Unexpected Insight

Through a cascade of links too lengthy to summarize, I was led back to a May, 2017, article in The Atlantic by Caitlin Flanagan who writes interesting things about the leftist political bias of late nite TV hosts. Check out this:

Though aimed at blue-state sophisticates, these shows are an unintended but powerful form of propaganda for conservatives. When Republicans see these harsh jokes—which echo down through the morning news shows and the chattering day’s worth of viral clips, along with those of Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers—they don’t just see a handful of comics mocking them. They see HBO, Comedy Central, TBS, ABC, CBS, and NBC.

In other words, they see exactly what Donald Trump has taught them: that the entire media landscape loathes them, their values, their family, and their religion. It is hardly a reach for them to further imagine that the legitimate (sic) news shows on these channels are run by similarly partisan players—nor is it at all illogical.

Loathing begets loathing, and foments polarization, which leads to hate. TV ratings are going where? Down, you say? In the immortal words of Casablanca’s Capt. Louis Renault, “I’m shocked, shocked....”