5. Concentrated ownership
• Fewer owners control more outlets.
• Decisions can reflect elite interests that see stability—even authoritarian stability—as safer than upheaval. (6)

4. Weak public media
• Underfunded and vulnerable to political attacks.
• Less power to provide strong, independent warnings. (5)

3. No duty to defend democracy
• The First Amendment protects press freedom—but doesn’t require truth-telling or public-interest coverage.
• Outlets can choose sensationalism, access journalism, or safe euphemisms without legal penalty. (4)

2. Both-sides norm in journalism
• U.S. media culture rewards “balance,” even when one side is authoritarian.
• The system teaches journalists to avoid strong truth-claims to seem “neutral.” (3)

How does the system enable this?

1. Corporate ownership & profit motive
• Media outlets are owned by giant corporations.
• Profit depends on access, ad revenue, and not alienating audiences.
• Calling out “dictatorship” risks losing access to powerful figures and advertisers. (2)

Authoritarian Tactic: Neutralize or weaken the press through fear, complicity, or ambiguity.
• Instead of clear warnings, media use vague, watered-down language.
• This keeps the public confused or complacent about the threat. (1)

Defunding public media isn’t random—it’s possible because our system has no strong protections for independent news. That leaves us vulnerable to politicians cutting off critical voices and controlling what info the public gets. It’s a rigged system by design.

#PowerProtectsPower

The system enables this GOP cycle: cut taxes for the rich, run up debt, then demand cuts to social programs. No balanced budget rule, easy borrowing, hard-to-reverse tax cuts, and donor influence make it possible—and designed to favor the wealthy.

#RiggedForTheWealthy

If MTG thinks Grok is left leaning what would she say about God/Jesus? How can you be a Christian WITHOUT being left leaning?

Someone told me you can relieve the grief somewhat by looking up toward the ceiling. It did seem to help.