Althouse: "If Trump owned a media company, which advisors say he discussed when he believed he would lose the 2016 election, it might look something like 'Team Trump Online'..."

June 21, 2020

"If Trump owned a media company, which advisors say he discussed when he believed he would lose the 2016 election, it might look something like 'Team Trump Online'..."

"... the current production. And if he or his family start one after he leaves the White House, this could be the pilot. 'This is the warm-up act,' said Frank Sesno, a former CNN anchor and the director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. 'There's nothing he would like more than to throw his name on a channel, a digital brand'.... Biden, also hoping to reach supporters during the coronavirus shutdown, has a podcast called 'Here's the Deal' and appears at times on YouTube. But the Trump channel is on almost nightly, while Biden's shows are intermittent... [T]he content on Trump TV is purer, if a bit clunkier, than even on avowedly pro-Trump OANN. And the hosts are closer to Trump's inner circle. They include Donald Jr., his girlfriend and former Fox host Kimberly Guilfoyle, the president's daughter-in-law Lara Trump, and a small group of campaign officials and surrogates in the tight-knit Trump family troupe.... [U]nlike 'The View,' which has one conservative panelist to spark tension and debate, 'The Right View' hosts never disagree as they review current events. In a recent episode, they took turns blaming Biden 'for the dangerous "Defund the Police" movement.' The former vice president has specifically rejected calls to defund police.... 'Imagine what we would live in in Biden’s America — with open borders, no police and 'CornPop' on the radio,' [Katrina] Pierson said... Lara Trump laughed, and Guilfoyle, on a separate screen, smiled and said she can't get 'CornPop' out of her head...."

From "Trump gets an all-Trump channel. It could be his future" (MSN (originally L.A. Times)).

It sounds perfectly awful, but I think all the usual cable news channels are awful. As for network news — I never look at it. Haven't watched it since the 80s.

I have been assuming that if Trump loses the election, he will go on to found a significant media organization. I'm willing to believe he is some kind of media genius — "The Apprentice" and the 2016 political victory and his wild Twitter persona prove he is — and I think he's better at that and more suited to that than he is at being President. If he wins in 2020, he can never run again. He will be, forever, not a candidate. But if he loses, he can run again. From the sidelines, he can attack the new President and really swing freely. He can tease a 2024 run for the presidency the entire time and we can watch that crystalize (or not). He will be in his element.

But reading about Trump TV, I think: Where's the genius? This sounds awful. And yet, I don't expect the L.A. Times to make anything Trump does sound good. I could watch a little Trump TV myself, but to tell you the truth, I googled and I couldn't find it. Is there some internet conspiracy to hide it? Whatever. I don't really want to spend time watching this stuff, and I don't think what it is now proves what it will be once Trump is out of the White House and into the enterprise of building a media empire.

ADDED: I guess this is the YouTube channel. That's just the "Donald J Trump" YouTube page. There's no YouTube channel called "Team Trump Online." Not that I could find.

50 comments:

alanc709 said...: Is Kimberly Guilfoyle conservative? Her last husband was Gavin Newsom.; 6/21/20, 7:39 AM
Michael K said...: The LA Times has been unreadable for years, especially since the 2016 election. I trust nothing they print,; 6/21/20, 7:40 AM
MayBee said...: What? Netflix isn't going to give the Trumps a huge production deal?; 6/21/20, 7:45 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Team Trump

Is this what he is talking about?; 6/21/20, 8:07 AM
Fredrick said...: Trump, or his family, will certainly make a media company, he'll have a global following immediately as those ousted by FB, Twitter, etc would gravitate over, along with 100,000,000 people following him on his various social media accounts now. Staying power is another story entirely, but seeing the BLM conformity on everything from the center leftwards he'll have a big influence. Which is why the newly elected government would go after him with every piece of the DOJ they could bring to bear for every violation of law, real or imagined. Having watched the left chase Sarah Huckerbee Sanders out of the Red Hen in 2018 I'm pretty certain the same attitude, or worse as we see on display now, would prevail against anyone even suspected of having voted for him.; 6/21/20, 8:15 AM
Scott said...: Trump as a political leader is powerful. He has the ability to tap into and reflect back the frustration and fear of the voiceless majority.

Trump as a media personality is weak. He will have lots of followers but he won't provide effective pushback to the gaslight media's pervasive influence. He's a crusty old man with a bad haircut whose rhetorical skills are confused and ugly. After he's out of power, "Trump TV" will last until the money runs out, just like Al Gore's media venture.; 6/21/20, 8:16 AM
Amadeus 48 said...: Why would you believe anything about most things you read in a newspaper?

