It is easy to dismiss complaints about media bias as simple discontent with an outlet that does not share the reader’s political views. But mainstream media has gone beyond simply tilting in one direction or another; many legacy outlets seem to be engaging in direct public relations for the Democrat party.
Newsweek published an article suggesting that Donald Trump “complimented” presidential candidate Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom by mistake during a campaign stop. Trump made an appearance at the U.S.-Mexico border in Cochise County, Arizona. He remarked on the decline of safety and living standards in San Francisco, a Democrat-run city that has become a safe haven for the mentally ill, prostitutes, and criminals while businesses and law-abiding citizens are increasingly afraid to venture into the downtown area.
Trump contrasted this with the San Francisco of 15 years ago, which he said was “the best city in the country” and one of the best on the globe.”
Newsweek seemed to believe it had a “gotcha” moment in this; the magazine pointed out that 15 years ago, Kamala Harris was the San Francisco District Attorney while Gavin Newsom was the city’s mayor. While the writer did not explicitly state this, the obvious implication was that Harris and Newsom were responsible for how clean and safe the city was when they were running it in their respective roles.
Gavin Newsom certainly took it that way, posting on Twitter/X, “Thanks, Donald Trump.” This is to be expected from politicians, but it is more difficult to explain why allegedly “objective” mainstream publications seem indistinguishable from the paid PR staff of Democrat candidates.
Moreover, if Gavin Newsom is to be congratulated for the safe San Francisco of 15 years ago, why is he not to be scorned for its subsequent decline, along with much of the Golden State, now that he’s the Governor? New York Times liberal columnist Nicholas Kristof’s recent column—clearly presented as opinion, not news—is an interesting comparison. It asks what liberals have done to the west coast, and it is not complimentary.
Part of the answer might be that Newsweek very much wants Harris to win the presidency and has elevated that goal over journalistic neutrality. The same piece came close to cheerleading for Harris by pointing out, as if this were not widely known, that despite the Trump campaign’s desire to “flip California,” that the state has voted reliably Democrat for years.