I decided to sleep on it before responding to this tweet last night.

I stick to talking about whisky in the podcast, and only bring politics into it when there’s a direct impact on whisky - such as the tariff issue, and then, I keep the coverage neutral and balanced. (Thread)

That’s what I was taught to do as a young journalist, and it’s been my practice over four decades in journalism. That doesn’t mean I don’t have my own opinions, but that I work to make sure they don’t color my reporting. (more)

Anyone who’s ever worked with me or saw/listened to my work knows that I’ve never been afraid to ask tough questions that the politicians and others I’ve covered would rather not be asked. That’s what journalists do. (more)

Remember the classic story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and the little kid who pointed out that the emperor was parading around with his ass hanging out? I’d like to think that the kid grew up to be a journalist, because that’s what journalists do. (more)

I will always support other journalists who “speak truth to power” as @PaulaReidCBS and @kaitlancollins did during the White House briefing last night, and for the record, I’d be equally supportive had they asked those questions of a Democratic President. (more)

The role of the news media - especially in a crisis such as this - is to question and challenge authority, to represent the people, and NOT to serve as stenographers or parrot the party line. That’s what journalists do, and that’s what these journalists did last night. (more)

It’s in my profile: journalist. It’s what I do, and I will never stop doing it, nor will I stop supporting my colleagues. I cover whisky because I want to and I love to, but trust me, I take my beat just as seriously as my colleagues take theirs. (more)

The original tweet didn’t say “stay in your lane,” but that political comments would “sully my brand.” I’d rather be honest and open about my opinions that hide behind a “brand.” I respect your right to disagree with me, but would never suggest that anyone “stay in their lane.”

Of course, the copy editor in me is now wishing that Twitter would add an “edit” function, since I accidentally typed “that hide” instead of “than hide” in what was originally the final tweet in this thread.