I think it is fair to say that the MSM’s coverage of Biden–particularly his economic record, but also including Afghanistan–has been relentlessly negative for most of the year. Some left-leaning commentators are puzzled by this; others think the MSM have an obligation to downplay the administration’s real problems in an effort to preserve liberal democracy from the GOP. For his part, Ross Douthat believes the MSM would only make Trump’s case for him by appearing to behave in a partisan fashion. Who is right here?
This is not as complicated as it seems, for the following reasons:
- The MSM are only focusing on the issues of the moment, as usual. We hear and see stories about inflation and supply chain problems every day; naturally, that tends to drive Biden’s poll numbers down. What we don’t hear is a reminder that, if you look at the big picture, everyone is better off today than at this time last year, due to rapidly rising employment, as well as the stimulus and enhanced UI benefits which created a large pool of savings that is currently contributing to some extent to inflation. The legitimate criticism of the MSM here, in other words, is that it should be talking about the big moving picture, not the snapshot.
- Douthat is essentially right about the role of the MSM as to their coverage of Biden. Once again, however, the big picture is that the GOP is an openly insurrectionist party, not a normal opposition. The MSM have a duty to avoid false equivalence and make sure the electorate is kept aware of the qualitative differences between the two parties when it has reason to compare them.
- The MSM’s coverage of the big Biden bills has focused almost exclusively on their cost and the difficulties involved in getting them through the system. That makes about as much sense as talking about the cost of a car without discussing what you get in return. The problem is not the administration’s “messaging;” it is the MSM’s reluctance to get into the appropriate level of detail regarding the benefits of the legislation, largely due to laziness. Inform the public as to both the costs and the contents of the spending programs and let the voters decide.