"It is going to be too easy for things to start feeling normal—especially if you are someone who is not directly impacted by his actions—so keep reminding yourself: This is not normal ... Write it on a Post-It note and stick it on your refrigerator, hire a skywriter once a month, tattoo it on your ass, because a Klan-backed misogynist internet troll is going to be delivering the next State of the Union address, and that is not normal. It is FUCKED UP."
If one had any faith left in the Washington press corps, it probably evaporated in the wake of their behavior since last Tuesday. The reason? When push comes to shove, they care more about their fucking seating arrangements in the press room, being invited to dinner parties, their invitations to inaugural balls, and giggling it up at the next correspondent’s dinner than actually doing their damn job. That’s why a senior adviser to the next leader of this country with a history of racist behavior and ties to white nationalists can be announced, and most of the major newspapers don't think it's worth mentioning on their front pages.
Coupled with the incessant message of "just give Trump a chance” and "respect the office” the media has latched on to, it's as if we’re supposed to act like because Trump has the title “president-elect” attached to his name, he’s not the same prick he’s been for the past year.
During times like these, it's easy to believe the House of Cards depiction of the media, with reporters willing to whore themselves and their dignity out to secure sources and stories.
The problem with just smiling and going along with formality is that it accepts these positions as the new normal. It pushes the lines over to where kids can think walking around their school with a Trump sign, yelling “white power!” is okay—when it should never be accepted as anything in the vicinity of normal. So far, that’s the worst damage of this election. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there have been over 300 incidents of harassment and intimidation since last Tuesday. Moreover, the standards and norms of what’s acceptable for someone running for president, and now becoming president, have been pushed so far that any future candidate will just point to Trump to justify horrendous conduct.
In last night’s season finale of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, John Oliver lamented how horrible 2016 has been, while taking aim at the new president, media pundits, and all others who have culpability in this mess of trying to destroy the threads of common decency that hold this country together.
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