Biden orders the mainstream media to 'rise up'

President Joe Biden has ordered members of the press to "rise up to the seriousness of the moment."

Biden gave the order, according to Fox News, during the White House Correspondents' Dinner that took place over the weekend.

It sure did sound as if Biden was essentially calling upon members of the press to do what they usually do, namely, run political propaganda for him and the Democrats. Biden, however, claimed that this was actually not what he was asking the press to do.

"I'm sincerely not asking you to take sides, but asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment," Biden said.

"Every single one of us has roles to play"

It is not really clear what Biden was asking the press to do, that is, if he wasn't asking them to help out his reelection campaign.

Biden told members of the press to "move past the horse race numbers and the 'gotcha' moments and the distractions and the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics, and focus on what’s actually at stake. I think in your hearts, you know what's at stake."

It is at about this point that Republicans would respond, "Yes, what is at stake is another four years of the disastrous Biden regime." But, Biden, here, claimed that what is at stake is "Democracy."

"Every single one of us has roles to play, a serious role to play, in making sure democracy endures. In the age of disinformation, credible information that people can trust is more important than ever," Biden said.

Biden was clearly repeating the refrain that former President Donald Trump and his followers are a threat to Democracy, only, this time, Biden did not directly say this.

The press strikes back

Just ahead of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Biden actually faced some criticism from an unlikely source: the New York Times. 

The Times, in a statement, criticized Biden for his lack of media access.

"For anyone who understands the role of the free press in a democracy, it should be troubling that President Biden has so actively and effectively avoided questions from independent journalists during his term," the Times wrote.

It went on to note that "Mr. Biden has granted far fewer press conferences and sit-down interviews with independent journalists than virtually all of his predecessors."

The White House has not responded to the Times' statement.