Staff Reports
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has once again found himself in a precarious position, weaving a tale that seems more suited for a fantasy novel than reality. In a desperate attempt to shift blame onto former President Donald Trump, Schumer has spun an elaborate narrative involving the recent closure of the Cortland Standard, a New York newspaper with a proud 158-year history. His claim? That Trump’s tariffs are responsible for this tragic demise. Schumer’s logic is as twisted as it is transparent, revealing a penchant for deflecting accountability that has become all too predictable.
The Cortland Standard’s publisher, Evan C. Geibel, delivered the sobering news of the paper’s closure, touching on several long-standing challenges that had nothing to do with Trump’s trade policies. Geibel candidly noted the struggle to adapt in an era where traditional print media is faltering, facing pressures like rising costs and a decline in readership. Yet, Schumer’s spin conveniently ignores these crucial details. Instead, the senator fixates on his familiar talking points, determined to lay the blame squarely on Trump—no matter how far removed from the truth that may be.
Compounding Schumer’s narrative is the context provided by industry experts. Karen Kerrigan, President of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, pointed out that the closure of newspapers is not a surprising development given the industry-wide trends toward diminished print readership and exorbitant operational costs. She directly contradicts Schumer’s narrative, noting that the real issue lies in the regulatory and tax environment of New York, which has driven businesses, including newspapers, into a corner. Schumer’s home state continually ranks as one of the least friendly for business; paradoxically, he should be more concerned about what such an environment means for all small businesses rather than chasing shadows of political blame.
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Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has faced criticism for blaming former President Trump for the closure of the Cortland Standard newspaper, citing "Trump's tariffs." However, the newspaper's publisher attributed the shutdown to ongoing challenges such as…— The America One News (@am1_news) March 13, 2025
The publisher’s letter reflected many of the common themes echoed by struggling newspapers across the country—the digital shift has culminated in a race against time, where advertising dollars are migrating away from traditional print, and essential costs continue to climb. Schumer, of course, manages to flip this narrative into a potent political weapon, seeking to frame himself as a defender of the press and demonizing Trump. In reality, the closure serves as an indictment of the systemic issues plaguing New York beyond any supposed tariffs.
Despite Schumer’s grandstanding about his sorrow over losing a cherished institution, the facts suggest a deeper disarray within his own party’s policies. The sense of nostalgia leaves little room for the hard truth: Schumer’s continued touting of Trump’s tariffs as the root of these issues would be laughable if not so politically charged. When even reputable journalists are struggling to stay afloat, perhaps it’s time for Schumer to examine the underlying factors driving this decline rather than poking at the previous administration like a child throwing a temper tantrum.
In a landscape where declining print media seems to make headlines almost weekly, one can’t help but think that Schumer’s desperation to pin the blame on Trump speaks more to a failing narrative than any culpability on the part of a president no longer in office. But in a world rich with distortions, it seems that turning the blame game into a opportune sound bite is all part and parcel of Schumer’s political repertoire.
