The Self-Defeating Both-Sidesism of the US Press
The article argues that US media's tendency to present a balanced 'both-sides' narrative fails when assessing Trump and the Republican Party, as their actions—such as undermining democratic norms and enabling authoritarian tactics—are fundamentally different in kind and severity from Democratic policies. In contrast, claims by Trump and MAGA media that Democrats are 'Communists' or 'antifa' lack any grounding in policy reality. The piece contends that equating the two parties in this way distorts public understanding and obscures the threat posed by authoritarian tendencies. Accurate descriptions of Trump’s actions should not be avoided simply to appear neutral.
Full article excerpt tap to expand
There’s no clean way to hive off terms like fascism or authoritarianism from Trump’s policies. Even if you disagree that the words apply, their use is backed up by a genuine attempt at intellectual justification for it. The use of these terms just is deeply linked to assessments of Trump’s actual policies, from the lawless renditions to foreign gulags to the unleashing of heavily armed militias in American cities to the naked intimidation of large swaths of civil society.By contrast, when Trump and MAGA media figures call Democrats “Communists” or “antifa,” all of that is entirely disconnected from any policy realities. Many press figures would like it if there were an Archimedean midpoint between the two parties on all these matters. But there isn’t. At the most basic level, one party continues to function as an actor in a liberal democracy, whereas Trump and much of his movement, with the eager participation of many Republicans, simply do not. Dispensing with harsh but accurate descriptions of his real goals would whitewash them.
This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at kottke.org.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from kottke.org
