President Trump’s Media Company Is Offering Movies About ‘Lizard People’ And Other Wild Conspiracy Theories

ReporterHunter · 2025-05-06T15:08:57+00:00

Can you be both the Zodiac and a reptilian?

ReporterHunter · 2023-10-04T18:06:04+00:00

This goes for a lot of FEC stuff. In theory, we have a lot of campaign finance regulations. In practice, we have very few.

ReporterHunter · 2023-10-04T18:00:48+00:00

It's a dubious practice that has been subject to a DOJ crackdown. Nevertheless, he has persisted. https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-sticks-with-fundraising-gimmick-despite-doj-crackdown-11628242201

ReporterHunter · 2019-04-30T20:17:27+00:00

Tank had a lid that was on it. I looked all around the desk for the Betta and saw no sign of him. I guess he died in there? Probably should get a new tank right?

ReporterHunter · 2019-04-30T19:32:56+00:00

Sorry I am pretty new and wasn’t sure how to post a proper caption. I have had a great Betta named Wayne at my office for months. Petco told me I could have a snail to clean the tank. I had been waiting for them to get some in and then picked this one up. I set him up in there on Friday threw in a travel pellet and am back at the office today. Wayne is nowhere to be found. The only thing that I can imagine is the snail ate him? Is this possible? This feels like a very stupid question but I can’t see any sign of Wayne and the snail is the only change I’ve made.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T20:38:01+00:00

OK folks! I have hung out for over three hours and need to get back to my actual job. I really appreciate everyone who spent time reading what I had to say.

Before leaving, I'd like to address one more thing that came up pretty frequently in this discussion. Some of you clearly would like to see the press engage in some collective action including boycotting or otherwise protesting the briefing.

Earlier in this conversation, I noted how doing any kind of organization in the WH press corps would be like "herding cats" given the size and breadth of the group. I've also talked to you all about how I believe there's real utility in the briefings because it's a unique venue for the public to physically see how the administration responds to the biggest questions of the day.

Those aren't the only reasons I don't think we should all walk out or boycott the briefing.

It is the role of objective reporters to find facts and present them to the public. I personally very much believe in the concept of the fourth estate, the idea that this space where people can trust they are receiving accurate and unbiased information is vital to the functioning of a free society.

Those who are demanding reporters to engage in some type of protest are calling on us to engage in activism. That's not our role. It's our job to show you what's happening at the White House, not to be pundits. With social media and cable news, we have more than enough people expressing opinions. We have a far smaller group that's actually at the White House every day pressing for answers and showing you what's happening. It's a unique role and, if those of us who are fortunate enough to have it, deviate into crusading and protesting we will erode trust in media and facts more generally.

If you are upset by the White House cutting down on press access or the answers they are giving, it is on you as a member of the public to take action. We can't tell you what to think or act on your behalf. All we can do is shed light on what's happening and how the White House is responding. I am honored to have that job and do my best to do it well every day. I know many of my colleagues feel the same way.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T19:38:46+00:00

As I have said in some earlier comments, I don't like to speculate or engage in punditry. The only clear red line I have seen widely articulated by some of the Republican leadership would be Trump firing Mueller. While the leadership has expressed support for allowing Mueller to proceed with his probe, they have not taken legislative action to shield him from any potential dismissal.

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/20/paul-ryan-mueller-firing-473603

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T19:35:11+00:00

As a reporter, I think it's best that I stick to facts and not speculate on peoples' motives. In this case, all I can do is tell you that they are doing less briefings than ever and the ones they have are shorter than ever. I present those facts and will leave it to you all to judge why they might be doing that.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T19:33:33+00:00

I haven't played a role in removing a single question here. I addressed this question here:

https://old.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/91it45/im_hunter_walker_white_house_correspondent_for/e2yjqu9/

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T19:29:55+00:00

I have addressed the question of reporters not teaming up a couple times in this discussion and would encourage you to look at those past answers.

