Just before President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, “Saturday Night Live” aired a skit parodying MSNBC reporters. Their commentary was frequently interrupted by urgent updates about trivial comments or posts from Trump.

This satire resonates because it reflects a troubling inconsistency in how the traditional media operates.

Recent events showcase the stark difference in how the media reported on former President Joe Biden compared to Trump.

Many journalists appeared to abandon their investigative instincts when it came to Biden, readily accepting White House statements as fact.

Worse still, some news outlets seemed eager to align themselves with the Biden administration, obscuring vital information from the public. This included issues regarding the COVID-19 origins, Hunter Biden’s laptop, and Biden’s mental and physical health.

Such behavior contradicts the media’s fundamental duty.

Imagine the backlash if the press acted similarly towards Trump. The same standards should apply to every president, irrespective of their party affiliation.

Media Choices Surrounding the Hunter Biden Laptop Incident

The latest insights may not be “news,” as I have often discussed the media’s poor coverage of Biden’s term. However, they further illustrate the disparate approach to Trump’s coverage.

A recent podcast featuring two former Politico reporters revealed editorial decisions to suppress negative reports about the Biden family or delay their release.

One striking instance involved Marc Caputo (now at Axios). Ahead of the 2020 election, the New York Post revealed the controversial contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop, showcasing questionable business practices and influence dealings.

While Politico quickly dismissed the report as “disinformation” — echoing Biden’s own rhetoric — they showed little interest in pursuing the story further.

Caputo recounted his experience, saying, “I was tasked with covering Biden and suggested we report on the Hunter Biden laptop. I was told directly: Don’t write about it, don’t discuss it, and certainly don’t tweet about it. The only mention Politico made was to label it disinformation, a characterization that can be generously termed misinformation at the very least.”

Politico wasn’t alone in ignoring the Hunter Biden laptop narrative. Most major news organizations disregarded the story’s credibility until after Biden’s victory and Trump’s defeat.

COVID-19 Origins Report: Biden’s Administration Kept Quiet

Additionally, the media collectively dismissed the theory that COVID-19 might have come from a lab. This narrative was often portrayed as the domain of conspiracy theorists, primarily because Trump and other Republicans raised concerns about a lab leak.

Recent expert opinions now suggest that a lab leak is increasingly likely to be the true origin of the pandemic.

Shortly after Trump’s administration began, CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that a lab leak was probably the most likely explanation for the outbreak. The FBI had arrived at a similar conclusion some time prior.

Even though the CIA’s evaluation, which showed “low confidence” in this theory, occurred during the Biden administration, Biden officials chose to keep this information from the public.

An accountable media would have pursued the truth with greater tenacity.

Just weeks into Trump’s presidency, the difference in media treatment is stark. While the media tended to accept Biden’s statements without scrutiny, they have applied a more aggressive approach to Trump.

Fact-checkers have returned in full force, and reporters are asking tough questions. Consider Vice President JD Vance’s recent interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” — it’s hard to imagine Margaret Brennan directing similar inquiries at Joe Biden or Kamala Harris.

To his credit, Trump doesn’t evade the press, a notable contrast to his predecessor’s more secretive approach.

Journalists owe it to their audience to be rigorous yet fair with the president. However, the evident double standards in coverage make it challenging to treat the media seriously.

Ingrid Jacques is a columnist. Connect with her on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques