“Original Sin” Book BLOWS UP D.C. Spin!

An intense exchange on C‑SPAN revealed deep mistrust in media, as Jake Tapper defended his new book Original Sin while facing accusations of biased reporting and triggering GOP scrutiny into President Biden’s health narrative.

At a Glance

C‑SPAN caller “Sarah” criticized Jake Tapper for focusing on President Biden’s cognitive decline rather than Donald Trump’s behavior

Tapper admitted he previously underreported on Biden’s health but insisted CNN covers Trump exhaustively, two hours daily

His book draws a parallel between the alleged Biden health cover‑up and Watergate, fueling push from House Republicans for further investigation

The book cites over 200 interviews revealing Biden aides downplayed concerns over his fitness

Critics and GOP lawmakers argue the book exposes systemic media bias favoring Biden

Caller Lashes Out: “Doing a disservice to Joe”

During a live segment on Washington Journal, C‑SPAN caller Sarah from Virginia blasted Jake Tapper over his coverage choices: “I think you’re doing a disservice to Joe and also to the American people,” she said, adding, “When are you going to examine what is going on with Trump?” as reported by the New York Post.

Her comments reflect a wider frustration among viewers who feel mainstream media underreported Biden’s frailties while disproportionately scrutinizing former President Trump.

Tapper Pushes Back — Balance, Not Bias

Tapper defended his record, saying, “We cover President Trump every day for two hours… we have covered the times that he has confused Nancy Pelosi with Nikki Haley,” according to Mediaite.

Tapper acknowledged that media outlets, including CNN, were “late to the story” on Biden’s cognitive decline but argued that his book aims to correct that lapse by focusing on what Americans need to know now.

Watch a report: C-SPAN Caller Grills Jake Tapper on Biden Book.

Book Sparks Political Backlash

Original Sin, co-authored with Axios journalist Alex Thompson, alleges that President Biden’s aides systematically obscured his cognitive decline from the public—a scandal Tapper likens to being “worse than Watergate,” as detailed in The Guardian.

House Republicans have since seized on the revelations to push for a congressional probe, citing the book as evidence of a possible cover-up surrounding Biden’s health, according to the New York Post.

Media Ethics Under Scrutiny

Critics argue that Original Sin exposes a deeper failure—mainstream media’s reluctance to confront Biden’s age and cognitive struggles out of fear of inadvertently helping Trump. In a pointed analysis, the Washington Post wrote, “The ‘original sin’ wasn’t Biden’s. It was the media’s.”

Tapper and Thompson say their intent is to restore trust and accountability in political journalism, telling Vanity Fair, “This is a developing story… and there is more to come.”

For Tapper, the controversy may deepen—but for the broader media landscape, Original Sin could mark a turning point in how presidential fitness is reported.