Trump Wins, Pundits Crash!

"Stewart consistently promoted Kamala Harris as a sure winner."

Realising that one's worldview is wrong can be painful, especially when one earns a living as a pundit and confidently speaks on various issues. Trump's election to a second term has exposed many commentators who are experiencing very public meltdowns.

Rory Stewart, a former MP who unsuccessfully tried to become the UK Prime Minister and Mayor of London, has gained credibility in some circles through his partnership with Alastair Campbell on their podcast, "The Rest Is Politics." Initially, their conversations had a balanced tone; however, Stewart now appears to show signs of Stockholm Syndrome, as Campbell dominates the discussions and frequently promotes his views, often lauding Tony Blair's effectiveness during his time in office. 

In the lead-up to the U.S. election, inspired by the success of “The Rest is Politics USA," hosted by the steady Katy Kay and the loquacious Anthony Scaramucci, Campbell and Stewart decided they wanted to share in that success. This could undoubtedly be a lucrative gig. However, they exposed themselves as having silo-based perspectives, leaving them unprepared to comment effectively. 

Stewart consistently promoted Kamala Harris as a sure winner and criticised anyone who disagreed. He and Campbell were so confident that they hosted a live podcast in the U.S. to discuss the results as they came in. However, what followed was a slow and painful decline. Struggling to recover, Stewart could only warn about the challenging days ahead and lament that Trump “got away with things that others wouldn’t.” 

Absolutely. That’s the point. Trump is unfiltered, disingenuous and unalloyed, although he can sometimes be rambling and crude. Still, he addresses issues that matter to many citizens. You may disagree with him, as I do on many topics, but his stances resonate with those frustrated by the lies and distortions of mainstream media. Trump has excellent political instincts and understands which tactics gain support. 

Both Campbell and Stewart expressed discomfort, sometimes losing composure and struggling to respond effectively to Trump’s victory. In contrast, Scaramucci gracefully acknowledged Trump’s achievement and wished him well, while Stewart reacted petulantly, like a scolded child. 

We can expect more meltdowns in the coming weeks as the news settles in and commentators rush to reframe the narrative. In the meantime, let us acknowledge that Trump won and, in the process, has exposed the pundits as charlatans.