'Shameless deception': Politico firefighters are straight-up white-knighting for Nancy Pelosi by spinning her as the GOP's 'ultimate' victim

It’s comforting to know that even in these most chaotic of times, we can at least trust our media to deliver the facts fairly and competently.

We kid, of course. Case in point, Politico Congress reporter Kyle Cheney, who, along with Heather Caygle and Melanie Zanona, bravely detailed the stunning bravery of Nancy Pelosi’s shameful political gamesmanship:

NEW: As talks went sideways, congressional Republicans turn to a familiar tactic: Pelosi as the ultimate foil.

It’s a security blanket move that contrasts with Trump’s message to shelve strict public health measures. https://t.co/GAIXLCVtEa

w/ @heatherscope @MZanona

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) March 23, 2020

Here’s how the “article” kicks off:

After the Senate suffered a crushing setback on efforts to pass a $1.6 trillion coronavirus rescue bill Sunday, Republicans reached for a familiar foe to blame: Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“She’s the speaker of the House, not the speaker of the Senate. We don’t have one,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said angrily after a key procedural vote failed due to Democratic opposition. “We were doing just fine until that intervention.”

As Senate leaders struggled to reach a deal Monday morning, Republicans continued to scapegoat Pelosi, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) blasting the speaker during an early appearance on Fox News and accusing Pelosi of trying to blackmail Republicans with a wish-list of demands. Senior GOP aides were also shopping around Pelosi attack lines under the cloak of anonymity Monday morning.

For most congressional Republicans, the blame-Pelosi playbook is a familiar comfort — an easy go-to as party leaders wrestle for the upper hand in negotiations. For over a decade, the GOP has poured millions of dollars into campaign ads decrying the California Democrat and her “San Francisco values” as all that’s wrong in America. And the coronavirus crisis has proved no exception.

This is why America’s trust in the media is at an all time low.

Standard tactic, @kyledcheney is not telling you what the facts are, because the facts are bad for Democrats, instead, he is ‘analyzing’ the situation and adopting another version of “Republicans pounce”. https://t.co/rvJ7EGneqi

— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) March 23, 2020

Keeping a list of reporters who are covering for Democrats instead of reporting the facts to their followers who are desperate for government help in this unprecedented crisis.

Never trust Kyle again. https://t.co/rvJ7EGneqi

— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) March 23, 2020

How disgusting you are. Pelosi LITERALLY was the foil of a bipartisanly designed bill. There is no one else at fault. Pelosi has put power ahead of the lives of Americans, and you're running cover for her. Gross, anti-American and inhumane.

— Phillmatic (@philllosoraptor) March 23, 2020

Shameless deception for partisan reasons doesn’t help the profession of journalism. Please do better, at least in times like these.

— Anne R. Pierce (@AnneRPierce) March 23, 2020