Jake Tapper’s Biden Book Exposes Journalism’s Blind Spot on Obvious Truths

In a twist that’s as surprising as a plot hole in a summer blockbuster, CNN’s Jake Tapper has co-authored a book, Original Sin, with Axios’ Alex Thompson, spilling the tea on the Biden administration’s less-than-stellar moments. The book, released hot on the heels of the 2024 election, claims to expose the inner workings of a White House that, according to Tapper, was shrouded in deception. But here’s the kicker: Tapper’s revelation that conservative media got the scoop on Biden’s unfitness for office without insider sources raises a big question about what journalism is supposed to be.

Tapper admitted on CBS News that conservative outlets were “all over” Biden’s public gaffes and awkward moments, piecing together the puzzle of his decline with nothing but their own eyes and common sense. Meanwhile, Tapper and Thompson leaned on insider sources who, surprise surprise, spent years spinning tales taller than a D.C. monument. Now, these same sources are pointing fingers at Hunter Biden, painting him as the mastermind behind the curtain. It’s a convenient narrative that lets everyone off the hook—except it smells more like a PR stunt than a Pulitzer-worthy exposé.

The real story here isn’t just Biden’s stumbles; it’s how journalists like Tapper got played by their own game. For too long, the post-Watergate obsession with ‘gotcha’ scoops has turned reporters into stenographers for anonymous sources with agendas. As George Orwell put it, real journalism is about printing what power doesn’t want you to know—everything else is just public relations. Tapper and Thompson’s reliance on insider whispers blinded them to what was obvious to anyone watching Biden’s public appearances: the man wasn’t up to the job.

Contrast that with the current political scene, where Donald Trump owns every headline, from wild policy moves to hosting glitzy events at his resorts. There’s no need to dig for hidden truths when the story is shouted from the rooftops. The lesson? Journalism needs to get back to reporting what’s in plain sight, not chasing shadows for the next big scoop. Until then, Americans will keep rolling their eyes at the likes of Tapper and Thompson, who missed the forest for the trees.