In general, the MSM (main stream media) really does not know how (or really want to) report on these “election challenges” as a coup attempt by a fascist party. Their entire world is built around the conservative/GOP versus liberal/Democratic polarity and that narrative frame assumes that both parties, while having ideological differences, respect the rule of law and Democratic principles. The GOP has been rogue for some time but their willingness to do anything to stay in power has amped up to a new level under Trump. For the most part, this intensification has paralyzed the MSM. They will fact check Trump and strongly condemn his statements and policies, particularly in regard to Covid-19, but not connect the dots that he and his GOP enablers are a white supremacist, totalitarian-aspiring regime who pose an existential threat to American democracy. The insidious evolution of the GOP, which began under Reagan, has now reached the crisis tipping point.
Back in 2016 and early 2017, there was much talk by MSM pundits about “not normalizing” the incoming Trump administration but he was normalized quickly because the alternative would have been too contentious. It would have seem “biased” for the MSM to acknowledge that one party is grounded in reality while the other traffics in an endless series of lies, racist dog whistles, and totalitarian machinations —even though evidence for that conclusion could be found in the daily operation of the Trump regime. And so, a regime promoting “alternative facts” (i.e. BIG lies) was more or less treated as business as usual politics.
And now, the MSM is stuck in the same pernicious dynamic, enjoying the ratings (and revenue) from reporting on the drama while sternly pointing out that Trump’s claims are “disputed.” But, they generally stop short of acknowledging the anti-democratic nature of the Trumpian-GOP’s baseless voter fraud claims and the corresponding break down of the two party system premise.
However, Joy Reid connected the dots. Many more in the MSM need to be brave enough to state that one side of the American “two party” system is not a good faith actor and that “the both sides” narrative can no longer be the frame of reference. And the Democratic leadership needs to get aggressive in galvanizing and mobilizing their 80 million plus base. They just can’t wait for Trump to slither away because that simply ain’t happening and the GOP disenfranchisement efforts will continue unabated unless there is a massive push back.
The Democratic leadership also needs to be in full-throated condemnation of Trump and all his enablers— they need to confront McConnell, Cruz, Graham and all the rest; name names and specify that their actions, and continued support of Trump’s false accusations, meet the definition of sedition.
At this point, the usual rules of political decorum are long gone. Whatever semblance of functionality America’s two-party system may have once had, it is now fundamentally broken and only one-side did the breaking. And, it is time for counter lawsuits by Democratic AGs in NY, WI, and other named states. Trump, Texas and all the rest need to pay a legal and political price for this long series of baseless, nuisance law suits.