How the Media Softens Truth for the Powerful — and Sharpens It for the Marginalized

By Issa for News from the Other Side

America is being slowly unraveled — not just by the people in power, but by those too afraid to name the power that’s doing the unraveling.

Mainstream media says it’s being “fair.”
But what we’re seeing isn’t fairness — it’s fear.

  • Fear of offending advertisers.
  • Fear of losing access to powerful people.
  • Fear of being labeled “biased.”
  • Fear of speaking truth, plainly, when it’s uncomfortable.

🎙️ The Case of the Tariffs

Recently, a news report covered the devastating impact tariffs could have on the Port of New Orleans — and the working people who depend on it.

Prices are expected to rise. Jobs will be lost.
People will struggle to feed their families.

The story could have clearly said:

“These policies are dangerous. This is going to hurt everyday Americans.”

But instead… it pivoted to “Trump’s perspective” — as if his talking points deserve equal weight with the lived reality of the people about to suffer.

That’s not journalism.
That’s appeasement.

🧠 Confusion Is the Goal

To the average middle-class listener just trying to survive?
That kind of “neutral” reporting creates confusion.

They don’t realize the danger until it shows up at their doorstep.
And by then, the news cycle has already moved on to the next distraction.

The result?
A public left in the dark.
Policies that harm people sliding through unchallenged.

⚖️ A Double Standard of Coverage

Let a Black protester break a window during a demonstration?
Wall-to-wall coverage. Outrage. Condemnation.

Let a politician destabilize democracy, destroy jobs, or strip away rights?
Carefully worded segments. “Experts say.” “Some argue.”
A polite tone.
A cautious dance.

One gets called a threat.
The other gets called a candidate.

Why the double standard?
Because one challenges property.
The other protects power.

🧨 The Myth of Objectivity

The truth is: there’s no such thing as truly “neutral” reporting.
Every choice — what to cover, what not to cover, what words to use — reflects a point of view.

The question is not “Are you biased?”
The question is: Whose side are you on?

💥 What We Need Instead

We don’t need media that tiptoes.
We need media that tells the damn truth.

  • If it’s a lie, call it a lie.
  • If it’s harmful, say so.
  • If it’s racist, say so.
  • If it’s democracy on the line, don’t act like it’s just another Tuesday.

Because fairness without courage is not journalism — it’s theater.

🛑 Final Thought

You can’t protect democracy by sugarcoating those who seek to destroy it.

You can’t empower the people by keeping them confused.

And you can’t serve the truth if you’re too scared to speak it.