ThreeNews Thinks You’re Useful Idiots
WATCH THIS EXPOSÉ – A ThreeNews 6pm story last Thursday night is probably one of the most egregious examples of a news network deliberately misleading viewers with a certain narrative – and a whole lot of cutting and splicing and misrepresenting to achieve that end. It’s an eye-opening case study of everything that has gone wrong with the legacy media.
Show Script:
ThreeNews Thinks You’re Useful Idiots
I was monitoring the 6pm news reports at the end of last week. My BS or Fake News antenna is usually pretty active throughout most news items on any report relating to politics, social & moral issues, and Trump – as you well know with all the episodes of McBlog I have done calling out the appalling standard of news reporting and their bias which they are no longer attempting to even hide.
But in a story on ThreeNews, my ‘Fake News’ antenna was particularly high – and so I did some investigation.
What I found surprised even me – which is saying something!
It is probably one of the most egregious examples of a news network deliberately misleading viewers with a certain narrative – and a whole lot of cutting and splicing and misrepresenting to achieve that end.
It’s an eye-opening case study of everything that has gone wrong with the legacy media.
Before we tear to shreds any remaining credibility that ThreeNews may have, let’s just firstly watch their report from the end of last week on the latest developments in the Iranian war.
Now whatever your view of the merits of the war or your views of Trump, my simple question to you is – are you being reported the news, or are you being indoctrinated with a narrative because the media think you are stupid, gullible, and will believe anything they say.
Remember – even if you agree with the narrative they’re pushing in this story – which is misleading – they will also be doing it on stories where you are really seeking the truth.
So let’s watch the report – in context. That’s a phrase – in context – that the news media really struggle with. It’s so inconvenient having to put things in context when you’re propagandising.
So the takeaways are:
the war isn’t the only thing on Trump’s mind
he’d rather talk about other tings
long monologues
While the world holds its breath to find out if and when the war against Iran is restarting, Trump just wants to talk about… swimming pools
He spoke for more than an hour avoiding the media questions
Even kids present were frustrated
When he finally took questions, he bristled
Now let me give you the facts – something you’ll struggle to get from the media – and especially on this occasion ThreeNews and their regular correspondent Dan Rivers from ITV.
I have some good news for Dan Rivers which I’ll share at the end of this episode.
So here’s the facts.
President Trump held TWO press conferences on this day. Here’s the White House Press Pool schedule for 23 April 2026 (last Thursday) for that day and you’ll see there the two conferences. One open to the press which is about “health care affordability” – remember that, healthcare affordability – and a the latter one about a “Policy meeting” which had a subsequent press conference which I’ll show you.
When I questioned why the press were there at the second one which is labelled “Closed Press”, you can see the response there. It was a Lebanon – Israel meeting. This is the one that JD Vance was. Remember the ThreeNews report saying – “As senior officials gathered again at the White House today, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio…”
So, two completely separate press conferences.
But ThreeNews only showed coverage of the first conference. How convenient.
What was that press conference about?
Health care affordability.
What was covered in the press conference? Glad you asked. Because, remember, according to ThreeNews, it “went for more than an hour… testing the endurance of some of his guests” and “included a looooong monologue about the renovations at the White House” all while the world was holding its breath on the Iran War – apparently.
The press conference at 3pm featured President Trump announcing a significant pharmaceutical agreement with the company Regeneron. In this conference that went for just over 65 minutes (which is 64 minutes longer than President Biden would have coped with), they covered
President Trump announces that 17 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, including Regeneron, have agreed to provide drugs at heavily discounted prices for American patients – a $27 billion investment in U.S.-based research, development, and manufacturing.
the FDA approving a new gene therapy called Otarmony to treat rare deafness, which Regeneron will provide for free for a period of time (remember that one – there’s a significant issue about that)
a new website where consumers can check drug pricing for transparency
an announcement of an executive order to move state-licensed medical marijuana products to Schedule III to facilitate increased scientific research
A decision that we disagree with, by the way. Medicinal marijuana is a smokescreen to recreational use and this decision will simply empower Big Marijuana with funding and propaganda – despite all the emerging evidence showing just how harmful the new & higher THC cannabis is.
Now note – this isn’t a monologue from Trump. He is constantly asking the people behind him to take turns to speak. Sierra Smith, who shared her experience regarding her son’s medical treatment. Robert Kennedy Jr., who spoke about pharmaceutical pricing and government negotiations. Dr. Mehmet Oz about the pricing website. The CEO of Regeneron. Dr. Yancopoulos. The Secretary of Commerce. The Chief Counselor of Health and Human Services. Seven people not including Trump.
But remember – our ThreeNews reporter claimed that “for more than an hour [Trump] spoke…”
Fake news.
Over halfway into the conference, the 35 minute mark, the President did discuss renovation projects of the White House – and even admits that he’s going off topic for a minute
Was it a monologue? Well only as long a monologue as every other topic that he was covering during this 55 minute conference with interruptions where he asks the guests to also speak, which they all did. But he’s also very excited about tidying up things around Washington DC – just like he has with the crime in DC. But he talks about the refurbishment of the Reflecting Pool which is more than 2,000 feet long and has been the site of many historic events, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. Trump wants it tidied up for the 250th anniversary celebrations being held in the US later this year. Having been there myself, it definitely could use some clean up!
Why was a child there? Another very good question.
The US president had invited Travis, his mother, and health officials to highlight a ‘miracle’ drug credited with restoring the child’s hearing.
