The lead front-page news article in today's Times begins:
WASHINGTON — In their first major test of governing this year, Republicans stumbled, faltered — and nearly shut down the Department of Homeland Security.
And that vote may have been the easy one.
So much for the idea that Republicans would get credit for not shutting down the Department of Homeland Security.
Imagine the coverage if the Republicans had shut down the Department of Homeland Security (which wouldn't have actually shut down anyway, because something like 85% of the workers are considered "essential.")
Or imagine if the Times covered Obama that way. The passage of ObamaCare would have been covered with an article that would have begun, "President Obama nearly lost the vote to pass his signature domestic initiative."
Or imagine if the Times covered sports that way. The Patriots Super Bowl victory would have been written up as "the Patriots nearly lost the Super Bowl."
It's actually a genuine innovation in news coverage — the idea of covering not what actually happened, but what "nearly" happened. The ability to choose between writing what actually happens and what "nearly" happened leaves the reporter free to pursue his or her chosen story line, regardless of reality.