Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
The US turned away from politics last night to the news that an American Airlines jet carrying 64 people had collided with an army helicopter over the Potomac River on final approach to Washington’s Reagan National Airport.
Rescuers were searching in vain in the river for survivors.
The airport is close to downtown DC and the crash will dominate news coverage for days, even as the new administration rolls out its new agenda at a pace designed to keep critics – and the media – guessing.
One change comes in the White House itself, where the new press secretary, 27 year-old Karoline Leavitt, has said space is to be made in the Brady Briefing Room for “new media” (podcasters, influencers, content creators).
She also ended the tradition that the Associated Press gets the first question in any briefing. Instead Leavitt gave her first two on Tuesday to Axios and Breitbart respectively.
The customary front-row parade of camera-ready stars from the big networks will have to learn to be more patient; the disaster on their doorstep will focus minds on other things, for now.
