Trump tweeted, the media snowflakes melted.

That’s basically the whole storyline of the response to a hectoring tweet by President Trump this morning directed at CNN:

Note that he tweeted this just as the Sunday morning network news programs were starting to air.

CNN handled the situation with the standard pearl-clutching response:

Trump punches CNN in a juvenile tweet, CNN calls it a sad day when President encourages violence against reporters https://t.co/56M6WXNHgX pic.twitter.com/VVwPvQ5rA1 — CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 2, 2017

CNN response to Trump tweet about beating up a the CNN logo pic.twitter.com/pk5tN6aKus — Hadas Gold (@Hadas_Gold) July 2, 2017

The predictable media cartel meltdown ensued just as you might have imagined:

Trump appears to promote violence against CNN with tweet https://t.co/LP4yejVKAQ — Post Politics (@postpolitics) July 2, 2017

Does Trump's anti-CNN tweet violate Twitter's terms? This is the "hateful conduct" policy https://t.co/1oCoXPNNul https://t.co/AhEu7Hwn12 — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 2, 2017

This scares me. Mr. President, please STOP. https://t.co/dga7ZAayYo — Brooke Baldwin (@BrookeBCNN) July 2, 2017

.@ananavarro on Trump's CNN tweet: "It is an incitement to violence. He is going to get someone killed in the media." #ThisWeek pic.twitter.com/myhELRMu2x — ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) July 2, 2017

.@brianstelter: "Is this president trying to impersonate Hugo Chavez? Recep Tayyip Erdogan? Vladimir Putin?" https://t.co/zRRM09gY1G — Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) July 2, 2017

If I posted a video of me punching Trump, his Secret Service would sure interpret it as a threat and pay me a visit. — Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) July 2, 2017

The over-the-top reactions would be utterly hysterical if it weren’t for the fact that these same media cartel snowflakes melting under the blazing heat of a Trump tweet are the self-appointed Heroes of the Resistance™ and Guardians of the First Amendment™.

What happens when a real crisis — meaning, other than the next Trump tweet tomorrow — comes along?

Some were incredulous at the media hysterics:

Putin murders journalists. Trump posted a gif. Give us all a fucking break with this. Exactly where you lose credibility. Right here. https://t.co/iQHcS2DKyT — Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) July 2, 2017

Difference betw pro wrestling & CNN? One's phony entertainment with defined heroes and villains. Other is wrestling. https://t.co/eRW0xH13D2 — Razor (@hale_razor) July 2, 2017

"Trump has tiny hands": Hilarious!

Here's a video of the President bodyslamming a logo: We are in the end times. — Michael Malice (@michaelmalice) July 2, 2017

https://twitter.com/JesseKellyDC/status/881546696160882694

https://twitter.com/DebraBurlingame/status/881569288678760448

I prefer my president joke about wrestling CNN then actually allowing Iran to develop nukes.

But, whatever.

Get your outrage on, sweetpea. — Isalay Agepay Siay A Ohay (@lamblock) July 2, 2017

Even some in the media thought the reactions were eye-roll-worthy:

https://twitter.com/KFILE/status/881535097052246016

https://twitter.com/Schneider_CM/status/881519279866343424

he seems confused pic.twitter.com/e9d76cur1M — James Taranto (@jamestaranto) July 2, 2017

The hypocrisy of it all was glaring to many:

https://twitter.com/RobProvince/status/881526060390789121

https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/881570574270705664

https://twitter.com/politicalelle/status/881536473958277121

NAILED IT!

I TOLD YOU pic.twitter.com/8Cj0NMFZVz — Ben McDonald (@Bmac0507) July 2, 2017

In general, it started off as a bad week for CNN:

CNN deletes, retracts story linking Trump transition team to Russia https://t.co/v1GMn6QrzY pic.twitter.com/ynNcTKYWvr — Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) June 25, 2017

A little bit of presidential hectoring ensued and CNN tried to push back:

CNN just posted it's most-watched second quarter in history. Those are the facts. — CNN Communications (@CNNPR) June 27, 2017

But the week got progressively worse:

CNN is pushing bogus Trump-Russia ruse for ratings: ‘It’s mostly bulls**t,’ admits CNN producer https://t.co/Aon9pABzXc pic.twitter.com/MTuh8EZvmX — Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) June 27, 2017

Undercover video shows CNN producer calling Trump voters "stupid as sh-t" https://t.co/MXUWDvZ3g3 pic.twitter.com/5UTMrLT5qD — The Hill (@thehill) July 1, 2017

Producer For CNN’s Chris Cuomo Says Kellyanne Conway ‘Looks Like She Got Hit With A Shovel’ https://t.co/6B6tHDE4L8 — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 30, 2017

And the data doesn’t lie — CNN is taking it on the chin:

CNN's total viewership from Wednesday. That their primetime lineup is all under 1 million is something else…this a major issue. pic.twitter.com/U1WSQwHRoE — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) June 30, 2017

On this 241st anniversary of Brexit 1776, we should remind ourselves how precious our freedoms are and how unusual they are compared to the rest of the world. The First Amendment has been a vital historic recognition of the natural rights of all people, including the freedom of the press. It should be celebrated and protected.

But it’s unlikely that our media cartel betters are going to pause and reflect on how pathetic and impotent they look when they respond as they have today, and seemingly every day, in response to President Trump’s tweets — any more than they did after November 8.

America needs a strong, free press to hold our government and ourselves accountable. But what we’re left with today really isn’t measuring up, leading me to conclude: