You're right that media coverage needs to be scrutinized however I'd argue it's easier said than done. We’re barraged by a constant onslaught of information far more than we have the time or energy to process. This problem is compounded by our tribal tendencies, which politicians exploit by flooding the discourse with empty controversies while quietly pushing through more sinister actions.
This dynamic also helps explain why disadvantaged populations are often less informed or politically engaged. When daily life is a struggle for survival, scrutinizing this week’s partisan bill or police skirmish inevitably falls lower on the priority list.
The current U.S. administration is outright hostile to pretend otherwise is dangerous. Sure, the president borrows from Vladimir Putin’s playbook, undermining us with soft power projection. But that shouldn’t downplay the severity of the threat.
Between the constant "51st state" rhetoric, repeated tariff threats, and strong-arming us into footing the bill for contracts that’ll inevitably funnel money back into his/their pockets, anyone who doesn’t see this as dangerously aggressive is delusional.