A veteran CBS News correspondent has delivered a blistering critique of American media organizations, highlighting what she describes as a systematic failure to report on one of 2024’s most consequential stories.

The mainstream media’s reluctance to thoroughly investigate President Joe Biden’s cognitive capabilities may have altered the course of American history, according to the seasoned journalist’s frank admission.

This stunning revelation comes as multiple media figures are now acknowledging their role in downplaying serious concerns about presidential fitness.

CBS News’ chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford stunned viewers on Face the Nation when she declared that Biden’s “obvious cognitive decline” was the most underreported story of 2024.

“It became undeniable in the televised debate,” Crawford stated, addressing the pivotal moment that would ultimately reshape the Democratic primary.

Let that sink in for a moment.

The Media’s Great Awakening

Crawford’s admission gains particular significance in light of the Wall Street Journal’s explosive report detailing how White House aides had deliberately formed a protective circle around the 82-year-old president, carefully limiting his in-person interactions to mask his declining mental state.

“We should have much more forcefully questioned whether he was fit for office for another four years,” Crawford declared, suggesting that proper media scrutiny “could have led to a primary for the Democrats” and “changed the scope of the entire election.”

"Underreported" yet "obvious"… https://t.co/QWjxMyHCKw

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) December 30, 2024

The magnitude of this media failure became even more apparent when President-elect Donald Trump released a devastating compilation of Democratic leaders repeatedly vouching for Biden’s mental acuity. The nearly three-minute video showcased a parade of high-ranking Democrats, from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre (“Oh my gosh! He’s the president of the United States! I can’t even keep up with him!” — yes, she actually said that) to Senator Bernie Sanders, all insisting on Biden’s sharpness despite mounting public concern.

These assurances stood in stark contrast to public sentiment, with polling showing 68% of Americans believed Biden was too old to serve another term. The disconnect between Democratic leadership’s public statements and private actions has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum.

A Reckoning For Journalism

Perhaps most telling are the recent admissions from liberal media figures themselves. Former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan acknowledged being “completely, utterly, totally, embarrassingly wrong” about Biden’s mental competence. Progressive journalist Matt Yglesias admitted that many in the media “genuinely thought the situation was better than it was,” while media personality Brian Lehrer confessed to dismissing legitimate concerns as mere “ageism.”

The implications of this collective media failure extend far beyond partisan politics. As noted by Crawford, the press’s reluctance to investigate Biden’s cognitive decline may have prevented Democratic voters from having a genuine primary contest that could have produced a different nominee.

Josh Barro, author of “Very Serious,” delivered perhaps the most damning assessment, expressing “contempt for the president and for the people around him — who have essentially been engaged in elder abuse.” His statement underscores the moral dimensions of this controversy, raising serious questions about the responsibilities of both the press and presidential advisers.

As the nation processes these revelations, Crawford’s critique serves as a sobering reminder of the media’s crucial role in our democratic system. When journalists fail to ask tough questions and investigate legitimate concerns, the consequences can reshape our nation’s political landscape in profound and lasting ways.

The American people deserve nothing less than complete transparency about their leaders’ capacity to govern. As this episode demonstrates, when the fourth estate fails in its fundamental duty to seek and report the truth, our entire democratic system suffers.

Key Takeaways:

• Mainstream media deliberately downplayed Biden’s cognitive decline until it became impossible to hide.
• Democratic leaders repeatedly misled Americans about Biden’s mental fitness while knowing the truth.
• Liberal journalists now admit to being “embarrassingly wrong” about Biden’s cognitive capabilities.
• Media’s failure to investigate may have denied Americans a proper Democratic primary process.

Sources: The New York Post, AOL, The New York Post, Fox News