Pulitzer Prize Dis-Honors: Biden's Polls Broken, Canadian Pets Choking, and a Dogg Is Caught Smoking

Our weekly recognition of less-than-meritorious excellence in journalism is worthy of Pulitzer Prize consideration.

As an extension of the media-mocking venture at Townhall, Riffed From The Headlines, we once again recognize the exalted performances in our journalism industry and compile worthy submissions to the Pulitzer Prize board in numerous categories. To properly recognize the low watermark in the press, let us get right to the latest exemplars of journalistic mis-excellence.

Distinguished Breaking News

Jaclyn Hendricks — New York Post

There was a significant amount of attention on Sunday surrounding the hip-hop spectacle that was the Super Bowl halftime show. Snoop Dogg was one of the stars who performed. The Post has come out with a breaking EXCLUSIVE that is hardly either of those things. The man who built an entire career around his affinity for smoking pot was seen just before his performance – get this – smoking pot.

Snoop Dogg smokes weed right before star-studded Super Bowl 2022 halftime show https://t.co/OAASrB8z1U pic.twitter.com/APThhSBIav

— New York Post (@nypost) February 14, 2022

Distinguished Explanatory Reporting

Chris Cillizza — CNN

Joe Biden’s first year has delivered some of the harshest data seen for a new president. His approval numbers eroded faster than a sand dune in a tidal wave, his party is witnessing a mounting list of THIRTY retirements ahead of an assured GOP surge, and there is not a political topic where he is viewed favorably. Now, a new poll shows how bad things have become within the Democratic Party, as they asked Dems if they want Biden to run again in 2024, and the result shows 51% said they want another candidate. Looking at that staggeringly bad result, Chris Cillizza finds good news – in the form of a restaurant metaphor.

He states that once another candidate is defined, then Biden will seem better…somehow. The way this supposedly works, if you regret your fish order, you may want something else, but if you could ONLY order chicken, then somehow you are satisfied with the dead fish Biden…I think…?

“Now, consider that same scenario, except that when you are halfway done with the too-fishy fish, the waiter comes over and says that they would be happy to exchange your fish for the chicken entree. Now, you already chose the fish over the chicken for some reason — maybe you didn’t like how it was prepared or maybe you just didn’t feel like chicken. You are FAR more likely to stick with the fish in this scenario.”

I…have nothing. Just know this – in the same poll, after Barack Obama’s first year, 80% said they wanted him to run again.

Why Joe Biden's 2024 numbers aren't as bad as they seemhttps://t.co/F4cADMqjSE

— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) February 14, 2022

Distinguished International Reporting

Joseph Tunney — Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

It has become rather clear the Canadian media outlets are none too thrilled with the truckers’ protest in Ottawa. As a sign of how the objectivity-free news media operates North of the Border look at how we only hear negative reports and little in the form of balanced reporting on the cause behind the occupation.

Taking things to the next level was this CBC report, detailing the real danger of the semis in the Capital — Canadian pets could be made uncomfortable!

Ottawa protest placing added stress on pets, says veterinarian https://t.co/jPtVXZUFNW #ottnews #ottawa pic.twitter.com/tQrTfQFK1r

— CBC Ottawa (@CBCOttawa) February 15, 2022

Distinguished Local Reporting

Marilys Llanos — Telemundo 51-Miami

In the state of Florida, there is great mirth in watching Democrat Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried operating with the belief that she will unseat Governor Ron DeSantis in the coming election. Her not-at-all racist comment recently made is a clear indication of how well things are going — and her words not generating any media outrage is a sign of the propping up she will require to have a fighting chance.

As an example of her struggle with media, campaigning, and common sense, Fried sat for an interview with a South Florida Spanish language affiliate, and she explained her technique with reaching out to Hispanic voters.

“I talk slow”, said @NikkiFried to Miami’s @Telemundo51 when asked about how she engages Hispanics in her #FLGOV primary campaign. 😬 pic.twitter.com/iMga5ucvUB

— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) February 11, 2022

Distinguished Editorial Writing

Paul Waldman — Washington Post

The press continues to grapple with explaining away the Joe Biden program of government-supplied drug paraphernalia. Paul Waldman attempted to join in on the Biden Defense team, and he makes the attempt of impugning Republicans as racist. The problem; in order for there to be racism, we have to start with this columnist insisting that crack cocaine is a “black drug.”

At issue is the Washington Free Beacon’s initial report, where Waldman pounces on conservatives suggesting crack pipes are involved, in order to imply racial intent.

“This is race-baiting, pure and simple. Crack cocaine is associated in the public mind with Black people in cities (even though people of all races have used it), just as crystal meth is associated with White people in rural areas (even though people of all races have used that, too).”

Except, the supposed racist report he cites mentions both of the products – those that Waldman assigned a race to – as his “black” and his “white” drugs are both mentioned as being used with the White House-supplied drug smoking kits.

When they're not complaining about being unfairly called racist, Republicans are searching for new race-baiting fake controversies they can gin up:https://t.co/4VRZ6ALhRM

— Paul Waldman (@paulwaldman1) February 11, 2022

Distinguished Public Service

Graham Richardson — CTV News

As another example of the state-favoring media in Canada, Richardson here got hold of the recently exposed list of donors to the truckers protest, and he went to work. Unfazed that the list was from an illegal hack of the GiveSendGo fundraising platform, Richardson went about scouring the exposed names and contacting numerous individuals, challenging them to explain their actions in giving money to the cause.

Bad enough that he was perfectly comfortable engaging in this Stassi-like activity on behalf of protecting the federal government, but Richardson also bragged about his brown-shirt investigation.

Have spent the last two days calling local people who have donated to the trucker convoy. Including a former MP, several business owners, health care professionals and a property developer. Trying to understand why they support this. Very few calls back #ottnews #OccupiedOttawa

— Graham Richardson (@grahamctv) February 15, 2022

Distinguished International Reporting

Laura Hatala — CNET

As the Winter Olympics were just underway, we gave you the oddly hilarious story of the Chinese authorities clamping down on foreign journalists. That Chi-Com censors decided to carry out their muzzling live on the air was a severe display of ineptitude on their part. Now, we have another example that is a bit more subtle but just as amusing.

There has been some consternation here in the States that American-born freestyle skier Eileen Gu has decided to participate as a Chinese athlete due to her mother’s heritage. As a sign of her struggle to maintain the proper image for her adopted country, Gu decided to respond to charges that China silences people online and on social media. After she was asked how it was that she posted entries on Instagram when that platform was banned in China, Gu responded with a cheery answer that getting a virtual private network was very easy, offering this as proof that the Chi-coms were not as censorious as people claimed.

Soon after, Gu’s posting was censored by Chi-Com authorities.