On Wednesday, Donald Trump was interviewed via phone by Matt Lauer. Lauer, a genuinely nice guy, is not a heavyweight in the world of journalism. Coming off the flack he received by his wimpy moderation of the pre-debate debate between Trump and Clinton, Laurer was prepared to do some hard talk, this time around. What resulted was Lauer badgering Trump about issues that will have minimal impact on anyone’s life: Trump’s overuse of Twitter and his anger over the way he is portrayed on Saturday Night Live.
Call Life in the Boomer Lane a party pooper (or any other catchy description using alliteration), but with the wealth of swill that we are all treading water in right now, surely Laurer could have come up with something of substance. The Laurer interview had LBL thinking once again about what these interviews would look like if journalists took a different tack with Trump.
First off, reminding Trump of anything he has said in the past is the trip to nowhere. He changes his mind so frequently and denies what he has said so frequently, that asking him to defend or explain what he said is like asking someone with amnesia to explain his former actions. The bottom line is who cares anyway. His words are meaningless. They have minimal syllables and a short shelf life.
Second, Trump’s addiction to Tweeting is a fact of life. We may believe it to be unseemly for a President of the United States to engage in such a low form of communication, but short bursts of thought, with no explanation, serve him well.
Trump’s Tweets about Saturday Night Live (or Hamilton, or any other form of popular entertainment) aren’t even worth thinking about, given the far more weighty issues at hand. Worse, we read the Tweets and believe they have some kind of message for us, regarding what is going on in Trump’s mind or, even more significantly, what his intentions are. The reality is that Trump has no intentions, aside from personal gain or the search for adoration. What he has are reactions, and his reactions change from moment to moment, depending on who he is talking to.
LBL would like a moratorium on all questions directed to Trump about anything he has ever said in the past, or about his Tweets about anything at all. Instead, she would like journalists to address themselves solely to asking him in-depth questions about what he has actually done, which would now primarily be the people he has nominated for Cabinet positions. For example, someone should ask him what specific reasons he had for nominating Ben Carson for director of HUD. Then, after Trump talks about what a great guy Carson is and how great they get along with each other, he should be asked the question again. And again. And again. Until there is a specific answer.
The next question should be “What specific actions do you believe Carson (or Jeff Sessions or James Mattis or Tom Price) will take as director of HUD (or Attorney General or Secretary of Defense or HHS) followed by something like, “What impact, specifically, will Carson have on the bilateral and multilateral relationships at HUD?” (Note to Readers: The last question was not an actual suggestion. But it sounded really good, so LBL threw it in.)
The point is not to embarrass Trump or to confuse him. It’s an attempt to treat him as though he actually has deep thoughts about his actions. As his constiuents, we have a right to ask him to share how he arrived at such decisions. LBL suspects that Laurer (or any other journalist) wouldn’t have grilled Obama at length about his basketball strategy, as though that mattered. Let’s afford Trump the same degree of scrutiny that we would any other leader. For LBL, personally, the words “great” “fantastic” “terrific” “tremendous” “loser” “weak” “lightweight” and “disaster” may work on the stump, but they are not acceptable explanations for presidential decisions.
Trump is about to be the President of the United States. Let’s stop treating him like a deranged five-year-old and start holding him accountable to the office he will be inhabiting.
Life in the Boomer Lane 
Kate Crimmins
December 8, 2016
I still can’t believe it.
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 11, 2016
I know. We are all dreaming the same dream. I don’t know about you, but my mom is no longer available to wake me up and send me off to school.
Donna Cameron
December 8, 2016
Yes! If only journalists and media outlets would adopt this sensible strategy. Maybe the fact that Trump is an empty suit topped by an empty head will then become evident to all. I fear the media are more interested in collecting outrageous sound bites. You’re right that this is a test journalism is failing (while Trump and his cronies laugh).
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 11, 2016
My biggest fear is that, in addition to the “I’m OK, You’re Ok” mentality, we will have “My Reality is OK, and So is Yours.”
Keith
December 8, 2016
Renee, this is very well said. I had a friend who used Trump’s words as an argument against my concern over the environment and retreat on fighting climate change under his Presidency. I simply said this man’s history has revealed his words lack veracity, so we should watch his actions.
He has picked two client change deniers to lead the EPA transition efforts and department. Those actions speak more loudly than his saying he now will look at the Paris agreement, rather than tear it up as promised on the campaign trail.
It should be noted that The Weather Channel ripped Breitbart News and select members of Congress a new one for cherry picking data to support a claim the planet is cooling. With Steve Bannon on board as a strategic advisor, that also speaks volumes where Trump’s head is at.
So, he needs to be questioned why he is running against the tide on these issues.
Keith
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 11, 2016
You bring up a good point. We need to hear the sane voices of The Weather Channel and every other weather authority in the country. I’ve been unhappy with The Weather Channel for some time now. Like all news, they now concentrate on screaming headlines and coverage of wild stories in oder to get people to read. Instead they should be focused on telling people the truth of what’s happening. And I am outraged every time a weather person on the news says something like “Wow!!! This has been the warmest summer/mildest winter on record!!!” as though it’s some wonderful thing.
Keith
December 11, 2016
Agreed. Sources who have credibility need to use that to educate. Politicians used to do that, correcting people about ill-conceived notions. Now, too many politicians count on their ignorance and exploit it, as did our President-elect. Bannon’s appointment tends to support that misinformation and disinformation tactics will continue.
Retirementallychallenged.com
December 8, 2016
But that would mean that the media (other than a few shining lights who already are) would have to do their job. Silly LBL.
