Sinclair Broadcasting is mandating the airing of a opioids “town hall” featuring Melania Trump, former Fox News host Eric Bolling, Jerry Falwell, Jr. and Wayne Newton on all its local news stations across the country this Thursday.
The topic of the show is a serious one: Opioid addiction across America.
Unfortunately, the conservative Sinclair, and cosponsor Trump-backing Liberty University, missed its opportunity to be helpful during its hour long taping from Las Vegas.
Instead, the first 20 minutes include Bolling, who lost his son to a drug overdose, groveling over his friendship with the Trump’s (he spends the first few minutes asking Melania Trump whether he can call her “Lady M”).
Later he asks “Lady M” whether she ever uses the White House bowling alley (she said she had just renovated it).
After 20 minutes of generic chit-chat, Melania Trump then stands to use a teleprompter to talk for two minutes about her husbands efforts to tackle the drug issue.
The entire first half could have been paid for by the Trump reelection campaign.
For his first guest, Bolling, who was let go by Fox after allegations that he sent lewd photos to co-workers. introduced Trump’s DEA chief Uttam Dhillon.
Dhillon was once was Trump’s top compliance and ethics attorney in the White House who got his current job by urging several candidates to withdraw from consideration before accepting the post himself.
More talk about how Trump hates drugs.
Then Bolling calls a real expert: Mr Las Vegas himself Wayne Newton.
Yes, that Wayne Newton.
Sinclair ends their “town hall” with words from Trump’s top evangelical supporter Jerry Falwell Jr. from Liberty University.
He, too, agreed Trump hates drugs.
No lie. This was the line up for one hour of mandated TV on the important issue of opioid addiction in America.
It was nothing short of a one hour info-commercial for the Trump’s that could have featured various experts, including law enforcement and mental health experts.
But, alas, it did not.
The show, airing on local Sinclair stations across America, been promoted by President Trump on Twitter:
Our great First Lady (@FLOTUS) will be doing a LIVE show TODAY at 1:00 PM PT with the terrific @EricBolling at the @WestgateVegas Resort. She’s on her #BeBest Tour, helping address the #OpioidCrisis. Free admission for the first 1,500 people!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2019
We should know better by now to expect objectivity from either Fox News or Sinclair.
But on a topic this important, you could hope for more.