Here is a pro tip: most journalists aren't very good at thinking, and they have a hard time with math.; 6/21/20, 8:19 AM
Kevin said...: But if he loses, he can run again. From the sidelines, he can attack the new President and really swing freely. He can tease a 2024 run for the presidency the entire time and we can watch that crystalize (or not). He will be in his element.

Althouse discovers yet another reason to vote for Trump.; 6/21/20, 8:20 AM
Jeff Brokaw said...: I probably wouldn’t watch it much either, even though I support his mission. I’m just not a big political content TV or video person, for years now, in large part because it’s all DC insiders who exist mainly to kiss each other’s ass and therefore must necessarily treat the American people as Enemy #1. It’s so boring and so contrary to my interests.

But it would be wildly successful because there is a YUGE market for it. Rush won’t live forever, Drudge went over to the dark side, Fox News is mostly not very conservative any more except for Tucker and some of the other opinion content. There is now, and has been for many years, a *big* opportunity here and who better to do that than Trump himself?; 6/21/20, 8:22 AM
Spiros said...: The media has been immensely unfair to Mr. Trump, but in the end it has arrived at the truth. Trump is not a man who gets things done. He is incompetent and corrupt.; 6/21/20, 8:23 AM
Birkel said...: That alleged professor needs to be canceled because the alleged university who which shim works is racist.
How dare this alleged newspaper print the views of a Xerson who would support a slave owner?; 6/21/20, 8:40 AM
wsw said...: "What if Spartacus had a Piper Cub?" SNL, 1980 -wsw; 6/21/20, 8:41 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Oh...I was wrong. That wats500,000 people on YouTube watching the rally. Per the NYT so it MUST be true. Right? Just on YouTube.

We watched and switched back and forth between a couple of networks to see what the difference in coverage might be. Interesting. Then after about an hour got tired and went to ROKU.

The crowd scenes, when it was peaceful outside the Tulsa event, are impressive, no matter what anyone thinks about Trump. The crowd was huge.

Until...the violence happened, innocent peaceful people were threatened, and the outside speeches were prudently canceled. (I had my doubts about the outside speaking for a lot of reasons and glad that was cancelled.); 6/21/20, 8:45 AM
rcocean said...: I can't imagine what will happen to the USA if Trump loses but we have so many yellow dog Democrats, he probably will. It reminds me of 1968, we had riots in the streets, a no-win Vietnam war that was tearing the country apart, exploding crime, inflation, massive deficits, and a corrupt LBJ administration. Yet, Nixon only got 43% of the vote. Humphrey even won Texas! A few more votes in Calf, Ohio, and Illinois and we would've gotten 4 more years of the Democrat administration under President Humphrey.

Nothing in 1968 could get those D's to vote R. I'm afraid we're getting to the same point in 2020. You have so dead heads who will vote D, no matter what. God Help the USA.; 6/21/20, 8:59 AM
rcocean said...: The Lincoln project was supposedly involved too. This includes all the fake republicans like Mike schmidt and Rick Wilson (both McCainiacs). We dodged a bullet when McCain and his gang lost in 2008.; 6/21/20, 9:01 AM
Michael K said...: Rick Wilson must be desperate for money. I understand he is deep in BK with loans and taxes.; 6/21/20, 9:03 AM
Sebastian said...: "There is now, and has been for many years, a *big* opportunity here"

Yes. Not sure Trump is the one to fill the void, but I'm sure he and his family sense the opportunity.

Dilemma: make it all about Trump or unite the right?; 6/21/20, 9:05 AM
Michael K said...: Trump is not a man who gets things done. He is incompetent and corrupt.

Spiros has a blockbuster. He is a lefty ! Whodathunk.; 6/21/20, 9:06 AM
Freder Frederson said...: Until...the violence happened, innocent peaceful people were threatened, and the outside speeches were prudently canceled. (I had my doubts about the outside speaking for a lot of reasons and glad that was cancelled.)

What violence? Who was threatened? Do you have any evidence of this at all. The police arrested a woman (who went to the trouble of getting a ticket) for wearing an "I can't breathe" t shirt. Claimed she was trespassing. If there had been any violent counter-protests, the police and national guard would have been on them with the wrath of Thor.; 6/21/20, 9:12 AM
Birkel said...: The headline can be true if mind reading is now part of the "science" that Leftists love so well.

