>> Rooney: I'M EMILY ROONEY, WELCOME TO "BEAT THE PRESS."

OUR TOPICS: HE WAS A POLARIZING FIGURE, BUT RUSH LIMBAUGH'S IMPRINT IS PERMANENT.

THE MEDIA JUST CAN'T SEEM TO KICK THE DONALD TRUMP HABIT.

AND JUST BECAUSE ONE PARTY SAYS IT'S OFF THE RECORD DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL BE.

PLUS, OUR PANELS RANTS AND RAVES HE OF THE WEEK.

JOINING ME ARE JON KELLER OF WBZ NEWS, "THE BOSTON GLOBE'S" LYLAH ALPHONSE; FORMER NECN ANCHOR MIKE NIKITAS; AND DAN KENNEDY OF NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY.

FIRST UP: RUSH LIMBAUGH DIED THIS WEEK.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE A FAN OR A LISTENER TO KNOW HE WAS A POWERFUL AND INFLUENTIAL VOICE IN THE MODERN CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT.

HE HAD KICKED AROUND IN RADIO FOR YEARS, BUT BURST ONTO THE SCENE IN THE EARLY '90s RIGHT BEFORE THE 1994 MIDTERM ELECTIONS DUBBED "THE REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION."

LIMBAUGH GREW AN ENORMOUS FOLLOWING-- DITTO-HEADS AS HE CALLED THEM.

IN FACT, HE WASN'T AFRAID TO CALL ANYONE ANYTHING.

>>> ANYWHERE YOU TURNED THIS WEEK, A RADIO STATION OR A NEWSPAPER OR A TV SHOW, SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO PUT RUSH LIMBAUGH'S LEGACY INTO PERSPECTIVE.

>> HE TAPPED INTO THIS AUDIENCE THAT FEELS UNDERREPRESENTED IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA >> Rooney: THAT'S MEGHAN McCAIN, WHO SAYS SHE WAS NOT A LIMBAUGH FAN, BUT SHE IS RIGHT.

RUSH LIMBAUGH TAPPED INTO A BASE THAT FELT UNHEARD, HARSHLY PUTTING LIBERALS AND THEIR IDEOLOGY IN PLACE.

>> MEANS YOUR A SPOT RIGHT, MEANS YOUR A PROSTITUTE.

>> Rooney: FOLLOWING THAT ATTACK ON A COLLEGE STUDENT, ADVERTISERS STARTED TO BAIL.

IT WAS THE ONLY TIME HE EVER APOLOGIZED.

>> AGAIN, I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE TO MISS FLUKE FOR USING THOSE TWO WORDS TO DESCRIBE HER.

>> Rooney: LIMBAUGH'S RATINGS AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE SOARED WITH THE BIRTH OF THE TEA PARTY AND THE REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION OF 1994.

GUT HIS BREAD AND BUTTER WAS VITRIOL, OFTEN VICIOUS, AIMED AT MINORITIES, HOMOSEXUALS, FEMINISTS-- HE WAS AN EARLY PROMOTER OF CONSPIRACIES, INCLUDING THAT BARACK OBAMA WAS NOT BORN IN AMERICA.

HE BOUGHT INTO THE 2020 STOLEN ELECTION CONSPIRACY, TOO.

>> HE FELT, LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE AT YOUR NETWORK FEEL, THAT THE ELECTION WAS IS STOLEN.

>> Rooney: HE ALSO PAVED THE WAY FOR SIMILAR VOICES, INCLUDING, SEAN HANNITY.

>> HEY RUSH, HOW ARE YOU?

I AM FABULOUS!

>> Rooney: UNLIKE ALL THE OTHERS THOUGH, RUSH HAD NO GUESTS, NO PHONE CALLS, NO SCRIPTS.

IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE AUDIENCE, SOME 46 MILLION LISTENERS.

>> IT'S THAT KIND OF CONNECTION THAT MADE HIM THE MOST PROMINENT BROADCASTER IN RIGHT WING RADIO FOR DECADES.

>> Rooney: A VOICE LIKELY TO RESONATE FOR DECADES MORE.

