WELLFLEET, Mass. – I’m a big fan of Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary under President Joseph Biden.

I don’t know about you, but I sure am enjoying watching the daily press briefings held since Joe Biden got elected.

The chief reason? Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary. If you’re not tuning in, you’re missing out. It is must-watch TV.

Psaki is a 40-something political advisor with an impressive work history. She served in the Obama administration as White House deputy press secretary and several other key positions.

Contrasts in competence
Psaki was preceded as White House Press Secretary by the likes of Kayleigh McEnany, Sarah Sanders, Sean Spicer, and Reince Priebus.

Toward the end of the Trump administration, press briefings were extremely rare. When they did occur, they were extremely unproductive, unsettling and downright irritating.

The communications strategy, apparently, was to be as clear as mud. For example, on Sunday, Jan. 3, McEnany issued the following description of the former guy’s schedule: “President Trump will work from early morning until late in the evening. He will make many calls and have many meetings” – two days before a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol at Trump’s urging.

In contrast, with composure, civility, honesty and humor, Psaki has become the nation’s real life C.J. Gregg, the fictional character from the TV drama, “The West Wing.” Did I forget to mention “intelligence?”

After four years and many press secretaries that regularly lied to the press, demeaned them, and refused to acknowledge their questions, to have an adult in the room who doesn’t lie and treats the press respectfully has been a wonderful thing to watch.

Granted, the bar was set very low for Psaki, but the job did require someone with the capacity to restore these briefings to what they’re meant to accomplish: provide an opportunity for the press to ask relevant questions, for the Press Secretary to fill the news media in on new initiatives, and to keep the public aware of what is actually happening within the administration.

#PsakiBomb
Now, at the daily briefings, the ball is in the journalists’ court to behave appropriately. They need to ask pertinent and relevant questions, since there’s now someone with skills and competencies at the podium.

When journalists try to engage with her on non-issues or ask poorly worded questions, Psaki is ready. Often with the tilt of the head – and perhaps too many “Ums” for some people, she answers questions with a steadiness and directness.

Her on-line fans refer to some of her answers as the #PsakiBomb. In some ways there’s nothing bomb-like, but there’s definitely something about the manner in which she responds that has earned her this hashtag.

I have many favorite Psaki moments but there are a few too good not to mention.

Recently a reporter made the mistake for asking a question in a rather stupid way.

Reporter: Americans are saying immigrant surges are happening under President Biden’s watch.

Psaki: Who are the Americans?

Reporter: The former president.

Psaki: Former President Trump?

Reporter: Yes.

Psaki: We don’t take our advice or counsel from former President Trump.

End of story.

Fencing with Fox News
Recently Psaki engaged with Peter Doocy of Fox News. Following Biden’s first press conference, Doocy expressed concern about which reporters the White House was recognizing, since he wasn’t called on by the President to ask a question.

Doocy asked Psaki if there is an official White House policy of not calling on him. He said he wanted to know if there was some sort of campaign to ignore Fox.

Psaki’s head tilt this time seemed to say: “Whaaat?”

But she answered Doocy with patience:  “We’re having a conversation now, aren’t we?”

Then she went back and forth with him a bit about how many conversations she’s had with him and how available she’s been, including appearing on Fox News. Best of all she still managed to get in a compliment about his “awesome socks.”

Again, end of story.

Changes in attitude
“Wonkette,” an on-line news source, observed the following: “It’s just like...some kind of assassin thing where some idiot asks her an idiot question and she handles it so quickly and utterly and effectively, the poor idiot’s liver is bleeding out before they even feel a thing.”

John Gizzi from Newsmax probably didn’t feel the bleeding this week when he asked a long-winded question about a private, secret memo circulating among Republicans. He claimed the memo said Biden low-balled the amount on the infrastructure package. Gizzi didn’t produce the memo, making his question a pretty lame one.

Psaki responded calmly: “Sounds mysterious, the memo. The secret memo.”

She then explained that Biden laid out each component of the package, adding: “I’d encourage you all to get your calculators out …and see how it compares to the secret memo.”

Reporters will need to do their homework, because Jen Psaki certainly has done hers.

Smart answers to dumb questions
With some of the dumb questions she’s received, such as: “Why isn’t the President throwing out the first pitch at the home opener?” or “Why is the fully vaccinated president flying to Delaware to be with his family for Easter weekend?” Psaki shows incredible restraint.

With an abundance of patience and finesse, sometimes she’ll ask the journalist questions about their question, which only serves to point out the ridiculousness of the query. Other times she dissects their questions, ending with terse quip that gently stings.

Let’s remember that Psaki has her work cut out for her. The relationship with the press was damaged during the Trump years and for some members of the press, in particular women of color journalists, daily verbal abuse was a common occurrence. Returning normalcy to these daily briefings is most likely Psaki’s main goal.

Psaki has thus far excelled at building bridges with the press. She takes her time; she doesn’t get flustered and certainly doesn’t instigate fights. She’s also making history: she’s leading the White House’s first all-female communications team. Her ego needs are never on display. Translated, she’s behaving like a real adult and it’s a pleasure to behold.

The changes in the daily briefings with Psaki at the helm have been good for the soul. Honesty, decency and integrity are back. They once again have the ability to provide useful information to the press. In time, journalists will realize that with the current administration, there’s no need for the “gotcha” or irrelevant inquiries.

A message to members of the press: tread lightly with those lame questions, or else risk the #PsakiBomb that will take over the Twittersphere.

Toby Simon is a frequent contributor to ConvergenceRI.