This Is Doing My Head In

[Content Note: White supremacy.]

I've got a new piece at Shareblue about the corporate media's unconscionable abetting of Kellyanne Conway's lies about empowering white supremacy:

The original exchange, as well as Conway's denialism — and personal offense — have been widely reported. However, a critical piece of context has been left out of every bit of reporting I have read thus far.

As Shareblue has documented, Trump is populating his administration with people who have direct links or associations with white supremacist groups.

Chief policy strategist Steve Bannon, Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, and a number of other appointees and advisors have affiliations with white supremacist organizations. This is not incidental: It is a continuation of Trump's campaign, which routinely made explicit and dogwhistled appeals to white supremacy.

Conway's denialism, and purported offense, are thus absurd and deeply dishonest. But without this important context being included in reports, news consumers are left without crucial information to make that assessment.

This is an editorial choice, and it is a dangerous and irresponsible one.

This is what happens when the media decide facts don't matter anymore.