Donald Trump is news. But this is not 2016. Both those things can be true at the same time.
When Donald Trump burst onto the scene in 2015, there was nothing like him in modern political history. The billionaire businessman turned media superstar turned frontrunner for President of the United States. We had never seen anything like this in American history.
But it’s 2024. Donald Trump spent four years in office and had a tumultuous end to his term. The American people have suffered through four years of Joe Biden, and now we’re set for the rematch no one really wanted, but it seems like the rematch America deserves.
Now, Donald Trump finds himself in and out of a courtroom. And based on the media’s coverage across the political spectrum, you’d think it was 2016, not 2024. 2024 Donald Trump is not 2016 Donald Trump. Athletes, musicians, and celebrities all lose their shine over time. That doesn’t mean Donald Trump can’t be an effective President if re-elected. He can be. However, the level of general public interest is not where it was nearly a decade ago.
Yes, it’s a big deal that an ex-President, who also happens to be the 2024 GOP nominee, is a big deal, but the media’s attempt to turn it into O.J. Simpson 2.0 and “The Trial of the Century” is comical.
Every morning, I see cable news with a little box showing Donald Trump’s black SUV as people anxiously await his transportation to the courthouse.
No. One. Cares.
To be fair, I shouldn’t say that. The Trump Derangement Syndrome folks care, and those rocking MAGA hats care, but the majority of the population is not nearly as interested as the news media makes this out to be.
Part of this is because the state of New York and the Department of Justice have incessantly weaponized the law to hammer Donald Trump with lawsuit after lawsuit. People can’t keep track and don’t care enough to. They’ve formed their opinions of Donald Trump, and at this point, there’s little to no curiosity left from the public as to who he is, what he’s about, and whether or not they like him. They’ve made up their mind.
So, if you’re a local host, what’s the play?
It’s a news story, but you’re not cable news. Spending quarter-hour after quarter-hour obsessing over Donald Trump’s latest courthouse proceedings like you’re FOX News or MSNBC is not the move. Letting your top and bottom-of-the-hour national newscasts (assuming you have them), handle that story, while you inform and entertain your audience based on the happenings in their backyard, brings you closer to them, and vice versa.
Because if you play the hits based on cable news, why wouldn’t your bosses pipe in syndication? What are you bringing to the table at this point? Not much that can’t be done by the plethora of national hosts, many of whom will have resources and connections into the national political scene for perspective that you may not be able to provide.
I’m not trying to discourage you from discussing the trial; I’m just making sure you put it into perspective and use your microphone effectively to inform and entertain your audience about issues that impact their day-to-day lives. That’s why you’re there. And it’s the job you’ve been hired to do. And ultimately, your audience will appreciate you for it.
Pete Mundo is a weekly columnist for Barrett Media, and the morning show host and program director for KCMO in Kansas City. Previously, he was a fill-in host nationally on FOX News Radio and CBS Sports Radio, while anchoring for WFAN, WCBS News Radio 880, and Bloomberg Radio. Pete was also the sports and news director for Omni Media Group at K-1O1/Z-92 in Woodward, Oklahoma. He’s also the owner of the Big 12-focused digital media outlet Heartland College Sports. To interact, find him on Twitter @PeteMundo.
