Press as Laughingstock

Writing at The Federalist, Lee Smith takes an uncharitable view of the state of American journalism, one with which I concur.

It is now accepted journalistic practice to print, and reprint, any garish fantasy so long as it’s layered with Russian intrigue and Trump team treason. Even as the rest of the country sees an institution that has made itself a laughingstock, the press continues to salute itself for its bravery—or the courage and industry required to take leaks from law enforcement and intelligence officials and Democratic operatives in an effort to topple a president it doesn’t like, elected by neighbors it holds in contempt.

There’s a lot of “holding in contempt” going around these days, I’ve caught myself doing it on occasion. Meanwhile one newspaper after another goes dark, and TV viewership is dropping too.