QOTD -- An Existential Crisis Ignored By Horserace Journalists

Colbert I. King on the fundamental issue not getting the serious attention by the media it deserves:

White nationalism is on the rise and worming itself into the Republican mainstream. The country is experiencing a “racial justice crisis,” as Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, told a virtual Howard University audience this week.

Yet, that’s not what’s dominating the front pages or cable news shows. Instead, the Biden administration is being subjected to “horse race” reporting that pays more attention to whether the president is winning or losing against Republican rivals on a range of issues — infrastructure, gun control, climate change, withdrawal from Afghanistan, you name it — than to the substance and merit of the issues themselves. Public life in Washington is once again being reduced to a competitive game between Democrats and Republicans — who’s ahead, who’s behind in the battle over who knows what.

However, some of today’s issues are more than passing fancies that grab public attention until the next big thing comes along. One that looms large with those of us deeply concerned about the health of our democracy: the Republican voter suppression crusade that will diminish access to the ballot for people of color.

The worst offenders are the "savvy DC insider" types (Politico, Punchbowl, Axios, etc.) and some cable pundits like CNN's bottom- dwelling Chris "But Her Emails!" Cillizza.  But there's plenty of blame to go around, and consumers need to be alert to what's being reported and, most importantly in the context of King's op/ ed, what's not.  And let the offenders know you know the difference and the significance.