'must have graduated from the Quality Learing Center'

The dust has settled on the second Trump interview of the Bari Weiss Era at CBS News. It is another positive step in the right direction, away from the usual talking point-laden gotchafests. For the chattering classes, they will most certainly hate it and hysterically point to it as further proof of Trump’s supposed erosion of the hallowed norms of the journalistic profession. In keeping with CBS practices, the totality of the interview was quickly made available. In this instance, by airing in its entirety on theCBS Evening News. Anchor Tony Dokoupil acquitted himself well, being firm but respectful. He brought questions, not talking points. He engaged, rather than scolded. This resulted in meaningful conversation, rather than performative confrontation. The interview opened with Iran, and President Trump’s statement to Iran protesters about help being “on the way”, and a reaction to news of the regime’s hanging of protesters: "I don't know where you come from or what your thought process is but perhaps you'll be very happy." President Trump to CBS's Tony Dokoupil on what may happen if Iran begins hanging protesters pic.twitter.com/6ztaTDl6ij — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) January 13, 2026 Dokoupil interjects with thoughtful followup rather than hectoring: "We will take very strong action", says Trump if the Iranians hang protesters. "Let's define it in Venezuela. Let's define with al-Baghdadi, he was wiped out. Let's define it with Soleimaini, and let's define it in Iran, where I wiped out their Iran nuclear threat in a matter of… pic.twitter.com/hzIakyMXQF — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) January 13, 2026 The next question is on the economy, and on a domestic economic focus. Dokoupil tries to bring up groceries, but Trump stays on manufacturing. On the economy: DOKOUPIL: There's so much going on overseas. Understandably a lot of your focus has been on other countries but when I talk to Americans, when I talk to your own voters, they want your focus to be on them, and they feel like it may be drifting. What do you have… pic.twitter.com/xoMQP9XGXz — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) January 14, 2026 Dokoupil takes the market segue and goes to the Jerome Powell investigation. There was a bit of a back-and-forth with Trump on this one, but nothing outright hostile. Dokoupil pressed and got an answer on the appearance of political retribution: “I can’t help what it looks like.” DOKOUPIL: Mr. President, you mentioned the market there. A credit question that might affect the markets. It's the Jerome Powell situation. He is the Fed chair. I know you said you had nothing to do with the investigation, the criminal probe into him, but you have been… pic.twitter.com/ZV6LYQQTwx — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) January 14, 2026 Tony D pivots next to an emotional appeal on Minnesota, bringing up the fact that Renee Nicole Good’s father appears to be a Trump supporter. Trump displays empathy towards the father but holds the line otherwise. An emotional appeal on Minnesota: DOKOUPIL: I've got an important question about the situation in Minnesota, the death of Renee Nicole Good. I've been speaking to her father, who was a big supporter of yours... TRUMP: Good. DOKOUPIL: ...like many Americans are, but he is… pic.twitter.com/1sAUSpbDKh — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) January 14, 2026 Dokoupil goes back to economic matters, asking about the inflation report. The conversation leads to talk about whether Dokoupil would be the anchor of the Evening News if Kamala Harris won the election (who knows?). DOKOUPIL: I want to talk about the economy while we have you here. The inflation numbers came out. Overall, not bad, but grocery prices -- TRUMP: No, no. Overall very good. Good for us. Good for our country. Joe Biden had the highest inflation numbers in history, correct?… pic.twitter.com/4DscRB7nb1 — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) January 14, 2026 Dokoupil shifts to automation, something you don’t normally see on the evening news. The big takeaway here? The need for skilled workers. On manufacturing and automation: DOKOUPIL: Mr. President, I’m just trying to be fair here, just trying to do my job and I want to talk about this assembly-line here. TRUMP: To me, it’s vibrant. Listen to this sound. DOKOUPIL: It's incredible, right? TRUMP: I love the sound of… pic.twitter.com/ZRxwmyKrjx — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) January 14, 2026 The interview closes with a question on morality- a followup to the Times interview. Trump says he is constrained by the courts and the Constitution, but is moved by his moral impetus to not see humans suffering. They end with a callback to the earlier joke about Dokoupil not “having this job” had Kamala won, a laugh and a handshake. The morality question: DOKOUPIL: Last question. I think you’ll be- I was very interested in a comment you made recently about nothing being able to limit your action overseas except for your own morality and your own mind. I’d like to take that same question and apply it here in… pic.twitter.com/7Xhyq5mXQ2 — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) January 14, 2026 Dokoupil closes the newscast with some words for the chattering classes: Tony Dokoupil closes out the newscast with a shot at the media reporting clerisy: "We are not even two weeks now into the new year, and it feels like a decade has passed. The U.S. captured Venezuela's former president Nicolas Maduro. Reports are that as many as 12,000 protesters… pic.twitter.com/CILvPBmCbF — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) January 14, 2026 The media writers may eventually take their shots at this interview for all the things it is not: the usual sneering, condescending affair by a legacy media elite who comes off as hating half the nation- á la Terry Moran last year. If anything, its comp is Norah O’Donnell for 60 Minutes.  What we got from Dokoupil was pretty straightforward: no softballs but also no preening. As it should be.  

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