NEW YORK - Donald Trump's favorite nickname for the news media is the "dishonest press." He swaps in "disgusting press" from time to time.

And sometimes, he puts it all together: "disgusting, dishonest human beings."

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has a whole menu of takedowns for individual reporters and news organizations. In recent weeks, he's used his microphone and his tweets to label them "third-rate," ''not nice," ''disgraceful," "phony," ''low-life," ''very unprofessional" and "bad people."

He's also been quick to yank or withhold credentials from news organizations whose coverage he doesn't like - most recently, The Washington Post.

Trump seems to be perpetually mad at the press - but there's a method to his mad-ness.

He sees little downside to bashing the media - and plenty of potential benefits.