The New York Times seemed invigorated in its coverage of nationwide "Hands Off" anti-Trump protests on Saturday. The funniest part? The story by a trio of Times reporters had zero ideological labels -- no "liberal," "left-wing," "progressive," "socialist," you name it.
Reporters Shaila Dewan, Minho Kim, and Katie Benner began with gush:
They came out in defense of national parks and small businesses, public education and health care for veterans, abortion rights and fair elections. They marched against tariffs and oligarchs, dark money and fascism, the deportation of legal immigrants and the Department of Government Efficiency.
Demonstrators had no shortage of causes as they gathered in towns and cities across the country on Saturday to protest President Trump’s agenda. Rallies were planned in all 50 states, and images posted on social media showed dense crowds in places as diverse as St. Augustine, Fla.; Salt Lake City and rainy Frankfort, Ky.
There were references to Democrats, as in lacking passion.
The mass action, with the deliberately open-ended name “Hands Off!,” was planned at a time when many Democrats have bemoaned what they see as a lack of strong resistance to Mr. Trump. The president has moved aggressively to punish people and institutions that he views as out of step with his ideology.
Don Westhoff, a 59-year-old accountant, was another first-time protester. He voiced outrage at the administration but had words for Democrats as well, saying they needed an infusion of younger leaders to oppose the president.
There were no "left-wing" labels, but "right-wing" made it!
Right-wing slogans like “Stop the Steal” were co-opted in defense of Social Security, medical care and cancer research.
Quite a contrast in labeling with the liberal paper's "March for Life" protest story by Elisabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer back in January, with NINE uses of "anti-abortion," from the start: "Anti-abortion activists are charging ahead with their ultimate mission to end all abortions nationwide, freshly emboldened by powerful allies in Washington, a continued Supreme Court majority and legislative opportunities in conservative states." There were three "conservative" labels. This was the liveliest labeling section:
Standing among the thousands of abortion protesters — largely school and church groups and families cheering in the cold as speakers praised Mr. Trump’s anti-abortion actions — were three members of the president’s domestic policy council.
Such steps and symbolism amounted to a signal after a presidential campaign during which Mr. Trump pushed anti-abortion leaders to the outskirts of the Republican Party. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago with the Dobbs decision, many Republicans worried that the anti-abortion cause had become a political liability among independent voters.
But now that electoral politicking is over, anti-abortion activists are facing the question of just how far they can go.
Here's the joke: When protesters and "objective" reporters are so clearly in ideological sync, the protesters magically become just as non-ideological as the reporters pretend to be.
Demonstrators gathered across the U.S. on Saturday for a day of protest against President Trump and his policies. Read more: nyti.ms/3Ebi0oi
— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) April 5, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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