he’s been on vacation.
Willys41 January 26th, 2017 at 12:30
Yeah, but a lot of people seem to have forgotten all the thousand times Trump insulted all the leading republicans, to the point where most of them probably hate his guts. I think Robt Reich is correct. They’ll use Trump to sign some stuff then impeach him and blame him for everything bad.
crc3 January 26th, 2017 at 14:13
He needs to be sent packing on a PERMANENT “vacation” to the loony farm!
The Original Just Me January 25th, 2017 at 11:27
That will never happen with a Republican controlled Congress.
Suzanne McFly January 25th, 2017 at 17:33
When they realize he is taking them down with him, I bet they will. It has been proven that rump is the a$$hole that would throw all the crap to the fan and make sure it gets everyone, he won’t go down alone.
Duke Woolworth January 25th, 2017 at 11:40
Presidents are elected to a fdur year term, representatives for two, senators for six. Parliamentary systems such as in many other countries are subject via dismissal at any time.
crc3 January 25th, 2017 at 10:01
He’s not going to make four years. He’ll be lucky if it’s one…
Willys41 January 25th, 2017 at 10:58
I figured he’d succumb to a coronary in about six months just from the stress of constant criticism. But now I’m thinking it’ll be a psychotic break, or what the folks in the trade used to call a “nervous breakdown.”
granpa.usthai January 26th, 2017 at 02:17
OMG!
what if he starts peeing on the carpet when they’re putting the straightjacket on?
Willys41 January 26th, 2017 at 12:28
I’m thinking the reason Trump is up at all hours tweeting is because his old man kidneys need relief.
crc3 January 26th, 2017 at 14:11
No human being can deprive themself of sleep for too long without dire consequences. Hope those consequences are just on him and not the rest of us and the world…
crc3 January 26th, 2017 at 14:09
He should pee on those effin gold drapes he put in the WH….
robert January 25th, 2017 at 12:04
You give his defense attorneys too much credit.
Larry Schmitt January 25th, 2017 at 07:01
At least the headline included the two key words: trump and idiot.
Suzanne McFly January 25th, 2017 at 09:52
That is a good sign the article is truthful.
The Original Just Me January 25th, 2017 at 11:26
I though they were the same word. Oh, that is Republican and Idiot that are the same words isn’t it ?
anothertoothpick January 25th, 2017 at 07:45
pumpkin heads favorite tv character.
. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/215af3d95c489c8ccd6566c824e116245867b5cdde1665c72969293735a7d52e.jpg
granpa.usthai January 26th, 2017 at 02:13
along with captain cowardness.
mea_mark January 25th, 2017 at 08:39
So tRump is obsessed with mentally masturbating his ego with the TV … yup, it’s the era of #derp45.
robert January 25th, 2017 at 09:03
So that’s how the trumpster got his athletic physique
I never would have guessed
fahvel January 25th, 2017 at 09:22
so the press should be relentless in ripping him a new ahole – do not stop the barrage of negative negative comments. Keep them coming at such a pace that he has no time to be the fkn fake pres.
Suzanne McFly January 25th, 2017 at 09:39
I wonder what this narcissist would of became if his daddy didn’t have money. I am thinking a Jeffrey Dahmer type character.
Mensa Member January 25th, 2017 at 09:59
Or maybe clerk at the DMV, trumped up with minor power.
Suzanne McFly January 25th, 2017 at 10:21
But we need the DMV, they provide a service no matter how slowly they move while giving us the service. I can’t imagine rump would do anything as productive.
Willys41 January 25th, 2017 at 10:56
Without his father’s money to pay for lawyers to screw people, Trump would be living in a cardboard box and we would be dropping spare change in his ball cap in hopes that he would find a way to do something about that hair.
eyelashviper January 25th, 2017 at 11:40
Used car salesman in Tony Soprano country.
Suzanne McFly January 25th, 2017 at 17:34
He would end up in one of the trunks.
granpa.usthai January 26th, 2017 at 01:47
probably a back alley BJer for a dollar?
Suzanne McFly January 26th, 2017 at 12:28
Well he does have a vacuum in his head so that would help.
Mensa Member January 25th, 2017 at 09:53
Buried lead alert:
“watches “Morning Joe,” often for long periods of time, sometimes interrupted with texts to the hosts or panelists.”
He texts the hosts? Do they text back? How long has this been going on? Who else in the media is he directing?
eyelashviper January 25th, 2017 at 11:40
It has been long acknowledged that he and Joe Schmoe and Meeka have been in close contact throughout the campaign.
maggiemoo January 25th, 2017 at 12:35
Since the day he announced.
Hirightnow January 25th, 2017 at 10:11
Lord of Hosts, what have we done to offend thee?
Laura911 January 25th, 2017 at 11:12
He likes to watch.
http://www.rageboy.com/mbimages/being-there-i-like-2-watch-brdr.jpg
Ned Nutley January 25th, 2017 at 14:23
He’s a very arrogant, short tempered guy, when
he’s the top dog at his business and problems
happen, no one much goes against him, it will
be very different as president, lots of people will
be going against what he wants, the man child
president will be having lots of tantrums, hope
the press covers them with great detail, it will
drive him twitter crazy and KellyAnn
will have to come out and lie about the lies.
eyelashviper January 25th, 2017 at 14:34
Wonder if he has noticed this yet? Twitter might not be enough, he will order an airstrike.
‘RESIST’ must be our new and all encompassing motto, and we should all use it any any communication to the tRump and his deplorables.
http://img.wonkette.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31677994524_3014dcf664_o.jpg
granpa.usthai January 26th, 2017 at 02:07
Love the picture test his nominees go through. When he gets upset, he’ll be sitting there facing his own hand picked who’ve agreed that he’s a LIAR he’s demented, unable to face reality thus incapable of accomplishing anything but ruination.
William January 25th, 2017 at 14:45
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cba2c536caf2916cef191a66a4121c42f0fdb54bca1e40c8d293e7be879042ac.jpg
granpa.usthai January 26th, 2017 at 01:40
tiny hands play with tiny things.
anothertoothpick January 25th, 2017 at 16:04
Sad news;
Mary Tyler Moore, Television Legend, Dead at 80
robert January 25th, 2017 at 21:11
I was watching CNN cover this when Rob Reiner ( director ) told them he was one of the last to see her. Ironic how he was the first to give her the first job
Most didn’t know she was very ill
Larry Schmitt January 26th, 2017 at 04:22
That would be his father, Carl Reiner, who gave her her first job.
robert January 26th, 2017 at 07:19
Yea sorry I was thinking who his son was and wrote it down
My bad
amersham1046 January 25th, 2017 at 18:06
So was I, Saturday morning carttons