Let's say the dems (in this case) have always planned plan any story or leak with the understanding that the MSM will backstop them at crunch time.
Enter shutdown phase 1, journos get axed and those remaining are spooked looking ahead to shut down phase 2..
Now 'prod' the dems to play up issues that spooked journos now refuse to run with. You're going to end up with dems like this this VA boy with his ass hanging out there so far it crosses the state line. CNN is fucked enough already to try the (R) designation in the chyron (nothing left to lose?), but the rest are just staring at their shoes hoping to hell something anti-Trump will break.
So who's doing the 'prodding' and who's applying the 'shiv' (blackface, etc.) once the mark is exposed? Is that you, Q, you magnificent bastard?