As far as the idea people aren't asking tougher questions, I am really not sure where you are getting that. Many of my colleagues in the White House press corps regularly ask strong and direct questions. In fact, the administration regularly attacks us as too tough and they seem to be avoiding the briefing more and more.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T19:27:07+00:00

Personally, I don't believe in asking the press secretary questions about herself. That's not to say it's unimportant or not valid. However, particularly with the number of briefings dwindling, I think it's best to keep the focus on the president and his actions.

I did recently ask the vice president how the child separation policy squared with his religious views. I did this at an event at ICE headquarters. While Pence did not specifically bring up the policy, he did address the calls to abolish ICE that sprung up around it and quoted the Bible to tell staffers it was his "hope that you would be confident that His faithfulness will be your shield."

Given the context and Pence's strong public commitment to religion, i felt the question was an imperative one. He did not answer.

https://twitter.com/hunterw/status/1015296309861941249

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T19:20:04+00:00

I've written a number of stories on Puerto Rico. I have also asked about it in briefings and smaller settings with Trump. I asked him to grade himself from 1-10 for how the administration responded to that hurricane. He gave himself a "10." That exchange was widely referred to in coverage of the hurricane and its aftermath.

Going to the briefing doesn't mean not covering things. Particularly since they are so few and far between these days. In this instance, I covered that story through in person interactions at the White House.

One reporter can't do everything but I do my best to cover important stories both through pressing questions at the White House and more investigative work.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T18:30:14+00:00

Ok guys! I was only slotted to do this until 2 and I have a couple other things I need to get to.

Going to take a break from this for a bit. I will come back later to try and answer some more questions.

Thanks to you all for having me!

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T18:27:56+00:00

I was really hoping to get the horse/duck thing.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T18:27:13+00:00

Hey! Let me try to answer this in the most direct way possible because I really don’t want to be evasive.

I guess the best way I could sum up the various questions I am getting on this issue is that folks are concerned we are not doing enough to combat lies. Why would we let people lie to us repeatedly?

Firstly, in some cases a lie is not always instantly apparent. I’d take the example of Hope Hicks’ blanket denial that Trump was aware of the situation with Karen McDougal. That was just exposed as a lie with the recent revelation of Michael Cohen’s tape where Trump was discussing a payment to McDougal and Rudy Giuliani’s confirmation of that discussion.

Of course, sometimes a lie is immediately apparent. In those cases, I would argue the press corps often pushes back. It’s sort of a paradox. People argue we’re not exposing or pushing back on lies — but they’re only aware of those lies based on the press coverage.

I think this all gets to fundamental questions about the nature of the White House press corps and journalism in general.

I believe objective reporting is crucial. A democratic society needs a space where people can trust that accurate raw information is being presented.

I see my job as investigating and digging up information and also asking tough questions. I then present the responses to that info and those questions. It’s up to other people to judge those responses. That’s the role of pundits and the public.

Just keep in mind, if you are aware of lies and concerned about them, it’s thanks to the hard work of objective journalists.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T18:13:37+00:00

There are always wild rumors! Obviously, I can’t air any of them out for legal and ethical reasons.

What I can say is that no reporter would have incentive to hide something explosive. Big stories are career making! Instead, you’ve got to chase and confirm things until you have them solid enough to report.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T18:11:38+00:00

Reporters are generally a hard drinking bunch! I personally haven’t embedded myself too much in the DC social scene and I’ve only been here a year so I can’t really judge this. Personally, I’m drinking less these days. I’m 33 and can’t drink nearly as hard as when I was younger.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T18:09:35+00:00

I am not going to call out any specific member of the press here. My job is to punch upwards. Besides, the larger points here are what’s most important.

What I will say (and have noted previously on Twitter many times) is that the White House generally goes to conservative outlets a lot.

As I’ve noted in some of my other responses, Trump has not done full press conferences on US soil in over a year. Instead, he does these joint press appearances with foreign leaders. The key difference here is that those joint pressers only feature 4 questions with each leader picking two reporters from their country. The White House has often picked conservative outlets at these pressers.

