Media is largely ignoring the defeat of ISIS

Joe Concha:

ISIS — and particularly its expanding caliphate — used to be a major news story in this country. Defeating the terror army that largely stretched across Syria and Iraq was a major campaign topic in 2016.

So one would think, after the ISIS de facto capital of Raqqa was liberated from the terror group by U.S-backed Syrian and Kurdish forces on Tuesday, that the story would dominate news coverage.

But it didn't. Not even close.

Need proof? Check out the breakdown of 48 questions asked during Wednesday's White House press briefing, the first to be held since Raqqa fell less than 24 hours prior.


But before doing so, please note that White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders made the liberation of Raqqa the focus of her statement to the press before the Q&A session began.

"As many of you will recall, one of President Trump's core campaign promises was to defeat ISIS. With the stunning fall of Mosul in June, and now with ISIS nearly eradicated from Raqqa, it is clear that ISIS's so-called caliphate is crumbling across Iraq and Syria," Sanders said.

"This eminent victory by the global coalition and our brave service members comes at a high cost," she continued, "particularly to the Syrian Democratic Forces who suffered many casualties as they fought to liberate their own country from the oppression of ISIS."

So that was what Sanders attempted to make the administration's lede. And it's a worthy one. That's not saying it should dictate what reporters should ask, of course, but one would think the topic would be broached in the form of a question in at least the first 40 questions asked.

It did not.

Here's what the White House press corps decided the narrative would be on Wednesday instead.

Topic most covered: controversy over President Trump's delay in contacting service members killed in action after an ambush in Niger/feud with Democratic congresswoman over remarks made to one KIA soldier's family. That got 25 questions total out of 48 total questions asked.

Coming in second were questions on tax reform/tax cuts (6 questions), followed by health care (3), California wildfires (2), James Comey (2), 20-week abortion ban (1), Fed chair appointment (1), opioid epidemic (1), renewable fuel standards during conversation with Iowa governor (1), NFL anthem protests (1), bump-stock ban (1), Puerto Rico (1), NAFTA (1), Kurdish plan for independence from Iraq (1).

The 48rd and final question concerned the ISIS fall in Raqqa. It came from Trey Yingst of One America News Network, a right-leaning cable news network headquartered in San Diego.

"You opened up at the top discussing the liberation of Raqqa," Yingst noted. "So my question for you is: How does the president envision future U.S. involvement in both Syria and Iraq, post-ISIS?"

Add it all up, and 52 percent of the questions asked of the press secretary focused on the president's calls to fallen soldiers and a fight with a Democratic congresswoman over one call where both sides dispute what was said.
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There is more.

Also, another huge story that is being ignored is the fact that unemployment claims have dropped to their lowest level in 44 years.  The unemployment rate has dropped dramatically since Trump took office and started deregulating the economy. 

The media is actively suppressing good news that might boost support for the administration.  Their hatred runs so deep they look for excuses to avoid good news by trying to dramatize Democrat attacks.