DAN, WHEN I WAS AT ABC IN THE EARLY 1990S, RUSH LIMBAUGH PICKED UP ON SOMETHING IS SAYING THE NETWORKS HAD A LIBERAL AGENDA.

HE WAS GOING ON AND ON ABOUT IT.

SOMEONE REMARKED, IT WAS AKIN TO BEING EMBRACED BY A CHILD MOLESTER.

THAT'S HOW THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA FELT ABOUT HIM AND ESPECIALLY AT THE NETWORK LEVEL.

THAT WAS RIGHT, HE DID TAP INTO SOMETHING, THERE WASN'T AN ARROGANCE A SUPREME COURT, A LEFTISH POINT OF VIEW, HE KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING OUT THERE AND HE TAPPED IN.

>> WELL, WHAT HE TAPPED INTO WAS THE SENSE OF WHITE RESENTMENT THAT'S OUT THERE THAT LATER GAVE BISHT TO THE FOX NEWS CHANNEL AND LATER TO THE TRUMP PHENOMENON.

YOU HATE TO SPEAK ILL OF THE DEAD ESPECIALLY RIGHT AFTER SOMEBODY HAS PASSED AWAY.

BUT IN ADDITION TO BEING A RACIST, A MISOGYNIST, A HOMOPHONE, THE BIRTHER CONSPIRACY ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA THAT YOU MENTIONED, CAN I GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON HAD HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE DEATH OF VINCENT FOSTER.

I'M SURE SOME OF THE VIEWERS ARE GOING TO SAY WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

THIS GOES BACK DECADES.

REST IN PEACE RUSH BUT I DON'T THINK THE EFFECT ON MEDIA OR POLITICS WAS POSITIVE IN ANY WAY.

>> DAN, I DON'T MIND SPEAKING ILL OF THE DEAD.

I THINK THAT -- I DON'T AGREE VERY OFTEN WITH SEAN HANNITY, BUT SHAN HANNITY WAS RIGHT WHEN HE SAID THAT RUSH LIMBAUGH WAS WHAT LED TO FOX NEWS AND WHAT LED TO DONALD TRUMP.

THE FEARNESS DOCTRINE 1997, RUSH LIMBAUGH TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND BECAME A STAR BECAUSE OF IT.

PEOPLE SAY HE WAS ENTERTAINING, SMART, ESPOUSED CONSERVATIVE VALUES.

WHAT I HEARD WHEN I LISTENED TO RUSH LIMBAUGH WAS A MEAN SPIRITED DIVISIVE MAN WHO TRAFFICKED IN CONSPIRACY THEORIZE AND ALL OTHER THINGS, SO HE COULD GET HIS DITTO HEADS TO RUN WITH HIM.

I CONSIDER THAT THE CULT OF DONALD TRUMP, ONE OF THE MOST CORROSIVE FIGURES IN THE PAST 25 YEARS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS PARTICULARLY GALLING TO ME WAS THAT HE WAS ESPECIALLY, THERE WAS A HYPOCRISY ABOUT HIM WHEN IT CAME TO TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAD HEALTH CHALLENGES.

HE MADE FUN OF MICHAEL J.

FOX BECAUSE OF HIS PARKINSON'S, TO REGRET AT A THONEBURG, AND HEARING PROBLEMS.

HE HAD SERIOUS HEARING PROBLEMS, HE HAD TWO COCHLEAR IMPLANTS.

BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST GALLING THINGS TO ME ABOUT RUSH LIMBAUGH.

>> I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT BOTH THINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE CURRENTLY HATE ABOUT MAINSTREAM MEDIA, RUSH LIM BAWZ NOT ONLY REPRESENTED BUT EMBRACED.

USING OPINION RATHER THAN REPORTING, CONSPIRACY THEORIES, FEAR MONGERING, ALL OF THAT WAS HIS BREAD AND BUTTER, TRADEMARK.

YES I THINK HE CHANGED THE YEEFD LANDSCAPE FOREVER, I DON'T THINK HE CHANGED IT FOR THE BETTER.

THERE IS AN OPENING NOW, REMEMBER THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE LOYAL LISTENERS.

46 MILLION LISTENERS THAT IS NOT BELOW THE RADAR.

THAT IS MAINSTREAM.

