Twenty years ago at this dinner, when President George W. Bush was lining up against Sen. John Kerry, Bush didn't say one negative word about his opponent or one negative word about the opposing party. He made gentle jokes about the press. He didn't urge the networks to defeat Kerry at the anchor desk. He talked about heroic reporters in war zones, and heroic soldiers.

That's not how it unfolded in 2024. The hired comedian, "Saturday Night Live" fake-news anchor Colin Jost, concluded his comedy routine by remembering his late grandfather, a Staten Island firefighter, who voted for Biden in 2020.

"He voted for you, and the reason that he voted for you is because you're a decent man. My grandpa voted for decency, and decency is why we're all here tonight. Decency is how we're able to be here tonight, Decency is how we're able to make jokes about each other, and one of us doesn't go to prison after." He then repeated: "So, Mr. President, I thank you for your decency on behalf of my grandfather."