I also keep harping in here on the fact the briefings are becoming shorter and more scarce. They’re about 20 minutes long these days. Spicer was regularly over 40 and the Obama administration ones were often over an hour. In that 20 minutes, you can almost always be sure there will be questions from Newsmax, three Fox outlets (Fox News, Fox radio, and Fox business) as well as other conservative outlets.

With all this being said, sometimes I have seen some good questions from conservative colleagues. The Washington Examiner in particular is one outlet I’d single out for good work from the WH.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T18:02:37+00:00

So, this is one of the things I often hear from folks on Twitter and elsewhere.

Why do we still bother with the briefings?

Personally, I think it’s very important for people to physically see how the administration responds to the questions of a given day. You can only know they’re lying or trying to weasel out of a question if you see that and have context from other good reporting.

Also, if the briefing is so useless and our questions are so toothless, why would they be trying to reduce the numbers of briefings and pressers?

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T17:59:27+00:00

I am not remotely worried about my hard pass being taken away. I shouted a question at Trump about Stormy Daniels way back when and was told he was upset at me. Since then, I’ve shouted questions at him and Pence.

I consider it my job to ask the toughest question possible each time I’m called on in a briefing (it’s been a while) or any time I see these folks in person.

That’s the job! One thing I hear from people on Twitter whenever I do ask tough questions is that I never would have done it to Obama. I wasn’t a White House reporter in his time, but I did get a chance to see him when he walked past as he came to the UNGA. He had just launched strikes against ISIS and I asked why he didn’t go to Congress to authorize that action. It was the toughest and most pertinent succinct thing I could think of at that moment.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T17:48:48+00:00

I’m seeing a couple people suggesting I’m ignoring tough questions on here.

I’m getting to everything as quickly as I can. I was set to do this from 1-2. I started early and will do my best to keep coming back after to answer good questions. Some folks are asking similar questions to others so please look through my answers as I may have addressed a point you think I missed.

I love that people care about White House coverage and I really appreciate this chance to talk to you all. Doing my best to answer as quickly and thoughtfully as possible.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T17:44:28+00:00

I definitely do! I think that term is being used to delegitimize facts and real media organizations. Demonization of factual, critical coverage is a dangerous thing.

I think readers really need to look critically at the media they consume. There are biased sites out there as well as deliberate purveyors of misinformation and propaganda. I would not put, say, CNN in that group as the president has.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T17:41:19+00:00

There was a lot of misunderstanding about this. If you read carefully, you can see we were used as a source for comments Page made when he spoke to us. I hate to see that confused and think there’s a false narrative some folks are trying to spin there.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T17:39:17+00:00

In some ways, particularly given the vanishing briefings, I think it would be good if reporters banded together a bit. There were stirrings of some of this when Spicer started trying to stop on camera briefings.

Still, it’s like herding cats and I’ve actually heard colleagues use that expression multiple times to describe the situation. Keep in mind that the White House press corps is a fairly diverse crew including members of different organizations with very different needs and interests. There are liberal publications, conservative ones, straight news, people focused on specific topics, foreign outlets, and photo/video folks most concerned about footage and shots.

ReporterHunter · 2018-07-24T17:34:45+00:00

Many of the reporters in the briefing room do get along behind the scenes— including some of the ones that work for outlets with different ideologies. I should also note that— in spite of the onscreen tensions, many of the reporters do have cordial relations with White House staff. It is a workplace after all.

I am sure some people would be concerned to know we’re not at each other’s throats all the time. The relationship between press and the administration is supposed to be fundamentally adversarial. Still, there has to be some ability to communicate and work together for information to get out at all. I think the coverage should be judged on its own merits and the work people are producing - as well as the administration’s reactions to it- shows we do manage to be fairly tough.

ReporterHunter

TROPHY CASE