HE CREATED A NEW PART OF THE MAINSTREAM AS HE WAS VIL VILIFYING THE REST OF IT.

>> Rooney: DAN I THINK PART OF IT IS AN ACT, I BELIEVE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF IT HE BELIEVED HIMSELF, HE WAS CASHING IN ON IT.

HE WAS RIGHT.

YOU'RE ALL ABOUT RIGHT ABOUT THE CRITICISMS OF HIM BUT HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT A VISCERAL SENSE HE HAD ABOUT THE UNDERBELLY OF AMERICA THAT NO ONE WAS SPEAKING TO THEM.

CERTAINLY NOBODY IN THE MAINSTREAM PRESS AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE 2016 ELECTION TOO.

NO ONE WAS SPEAKING TO THEM.

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

>> THIS GUY UNDERSTOOD HIS GENERATION.

WE AROUND HERE, IN BLUE MASSACHUSETTS, TEND OTHINK OF THE BABY BOOMERS AS ALL LIBERALS AND WOODSTOCK AND ALL THAT STUFF.

WELL FULLY HALF OUR GENERATION ARE NOT LIBERALS AND HE TAPPED INTO THEM NATIONALLY, IN A WAY THAT HADN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE.

THERE HAD BEEN PROTOTYPES LIKE JOE PINE IN L.A.

TELLING HIPPIES TO GO GARLG WITH GLASS AND THAT THING.

BUT HE LIMBAUGH DREW FROM A ERA, BROUGHT IT INTO RIGHT WING TALK RADIO FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE CREATED A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE, A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR HIS LISTENERS THAT DITTO OHEADS EMILY WOULD GATHER IN THOSE RUSH ROOMS TO HAVE LUNCH, REMEMBER THAT?

>> Rooney: YES.

>> AND POLITICALLY AS OTHERS SAID, HE LED THE GROUNDWORK FOR TRUMP AND THOSE TO COME, HE MAY BE GONE BUT HIS LEGACY IS GONE.

>> Rooney: BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO AND THE MEDIA HAS A HARD TIME KICKING WITH ALL THINGS DONALD TRUMP TO THE PLACE, ABOUND WIN HIS INNER CIRCLE.

>> Rooney: AT A CNN TOWN HALL THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAID IT BEST.

>> FOR FOUR YEARS, ALL THAT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS IS TRUMP.

FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, I WANT THE NEWS TO BE ABOUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> Rooney: AND TO BE FAIR, MUCH OF IT HAS, WITH A RESURGENCE OF COVERAGE OF COVID, VACCINES, STIMULUS RELIEF AND MORE, BUT, QUOTING TRUMP IS JUST TOO HARD TO RESIST.

HERE IS CNN'S MANU RAJU READING WHAT TRUMP HAD TO SAY ABOUT MITCH McCONNELL THIS WEEK.

>> MITCH IS A DOUR, SULLEN AND UNSMILING POLITICAL HACK.

AND IF REPUBLICAN SENATORS ARE GOING TO STAY WITH HIM, THEY WILL NOT WIN AGAIN.

>> Rooney: ADDING TO THAT AD HOMINEM, "POLITICO" AND "MEDIATE" REPORT THAT THE FIRST DRAFT OF TRUMP'S STATEMENT REFERRED TO McCONNELL'S MANY CHINS AND INSULTED HIS WIFE, FORMER TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY ELAINE CHAO.

RESURFACING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE, TRUMP APPEARED ON ALL THE USUAL MEDIA OUTLETS THIS WEEK SPEAKING ABOUT RUSH LIMBAUGH, BUT THE MAINSTREAM PICKED UP ON MORE.

>> YOU HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP SAY TODAY THAT RUSH LIMBAUGH THOUGHT I WON THIS ELECTION.

BUT SEEMED TO ME TO BE ALMOST A FITTING TRIBUTE TO SAY EVEN IN HIS PASSING I COMMEND HIM FROM BELIEVING THIS FALSEHOOD.

RPM AS OUR "BEAT THE PRESS" PANEL MUSED BACK IN JANUARY TRUMP COVERAGE NEEDS TO BE MUTED.

>> THERE ARE THINGS TO COVER, BUT THEY REALLY DO BELONG BELOW THE FOLD.