According to a report
The announcement coincided with the US Food and Drug Administration approving Regeneron’s gene therapy for a rare genetic form of deafness, the company confirmed on Thursday. It marks the first introduction of gene therapy for genetic hearing loss on the market. The treatment targets otoferlin-related hearing loss, caused by variants in the OTOF gene, which affects around 20–50 newborns in the U.S. each year. Otoferlin is a vital protein in the inner ear’s hair cells, responsible for transmitting sound signals to the brain. Travis was born six weeks early and diagnosed with the OTOF mutation, Reuters reports. He received Regeneron’s experimental therapy at 18 months old as part of a clinical trial.
That’s a very good reason for Travis to be there, isn’t it. But ThreeNews didn’t tell you that, did they.
Even the White House official account made a meme of it that went viral
But remember what our intrepid ThreeNews reporter said – “for more than an hour he spoke, testing the endurance of some of his guests”
But then comes question time. At the 48 minute mark.
Another fact check that ThreeNews fails. Not “more than an hour”. And not just him speaking.
There’s a few fact checks there.
And of course the media have sat through 48 minutes of a press conference which was primarily about healthcare – which wasn’t about the Iran war – but the media were very annoyed that they couldn’t set the agenda.
But the first question quickly made up for that and focused on why a Navy secretary had just been fired…
Then about how long the Iran war is going. Now you were told that “He bristled When asked when it might end”. Have a look…
Not exactly a bristle eh
And another question – on the war – which wasn’t what the conference was about (you’ve gotta feel sorry for the people behind them who are thinking maybe we’ll get a question about what we’re here for – but the media aren’t really interested in that)
His answer goes for about three minutes…
Then the question that the media wanted you to see the reaction of
And then another question which, by the way, is four minutes later after a lot of discussion.
And then four minutes later, the dumb question – (and this is actually after a question about sending 1100 Afghans to the Democratic Republic of Congo!)
Will Trump use nuclear bombs?
Yeah – can’t see a problem with that response, can you?
Funny thing – he’s also asked about comments made by Prince Harry. Have a listen to his response and his comments about Megan
Even the media are laughing at this one
But remember – ThreeNews told you the media were very upset and how much they hate him. But they actually seem to be enjoying this exchange.
Then there’s comments about the upcoming state dinner with King Charles, and finally some comments about the renovation of the Federal Reserve building.
That’s a long press conference. Especially for those standing behind him all that time – and the media desperate to ask the gotcha question. Or perhaps the dumbest question ever asked by the media. There always seems to be a competition for that.
Sooo… this is a 65 minute press conference – not on the war – and then with questions from the media which went for 17 minutes… and ThreeNews showed you…. wait for it… 19 seconds. Yep, 19 seconds of splices, cuts and hit jobs. That’s less than 2% of the question time.
And there were 13 questions in total from the media. You got responses to just three of them. 2% of his total response.
Oh, and a tired kid to make it look even worse. A kid that just got his hearing back.
But at 4.05 the press conference ended, and then he held another one!
4.30pm – delivering remarks regarding the diplomatic development between Israel and Lebanon. That’s the meeting that JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were actually at – not the earlier one.
But ThreeNews pretended that it was one and the same, didn’t they.
Biden would have been on to his second afternoon nap by this time.
What was discussed at this 2nd press conference?
Israel and Lebanon three-week ceasefire
President of Lebanon and the Prime Minister of Israel will visit the White House in the coming weeks to work toward a permanent peace
Comments on the problems with Hezbollah
strength of the US economy, noting record highs in the stock market
highlights US oil production levels and the positive relationship with Venezuela regarding oil imports
frustration regarding the UK’s digital services tax on American companies, suggesting that the US may respond with tariffs
potential purchase of Spirit Airlines to save jobs
reiterates his stance on election integrity, calling for the passage of the Save America Act, which includes provisions for voter ID, proof of citizenship, and the elimination of mail-in voting for most cases
So we’re up to more than 90 minutes of engagement by Trump with the media in just one afternoon!
That’s 89 minutes more than Biden.
Here’s the real irony.
The media were grumpy that Trump used a healthcare conference to talk about renovations of the White House and Washington DC monuments, but they weren’t grumpy at themselves for using that same healthcare conference to pepper questions about the war.
He did talk about the war not only in the first press conference but also in the second press conference – but remember – ThreeNews told you that “the President’s focus was elsewhere”.
But now that you know the facts about what happened with Trump and those media conferences, let’s watch that ThreeNews report again. Let’s do a Fact Check!
The really good news for Dan Rivers from ITV, Samantha Hayes from ThreeNews and basically the whole of Stuff which oversee this programme – is that there is treatment.
Trumpenol – available to purchase on Amazon
Finally a real treatment for Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) that millions of Americans have been searching for. A perfect gift for your friends and family with TDS. Make the Holidays Great Again. Take if: You’re terrified of climate change* You’re feeling angry, resentful or hypocritical* You feel self-righteous, arrogant or entitled* You believe men belong in women’s sports* You’re triggered by the American flag* POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: Strong faith in America, learn what a woman is, accept that Donald Trump won in 2016, understand that Biden didn’t receive the most votes in history, accept that Donald Trump won in 2024, discover rational thought, walk away from the Democrats, optimism, hope for the future, renewed faith in the free market, admission that life is better under Trump, discover humor, patriotism and realize the need for a strong border.*
The other interesting aspect is that according to the latest AUT trust in media report, the % of people that have used ThreeNews as a news source has plummeted from 49% in 2022 to 21% in the most recent survey. Yes – all legacy media are struggling, but that fall for ThreeNews has been significant.
But trust in NZ news media is one of the worst compared to other countries.
Fortunately, the overwhelming number of us are not buying this stuff.
We’re not the useful idiots.
Stay that way!
