Thanks Denise. Many would agree with that. My thought was once he was invited they could have used the opportunity to speak more forcefully against the administration's attacks on freedom of the press.
The man is a moron, disgusting, a criminal ……what possible outcome can there be? Would you invite him to an event? Any event? A yes, a sentencing for his crimes. I will join you.
In that moment when Trump went after Kaitlan Collins, I was hoping all those 'stunned, silenced' reporters would stand, surround, and collect Kaitlan, and leave the room. Imagine Trump continuing his speech with only sycophants left. It's like when the dentist gives you a dye pill to chew, so you can see where the bacteria and decay really is.
It's reported that CNN executives are rethinking their attendance at future dinners. Not sure why they didn't walk out then and there as you suggest. Some say walking out would have been seen as a political act. Standing up for decency, the First Amendment and a free press is political? Journalists have the means to make change. Frankly, that's why I became a journalist. I wanted to give voice to the voiceless, those without power. Now, many journalists amplify the powerful often at the expense of those with little or no power.
Ian excellent point. Walking out would have made a statement. As we know as former journalists it is difficult to do something like that because - in normal times- that wold be seen as partisan. These are not normal times.
This is an excellent example of why he’s not fit to be President, and never has been.
I could go through media starting with his nomination at the RNC, and point out why he’s never been fit to sleep in the White House, almost everyday, based not on his past, purely on his actions in office.
Not once has he ever laughed at a joke that he didn’t tell. That is a crazy and ridiculous kind of existence. It’s damn sure not the kind of existence of a US President. It’s not like we’ve never had a President who’s an asshole. But they still managed to appear to be statesmen.
The Senate emphasis and new report tying corruption to affordability: Some further resources & suggestions and groups/activities to tie into—good for all Dem candidates across the board. See links to pieces at bottom of this message.
Today’s Punchbowl News: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is looking to put a spotlight on Democrats’ case that President Donald Trump is making billions of dollars personally off his office while the cost-of-living climbs for average Americans. The effort ties right in with a central part of Democrats’ campaign messaging. Senate Democrats argue that Trump and administration officials have served themselves in ways that have contributed to rising prices. Here’s Schumer in a statement on the effort: “Trump has betrayed the American people by using our highest office not for the good of country, but to pad his own bank account, at the expense of working families. Senate Democrats are launching this effort to expose the corruption, show Americans exactly what it is costing them, and build the reforms needed to stop any president from using public office for personal profit.”
1 The Senate Report
Tours, messaging plans, and reports promoting the corruption-affordability connection:
2 'Kick Out Corruption' Tour Links Trump Grift to Affordability Crisis
Eric Lee/Reuters: A Democrat-aligned group is pushing party leadership to link affordability and corruption through a 3 Cost of Corruption - Defend The Vote messaging plan. “You have to marry the overwhelming and excessive costs that Americans are facing — you have to marry that with corruption in government,” Defend the Vote executive director Brian Lemek said. This week, the group briefed the party’s campaign arm and purple-district candidates on a poll of 1,000 voters in battleground districts from mid-May and focus groups from April on the issue. Although the polling found voters viewed both parties unfavorably, and about a quarter of voters said they trusted neither party to tackle corruption, respondents still ranked the cost of living and corruption in Washington as their top two issues. That has some Democrats hoping they can fill the trust vacuum and ride it to midterm gains.
• The American Economic Liberties Project and Groundwork Collaborative released a joint 4 report detailing how President Donald Trump’s unprecedented corruption is padding his own pockets at the expense of US taxpayers. The report—titled “The Price of Corruption: How Trump’s Pay-to-Play Administration is Driving Up Costs for Working Families. In other words, it is not just unfair that the rich are benefitting while others are hurting. It is that in many cases the corruption itself is causing the hurting. Great examples here to highlight.
Four comprehensive proposals regarding affordability to work from:
• 5 Chamber of Progress: Steps Democrats Can Take to Tackle the Cost of Living in 2025 and Beyond: 025 and Beyond 025 and Beyond: A Roadmap for Policymakers
• 6 New Democrat Coalition: New Dems Unveil Affordability Agenda, the Coalition’s Answer to the Cost of Living Crisis | New Democrat Coalition.
• 7 The Real Affordability Agenda - Google Docs
• 8 CPC New Affordability Agenda - 4-29-26 - Google Docs
Thanks Denise. Many would agree with that. My thought was once he was invited they could have used the opportunity to speak more forcefully against the administration's attacks on freedom of the press.
The man is a moron, disgusting, a criminal ……what possible outcome can there be? Would you invite him to an event? Any event? A yes, a sentencing for his crimes. I will join you.
I think they should have all stood up and walked out - live coverage! Priceless!
They had to know how he’d behave what he’s say, why stay for that?!
Think how ticked off he would have been if only “his media” had been left. Basically an empty room. He would have lost it!
Great article, Lisa. Kudos to you for standing up for the first amendment! ❤️
Lauren thanks for your kind words. There are many people standing right with me. Thanks to all individuals and groups who are fighting back.
