Is It Surprising That New York Can’t Even Identify A Journalist?
Journalists and journalism in general are becoming increasingly difficult to find. The talking heads we see on TV or the internet, or hear on the radio, are far too often seeking individual notoriety rather than reporting or discussing the news of the day. I am absolutely not against someone stating their opinion on a subject; there are so many outlandish things happening today that, in most cases, it’s impossible not to have an opinion.
That said, even with so many “pseudo-journalists” out there, most people could still identify individuals who are clearly not journalists, but then again, that would require some objective common sense, and we are talking about New York City.
The issue at hand is determining which journalists should receive press passes for trials, particularly for high-profile cases. In New York, the NYPD used to make these decisions; however, under former Mayor Eric Adams, an independent office was established to manage the process. Unfortunately, based on the results, this new system does not appear to be functioning as it should.
Last year at the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial, too many of his supporters were granted press credentials so they could sit with the media. The same thing is happening now with the Luigi Mangione murder trial.
In case you can’t remember, Mangione is on trial for killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan.
Now, a new controversy has arisen because three individuals who clearly should not have been given press passes have appeared in a foul-mouthed video bad-mouthing Brian Thompson, the victim, as well as his family.
Proving the concept that even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut, even Mayor Zohran Mamdani is on the right side of this one. After seeing the video, he said that the credentials issued to three specific individuals should not have been approved.
“Those three individuals shouldn’t have press passes.”
Mamdani said the city is now reviewing the system as media consumption and reporting continue to evolve.
“What we should have is a process that people can trust. The nature of news — how it is reported, how it is consumed — has changed. The city has to keep up with that. We have to ensure that if a New Yorker is getting their news in this manner, we also treat that legitimately.”
“However, what we’re talking with regards to the three press passes that were reported on yesterday, that is not within that debate. What we need to do is put forward a process that is one where people can look at it and say, ‘This is actually acknowledging the different ways in which to report. That’s what we are reviewing right now, is how to put that together.”
In the video, one Mangione supporter says, “The fact that you can get dismissed as a juror is completely bullsh*t.”
Another suggested that Brian Thompson’s kids are better off without him.
These three obnoxious airheads shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near this or any courtroom. They call themselves “Mangionistas.” Their grand plan is to set up tables outside the courthouse in September, when the trial begins, to educate the public about jury nullification, which occurs when jurors believe the defendant committed the crime but vote to acquit anyway.
Even Mangione’s legal team doesn’t get in line with these idiots. In a statement released by attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said:
“These individuals do not represent the views of Luigi, nor the tens of thousands who have shown their support from around the world. The only people who speak for Luigi are his attorneys. We condemn these vile and irresponsible statements that have no place in the discourse around these cases.”
Fox News reported that Rojas and Lena Weissbrot made their statements while wearing press badges issued by the Office of Media and Entertainment of Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“Why are activist morons impersonating reporters?” the New York Post’s Miranda Devine asked.
Investigative journalist Michele McPhee commented, “I cannot believe they were issued press passes! Incredibly dangerous. And what exactly are their qualifications? We really need to stop treating influencers like journalists.”
They have no qualifications, but they probably do have valves on the backs of their heads that, if someone can get them open,will just fly away.
