Optics are a big thing with news outlets. "Asking the question" is something they do in order to look good. Even if it's a topic that has an obvious non-answer, they just ask it to cover their own asses because if they don't, people will call them out on it.
I've worked for news outlets (TV) that would put a reporter on a story simply because it was something people were talking about, even if they knew it was a dead end. They'd make sure to record the reporter walking up to the building, knocking on the door, then getting turned away, but the whole thing was documented so they could claim in the newscast, "We go straight to ________ and ask..."
It's useless fluff, but it's done for a reason.