At what point did Trump believe he would lose?; 6/21/20, 9:14 AM
wild chicken said...: This is what I thought all along. A Trump news network!so I guess I read it somewhere. Only I fear Jared and Ivanka taking it over. Ugh.

Wouldn't it be awful if the whole internet became as bad as cable tv? Like the history channel devolving into ancient aliens, mtv turning into reality shows, A&E exploiting sick fat people etc.; 6/21/20, 9:17 AM
narciso said...: steve schmidt, the original dr. evil, yes a cnn hack, back from the era when they were more coy isn't really indicative of anything,; 6/21/20, 9:19 AM
Birkel said...: rcocean really absorbs all the negativity from the MSM.
Personally, I ignore know liars unless forced to pretend to give them a fair hearing.
Nobody forces me often.

Meanwhile, Hakeem Jeffries (Communist-NY) is off to Hearings II, Impeachment Boogaloo.

SSDD; 6/21/20, 9:28 AM
BUMBLE BEE said...: Kind counter Soetoro TV? It could happen.; 6/21/20, 9:31 AM
narciso said...: well they are thick like kudzu, every outlet including fox is deep inmeshed with their chinese overlords or qatari or iranian patrons, a thousand flowers bloom, only if they are the same color,; 6/21/20, 9:34 AM
Gunner said...: Someone should tell the LA Times that Meghan McCain is a NeverTrump liberal who happens to just not be a gun grabber.; 6/21/20, 9:38 AM
Michael K said...: What violence? Who was threatened? Do you have any evidence of this at all.

Freder knows only what he sees on CNN.; 6/21/20, 10:14 AM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: alanc709 said...
Is Kimberly Guilfoyle conservative? Her last husband was Gavin Newsom.

6/21/20, 7:39 AM

Being married to Newsom and seeing a Dem pol up close and personal might be exactly what turned her conservative.; 6/21/20, 10:27 AM
Darkisland said...: Why do you think Trump won't still be president in 2028 and beyond?

All the smart people, Clinton, Inga, biden, ARM and many more assure us that he won't leave office if he loses this year.

Me, I always see this as a reason to re-elect him. Why provoke a constitional crisis?

Sort of like the threat that if we do, antifa/blm/demmies will continue their shenanigans. Only electing Biden will stop the malarchy.

Mal (bad) archy (rule)

John Henry; 6/21/20, 10:33 AM
wendybar said...: alanc709 said...
Is Kimberly Guilfoyle conservative? Her last husband was Gavin Newsom.
6/21/20, 7:39 AM

A lot of us Conservatives were formal Democrats. We moved on when they became Progressives and started the regression of our country. In other words...we grew up.; 6/21/20, 10:47 AM
wendybar said...: I didn't know Freder was blind.; 6/21/20, 10:48 AM
bbkingfish said...: I'm all for Trump TV. As described by Prof. Althouse, it sounds like the Republicans' worst nightmare.; 6/21/20, 10:51 AM
Drago said...: Michael K: "Rick Wilson must be desperate for money. I understand he is deep in BK with loans and taxes."

400k in federal liens against him in addition to a Confederate Flag emblazoned cooler with a "The South Shall Rise Again" inscription that he proudly shows off!

Yep.

Hes one of the Lefties newest heroes and its hilarious.; 6/21/20, 11:05 AM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: Sounds like a nascent conservative MSNBC. Which is what the Right needs. And as is noted above, given all the Leftist goose-stepping in virtually every other venue, this thing would be a money hose.; 6/21/20, 11:32 AM
cubanbob said...: Thanks to the Murdock's boys Fox is slowly sliding left. After the 2024 election if Trump still has the energy and interest a real conservative network will drain Fox's audience.; 6/21/20, 12:09 PM
cubanbob said...: Blogger rcocean said...
I can't imagine what will happen to the USA if Trump loses but we have so many yellow dog Democrats, he probably will. It reminds me of 1968, we had riots in the streets, a no-win Vietnam war that was tearing the country apart, exploding crime, inflation, massive deficits, and a corrupt LBJ administration. Yet, Nixon only got 43% of the vote. Humphrey even won Texas! A few more votes in Calf, Ohio, and Illinois and we would've gotten 4 more years of the Democrat administration under President Humphrey.

Nothing in 1968 could get those D's to vote R. I'm afraid we're getting to the same point in 2020. You have so dead heads who will vote D, no matter what. God Help the USA."

And then came 1972.; 6/21/20, 12:10 PM
Rabel said...: "I have been assuming that if Trump loses the election, he will go on to found a significant media organization."

