Jake Tapper Defends Original Sin from Blizzard of Rage Bait' Critics

"The book would go on to allege that senior aides concealed signs of President Biden's deterioration during his reelection bid a claim that angered loyalists and electrified critics on both ends of the political spectrum. He and co-author Axios's Alex Thompson approached the project with urgency and discipline. Every meal was a source meal, Tapper said. We interviewed more than 200 people It was just nuts. Their deadline was brutal a first draft by January and publication by spring."

"We captured lightning in a bottle, he told Hall. When Original Sin hit shelves in May, the reaction was intense and unusually wide. Tapper was struck by how divided the backlash was. Liberal friends of mine had no idea that there were right-wingers who were mad, and conservative friends of mine had no idea that there were left-wingers who were mad, he said. People are so siloed now."

"Despite the uproar, Tapper stands by every page. At the end of the day, the book stands. It holds up, and I'm proud of it. He rejects the notion that journalists should pull punches for partisan comfort. The sooner [Democrats] reconcile with the facts of what happened in 2023, 2024, the better for them, he said. But they don't have to listen to me. I'm just a journalist."

Allegations claim senior aides concealed signs of President Biden's deterioration during the 2024 reelection campaign, suggesting hidden health concerns influenced electoral decisions. Reporters interviewed over 200 sources under a tight deadline, compiling urgent evidence and extensive sourcing. The revelations provoked intense backlash across the political spectrum, surprising both liberal and conservative observers and illustrating deep partisan silos. The reporter stands by the findings, rejects partisan protectionism in journalism, and urges Democratic reconciliation with 2023–2024 facts. The reporting argues that journalism must confront uncomfortable truths, including the realities of aging political leaders, despite ideological resistance.

Read at www.mediaite.com