In that moment when Trump went after Kaitlan Collins, I was hoping all those 'stunned, silenced' reporters would stand, surround, and collect Kaitlan, and leave the room. Imagine Trump continuing his speech with only sycophants left. It's like when the dentist gives you a dye pill to chew, so you can see where the bacteria and decay really is.
It's reported that CNN executives are rethinking their attendance at future dinners. Not sure why they didn't walk out then and there as you suggest. Some say walking out would have been seen as a political act. Standing up for decency, the First Amendment and a free press is political? Journalists have the means to make change. Frankly, that's why I became a journalist. I wanted to give voice to the voiceless, those without power. Now, many journalists amplify the powerful often at the expense of those with little or no power.
Ian excellent point. Walking out would have made a statement. As we know as former journalists it is difficult to do something like that because - in normal times- that wold be seen as partisan. These are not normal times.
He should never have been invited.
This is an excellent example of why he’s not fit to be President, and never has been.
I could go through media starting with his nomination at the RNC, and point out why he’s never been fit to sleep in the White House, almost everyday, based not on his past, purely on his actions in office.
Not once has he ever laughed at a joke that he didn’t tell. That is a crazy and ridiculous kind of existence. It’s damn sure not the kind of existence of a US President. It’s not like we’ve never had a President who’s an asshole. But they still managed to appear to be statesmen.
Lock him up!
DO WHAT ED MURROW WOULD DO.
Well he knew what to do with Senator Joseph McCarthy..
The Senate emphasis and new report tying corruption to affordability: Some further resources & suggestions and groups/activities to tie into—good for all Dem candidates across the board. See links to pieces at bottom of this message.
Today’s Punchbowl News: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is looking to put a spotlight on Democrats’ case that President Donald Trump is making billions of dollars personally off his office while the cost-of-living climbs for average Americans. The effort ties right in with a central part of Democrats’ campaign messaging. Senate Democrats argue that Trump and administration officials have served themselves in ways that have contributed to rising prices. Here’s Schumer in a statement on the effort: “Trump has betrayed the American people by using our highest office not for the good of country, but to pad his own bank account, at the expense of working families. Senate Democrats are launching this effort to expose the corruption, show Americans exactly what it is costing them, and build the reforms needed to stop any president from using public office for personal profit.”
1 The Senate Report
Tours, messaging plans, and reports promoting the corruption-affordability connection:
2 'Kick Out Corruption' Tour Links Trump Grift to Affordability Crisis
Eric Lee/Reuters: A Democrat-aligned group is pushing party leadership to link affordability and corruption through a 3 Cost of Corruption - Defend The Vote messaging plan. “You have to marry the overwhelming and excessive costs that Americans are facing — you have to marry that with corruption in government,” Defend the Vote executive director Brian Lemek said. This week, the group briefed the party’s campaign arm and purple-district candidates on a poll of 1,000 voters in battleground districts from mid-May and focus groups from April on the issue. Although the polling found voters viewed both parties unfavorably, and about a quarter of voters said they trusted neither party to tackle corruption, respondents still ranked the cost of living and corruption in Washington as their top two issues. That has some Democrats hoping they can fill the trust vacuum and ride it to midterm gains.
• The American Economic Liberties Project and Groundwork Collaborative released a joint 4 report detailing how President Donald Trump’s unprecedented corruption is padding his own pockets at the expense of US taxpayers. The report—titled “The Price of Corruption: How Trump’s Pay-to-Play Administration is Driving Up Costs for Working Families. In other words, it is not just unfair that the rich are benefitting while others are hurting. It is that in many cases the corruption itself is causing the hurting. Great examples here to highlight.
Four comprehensive proposals regarding affordability to work from:
• 5 Chamber of Progress: Steps Democrats Can Take to Tackle the Cost of Living in 2025 and Beyond: 025 and Beyond 025 and Beyond: A Roadmap for Policymakers
• 6 New Democrat Coalition: New Dems Unveil Affordability Agenda, the Coalition’s Answer to the Cost of Living Crisis | New Democrat Coalition.
• 7 The Real Affordability Agenda - Google Docs
• 8 CPC New Affordability Agenda - 4-29-26 - Google Docs
1 https://punchbowl.news/senate_democrats_trump_corruption_report/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7/20/26%20AM:&utm_term=Punchbowl%20AM%20and%20Active%20Subscribers%20from%20Memberful%20Combined
2 https://btlonline.org/kick-out-corruption-tour-links-trump-grift-to-affordability-crisis-2/
3 https://wedefendthevote.org/cost-of-corruption-2/
4 https://www.economicliberties.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Price-of-Corruption.pdf
5 https://progresschamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ChoP_Cost-of-Living-Roadmap-for-Democrats.pdf
6 https://newdemocratcoalition.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-dems-unveil-affordability-agenda-the-coalitions-answer-to-the-cost-of-living-crisis
7 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SfAChwy667waf5M9ox3SOiBphzLOFNuBDIe8XgNMCcI/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.97ksfglids8p
8 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JTJG5viBybX-b_7-W7b6pdG-P_uY0ISZ7nCaQfaIyfY/edit?tab=t.0