Topic: Newsmax
When Donald Trump delcared that his arrest was imminent -- the predicted date turned out to be false -- Newsmax snapped into action, repeatedly freaking out over the pronouncement and continuing to host people defending him even though his predicted date had long past, falsely portraying that failed prediction that a New York grand jury investigating him had decided not to charge Trump at all. Still, Mark Schulte wrote a pre-emptive March 29 column attacking Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, claming that his investigation of Trump was "egregiously dishonoring a nationally prominent prosecutor's office."
When a credible media outlet reported on March 30 that the grand jury decided to indict Trump after all, Newsmax snapped into action again to peddle new outrage. Its first story on the development was a wire story, followed by copy-and-pasting Trump's response. Newsmax then hyped Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' declaration that he would fight Trump's extradition to New York for arraignment, but didn't mention that DeSantis has no power to actually do that and is obligated by federal law to not interfere -- and anyway, that was followed by a one-paragraph wire article noting that Trump and the Manhattan district attorney have been in contact to arrange surrender. Then came another wire article dclaiming that some Trump adversaries "fear the first-ever prosecution of a former US president could be a loser that undermines more consequential cases."
There were a couple more news-related items:
Then the freakout started anew:
- Lara Trump to Newsmax: Indictment Persecution, Not Prosecution
- Trump's Sons Dis Indictment; Niece Mary Applauds
- Senior GOP, 2024 Hopefuls, Rally Behind Trump (wire article)
- Dick Morris to Newsmax: Trump 'Defiant' Amid Indictment
- Trump Attorney Tacopina to Newsmax: Indictment Sign Rule of Law Is Dying
The next day, there were a couple news-type articles:
- Bragg's Office Asks GOP Leaders to Pull Back Demands
- Biden Refuses to Answer Questions About Trump Indictment
- Trump Scheduled to Be Arraigned Tuesday at 2:15 PM ET
But Newsmax really ramped up the attacks:
- Pelosi: Like 'Everyone,' Trump Can 'Prove Innocence'
- Giuliani to Newsmax: Trump Case Dismissible for 'Obvious Reasons'
- Matthew Whitaker to Newsmax: Lot of Ways Trump Can Beat Charges
- Rep. Rosendale to Newsmax: Trump Indictment is Election Interference
- Ric Grenell to Newsmax: Now US Has 'Indicted the Opposition Leader'
- Peter Navarro to Newsmax: 'Brothers in Arms; This Will Not Stand'
- Alan Dershowitz: 'Never Seen Case Like This, Banana Republic Time!'
- Rep. Lesko to Newsmax: Dems Want Trump to Win Primary
- Rep. Burchett to Newsmax: Trump Indictment has 'Taken a Toll'
- Rep. Moore to Newsmax: Rally Behind Trump With Ham Sandwiches
- Rep. Donalds to Newsmax: Trump Will Gain Support From Indictment
- Trump Asks 'Where's Hunter?' Following Indictment
- Trump Slams NYC Judge Set to Preside Over His Case
- Soros Denies Any Connection to Alvin Bragg
- Giuliani to Newsmax: 30-40 Crimes on Hunter Biden Laptop
- Whitaker to Newsmax: Trump Arraignment Will Be 'Massive Circus'
- Trump Raises Over $4M After Indictment
- Legal Experts to Newsmax: Bragg Misconduct 'Tough' to Prove
- Trump Lawyer Tacopina to Newsmax: Arraignment 'The Likes We've Never Seen'
- Polls: Indictment Sways GOP Favor Trump's Way
- Rep. Biggs to Newsmax: Congress Can Hold Bragg Accountable
- Trump Lawyer Halligan to Newsmax: Bragg's Actions 'Prosecutorial Misconduct'
That's at least 27 attack articles Newsmax published since the indictment was announced. That's the kind of stenographical Trump-fluffing Newsmax had to convince DirecTV it couldn't do without.
Newsmax also published a March 31 commentary by Garrett Ventry asserting that the indictment of Trump was "un-American" and based on a "faulty legal theory; it represents the latest weaponization of the justice system — against Trump." Newsmax, however, prefaced the column with an editor's note to distance it from the opinion: "The following article has not been authored by an attorney. It does not constitute a legal opinion by Newsmax."
