Screen grab via Giphy.

That the mainstream media are cheering on Democrats as they try to make the case to impeach Trump this week in the Senate is not breaking news. Nor is their penchant for either misreporting on proceedings or sharing opinions on what’s going on that call into question their supposed “impartiality.”

Nevertheless, it’s still worth pointing out.

Both the former and the latter were the case on Tuesday when Washington Post national correspondent Philip Bump gave a hypothetical on a “criminal trial” while talking about the impeachment trial taking place in the Senate:

Imagine a criminal trial in which half the jury was friends with the accused, the accused could ignore subpoenas and if evidence emerged after the indictment it wasn't admissible. https://t.co/uGgeMcLect — Philip Bump (@pbump) January 21, 2020

Except this is … not a criminal trial.

Several Twitter users attempted to helpfully point this out to him:

If this had been a criminal trial a mistrial would have been declared long ago. Smh. — Stab7 (@stabmarine) January 21, 2020

Well, this isn't a criminal process, it's a political process. — Dog guy (@Catsorange1) January 21, 2020

I can't imagine a criminal trial with no alleged crime. That doesn't happen my man. — Sam Marlow (@SamMarlow79) January 21, 2020

If it is a criminal trial, please list the the criminal statute he violated. — tab² (@Tommytabtab) January 21, 2020

Bump replied to “Tommytabtab”‘s remarks with what could arguably be the most confusing reply from a member of the media so far this year. In a now-deleted tweet, Bump responded:

It isn’t a criminal trial. That’s the point.

Screen grab via Twitchy.

Wait, what?

"Imagine a criminal trial…" "It isn't a criminal trial…" – Same person. https://t.co/UCGWMBAJSj — RBe (@RBPundit) January 21, 2020

"Imagine a circus…." Why are there clowns here? "It isn't a circus. That's the point." — Shane Styles (@shaner5000) January 21, 2020

Bump later quipped something about the “significant failings of the American educational system” but it fell flat:

It's amazing to me that these tweets are back-to-back. pic.twitter.com/PHqJm7OT0z — Jake R. (@jaker1419) January 21, 2020

Word of advice for Mr. Bump: Might wanna sit out the “criminal trial” at this point, man. Like, all of it. Not doing your industry any favors here.