Jen Psaki is right — enough with the talking points     

I have been in and around the world of politics now for decades. I have never seen it as partisan, polarized, siloed or hate-filled as it is today. That said, while I know that MSNBC host Jen Psaki and I disagree on a host of issues, I believe we ultimately agree on more than we don’t — and I believe hers to be a much-needed voice in our increasingly polarized times. 

Recently, Psaki said something that deserved a great deal more attention than it received. While on the “I’ve Had It” podcast a couple of weeks ago, the former director of communications for President Obama and press secretary to President Biden said: “People just have to become a little bit more relaxed, let go of the talking points.” 

“In part of my transition from being a communications ex-person to being on television,” she explained, “is we would have officials on, and I would finish an interview, and I’d say, ‘We can’t have that person on again. They like literally read a list of talking points.’ … Don’t start with what the polling says. Don’t start with what the talking points say that are given to you by the DNC or wherever it is. … Burn the talking points in the ground, you know?” 

She continued: “Start with what is your view personally. You’re a leader. You’re educated. You’re informed. And just say that. And it sounds simple, but a lot of people don’t do that.”  

Can I get an “Amen?”

Psaki could not be more correct — except nobody really got that message, because as usual, the “sensational” made news and the “sensible” got steamrolled. Psaki went after Vice President Vance in that same podcast, and it was that comment that instantly went viral. “I think the little Manchurian candidate, JD Vance, wants to be president more than anything else,” he said. “I always wonder what’s going on in the mind of his wife. Like, are you OK? Please blink four times. We’ll come over here. We’ll save you.”

Cue the expected outrage, with the vice president then rightfully pointing out that second lady Usha Vance was more than capable of defending herself.

Unfortunately, the much more important point made by Psaki was washed away by a tsunami of clicks and comments about Vance. It’s a shame, because her point about ditching the talking points and speaking from the heart and real-world experience while on these programs is critically important. 

Back in the day, I made a number of appearances on various network and cable news shows as a “Republican operative” (I truly can’t stand either party today). Ostensibly, I was invited on those networks — be they CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, CBS or NBC — to give my honest opinion. While I truly endeavored to do so, I was shocked at how many other Republican or Democratic commenters were being told precisely what to say by respectively, a Republican White House, a Democratic White House, the RNC or the DNC. 

Then, as now, I believe the viewer or listener was getting cheated. Instead of hearing the honest opinion of someone who has worked in the trenches, they are, insultingly, getting canned sound bites provided for them by a wizard behind the curtain, pulling the levers for one party or the other. Instead of guests, why not just show two posters with the talking points from each side? 

Jen Psaki is right. We do need to hear the personal views of the “educated” and “informed leaders” asked to be guests on these programs. At least, until they all get completely pushed to the side by 20-something Tik Tok “influencers,” with absolutely no understanding of politics or policy but tens of millions of followers. 

Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official.