Danny reflects on the decline of U.S. media credibility, once regarded as the “fourth estate” that held government accountable. Trust in media has now collapsed, with legacy outlets in “freefall” due to the rise of social media and repeated breaches of integrity. This erosion fuels polarization, as people only trust outlets that align with their own biases, making misinformation a greater perceived threat than terrorism or disease.
Using the Russia–Ukraine war as an example, the speaker criticizes ABC News for platforming David Petraeus without challenging his flawed track record or one-sided narrative that blames Russia entirely while ignoring failed Western diplomacy. The media’s failure to provide balanced scrutiny, combined with elite influence and corporate control, fosters manipulation, deepens division, and risks pushing the U.S. toward unrest or even a form of civil conflict.
👉 Core points:
- Media once ensured accountability; now public trust is at historic lows.
- Legacy media has lost audience share and credibility to social platforms.
- Polarization grows as each side believes only its preferred outlets.
- Misinformation is now seen by Americans as a greater threat than terror or disease.
- Example: ABC uncritically presented Petraeus’ pro-Western narrative on Ukraine.
- Lack of accountability and elite control of media erodes truth, fuels division, and could destabilize society.
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