Andy's Fight

Andy's Fight

Share this post

Andy's Fight
Andy's Fight
The Mainstream Press and the Normalization of Trump’s Lawlessness

The Mainstream Press and the Normalization of Trump’s Lawlessness

What the hell is wrong you people?

Andy Parker's avatar
Andy Parker
Sep 03, 2024
∙ Paid
8

Share this post

Andy's Fight
Andy's Fight
The Mainstream Press and the Normalization of Trump’s Lawlessness
1
1
Share

As the 2024 election season unfolds, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the mainstream press is treating Donald Trump as if he were just another candidate, rather than the fascist leader of a violent mob that he is. This normalization is not only dangerous, but it also represents a colossal failure of journalistic responsibility. The media’s willingness to give Trump the benefit of the doubt and treat his behavior as anything other than a direct threat to democracy is both alarming and infuriating.

Take, for instance, a recent headline from The Washington Post editorial board: "Harris and Trump are different. They need to explain how different." How absurd is that? The headline suggests that the differences between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are somehow unclear or need to be articulated further. As if the sitting Vice President, who upholds the Constitution and respects the rule of law, can be equated with a man who has repeatedly incited violence, lied to the public, and attempted to overthrow a legitimate election. The very premise of the headline is not just dumb, it’s insulting to the intelligence of the American people. And I like and respect WAPO—at least for the time being.

The Associated Press recently demonstrated this same troubling trend when they reported on a man who charged the press area at a recent Trump rally. The AP stated, "It was not immediately clear what motivated the man or whether he was a Trump supporter or critic." Are you kidding me? This is the kind of equivocation that fuels Trump’s base and emboldens his supporters. It’s painfully obvious that someone attacking the press at a Trump rally is likely acting on the rhetoric Trump himself has espoused for years, calling the media the "enemy of the people." Yet, the AP’s reluctance to state the obvious reflects a broader pattern in the media—one where Trump’s actions are downplayed or obfuscated, giving him an unearned pass.

AP—Why is this man attacking the press?

This brings us to the central question: Why is there a persistent effort to whitewash Trump’s lawless behavior? The media’s role is to hold power accountable, not to enable it. By treating Trump like a normal candidate, the press is complicit in normalizing his extremism and aiding his efforts to undermine democracy.

One crucial factor contributing to this complicity is the profit-driven nature of today’s mainstream news organizations. Unlike in the past, when many news outlets operated as loss leaders, prioritizing public service over profit, today’s media landscape demands revenue generation. Trump’s insane behavior is a cash cow for these organizations—it drives clicks, boosts ratings, and keeps the advertising dollars flowing. The more outrageous Trump’s actions, the more people tune in, and the more money flows into the networks’ coffers. In this sense, Trump’s extremism isn’t just tolerated; it’s actively encouraged by a media machine that thrives on sensationalism and controversy.

Trump himself is not subtle about his intentions. He actively encourages the very behavior that the press tiptoes around. After the man jumped the press fence at his rally, Trump didn’t condemn the act—instead, he egged it on, signaling his approval to his followers.

Yet, the media continues to ask inane and offensive questions to those who oppose Trump, as if to balance the scales. CNN’s Dana Bash, for example, asked Kamala Harris about Trump’s questioning of her "Blackness," as if her racial identity were up for debate or somehow relevant to her qualifications to be President. This kind of questioning is not just dumb—it’s a distraction. It diverts attention away from the real issues at hand: Trump’s ongoing assault on democracy and the need for strong leadership to counteract it. Yes, there are other important issues to be sure, but the single most important one concerning this election is that one.

CNN’s Dana Bash Interviews Harris and Walz

We all understand that Fox News and NewsMax are going to be cheerleaders for a domestic terrorist and his cult, but the mainstream press needs to wake up to the reality of what Trump represents. The stakes are too high for the media to continue treating Trump with kid gloves. Perhaps most importantly, it’s time for news organizations to remember that their role is to inform the public, not to profit from the spectacle of its potential demise.

It pains me to take the media to task since my daughter Alison was a journalist. Her desire to follow that calling was fueled by a field trip to the CNN headquarters in Atlanta when she was in high school.

She was destined to be there one day

I have to wonder what she would make of the sad state of the profession. Journalism was once (and hopefully still is) a noble calling, dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the protection of democracy. But today, the profession Alison loved seems to have lost its way, driven more by profit than by principle.

Come on, folks. Be the journalists Alison admired and that the country needs.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Andy's Fight to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Andy Parker
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share