The media narratives that Democrats’ case for impeachment was floundering were based on how the pundits felt, including many who weren’t shy of constantly saying they were bored or admitting they weren’t paying attention.
The sad truth is that much of politics now is affected by pundits as gatekeepers who aren’t analyzing news so much as critiquing whether the news entertains them. This is why they prioritize spectacle. It’s how we get Trump.
It forms a toxic circle. In many cases, like Mueller’s testimony, pundits don’t get the television they want and their “analysis” poisons public sentiment. This happens in complicated, nuanced matters. This style of news prioritizes entertainment over information.
Presenting politics as entertainment perpetuates the idea that it’s a spectacle to watch. It makes an electorate feel powerless, numbs passions, and lessens will toward public action. It makes a criminal presidency feel like a TV villain instead of something to address.
But Trump isn’t a fictional character. He’s a menace. A pox on the presidency. If the majority of Americans want him gone and a party refuses for blatantly unethical purposes, the people should voice their will. It’s not a TV show, it’s not an entertainment. It’s life or death.
