Local news outlets are obsessing over it, activists are demanding in-person town hall meetings, and the narrative is being pushed relentlessly. Spoiler alert: He’s in Washington, D.C., doing the job he was elected to do. But why let that get in the way of a manufactured controversy?
A small but vocal group of activists has dominated the airwaves, demanding town halls and claiming Huizenga has “disappeared.” They insist they want answers and accountability—but what they really want is a viral confrontation.
Timeline of media headlines targeting Bill Huizenga and I'm sure we missed a few:
Feburary 28 - ONN (former editor of Holland Sentinel - fired in 2024): Protestors continue to demand answers from U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga
March 7 - AP: Republican lawmakers hold telephone town halls as protesters demand more
March 10 - Holland Sentinel: 'A farce': Telephone town halls do little to assuage concerns from Huizenga constituents - Holland Sentinel
March 14 - Fox 17: 'What a waste of this office': Protesters again demand in-person town hall from Rep. Huizenga
March 14 - WZZM 13 & Published on MSN News: Changes in office policy frustrate constituents of Bill Huizenga
March 17 - Fox 17: Michigan Republicans turn to tele-town halls as Trump critics demand answers
March 19 - WoodTV: Constituents can only leave messages for U.S. Rep. Huizenga
Across Michigan, activist groups and sympathetic media outlets are amplifying the exact same narratives to manufacture outrage:
March 10 - MY UP NOW: An empty chair stood in for Rep. Bergman at a UP town hall. Here’s what it heard
March 13 - Traverse Ticker: Jack Bergman Declines Invite To March 22 Traverse City Town Hall As Local Constituents Pressure Lawmakers For Face Time
March 17 - Bridge Michigan: Michigan Republicans turn to tele-town halls as Trump critics demand answers
March 18 - MLive: Pressure mounts for Michigan’s congressional GOP to host in-person town halls
Bill’s not hiding, he’s just not playing their game. The activists demanding town halls aren’t looking for genuine conversation. They want a viral moment.
Meanwhile, the media machine continues running endless stories questioning Huizenga’s “accessibility” while ignoring that he regularly holds telephone town halls, meets with local leaders, and engages with his district in meaningful ways.
So why the sudden outrage?
Democrats are struggling. According to NBC News Poll found that Democratic favorability has cratered to a record-low 26%, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with their policies.
The Hollander reached out to the Ottawa County GOP for comment. Brendan Muir Chair of Ottawa County GOP provided the following statement:
“The media outrage and town hall demands are simply tantrums from media outlets and NGOs that have lost their blank-check USAID funding. The scandal of USAID has been exposed, and I encourage all elected Republicans to eliminate taxpayer-funded propaganda and cultural programming.”
Today, local Democrats in Ottawa County are hosting a town hall for one reason—gaining media coverage with disingenuous headlines like "Bill failed to show up to the town hall." Expect to see more "news coverage" along these same lines for weeks and maybe months to come.
This media frenzy isn’t organic; it’s coordinated. Expect protesters and activists to grow louder and more aggressive as they struggle for relevance. Is our local media merely an extension of the Democratic communications department? Are they fabricating outrage to push a narrative?
The best response? Exit their feeds, seek out new sources, and stop amplifying manufactured rage.
It’s 2025, and the media landscape is shifting. At The Hollander, we are committed to earning your trust by delivering independent, transparent reporting—not dictated by national newsrooms in Washington, D.C.
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