Trump's Boldness and Media Fatigue: a New Era of Coverage

WHO:

Alternet - Michael Wolff, a one-time biographer of Trump, stated that Trump has run out of time before the midterms to turn things around.

Alternet - George Conway, a conservative attorney and critic of Trump, described Trump as suffering from "psychotic breaks."

Alternet - Michelle Goldberg, New York Times columnist

Alternet - Michael McFaul, Stanford political science professor and former U.S. ambassador to Russia

Fox News - Peter Doocy, Senior White House correspondent

Fox News - Jonathan Lemire, Ashley Parker, Missy Ryan, Michael Scherer, Atlantic reporters

Fox News - Susie Wiles, Chief of Staff

Fox News - Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff

WHAT:

Alternet - Michael Wolff stated that Trump is "self-destructing with his own policies" and has run out of time before the midterms to turn things around.

Fox News - Jonathan Lemire described Trump as "an unfettered version of himself" in his second term, indicating a shift in his approach to power.

Fox News - Trump’s message at a midterm convention was, “Vote for me one more time.”

CNN - Trump claimed that the 2024 assassination attempt against him was “a Democrat Plot, to get me out of the Election,” despite no evidence supporting this claim.

CNN - Trump threatened to halt large portions of US foreign trade if the Federal Reserve doesn’t lower interest rates, claiming it would save the US at least $1.5 trillion a year.

CNN - Trump announced he was “banning” CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House “effective immediately,” leading to reporters from these outlets being denied access.

Alternet - Michael Wolff stated that Trump has "screwed himself" and is "self-destructing with his own policies" as the midterms approach.

Alternet - Wolff noted that economic conditions affecting Americans are the biggest issues Trump and the GOP are facing, emphasizing that high prices are a concern for all voters regardless of political affiliation.

Fox News - Jonathan Lemire described Trump as "an unfettered version of himself" in his second term, indicating a shift in his approach to power.

Fox News - Michael Scherer mentioned that the second Trump administration operates as a "functioning organization" under Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, contrasting with the first term's internal conflicts.

Fox News - Scherer noted that the second Trump administration is tighter-lipped than the first, making it harder for journalists to get inside information.

CNN - Trump offered $5,000 to every adult US citizen if Republicans maintain their House and Senate majorities, with registered voters saying 66%-18% that it’s “inappropriate.”

CNN - Trump threatened to withhold disaster aid from North Carolina if it elects a Democratic senator, claiming he was joking.

CNN - Trump claimed that the 2024 assassination attempt against him was “a Democrat Plot, to get me out of the Election,” despite no evidence supporting this claim.

CNN - Trump threatened to halt large portions of US foreign trade if the Federal Reserve doesn’t lower interest rates, claiming it would save the US at least $1.5 trillion a year.

CNN - Trump announced he was “banning” CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House “effective immediately,” leading to reporters from these outlets being denied access.

Alternet - Wolff claimed that Trump is "self-destructing with his own policies" as the midterms approach.

Alternet - Wolff noted that there are fewer than seven weeks left until the midterms.

Alternet - Conway stated that Trump is "starting to panic a little bit" about the possibility of Republicans losing the House and Senate in the midterms.

Alternet - Neera Tanden, a Democratic consultant, noted that Trump's renewed attacks on the free press are linked to his concerns about accountability if Democrats gain control of Congress.

Alternet - Trump posted images declaring the Strait of Hormuz “new U.S. territory.”

Alternet - Trump has been described as having “erratic behavior” and making claims of being America's greatest president.

Fox News - Trump is described as “unfettered” and more comfortable in his second term.

Fox News - Trump’s second administration is filled with “true believers” and “loyalists.”

Fox News - Trump’s message at a midterm convention was, “Vote for me one more time.”

Fox News - The second Trump administration is noted to be tighter-lipped than the first.

WHERE:

Fox News - The Atlantic Festival took place at Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York City.

Fox News - Trump spoke during a news conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House.

