The decline of American media continues to unravel before our eyes.
There was a time when journalists in the United States prioritized their country over the temptation of chasing clicks or fueling rhetoric.
Sadly, that time seems to be slipping away. The problem, at its core, is that many mainstream media journalists are suffering from what I would call "acute Trump Derangement Syndrome."
They seem willing to go to any lengths, cloaked in the guise of journalism, to take cheap shots at the president.
This willingness to undermine even the most basic standards of journalistic integrity has, at times, led to exposing national and international security vulnerabilities for the sake of sensationalism.
A perfect example of this erosion of standards came to light on Monday, March 24th with the story involving Jeff Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
This incident highlights how far the mainstream media has fallen. The discussions that took place on the messaging app Signal were blown out of proportion by the media, which sensationalized them as “war plans.” In reality, the conversations, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth relaid, were simply logistical exchanges. Hegseth even stated that further discussions would need to be moved to a classified and protected venue.
Yet, instead of reporting responsibly, the media fanned the flames of hysteria, stirring up divisions among Democrats and Republicans feeding into a narrative of instability.
This makes me wonder: What if Jeff Goldberg had been reporting during World War II?
Could you imagine the chaos if he had revealed Allied plans for D-Day before it took place? Where is the sense of patriotism and responsibility? Do today’s journalists even understand what it means to love your country and put national security above all else?
During my time on Capitol Hill, I witnessed firsthand the importance of responsible journalism. There were countless stories that didn’t make it to print because they were too sensitive.
Some of this information came from staffers who spoke too freely or from members of Congress who misjudged their relationships with the press, confusing professionalism with friendship.
However, even then, there was a sense of responsibility among journalists to withhold certain information until it was resolved. The understanding was simple: if the story could harm the country, it was better left unpublished until the issue had been resolved, and the necessary context was provided.
The approach was one of "no harm, no foul.” Then after the matter passed, it was fair game, after all, we want the media to keep the government honest.
The relationship between public servants and journalists has always been one of collaboration, with both sides working toward the greater good of the country. When these relationships remain ethical, there is a lot of potential for positive outcomes. However, too often that line is crossed.
When it is, the consequences are clear: increased distrust in both the government and the media. We now find ourselves in a constant state of limbo, where the media seems more focused on fueling division than fostering unity. The result? We are losing the trust of the American people, and it’s hard to see how this cycle will end.