From his “fact checking” during the 2024 Presidential debates to his latest stint “on the scene” in Los Angeles, David Muir gets the award for the best display of narcissism in the land of anchorman.

If you did not see what we saw, look again about :14 seconds in. Yes, it is a clothespin of sorts. After all, Mr. Muir, debate moderator and fact-checker extraordinaire, couldn’t possibly don a jacket that was too baggy whilst reporting an utter tragedy. The camera adds 10 pounds, don’t you know and “Davide” is all up on his fitness. Can’t let those early morning spin classes with Ginger Zee and his time on the ol’ Peloton go to waste, can he?

I can imagine the hissy fit he threw when he put it on and it was too big for the camera.

— Albert Snyder (@alsnitty) January 9, 2025

In a glass case of emotion, Ron Burgundy, err, I mean-David Muir and his clothespin discuss the extensive devastation of the Pacific Palisades community. He points at the rubble of what was once a street where residents met for coffee, dined out at restaurants and strolled the promenade…

“As you can see here behind me”, he says. Yeah. We see behind you, dude. We see a big, fat, wooden clothespin that cinches your jacket. This is real journalism, everybody. Not a hair out of place in the blowing Santa Ana winds. The dude’s makeup is not even melting.

The only thing missing is more commentary from David Muir.

As you can see behind me, the rubble, 100,000 evacuees waiting to see if their homes are still standing-err-uh-look at my cinched waistline,I’m kind of a big deal…”

Still, some people will jump to the defense of the vapid news anchor:

Anybody who’s upset about David Muir having clothespins on his jacket while reporting about the California fires is genuinely a 20 IQ troglodyte”.

No. If you believed David Muir was earnest in his smug “fact-checking” and a completely unbiased moderator in the Trump/Harris debate, YOU may be a 20 IQ troglodyte.

Now, I understand this is something news anchors do on the set. In fact, David Muir was most likely wearing a clothespin during the infamous debate, too. But, to do so in a fire-retardant jacket, AWAY from the danger and the flames and to inadvertently or intentionally display this shot on TV is the making of an anchor and a production staff who may have a total combination of a 20 IQ troglodyte between them all. In fact, the 20 IQ troglodyte may actually be smarter.

As you can see behind me…I’m David Muir, ABC News and my apartment smells of rich mahogany. Their apartments smell like burnt furniture.

I know the fires are not a laughing matter and by no stretch am I trying to turn this into a comedy show. David Muir, as a “award-winning journalist”, however, is doing this all by himself. This is a perfect example of talking bobbleheads not reading the freaking room. I was honestly waiting for a “Stay Classy, Pacific Palisades”.

The best part of this David Muir video is imaging what (most probably) happened leading up to this:

Muir: This fucking jacket isn't fucking tapered.
Ass't: Wear a normal one.
Muir: Are you fucking stupid? I came all the way out here. I'm wearing a fucking a firefighter's… https://t.co/3duwnC1rzc pic.twitter.com/9OgrBCfKPY

— John LeFevre (@JohnLeFevre) January 9, 2025

Some say it wasn’t a clothespin, it was a wooden clamp. These are plentiful on the sets of TV News and in the modeling industry to make underweight clothes hangers-I mean-models-who eat nothing but lettuce look like they actually have a shape. All smoke n’ mirrors. Unfortunately, David Muir was more concerned about the mirror than the residents actually impacted by the smoke. If that is not flaming vanity at its best, then I don’t know what is.

Muir being even the least bit concerned about his “fit” (as my 19 year-old calls his gym clothes) is disturbing. You expect this from a teenage gym bro who wants to show off his physique. David Muir is playing the part of an actual first responder by donning this jacket. Mr. Muir is not going anywhere near harms way to fight fires or aid in rescue operations. Therefore, a generic-looking, non-first-responder “fit” might have been a prudent choice in this scenario. To wear a jacket like this only to have it cinched-up to display his lats or pecs or whatever is only adding insult to injury to the brave First Responders who actually give a damn and are working around the clock to help residents.

Perhaps David Muir should be Mr. January in a fireman’s calendar. Or, better yet, a bunch of us should flood the ABC News studios with clothespins. I might need to put one on my nose the next time I see his face.

Here’s a suggestion for his 5-person production staff: the next time David Muir is tapped to moderate a debate, bring an extra clothespin for his mouth. Go F#ck yourself, ABC News.

Photo Credit: The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons/Cropped