Jake Tapper is quickly becoming the most dunked on man in legacy news. While ragging on figures like Rachel Maddow and Don Lemon has lost a bit of its luster, Tapper still presents himself as an ultra-serious newsman with impeccable credibility. Of course, his history paints a very different picture, as Trump has completely and thoroughly broken him.

As I wrote a few days ago, Tapper is the type of guy who’d rather go for the political gotcha than recognize how highly infectious diseases work, as if Joe Biden could have snapped his fingers and stopped COVID by shouting about masks more (see Jake Tapper Apparently Doesn’t Know How Infectious Diseases Work).

Tapper’s most common schtick is to pretend that he has deep sourcing within the Republican party. He’ll often put out tweets claiming that some anonymous official or consultant texted him, and of course, the “source” in question always tells Tapper exactly what he wants to hear. Convenient, right?

He tried that last night in response to the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett.

Last night a GOP consultant messaged me about this event: “If I’m ACB, I don’t go to this. Looks bad and she doesn’t need him anymore.” https://t.co/EZuhTds3m0

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 27, 2020

To be sure, Barrett is not there because she “needs” Donald Trump. She’s there because it’s her swearing-in ceremony and there is absolutely no reason for her not to go. After receiving a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, her mind is likely not on politics, but enjoying the moment with her family. Part of that is partaking in an event where the President honors her and she is officially placed on the court.

The Federalist’s Mollie Hemingway, never a stranger to a good dunk, went airborne on Tapper in response to his assertion.

No offense, but literally no GOP consultant with even a modicum of political savvy or common sense would suggest a Supreme Court Justice not attend her own swearing in at the White House. So if this anonymous person exists, you can stop relying on him for GOP perspective. https://t.co/TLwK99hCca

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 27, 2020

You know what though? Maybe Tapper’s source is real, because it’s exactly the kind of idiocy you’d expect from a Republican consultant dwelling within the beltway. These people still haven’t figured out that Trump is not the cause of any of this. He was the response to the elitist abandonment of the party by “consultants” such as the one Tapper claims to be quoting.

"Top-tier consulting" is what the folks who make up the Lincoln Project provided to the GOP for many, many years.

— Varad Mehta (@varadmehta) October 27, 2020

I’d say the source in question here being a part of the Lincoln Project is a good bet. Those are exactly the kinds of loser, know-nothing political consultants who haven’t won a big race in over a decade and who would think advising Barrett to skip her swearing-in was smart or necessary.

Which one messaged you, Jake? https://t.co/Q9iR7a2bKq pic.twitter.com/KBMIhbWuZw

— Amber Athey (@amber_athey) October 27, 2020

No follow ups for this esteemed 'source', Jake?
Such as,
– ''Why would a GOP consultant hold this position?''
– ''What specifically 'looks bad' about this event?''
– ''Steve, does Rick Wilson spend all day in Lincoln Project offices pounding White Claws rage-tweeting misogyny?'' https://t.co/j10RBRmAPp

— Brad Slager Mail-splaining and Voter Resignation (@MartiniShark) October 27, 2020

so this is the talking point? that ACB should've declined to attend her own swearing-in ceremony?

think i found tapper's anon "GOP consultant." https://t.co/naoRThVrKD

— tsar becket adams (@BecketAdams) October 27, 2020

Tapper’s credibility was blown long ago. He had a chance to remain measured during the Trump era, just reporting the news. Instead, he decided to go full Jim Acosta in his highly opinionated commentary disguised as hard news. That’s on him.

(Please follow me on Twitter! @bonchieredstate)