On Midterm TV, Data Came Fast. Answers Came Later, if at All.

For me, watching the mid-term results glued to my TV was deja vu. It could just as well have been the presidential election coverage in 2016. All the networks were playing the "Democrats have a 95% chance of taking back the House!" card, or the "Finally Donald Trump will have a check on his presidency" card. Such high hopes. But, like in 2016, as the evening progressed it became clear to this viewer that all the hoop-la and hoping was just not going to materialize into the outcome that was predicted. Yes, the Dems would re-take the majority in the House; but instead of holding its own in the Senate, the party actually LOST seats, most unusual in a mid-term with a president with this low a popularity rating. Obama got stunned during his mid-term elections. So did George W. But not Teflon Don. Nothing sticks to this man. It's not helping that the media covers his obnoxious rallies each and every time he holds one, re-broadcasting them to the world. All that does is give his distorted message and his lies further outreach. Why is the media continuing to do that? I voted on the 6th thinking that finally, FINALLY the balance would be restored and the election would give the nation a chance at equilibrium. I don't feel that way anymore. I am resigning myself to 6 more years of Trump, and the way he is bashing the Constitution, it may be even more.

Democrats should be aware that nobody really watches tv to get their news. We read or listen to NPR or podcasts or watch something on the computer. The only tv we watch is the recasts of Colbert, Meyers, Sam Bee and Trevor on Youtube. And, for some reason, whenever I'm at the gym or in an airport, I'm impressed by how dumbed down and hysterical the discourse is. Bleah. 538 nerds, please.

I'm so glad I didn't watch the TV coverage. I just wrote some book reviews for Goodreads and checked the Washington Post's main webpage about once an hour. That's about all I can take.

The point of election coverage is simply to keep us watching. And even as a dyed-in -the-wool, liberal progressive I’m just not comfortable watching the over-wrought emotions of the otherwise delightful Van Jones and Rachel Maddows, et. Al. And then there is the breathless reportage of micro-fact and details coming at us . It’s as if each new fact will be a conclusive rendering of reality—except that, no, its not what you just saw, it’s what we are about to tell you after this commercial. I propose that no coverage begin until after 25% of the vote is in. That way those of us who enjoy pre-bloviating opinions and predictions and anticipatory demonstrations of joy or dread can watch until there is actual information that is conclusive to some degree. I love pro-football, but I dont watch the pre-game coverage that begins at 8:00 AM.

I agree completely with Mr. Poniewozik. The cable networks cover election night like a sporting event, and I'm over that....If anything, this midterm coverage has shown that elections cannot be covered on television like football games. Who's winning when? What will win in the end? I'd rather wait a little later and get reporting based on facts. I respect the commentators, who obviously work hard and work long hours, but come on! Wait until the end -- or close to the end -- before you comment on results.

Susan Swain and Nathan Gonzales provided excellent low wattage reportage and analysis on CSPAN. For high wattage John King knows his stuff. Yes peripatetic, but knowledgable about the numbers and dynamics of every state. And fun watching him try to reign in the partisan cheerleading of Wolfie Blitzer.

I thought these shows all started way too early and that the people on them were just grasping for something to say, which they did, but it seemed to me like mostly worthless "commentary." (Have to admit I switched to Italian TV detective show as alternative until 10 or so) Further, by the time the returns really started to come in around 10 or 11 they all seemed like they'd rather go to bed, and by 1 or so they all had. There was plenty to cover after 1, in my opiniion. I wish they would just wait until 10 or 11, when the returns are more meaningful and they can just spend a while summarizing what is known and unknown at that point, and then maybe stay on until at least 2AM. I don't get CNN, Fox, MSNBC, etc., so my comments are based on what I saw on the major networks plus PBS.

Van Jones is a star. His passion shines through. His language is colorful. And when he speaks all panelists pay attention.

Well it wasn't a perfect election but I think by 2020 America will see just how left wing the dems have become and Republicans retake the Senate as we see President Trump reelected.

Election coverage should just be Nate Silver narrating and updating his forecasts. Everything else is brain-numbing chatter

Why is there so little news coverage of the Independents, when they are more numerous than members of the major parties? They were largely responsible for giving the House back to the Democrats. They deserve more visibility in the media. And they may help lead us back to a less acrimoniously partisan dialogue. Call me nostalgic, but it's easy to idealize the Presidency of George Washington, before the birth of major parties, with the divisiveness they create.

Both CNN and MSNBC framed their coverage around how many seats Dems would pick up in the House, and acted as if they were rooting for them instead of reporting. CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Jake Tapper were practically cheering every time a Dem won a race. It was embarrassing to watch these travesties of what is supposed to be objective journalism. (Thankfully, CBS did a better, more nuanced job). The media plays such a crucial role in a thriving democracy, but only if it reports aggressively and without taking sides. Can someone tell me when that changed?

I always tune in to PBS for sane coverage. No sea sickness last night, some tense moments yes! So much at stake! But as usual Judy Woodruff and team were measured, articulate, calm and informative. Who needs the network and cable news hyper stimuli drama, I swear that's how we ushered Trump as our President. Too much noise! Tone deaf audiences.

Spot on. Listening to John King spouting numbers, I flashed back to my college statistics class which I passed only by the skin of my teeth.

The only sickness I got last night was the incessant comparison of percentage of voters in this election to percentage of voters for voted for Clinton in the last election. Who cares!!!! What mattered last night was HOW PEOPLE WERE VOTING YESTERDAY. Save the analysis for the Sunday morning political exposees.