I’m increasingly concerned by how totally unsubstantiated claims are slipped in media reports and journos’ tweets.

Today, it was that Republicans sought to disenfranchise black voters but still celebrated MLK Day. The first part was declared as an absolute fact with no proof.

Last week, it was that some Republicans were unmasked and, despite those unmasked Republicans not being COVID-positive while Democrats were COVID-positive, were implied to be responsible for some Democrats getting COVID.

Reported totally uncritically.

Then there’s the crackpot theory from some Democrats that GOP lawmakers, the military and law enforcement are conspiring to attack/kill Democratic politicians. Again, reported without any of the typical “There is no evidence of this” that GOPers making outlandish claims get.

The degree of editorializing that is now acceptable in reporting is breathtaking.

The number of straight news reporters, including TV personalities, who feel emboldened to make hyper-partisan declarations as facts is growing. Because things are so bad they have no choice, guys!

These are the same folks who lament the degradation of political discourse and civics ignorance because a good chunk of the population won’t tune in to their oh-so-super-serious-straight-news. But they refuse to acknowledge how their own editorializing is turning people off.

Want to win back public trust and positively contribute to a restoration of some civil order? Stop. Editorializing. The. News.

The public have a good idea where the vast majority of the media stand politically. No need to rub it in their faces and have them search elsewhere.

People are going to embrace fake news and even dangerous extremism if they sense the media condescend or mislead them. If some reporters are unable to demonstrate even the tiniest bit of restraint when it comes to keeping their opinions out of coverage, they’re making it worse.