The State-Run Media and the Political Class have been doing this dance forever, to one degree or another. It happens in every county and city in America with the local media and the local Power Structure.
Instead of ‘Salons,’ the locals use their churches and country clubs to access power.
Yes, but this is, I think, unusually blatant. It’s the difference between a discreet escort service and a streetwalker with a coin changer on her belt. They’re the same thing under the skin but only one of them does jail time.