>> I DON'T THINK WE NEED BLANKET COVERAGE.

>> Rooney: THEN AGAIN, MIKE NIKITAS NAILED IT.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT EYEBALLS, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE QUOTES, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING MONEY.

>> Rooney: PRETTY MUCH.

>> Rooney: ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU ON THAT.

STEVE BANNON, SAYING THINGS LIKE CRAZY THEORIES THAT TRUMP IS GOING TO RUN FOR CONGRESS, HE'S GOING TO TAKE OVER THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THEN HE'S GOING TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT BIDEN, THIS MADE FRONT PAGE NEWS.

YOU CAN'T TELL THE ME THAT'S ALL ABOUT THE EYE EYEBALLS, THAT'S JUST NUTTY STUFF KIND OF A CONTINUATION OF THE NUTTINESS THAT WE ENDURED FOR FOUR YEARS.

>> NO, I AGREE ANDI AGREE WITH WHAT LYLAH SAID, CAN'T REMEMBER WHO SAID IT, NO IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FOLD.

WE HAVE TO KEEP COVERING HIM.

HE'S AN EX-PRESIDENT WHO IS TRYING TO KEEP HIS HAND IN POLITICS, THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY MAY HINGE ON WHAT HE DOES, NOT COVERING HIM I THINK IS TO GIVE UP OUR REQUEST JOBS.

NO ONE CARES IF HE'S PLAYING GOLF, UNLESS HE'S COVERING WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN.

WE SCRUTINIZE EVERYTHING HE SAYS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, YES.

I BELIEVE MORE INFORMATION RATHER THAN LESS IS WHAT OUR COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT AND HELPS PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS.

FORTUNATELY HE CAN'T TWEET ANYMORE, THAT REMOVES A LOT OF THE INCENTIVE.

I THINK PROBLEM IS FOX, THEY FEEL THEY CAN'T STAY RELEVANT UNLESS THEY KEEP REPORTING ON HIM AND I WATCHED OUR LISTEN TO THE CALL IN HE DID EARLIER THIS WEEK TALKING ABOUT RUSH LIMBAUGH AND THEY LET HIM SPOUT MORE FALSEHOODS.

THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

>> Rooney: ONE AMERICA DID IT TOO.

BUT LYLE LAS THIS WHOLE THING OF QUOTING MITCH McCONNELL, WHAT DO WE CARE WHAT HE SAID ABOUT MITCH McCONNELL, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

>> I DON'T CARE MUCH ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S LIKE THE MALICIOUS GOSSIPY SNARKINESS THAT HAS TAKEN OVER A LOT OF CHANNELS HERE.

I SUPPOSE ONE REASON TO RUN IT IS TRYING TO INSTIGATE MXG, TURNING HIS BACK ON TRUMP.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE LONG GAME IS REALLY.

PART OF ME IS WAITING TO FILL RUSH'S SPOT ON TALK RADIO.

I THINK THERE IS A HUGE AUDIENCE THAT VERY MUCH DOES CARE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.

I THINK ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ENTHUSIASTICALLY VOTED FOR HIM OR HELD THEIR NOSE AND VOTED TO HIM PROBABLY WOULD TUNE IN.

I THINK THERE IS VALUE TO COVER HIM AS EX-PRESIDENT.

I DON'T THINK EVERY SNARKY COMMENT REQUIRES COVERAGE.

WHEN IT'S NEWSWORTHY, WE SHOULD COVER IT BUT WE ELEVATE TO NEWSWORTHINESS, WE'RE HOPING TO GET CLICKS, YIE BALLS AND MAINTAIN A CONVERSATION DURING A PRESIDENCY THAT SO FAR BIDEN HAS TURNED OUT TO BE PRETTY STAID AND STATUS QUO AND NOT A LOT OF STUFF TO INSIGHT PEOPLE THERE.

SO MAYBE THAT'S HOW IT'S TRYING TO BE INJECTED.

I'M NOT SURE.

>> I THINK THE BEST YOU CAN HOPE FOR IS THAT THE MEDIA IN GENERAL, SERIOUS MEDIA ARE AWARE OF PRACTICING RETRAINED WHEN IT COMES TO DOLING OUT COVERAGE TO HIM.

