National Public Radio wants you to know that Trump lovers still love Trump — even when it hurts them

Look, National Public Radio. You're not going to get Republicans behind providing public funding for media, even if you embarrass yourself with a headline like this: "In Trump's Trade War, Americans Will Be Asked To Show Economic Patriotism." So, “economic patriotism” is the new euphemism for suffering needlessly thanks to a new and stupid war?

NPR is apparently vying with The New York Times to be the national news outlet that crawls deepest inside the butts of Donald Trump's "forgotten men and women," those white, working-class voters who are totally not all about his racism. Case in point: Bob Best, who says he is "not a big tariff guy. I'm a free trade guy," and whose heating and air conditioning company has been directly hit by the steel and aluminum tariffs. "But sometimes when the bully just doesn't listen," he says, "you've got to punch him in the mouth. And that's what he's doing."

More people will have to be like Best, NPR says, and Trump is going to have "appeal to Americans' national pride, and even their patriotism, to succeed in leveling the playing field with China." Or he could, you know, reverse the massive tax cuts that have only helped corporate America and invest that money in massive infrastructure plan that could create hundreds of thousands of good jobs; or invest in a new green economy which, again, would create jobs; or support a $15 minimum wage. There are so many more productive things Trump could do as president that wouldn't destabilize the global economy and would actually help American workers.

All of which NPR could talk about. It could even interview experts, or people who don't support Trump. Instead, we hear from Rhonda Brooks, editor of Farm Journal, with this message: "They believe very strongly that this is a president who is — more than any president in recent history, actually — who's really been talking about farmers and at least acknowledging them and that he wants to help them." And they leave the story at that. What a disservice to everyone who's ever donated to keep Morning Edition on the air.