CNN’s John King says Biden will be ‘good for Ireland’

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Donald Trump’s promise to “build a wall” dominated the 2016 US election campaign, but since votes were counted in the 2020 poll, it was CNN reporter John King’s ‘Magic Wall’ that attracted all the attention.

With a red (Republic votes) and blue (Democrats) map close at hand, millions of viewers watched the journalist display his detailed demographic knowledge of cities, suburbs and rural areas in all 50 states.

The popular political expert told Miriam O’Callaghan on RTÉ’s Radio One’s Sunday with Miriam that covering the US elections was “exciting but exhausting.”

King admitted that he hasn’t had much sleep since the count began after Election Day on Nov. 3. “I’m averaging two to three hours a night, but that’s okay.”

A proud Irish-American, he plans to visit Ireland as soon as the time is right. His paternal grandfather Christopher was born in Doonloughan near Ballyconneely in Co Galway, one of 24 children.

“I’m 100% Irish, well, Irish American, and I grew up in the Irish Catholic neighborhood of Dorchester in Boston. I was one of seven children, five boys and two girls,” he told Miriam.

“We didn’t have a lot of money but there was a lot of love, laughter and songs.”

The so-called ‘Magic Wall’ that CNN uses to deliver results after the US elections

Mr. King revealed that he had visited Ireland several times “but always for work, not as a tourist or as an Irish-American tracing my roots.”

His cousin Jackie Kenny invited him to visit family in Connemara and promised him a pint at Keogh’s pub in Ballyconneely.

“As soon as she says it’s the right time to visit, I’ll be there. But I’m telling the bartender now, there better be more than one pint,” he laughed.

John King said that learning more about his extended Irish family has been one of the most “moving” experiences.

A more embarrassing experience, however, was when viewers took to social media to check out the way he wrote figure 8 on screen. “It became an international incident,” he joked.

“The nuns at the San Marcos school taught me the right way. My writing is pretty messy and that’s not their fault!”

He was confident that Joe Biden’s presidency, which has roots in May, will be good for Ireland.

“I’m sure it will. There’s no question that when it comes to Europe, [the Irish] they’re going to get more attention, Ireland can be very happy. “

He said the difference in tone and politics between outgoing and incoming US presidents will be “like night and day.”

King said Joe Biden “will bring an air of decency, respect and common courtesy” to the White House. “We won’t wake up every morning wondering what he’s going to tweet.”

He said the Democrat would join the Paris climate accord, push for the US-NATO alliance and “try to get back to basic working-class issues.”

The political correspondent admitted that it was flattering to see CNN’s election coverage and its ‘Magic Wall’ resonate with people around the world.

“There is great theater in a tight election. I think there was a higher interest than usual in Trumpism and also in the coronavirus.

“The complexity of the choice made the CNN wall more important and it helped that we had more technology updates this time as well.

“I think people tune in to me because they like the familiarity when they feel anxious. This is my ninth presidential election. I’m like a comfortable pair of sneakers.”

King said his in-depth knowledge of various regions of the United States is due to research and travel.

“Where my hands go on the map is where I have lived my life. Many of those key counties are where I have spent time covering elections, year after year.

“I read the census data to understand population trends. As the economy changes, politics changes. You need to be able to track those changes.”

While software to explain demographics like Covid numbers, unemployment and ethnicity is written in advance, King said going live on election night “is like being on a roller coaster with a blindfold. “.

“It is an honor that people have found the Magic Wall useful. I feel privileged and grateful for the responsibility of explaining the results.”



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