Axios co-founder Jim VandeHei was buried in an avalanche of derision for promoting a story on X — replete with two police car light emojis — that President Joe Biden uses notes when speaking.
The story, written by Hans Nichols in the Axios "brevity" style that is long on bullet points and short on details, stated that "Biden's reliance on notecards to help explain his own policy positions — on questions he knows are coming — is raising concerns among some donors about Biden's age."
However, reading deeper into the report, Nichols added, "Most recent presidents — including Trump, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Barack Obama — have carried crib notes, or used teleprompters, to help guide them through various public events and meetings. In Biden's case, donors have noticed he's also using notecards in private events."
Noting VandeHei's two-alarm promotion of the story, critics were quick to call the Axio CEO out with one commenter, a former member of the U.S. Senate Leadership Staff, writing, "I hate to break it to you (and donors) that all politicians use notes and note cards. Politicians are scripted most of the time. So this is not shocking."
The pile-on continued with William K. Wolfrum asking, "This is a two-alarm scoop, Jim?"
"I don’t understand. You quote by name a donor who was 'impressed' by Biden, but not 'some donors' who expressed concern. How many donors is 'some,' and why won’t they give their names?" pointed out commenter Andy Cohen with William Gill adding, "This is absurd. Every diplomat, no matter their age, uses notecards and talking points. Biden’s staff are known for trying to keep him on topic and it’s unsurprising they give him more detailed notes for donor events. It’s a more informed crowd and these events are prone to leak."
Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann contributed, "Do you guys own mirrors? Journalistic standards? Consciences?"
"Give me a f-ing break. This is a story looking for a purpose. All pols use notes. I've worked for Obama, Biden, Dukakis, Mondale, Baxter, HRC, Vilsack, and 15 foreign heads of state. Everyone got a 3 x 5 with deets from me at each stop," David B. Wheeler pointed out.
Frequent X comment Holy Bullies, suggested, "Y'all need to quit," while Steve Z joked, "Trump called Israel the capital of Israel yesterday. Maybe he should have used a note card."
Multiple comments were quick to point out VandeHei using notes when interviewing Don Trump Jr. while including a screenshot:
"A ridiculous premise for a political hit job disguised as a journalistic piece," wrote Jay Lee with Thing Sandwich asking, "You’re actually the CEO of Axios? What an embarrassment for your company."
