Mainstream Media 'Discovers' Trump's Authoritarianism Just Before Election
According to The Independent , 'millions' are set to march against Trump's supposed 'authoritarianism,' a commendable civic exercise. One might wonder where this energy was when, say, the Patriot Act was passed, or when the U.S. oversaw the destabilization of entire regions, leading to millions of displaced persons. For that matter, where was this media outrage when political figures were openly
discussing extra-legal actions, or when civil liberties were eroded under the guise of national security? It appears 'authoritarianism' only truly becomes newsworthy when it's politically expedient to rally against a specific public figure. The media's cyclical discovery of 'threats to democracy' often aligns suspiciously with electoral cycles. This isn't newfound vigilance; it’s often a belated,
and sometimes cynically deployed, narrative. While Trump’s rhetoric certainly demands scrutiny, the sudden, unified alarm bells ring a little hollow from institutions that have frequently given a pass to equally troubling assertions of executive power—as long as the 'right' person was wielding them. Perhaps true authoritarianism, the kind that dismantles democratic norms regardless of party,
deserves consistent scrutiny, not just pre-election theatrics.