YOU ALREADY SAW THAT BEFORE THE ELECTION.

WITH THE CABLE NETS, THE NONFOX CABLE NETS BEING VERY SPARING ABOUT DIPPING INTO HIS RALLIES AND SO FORTH.

BUT KEEP IN MIND AS PETER HANBY POINTED OUT IN VANITY FAIR RECENTLY, IT TOOK SARAH PALIN THREE YEARS TO FALL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BERYL BEAR BARRELL, TO FALL TO THE CATCH BASIN OF POLITICAL SPLEB REITERATE STATUS.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.

I DON'T THINK ANY SELF RESPECTING NATIONAL POLITICAL COVERAGE CAN IGNORE A A McCONNELL TRUMP FEUD THIS EARLY ON.

I THINK THE MEDIA IS STUCK WITH HIM AND SO ARE CONSUMERS.

>> WELL, THE PROBLEM IS AND I AGREE WITH JON THAT IT'S NATURAL THAT THE MEDIA ARE GOING TO COVER SOMETHING LIKE TRUMP'S ATTACKS ON McCONNELL.

THE PROBLEM IS HE'S MAKING ATTACKS ON McCONNELL.

WE HAVE ONE PRESIDENT AT A TIME AND ALMOST ALL EX-PRESIDENTS MOST OF THE TIME HAVE HELD THEIR FIRE.

AND LET THE NEW PRESIDENT ESTABLISH HIS AGENDA AND MOVE FORWARD.

WHETHER THEY AGREE WITH IT OR NOT.

AND WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS SITUATION IS, THE FORMER PRESIDENT WHO BY THE WAY, LOST BY A LOT, ACTING LIKE HE'S KIND OF THE CO-PRESIDENT OR THE PRESIDENT IN EXILE.

AND TRUMP WAS SO GOOD FOR RATINGS, FOR NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION, HE WAS VERY GOOD FOR THE MEDIA, IN A LOT OF WAYS.

THAT IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO WALK AWAY FROM THAT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY MEET THAT CHALLENGE.

BECAUSE OTHER FORMER PRESIDENTS HAVEN'T EVEN PRESENTED THAT CHALLENGE.

THEY'VE HAD THE DECENCY TO PRETTY MUCH GO AWAY.

>> Rooney: GOOD POINT.

ALL RIGHT WELL FOR A PHRASE THAT GETS USED ALL THE TIME, THE PRECISE MEANING OF "OFF THE RECORD" IS AWFULLY TOUGH TO PIN DOWN.

CASE IN POINT: THE WHITE HOUSE FLACK WHO THOUGHT GOING OFF THE RECORD GAVE HIM LICENSE TO MAKE THREATS, BUT THEN LOST HIS JOB.

ADAM REILLY HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: DURING THE THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, A FEEL GOOD STORY 30 SOMETHING BATTLING CANCER HELPING HIS CANDIDATE REACH THE WHITE HOUSE.

RECENT, HIS STORY TOOK A DARK TURN AFTER POLITICO.

CANNOT EVEN BE REPEATED ON AIR.

>> ACCORDING TO VANITY FAIR, AFTER TWO REPORTERS CONDUCTED BE, TARA PALMERI SAYING SHE WAS JEALOUS AND VOWING I WILL DESTROY YOU.

>> THIS IS NOT THE STANDARD OF BEHAVIOR SET OUT BY THE PRESIDENT.

>> DUCKLO WAS WITH SUSPENDED FOR A WEEK AND RESIGNED.

BREAKING AN OFF THE RECORD AGREEMENT BY TELLING HER EDITORS ABOUT DUCKLO'S DIEO'S DIATRIBE.

>> SAYING EVERYTHING SHE WAS ABOUT TO TELL US WAS OFF THE RECORD BUT THAT IS NOT HOW OFF THE RECORD WORKS.

>> Reporter: WHEN EMBATTLED NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER, THEY REPORTED HER COMMENTS ANYWAY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE.

OFF THE RECORD IS AN AGREEMENT NOT A MANDATE AND BAD BEHAVIOR CAN BLOW IT UP.

