Sara Libby, San Francisco Chronicle: Longtime Boston Globe columnist Mike Barnicle called out major newspapers' coverage of Trump on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Wednesday, suggesting they're sanitizing Trump's comments by simply describing them instead of allowing readers to see his actual words in their entirety.
I hope the dam has finally broken and that the term "sanewashing" will catch on too describe the way the media has been sanitizing Trump's words for way to long:
This "sanewashing" of Trump's statements isn't just poor journalism; it's a form of misinformation that poses a threat to democracy. By continually reframing Trump's incoherent and often dangerous rhetoric as conventional political discourse, major news outlets are failing in their duty to inform the public and are instead providing cover for increasingly erratic behavior from a former"and potentially future"president.newrepublic.com
The consequences of this journalistic malpractice extend far beyond misleading headlines. By laundering Trump's words in this fashion, the media is actively participating in the erosion of our shared reality. When major news outlets consistently present a polished version of Trump's statements, they create an alternate narrative that exists alongside the unfiltered truth available on social media and in unedited footage.
Here's an example of how CNN sanewashed Trump's unhinged rally in WI today:
Aaron Rupar
@atrupar
CNN correspondent sanewashes Trump's diatribe in Wisconsin by pretending he rolled out a serious new policy proposal about changing the 25th amendment
x.com
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