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 11, 2016
If I were a praying person, I would pray that the Trump administration propels the media toward invesgitative journalism and advocacy. Wishful thinking, I know.
Pat Skene
December 8, 2016
Well said. I’m so exhausted from the whole thing. Sad!
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 11, 2016
I think we are all exhausted.
Andrew Reynolds
December 8, 2016
The news needs to stop treating tweets as news. I say random things all day long, my coworkers and wife generally just ignore them.
The president elect has the ability to piss everyone off. Give him time, and everyone will be mad at him.
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 11, 2016
Ad, would that it would actually happen.
Bonnie J.
December 8, 2016
The so called journalists have been revealed across the board as more interested in ratings than reporting the truth. That’s partly why they did not see the Trump win coming… They do not get out of their bubble areas enough to understand the rest of the country. If Trump and his cabinet officers are disasters, we will know fairly soon, and it will be time for midterm elections and a correction.
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 11, 2016
Ratings (i.e.: money) is the name of the game. And money will always win out. Yes, I’m hoping there is a correction as a result of the midterm elections.
shanjeniah
December 9, 2016
This is so well-expressed. My mother had a favorite saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” Although grammatically incorrect, it’s true. Saying words is easy; so is tweeting them. As a native of upstate New York, I’ve seen more than enough of the President-elect’s actions not to give his words, written or spoken, much weight.
Tell us why, as a reasoning adult, if you can, sir.
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 11, 2016
His words are meaningless. His actions are often inexplicable. But his choices for cabinet positions do show an alarming trend. And, once he takes office, he will be able to act in other matters as well. I’m not optimistic about any of it.
Gail
December 9, 2016
Excellent point, LBL. With the exception of NPR, news today is primarily entertainment news, managed by execs who prioritize ratings and advertising revenue. News has been dumbed down for quite a while, which has been annoying for years but is now becoming dangerous. Rather than indulging viewers in social media-style news, they should be helping us wade through the muck.
I disagree with your assessment that Trump is treated like a deranged child. Children are put in their place and taught there are consequences for their actions. I think news shows treat politicians like celebrities/ the flavor of the day whose behaviors are entertaining and inconsequential.
The president-elect and his destructive team are people in power who can seriously impact the course of this country and, through diplomatic relations, the rest of the world. If newscasters practice due diligence in questioning Trump, perhaps the electors would take notice for their upcoming vote to protect us from an incompetent leader, which was a primary reason the electoral college was created.
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 11, 2016
Thanks for these comments, Gail. We’ve got a perfect storm brewing now of European nationalism, the rise of Russia and Trump’s obvious goal of allying himself with a leader who he admires. The result could be a coalition of US muscle and Russian oil. The folks who voted for Trump will still be waiting for jobs, and Europe will suffer mightily, while Trump and Putin wallow in the trillions made from their alliance. Kleptocracy will be the name of the game. Unlikely that the rest of the world will simply stand by and watch.
Gail
December 11, 2016
You have literally sent chills up my spine, but thank you for expanding my vocabulary. I had to look up “kleptocracy,” and that is in fact the perfect term for the diabolical Trump/Putin partnership.
that little voice
December 9, 2016
So right you are. We need to understand his reasoning in selecting his choices for important posts. Why did he pick someone? What will these people bring to the table? etc., etc.
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 11, 2016
So far, all roads lead to a domestic alliance of billionaires and an international alliance with Russia. I’d like Trump to tell me how these things serve the American people. I’m waiting.
Blackboomersjourneys.com
December 10, 2016
Unfortunately, sensible journalism is lost. The media treated the President-elect as a celebrity instead of someone who was running for the top job in the world. His sweeping generalizations were accepted without question – “everything will be great- everyone will be happy.” For all of those who have felt tired of struggling and weary of trying to find a way each day, along with all of the -ist out there. He is a welcome change. The media have lost their chance to hold him accountable for anything. Like we say the “horse is out of the gate.” There is no way to catch it.”
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 11, 2016
Agreed. We worship celebrity, and now we have made a celeb our president. I’d still like to see journalistic resources thrown into getting at the truth of the Russian influence in the election, the pro-Russian leading choice for Sec of State, and the huge fallout that is about to occur. One thing for sure: the promises made to his followers will get lost in the shuffle of billionaires and Russian diplomacy. I want to fast forward a year and ask these folks, “So, how’s it going?”
Sasha from Camac Street
December 10, 2016
My view: He thoroughly enjoys the attention and stir his tweets cause; if everyone’s talking about the tweets, attention is diverted from the real issues. He’s so playing us. He’s totally incapable of a press conference since he has a severely limited vocabulary, inane thought processes and, oh yeah, no real idea of what it takes to govern this nation. I’m looking forward to tonight’s SNL. Love Alec Baldwin, but then, too quickly, I come back to reality and the dismay that a narcissistic, corrupt, vengeful cretin is going to be………gag, I can’t even finish this sentence.
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 11, 2016
All true, Sash. Soon, SNL will have to find someone to play Putin, since our fates will be tied to his. And things will get worse. Much, much worse.
Gail
December 11, 2016
I look forward to the comic relief too. Trump said SNL is a terrible show that won’t last. Hope that’s not a threat. As long as shows like SNL are on the air, I can take some comfort that we still live in America and can speak our minds.
Life in the Boomer Lane
December 12, 2016
I just watched the SNL news from Sat night. Hilarious, and so tragic that it’s come to this. now Trump dismisses the CIA and the major news networks. Hes on a roll.