Axios co-founders Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen joined Bari Weiss on Tuesday to discuss why they believe confidence in the mainstream press continues to plummet. But while they admitted some uncomfortable truths that should challenge the establishment they work in, they still managed to insult everyone's intelligence by the end. 

In short, you can admit a problem and still completely miss the cause, at which point you've done nothing to solve the problem. Take what VandeHei said as a perfect example. 

Axios founder @JimVandeHei says trust in American media collapsed in three phases.

1. Twitter exposed the political bias of “objective” journalists.

2. Coverage of Covid, “defund the police,” and word policing didn’t sit right with Americans.

3. The lack of coverage around Joe… pic.twitter.com/aTpxAZQrYr

— Honestly with Bari Weiss (@thehonestlypod) April 8, 2025

On the merits, he's right. Social media has exposed the rank political bias of "objective" journalists. The censorship during COVID-19, coupled with the hypocrisy of the "defund the police" movement, which excused rioting by people breaking the very mitigation measures the press lauded, was a backbreaker. And sure, the cowardice shown in not reporting honestly about Joe Biden's senility was probably the final straw. 

The problem with all that is that VandeHei seems to be under the impression he's not part of the problem. In fact, he claims that it's only a few "bad apples" that ruined it for the rest of the industry. I've got news for him: That's a laughably wrong read of the room. 

Not only was VandeHei himself part of the conglomerate covering up scandals, from Biden's health to the Biden family's corrupt dealings, but almost the entirety of the mainstream press did the same. This wasn't a few bad apples. It was the entire bushel. If people like VandeHei, who fancy themselves leaders in the industry, won't admit that, then the downward spiral will simply continue. 

Then there was Allen's commentary, which I'd say was even worse. 

Axios founder @MikeAllen says the media’s failure to cover Biden’s mental decline “was all the worst parts of ‘reporter brain’ coming together.”

Reporters had “an insecurity, a herd mentality… The herd wanted the approval of the White House. They didn't want to look like they… pic.twitter.com/ZGSOxDpxb5

— Honestly with Bari Weiss (@thehonestlypod) April 8, 2025

Yes, Mike, the reason reporters repeatedly lied about Biden's mental decline was that they didn't want to "look like they were being ideological." Where's that head beating against the wall meme when you need it? 

The lack of coverage and outright obfuscation over Biden's senility was not "reporter brain." It was a conscious, partisan decision made by outlets because they felt telling the truth would harm their political pursuits. In the end, President Donald Trump won anyway, leaving egg all over their faces. Now, they want to try to rewrite history, claiming it was just a few "bad apples" when they were almost all knowingly involved in the cover-up. 

ALSO SEE: Axios Has a Total Meltdown Because They Can't Control Narratives Anymore

TDS-Induced Brain Rot Leads Axios Founder to Float Bizarro Theory About Trump's 2028 Plans

The takeaway here is that nothing is going to change. If the press can't look in the mirror and see themselves as the issue, then the status quo will continue. They'll try to cover their backsides over what happened in 2024 while preparing to do it all over again during the next election cycle.

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