>> Rooney: THERE IS ALWAYS BEEN A CONFUSION IN CERTAIN CIRCLES ABOUT OFF THE RECORD, NOT FOR ATTRIBUTION.

BUT I AGREE IN THIS CASE BOTH OF THESE WERE LEGITIMATE REASONS NOT TO ABIDE BY ANY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, VERBAL AGREEMENT THAT SOMETHING WAS OFF THE RECORD.

I MEAN THE CALIPHATE WON, THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY MISTAKES MADE, THE GUY UP IN CANADA WAS INTERVIEWING HER ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG.

THAT COULD BE OFF THE RECORD.

AS FOR DELCO WHAT HE SAID DESERVED TO BE CALLED TO A HIGHER AUTHORITY, IT WAS, AND THEREFORE BROKE ANY KIND OF BOND THAT THE REPORTER HAD WITH HIM.

>> OFF THE RECORD DOESN'T MEAN KEEP HE THIS A SECRET, OFF THE RECORD DOESN'T MEAN THIS IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BUT PROTECTING THE SOURCE'S RICH WITH THE REPORTER.

ONCE THE SOURCE THREATENS THE REPORTER ON A PERSONAL LEVEL THAT CONNECTION, THAT IS BROANL.

I DO NOT -- BROKEN.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT PERSONAL THREATS SHOULD BE OFF THE RECORD.

I THINK THAT IF YOU'RE RECORDING IT AND YOU SHOULD BE, TO BACK UP YOUR NOTES, THAT IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T SHARE THOSE PERSONAL THREATS WITH YOUR EDITOR, WHOSE JOB IS ALSO TO HELP PROTECT YOU.

AND THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU SAY SOME THINGS OFF THE RECORD, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T BE TALKED ABOUT.

IT DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T BE SHARED.

IT DOESN'T MEAN IT WON'T GET OUT THERE AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT MIGHT NOT GET PUBLISHED BY WITHIN WHO ENTERED INTO THAT AGREEMENT WITH YOU.

>> YEAH, OFF THE RECORD MEANS BASICALLY YOU DON'T WANT TO LET ANYONE KNOW THIS CONVERSATION EVER OCCURRED AND I I THE REPORTER AM AGREEING THAT IT NEVER OCCURRED.

BUT I CAN THEN TAKE WHAT I LEARNED FROM YOU, HOPEFULLY CHECK IT OUT AND GO FORWARD WITH MY ASSIGNED DUTIES.

PRO TIP TO POLITICIANS AND THEIR HANDLERS, I WILL DESTROY YOU, IS NOT A WAY TO ESTABLISH TRUST WITH A JOURNALIST.

SO I WON'T RECOMMEND THAT GOING FORWARD.

LOOK, IT CAN BE CONFUSING, I CERTAINLY DON'T MIND THE REQUEST THAT WAS MADE OF ME RECENTLY BY A MAJOR MASSACHUSETTS POLITICAL FIGURE WHO BEFORE OUR CONVERSATION ASKED ME FOR A EXPLANATION OF WHAT THE DIFFERENCE WAS BETWEEN OFF THE RECORD -- >> Rooney: THERE YOU GO.

>> ON BACKGROUND AND ON DEEP BACKGROUND.

AND I EXPLAINED IT AND WE WENT FORWARD.

AND I THOUGHT -- I DIDN'T MIND IT AT ALL, I THOUGHT IT WAS A SMART MOVE BY THIS PERSON.

I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU WHO IT WAS BUT THE CONVERSATION NEVER OCCURRED.

>> YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE SOURCE AS TO WHAT THEY MEAN BY OFF THE RECORD BACKGROUND WHATEVER.

NO TWO PEOPLE AGREE ON THOSE THINGS.

THERE WAS A GREAT STORY IN THE WASHINGTONIAN MANAGES MANY YEARS AGO, IN WHICH A NUMBER OF TOP-NOTCH CELEBRITY JOURNALISTS WERE ASKED WHAT THE VARIOUS PHRASES MEAN, OFF THE RECORD, BACKGROUND, DEEP BACKGROUND AND NO TWO OF THEM AGREED.

SO THIS STUFF HAS TO BE NEGOTIATED.

