Maybe this will help resolve the Beltway's “puzzlement”

That's the word Politico's Ben Smith used yesterday when describing the complete Beltway bewilderment at why the White House has suddenly decided to push back against Fox News. It made no sense, according to media elites. And why now, they pondered.

Wrote Smith:

The rationale of the White House offensive against Fox News has been a topic of much puzzlement lately. Is this just the White House lashing out? Are they trying to rally the base?

The head scratching has been contagious. Beltway journalists just have no idea why the White House started a “war” with Fox News.

The truth, of course, is that Fox news is the one that started the conflict.