Staff Reports
There appears to be a reckoning for what many are calling “fake news,” and, let’s just say, it couldn’t come soon enough. A recent blunder by the mainstream media outlet Axios sent shockwaves through conservative circles. The headline they published—before hastily deleting it—suggested that crime rates were plunging in major cities despite President Trump’s so-called “rhetoric” on crime. Really, Axios? It seems that logic took a backseat here. Instead of acknowledging the influence of the President’s policies, they chose to twist reality in a way that would make anyone scratch their head in confusion.
The headline was less about reporting facts and more about spinning a narrative that painted Trump in an unfavorable light. How can speech alone possibly be responsible for crime trends, when the reality is that policies and actions are what truly shape the state of law and order? This rather bizarre take from Axios begs the question: what do their editors think is more impactful—the words of the President or his actual policies? Common sense would suggest that the latter plays a much bigger role. It’s as if they were grasping for something—anything—to criticize rather than celebrating the decrease in violent crime that many attribute to Trump’s tough stance on crime.
This episode may have shocked some, but it’s hardly surprising in the current media landscape. While criticism of Trump has become something of a sport among some news outlets, reporting that reflects reality has become something of a rarity. A stunning moment occurred during an exchange between Trump and NBC anchor Tom Yamos, where Yamos acknowledged the significant drop in illegal border crossings. Trump’s surprise at this admission spoke volumes. Such moments seem to be the exception rather than the rule, symbolizing just how deeply entrenched this culture of biased reporting has become.
Digging deeper into the issue reveals an even more disheartening trend. A study by the Media Research Center analyzed the output from Apple News and found that, out of 620 top stories handpicked by editors, every single one came from left-leaning or centrist sources. That’s a staggering zero stories from conservative outlets. Millions of Americans wake up to this kind of bias each morning, forcing them to view the world through an increasingly distorted lens. How can anyone expect the public to have a well-rounded understanding of current events when they are only given a one-sided perspective?
As the curtain is pulled back on these media practices, it becomes clearer that the public deserves better. Good reporting should strive for fairness and accuracy, instead of simply parroting narratives that fit a specific agenda. Maybe now that the reckoning has begun, outlets like Axios can step back, take a long, hard look in the mirror, and remember what it means to report honestly. Meanwhile, conservatives will continue to advocate for stories that recognize not just government rhetoric, but the meaningful policies that truly affect citizens’ lives. After all, it’s actions, not just words, that pave the way for real change.