BUT I THINK RELEVANT TO THIS DISCUSSION IS THAT YOU CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT, AND IF THE SOURCE, THEN, LIES TO YOU OR THREATENS YOU OR IN THE CASE OF RACHMANI CALIMANI, TRIES TO BLUDGEON YOU INTO AN OFF THE RECORD AGREEMENT WITHOUT GETTING YOUR AGREEMENT TO THAT THEN IT DOESN'T APPLY.

I MEAN THIS HAS TO BE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY HAS TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH AND THAT CERTAINLY DID NOT HAPPEN IN THE CASE OF THE FORMER WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY COMMUNICATIONS GUY.

>> NO, I AGREE WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S SAID HERE.

DO I A LOT OF MEDIA TRAINING WITH INDIVIDUALS AND WHEN THEY WNT TO KNOW WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE I EXPLAIN WHAT ON THE RECORD, OFF THE RECORD, DEEP BACKGROUND AND BACKGROUND IS AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM.

THERE IS SO MUCH CONFUSION TO DAN'S POINT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN DEFINE IT IN OUR BUSINESS EXACTLY THE SAME WAY.

SO WHAT I TELL PEOPLE IS SNAY ON THE RECORD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

YOUR MOTHER TOLD YOU, DON'T LIE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY LATER ON WHAT YOU SAID.

SO THERE ARE TIMES WHEN REPORTERS HAVE TO GO OFF THE RECORD.

IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS AGREED UPON BY BOTH APPEARED AND I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE IF YOU ARE BEING INTERVIEWED, YOU CAN'T TOGGLE BACK AND FORTH, IS THIS ON THE RECORD, OFF THE RECORD, THAT SORT OF THING.

THEN I ALSO AGREE WHEN YOU START BEING THREATENED OFF THE RECORD GOES OUT THE WINDOW.

YOU SHARE THAT INFORMATION NOT ONLY WITH YOUR EDITORS BUT THE EDITORS AND THEN OTHERS CAN SHARE IT WITH OTHERS AS WELL BECAUSE OF WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE AND TO PROTECT THE SAFETY.

AND FINALLY, I MIGHT ADD, IF YOU OAR REPORTER, DON'T DATE A SPOKESPERSON.

IF YOU ARE A SPOKESPERSON DON'T DATE A REPORTER.

>> Rooney: THINGS HAPPEN.

ANYWAY.

TIME NOW FOR OUR RANTS AND RAVES, STARTING WITH JON >> OKAY, THE ENERGY DISASTER IN TEXAS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN A HUGE STORY ALL WEEK AND THERE'S BEEN A GREAT REPORTING COMING OUT OF THERE.

I RECOMMEND THE TEXAS TRIBUNE OUT OF AUSTIN, ONE HAS BEEN THE SELF IMOWE LAITION -- IMMOLATION OF TED CRUZ.

HE DECIDED TO RIDE OUT THE CRISIS IN CANCUN WHILE HIS CONSTITUENTS WERE FREEZING AND HE GOT CAUGHT LYING ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.

IT'S REALLY A DISASTER FOR HIM.

BUT I WANT TO RAVE FOR THE HUSTLE OF A LOCAL HIEFNT REPORTER -- HOUSTON REPORTER WHO DECIDED TO CHECK OUT CRUZ'S CLAIM.

DRIVING OUT TO THE HOME, NOTICED A LITTLE POODLE, SNOW FLAKE HAD BEEN LEFT BEHIND BY THE CRUZS, A SECURITY GUARD TOLD THE REPORTER HE WAS FEEDING THE DOG AND LETTING IT OUT.

BUT AS ONE OF AMERICA'S 65 MILLION DOG LOVERS THIS IS -- >> Rooney: AS BAD AS PUTTING SHAIM U.S.SHAMUS ON THE ROOF.

LYLAH.

>> I HAVE A RANT FOR FACEBOOK.

EARLIER THIS WEEK THEY DECIDED THEY WERE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE SHARING OF ANY REAL NEWS ON THE PLATFORM.

IT'S ABOUT MONEY.

THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY PUBLICATIONS FOR SHARING THOSE LINKS OR LETTING THE USERS SHARE IT OR LETTING THE PUBLICATIONS THEMSELVES SHARE IT.