WHEN:

Fox News - Trump spoke during a news conference on April 6, 2026.

Fox News - The Atlantic Festival occurred on September 17, 2026.

WHY:

Alternet - Neera Tanden stated that Trump's renewed attacks on the free press are linked to his concerns about accountability if Democrats gain control of Congress.

Alternet - Wolff explained that economic conditions affecting Americans are the biggest issues Trump and the GOP are facing, as high prices are a concern for all voters regardless of political affiliation.

Alternet - Goldberg suggests that the media struggles to maintain an appropriate level of shock regarding Trump’s behavior due to its frequency and nature.

Fox News - Lemire noted that Trump trusts his instincts and is more comfortable with the job, which includes his relationship with the press.

HOW:

Fox News - Scherer explained that the lack of leaks from inside the White House shows how it "operates as a unified body" under Wiles, contrasting with the first term's multiple factions.

Fox News - Scherer mentioned that the second Trump administration operates as a "functioning organization" under Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, contrasting with the first term's internal conflicts.

Fox News - The second Trump administration operates as a “unified body” under Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, contrasting with the first term's internal conflicts.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 13:57 UTC)

Michael Wolff has stated that Trump is "self-destructing with his own policies" and is running out of time to make changes before the midterms. In a recent convention, Trump urged supporters to "Vote for me one more time," while also threatening to halt significant portions of US foreign trade if the Federal Reserve does not lower interest rates. Additionally, he announced an immediate ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, a move that Neera Tanden linked to Trump's concerns about accountability if Democrats gain control of Congress.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 09:55 UTC)

Michael Wolff has claimed that Trump is "screwed" and "self-destructing" as the midterms draw near, with economic issues like high prices being a major concern for voters across the political spectrum. Meanwhile, Jonathan Lemire described Trump in his second term as "an unfettered version of himself," while Michael Scherer highlighted that the administration is now functioning more cohesively under Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, making it less prone to leaks. Neera Tanden pointed out that Trump's renewed attacks on the press seem to stem from his fears about accountability if Democrats regain control of Congress.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 04:55 UTC)

Trump has made headlines by offering $5,000 to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans keep their majorities in the House and Senate, although a significant majority of registered voters find this offer inappropriate. He also threatened to withhold disaster aid from North Carolina if it elects a Democratic senator, later claiming he was joking about the threat. In a separate statement, Trump alleged that the 2024 assassination attempt against him was a "Democrat Plot" to disrupt his campaign, despite lacking any supporting evidence.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 20:55 UTC)

Michael Wolff, who once wrote a biography of Trump, has stated that the former president has run out of time to make significant changes before the midterms, which are now less than seven weeks away. Wolff claims that Trump is "self-destructing with his own policies" as the election approaches, highlighting the economic conditions that are troubling voters across the political spectrum. He emphasizes that high prices are a major concern for all Americans, presenting a significant challenge for Trump and the GOP.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 16:00 UTC)

George Conway, a conservative attorney and critic of Trump, has described the former president as experiencing "psychotic breaks" and suggested that he is "starting to panic a little bit" over the potential loss of Republican control in the House and Senate during the upcoming midterms. Meanwhile, Democratic consultant Neera Tanden pointed out that Trump's recent attacks on the free press are likely tied to his fears about accountability if Democrats take control of Congress. In contrast, Fox News reported that the second Trump administration is functioning more smoothly under Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, marking a departure from the internal conflicts that characterized his first term.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 14:56 UTC)

President Trump has stirred attention by declaring the Strait of Hormuz as “new U.S. territory” and has been described as exhibiting “erratic behavior” while claiming to be America’s greatest president. During a recent news conference at the White House, he emphasized his message of “Vote for me one more time,” as his second administration, characterized by “true believers” and “loyalists,” operates more cohesively under Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. At the Atlantic Festival in New York City, discussions highlighted the media's challenge in responding to Trump's frequent and bold assertions, with commentators noting his increased comfort and trust in his instincts during this term.