A better assumption is that if Trump loses he'll spend the rest of his life fighting for his freedom as vindictive federal and state prosecutors abandon all professionalism and respect for the law in an unceasing effort at a political persecution which will be supported by the Democratic Party, the never-Trumpers, some elements of the Judiciary, and, of course, the media.; 6/21/20, 12:22 PM
rehajm said...: I think he's better at that and more suited to that than he is at being President

That may be so and it's saying much about the man best suited to be President in a couple of generations. I couldn't think of anyone more suited to being President at this moment in time. Maybe Nigel Farage. Just get SCOTUS to redefine those words in that dusty old Constitution to modern times...; 6/21/20, 12:55 PM
Narayanan said...: description per https://www.conservapedia.com/John_Galt

... John Galt simply jammed the airwaves with his own signal that overrode every carrier wave.
... John Galt delivered his message: on voice only

--------======
so now Trump will add in visual TV ... all is proceeding according to plan; 6/21/20, 12:57 PM
Michael K said...: Blogger bbkingfish said...
I'm all for Trump TV. As described by Prof. Althouse, it sounds like the Republicans' worst nightmare.

And you are an expert on the Republicans' nightmares. Concern trolls are fun.; 6/21/20, 1:06 PM
bbkingfish said...: Where's the "concern?" I only see sarcasm...pretty obvious sarcasm.

If your comment indicates your analytic abilities, God help your patients.

Try again, Mikey.; 6/21/20, 1:51 PM
Michael K said...: bkingfish said...
Where's the "concern?" I only see sarcasm...pretty obvious sarcasm.

If your comment indicates your analytic abilities, God help your patients.

Try again, Mikey.

Apparently you are not familiar with the concept of a concern troll.

What that means, I will try to use no more than three syllable words. A troll like you expresses concern, like "I am all for ..." but with ill will.

I know you wish ill on anyone who doubts the leftist cause.; 6/21/20, 2:05 PM
tommyesq said...: Long post considering the last paragraph shows the underlying story to have been fake news.; 6/21/20, 2:17 PM
Michael K said...: Blogger rcocean said...
I can't imagine what will happen to the USA if Trump loses but we have so many yellow dog Democrats,

Gun sales will exceed supply until the Democrats can get organized. Where are those billions of rounds of ammo the Obama regime stockpiled?; 6/21/20, 3:11 PM
Inga said...: “Where's the "concern?" I only see sarcasm...pretty obvious sarcasm.

If your comment indicates your analytic abilities, God help your patients.

Try again, Mikey.”

Thank goodness he’s retired.; 6/21/20, 3:15 PM
Drago said...: Can one of the Althouse lefties tell me which Confederate Army George Washington commanded in the Civil War?

I ask because another GW statue has been vandalized in Baltimore and our Electric Boogaloo Fantasy Fan Club lefties have been assuring us they were coming after ONLY the Confederate monuments.

It was just weeks ago that our ChiCom aligned lefties were laughing and laughing and laughing at the mere thought that anyone would think that people beyond the Confederates would be targets of such actions.

Oh how our lefties laughed and laughed at that idea......right up to the moment when they began attacking Lincoln memorials and US Grant Statues and Gandhi statues and monuments to blacks who fought for the Union and on and on and on and on....

Thank goodness those Lenin statues remain untouched and protected by the lefties......; 6/21/20, 3:41 PM
narciso said...: it's beyond python level satire,

https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/mark-finkelstein/2020/06/21/msnbc-trump-fans-super-spreaders-blm-protesters-show; 6/21/20, 4:09 PM
bbkingfish said...: Your explanation doesn't float, Mikey. It's still just sarcasm.

If I am any kind of troll, i must be a pretty good one. You respond to a very high percentage of my not-very-serious droppings here, I notice, when I bother to check.

I, on the other hand, couldn't be bothered to read your bullshit if I had a gun pointed to my head.

Keep tryin' though, Mikey. You'll catch on to this reading comprehension eventually.; 6/21/20, 5:06 PM
narciso said...: isn't it curious,
https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/06/21/4-things-to-know-about-the-british-group-targeting-the-federalist/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FoundryConservativePolicyNews+%28The+Daily+Signal%29; 6/21/20, 5:15 PM
Michael K said...: If I am any kind of troll, i must be a pretty good one.

Oh yes. You are one step from shitting in the street.

I normally avoid attracting the attention of crazies. Sorry.; 6/21/20, 8:27 PM