SO LEGITIMATE PUBLICATIONS WOKE UP THE OTHER DAY AND DISCOVERED THEIR WELL POPULATED PAGES ON FACEBOOK WERE BLANK, THEY COULDN'T SHARE LEGITIMATE NEWS SOURCES BACK AND FORTH.

AND SO ME THAT REALLY ELIMINATES ONE OF THE REDEEMING QUALITIES OF A PLATFORM LIKE THAT.

AND IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR MISINFORMATION TO BE SHARED BECAUSE REAL NEWS, REALLY CAN'T BE.

AND THERE'S ALSO BEEN ALL SORTS OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE.

THE NET WAS CAST REALLY WIDE.

SO WEATHER STATIONS WERE ELIMINATED, SMALL LOCAL ONLINE ONLY NEWS SITES WERE ELIMINATED, IT WAS REALLY JUST I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S A STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

>> Rooney: OKAY, DAN K. >> I HAVE A RANT FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY SHOULD STAY OFF SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND TODAY'S NOMINEE IS TIM BOYD.

THE MAYOR, I SHOULD SAY THE FORMER MAYOR OF COLORADO CITY, TEXAS, WHO WAS TIRED OF LISTENING TO HIS CONSTITUENTS COMPLAINING ABOUT BEING COLD AND IN THE DARK AND JUST WENT ON THIS EPIC RANT.

AND HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF IT.

NO ONE OWES YOU OR YOUR FAMILY ANYTHING.

NOR IS IT LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT YOU DURING TRYING TIMES LIKE THIS.

SINK OR SWIM.

IT'S YOUR CHOICE.

JUST ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE.

>> Rooney: I CAN'T GET THAT TYPO WITH HIS TOO.

>> OH YEAH.

HE DID RESIGN BUT HE DIDN'T APOLOGIZE.

HE SAID HE HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT.

>> Rooney: ALL RIGHT, MIKE.

>> I'DIVE LIKE TO GIVE A RAVE TO THE MEDIA SKILLS AND NEWS CONFERENCE SKILLS OF JAKE SULLIVAN THE NEW NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISORY WHO WAS RECENTLY TEACHING AT THE CARSEY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY MY CURRENT EMPLOYER.

I WATCHED HIS FIRST NEWS CONFERENCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND I WEIGHS WAS SO IMPRESSIVE.

I GIVE HIM AN A HANDLING THE PRESS, THIS GUY CAN HANDLE A NEWS CONFERENCE AS GOOD AS ANYONE I'VE EVER SEEN.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS AND YEARS HOLD, BUT FOR NOW HE GETS A RAVE AND IT WAS REFRESHING TO SEE.

>> Rooney: DOESN'T MAKE SEAN SPICER DOES HE?

I HAVE A RANT FOR WHOOPI GOLDBERG TALKING ABOUT THE LEGACY OF RUSH LIMBAUGH AND WHAT EACH THOUGHT HIS LEGACY WOULD BE AND WHOOPI HAD THIS TO SAY.

>> SO, I WOULD LIKE-- I WOULD LIKE HIS LEGACY TO BE A RETURN TO THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE, BECAUSE QUITE HONESTLY, I DON'T MIND HEARING TWO SIDES OF A DISCUSSION.

WHAT I DO MIND IS HEARING THE VITRIOL AND THE HATE THAT PEOPLE SEEM TO SPEW BOTH ON TELEVISION AND IN RADIO.

>> Rooney: ALL RIGHT, THIS DOCTRINE ONLY APPLIES TO RADIO, A DYING ART, DO WE REALLY WANT THE LONG ARM OF GOVERNMENT TELLING US WHAT WE CAN SAY AND WHEN WE CAN SAY IT?

I DON'T THINK SO.

REMEMBER THE SUPER BOWL INCIDENT WHEN THEY GOT FINED FOR A HUMAN BREAST SHOWING?

WHOOPI LOVE YOU OTHERWISE.

THAT IS IT FOR OUR SHOW.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

E-MAIL US, TWEET US.

SEND US A COMMENT.

I'M EMILY ROONEY.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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