it's not.
If you think those threads were a great look for those journos, then it's not me who's dumb as rocks. Right...it looks great for journalists to be barked at/cursed at and told which story to write and when by paid political operatives. Most people would know that's bad optics (whether it's common or not), but you're...well, you're special. Hell, even Chait isn't far enough left for you. Yet, you're a moderate....ok, if you say so :).
And, I would hope, that at least in hind sight, most could see how bad the fish hook was that these journos took and how overly eager they were to chomp...from what they should have known were less than reliable sources. But hey, that flew over your head...but again, you're special.
Get some self-awareness...or at least a clue.