Thread by @HoarseWisperer

One thing that we on the left need to learn that Trump has always known:

The media are referees to be worked.

The pushback they get does very much influence their coverage.

We agitate too little and accept too much. We need to advocate more strongly.

1/

Trump stamps his feet and tantrums about the media *and it works*.

We need to advocate just as strongly for the type of coverage we need.

Putting an end to false equivalencies. Ceasing to publish uncorrected falsehoods. Calling lies ‘lies’. Calling racism ‘racism’.

2/

I have been vocal and aggressive toward the media at times over the past four years.

I’m assertive about problematic media coverage because we cannot afford it and it does harm.

It doesn’t matter if I love the journalist. We cannot afford problematic coverage.

3/

Had we been militant in policing political journalism before 2016, Trump would not be president.

We would not have seen the media obsessing about one candidate’s emails far more than their opponent’s virulent racism.

4/

We cannot be passive consumers of media product.

We cannot.

We need to act like activist constituents.

When political coverage is harmful to the goal of removing Trump and restoring our country, we need to push back.

5/

We, as the audience, are only starting to fully flex our power as the consumers who enable mass media outlets to profit.

We need to be vastly more active there.

That which you accept, you condone.

6/

when you see problematic coverage, push back.

Every time.

We demand the press not repeat its 2016 mistakes or we passively accept their consequences.

And we cannot afford them.

7/7