Dean Baquet recounts how the New York Times prepared a front page celebrating Hillary Clinton’s expected victory with the headline 'Madam President'—a formal title reflecting her historic potential as America’s first female president—only to scrap it when Donald J. Trump won the 2016 election. The newsroom’s shock and frantic pivot exposed a profound misreading of the electorate, as most staff, including reporters like Trip Gabriel, had dismissed Trump’s chances despite early signs in places like Ambridge, Pa., where voters were confident in his win.
Baquet notes the event marked a turning point: polls and conventional wisdom failed, underscoring the need to engage directly with voters. The chaos that night—foreshadowing a decade of electoral volatility—led to lasting changes in how the Times approaches election reporting, emphasizing grassroots insight over reliance on predictions.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing