The Point: Joe Biden doesn't want to meet the press

View this email in your browser   June 7, 2021  | by Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski Joe Biden doesn't want to meet the press Joe Biden has been president of the United States for 138 days. And in that time, he has held a total of ONE formal news conference.   Asked about that paucity of pressers -- ahem! -- on Sunday by CNN's Brian Stelter, White House press secretary Jen Psaki replied that Biden "takes questions several times a week."   If that quote rings a bell, it's because it's almost exactly how former President Donald Trump's press shop defended his own lack of news conferences.   "President Trump is more accessible than most modern presidents and frequently takes questions from the press," then-White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told the Associated Press in late April 2018 after Trump faced criticism for having held just a single formal press conference to that point in his presidency.   Democrats who were regularly up in arms about the Trump administration's approach to the media have now taken to defending Biden's approach by insisting he's been very busy dealing vaccinating the country and dealing with the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Which is, without question, a massive undertaking!   At the same time, the amount that Biden is doing or seeking to do -- $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package, trillions in proposed infrastructure spending, an overhaul of election laws etc. -- is historic. And as such, would benefit from the President explaining it and taking questions from reporters on his approach and thinking.    There's also this: Biden premised his entire 2020 candidacy on the idea that he would hold himself to a higher standard than Trump. And that he would do so not just because he thought it was personally important but because the nation needed a more transparency in the White House.   Given that, echoing a Sanders excuse for why the President isn't holding more press conferences isn't exactly a good look. And finally this: Scads of reporting from a variety of outlets makes clear that the Biden White House is actively working to limit his exposure to the media.    Wrote Politico in April:   "Three months in, Joe Biden's White House has settled on a firm press strategy: First, do no self-harm. ... It's the Hippocratic Oath for engagement with the fourth estate. And if it means criticism from the press and opponents about Biden's availability, so be it."   The Point: Biden's lack of direct engagement with the press is on purpose -- and strategic. That's true whether or not Psaki (or the rest of the White House) wants to acknowledge it.   -- Chris QUOTE OF THE DAY "You know, calling people names, with all due respect, is not very useful." -- Texas Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar on some Democrats' response to Sen. Joe Manchin coming out against the House bill that would expand voting rights. MONDAY'S MUST-SEE TWEETS 1. "The new Mitch McConnell"... 2. ... and why name-calling doesn't work 3. Nightmare fuel courtesy of Tim Cook 4. Bruuuuuuuuuuce (with vaccination!) 5. Yes, the novelty of cicadas has worn off 6. USA! USA!  CHRIS' GOOD READS This is amazing data visualization of Donald Trump's influence both before and after his bans from social media. Kudos to The New York Times.   Speaking of the Times, I loved this Ben Smith piece on Anthony Weiner and the impossibility of a comeback.   Republicans swept key Texas races  -- including electing a GOPer as mayor of McAllen, the first since 1997 -- over the weekend, according to the National Review.   This Vice piece on how to craft the perfect celebrity apology is eye-opening.  Also, Chrissy Teigen is bad now, according to Vox.   The Washington Post's Steven Goff is right -- Sunday was a HUGE night for American men's soccer. MUSICAL INTERLUDE Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram and Jon Randall took a trip to West Texas amid the Covid-19 pandemic to make some music together. "The Marfa Tapes" is the amazing result. HARRIS' MESSAGE ABROAD Vice President Kamala Harris issued a straightforward statement to those in the Northern Triangle considering making the dangerous journey to the US-Mexico border to cross illegally.   "Do not come," Harris said, repeating: "Do not come."   Harris spoke on Monday in her first news conference as vice president in Guatemala City alongside President Alejandro Giammattei, after she met with the President in a bilateral meeting.   President Joe Biden delivered the same message in March in response to a surge of unaccompanied migrant children coming to the US.   Harris later sidestepped answering a question on whether her message of "do not come" to potential undocumented migrants, is a result of a failed Biden administration policy work trying to stem the flow across the border, according to CNN's Jasmine Wright.   This trip is Harris' first diplomatic test as she looks to tackle the root causes of migration toward the US in her full day of meetings in Guatemala. ONE BIG LABEL 'Socialism' The word most effectively used by Republicans against Democratic candidates in 2020, according to a post-mortem of the 2020 election compiled by a series of Democratic advocacy groups. According to the analysis, Chris writes, the socialism attack was the one that stung the most.  You are receiving this message because you subscribed to CNN's The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. Unsubscribe from this list Check out other CNN Newsletters Create your CNN Account Share the Point Newsletter Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get The Point in your inbox.   Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. You can follow Chris and Lauren on Twitter and connect with The Point on: Our mailing address is: One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303   Copyright © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., All rights reserved.

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