Credit…Doug Mills/The New York Times
If there’s one thing Russia understands better than the West, it’s how to manipulate narratives. For decades, the Kremlin has expertly played Western media like a fiddle, using it to amplify fear, spread disinformation, and launder propaganda to global audiences. The same goes for Trump.
And my biggest frustration? Western media keeps falling for it. Again. And again.
The same outlets that pride themselves on holding power to account end up serving as unwitting megaphones for Russian disinformation campaigns. This isn’t just a failure of journalism—it’s a gift to autocrats everywhere.
But Russia isn’t the only player benefitting from this dynamic. Here at home, Trump’s authoritarian rhetoric and anti-democratic actions are normalized in the same ways, with the media treating his dangerous tactics as mere political theater instead of existential threats to democracy. With Trump returning to power soon, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The time for neutrality, sensationalism, and both-sidedism reporting is over. If the media doesn’t get its act together, it risks enabling a new era of authoritarianism, both foreign and domestic. Thus far, the media has failed to protect America from a looming dictatorship. By treating existential threats to democracy as political theater, downplaying autocratic rhetoric, and amplifying disinformation, the press has inadvertently paved the way for the erosion of democratic norms. The stakes are too high and without a drastic shift, the media will become complicit in the dismantling of the very freedoms it relies on to operate.
Let’s start with Russia.
The Kremlin knows exactly how to weaponize Western media. It floods the information space with bombastic claims—nuclear threats, hypersonic missiles, and world-ending scenarios—and sits back while Western outlets breathlessly report them without context or skepticism.
Take the recent deployment of the experimental Oreshnik ballistic missile in Ukraine. Russia’s message was clear: “Be afraid.” But the truth? The strike was less about military capability and more about psychological warfare. The Kremlin choreographed every aspect of the operation to amplify fear, from the missile strike itself to the viral footage and media frenzy that followed.
Headlines screamed about Russia’s supposed new superweapon. Still, few bothered to highlight the reality: the Oreshnik is experimental, its stockpile is limited, and its deployment was more a PR stunt than a military game-changer.
Whenever media outlets regurgitate Kremlin talking points without analysis, they do the Kremlin’s job. They disseminate Russia’s lies, stoke unnecessary fear, and demoralize the very audiences that need to stay resilient.
Now that Trump has secured a strong position, Russia has shifted its focus to a full-blown disinformation blitz aimed at driving a wedge between the U.S. and Ukraine. This operation has already begun, with Russian-backed outlets and social media campaigns spreading narratives designed to sow distrust, questioning the U.S.’s commitment to supporting Ukraine. The goal is to fracture the transatlantic alliance, undermining the unity that has been crucial in countering Russia’s aggression. As we’ve seen before, disinformation will be a key tool in Moscow’s strategy to weaken Western resolve and destabilize Ukraine’s fight for survival. And media needs to call this out instead of treating this as a normal policy debate.
The media’s failures with Russia mirror how it treats Trump’s authoritarianism.
Trump’s playbook relies on disinformation, fear, and division—just like the Kremlin’s. But instead of calling this out for what it is, too many journalists treat it as political strategy or partisan bickering.
Take Trump’s relentless claims of “political weaponization” of the FBI. It’s baseless propaganda, plain and simple. The FBI acts independently and what Trump claims is not a thing. And yet, media personalities and headlines repeat his accusations without context, giving them undeserved legitimacy.
Even worse, the media is failing to confront the real threat: Trump’s explicit promises to weaponize the FBI and other institutions to target his so-called “enemies from within.” These enemies include military generals, Democrats like Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi, journalists, protesters, and anyone he deems insufficiently loyal.
He’s already nominated unqualified loyalists like Kash Patel to lead the FBI—someone who would eagerly transform the bureau into a tool for silencing dissent, imprisoning opponents, and attacking the free press. This isn’t hypothetical; it’s a direct blueprint for authoritarian rule, and the media’s failure to connect the dots is dangerously shortsighted.
This is not normal. This is not a political strategy. This is authoritarianism. And it’s dangerous.
Not every issue has two sides but Western media, in its obsession with “balance,” insists on treating authoritarian threats as if they’re just another perspective.
This false equivalence fuels disinformation. When Trump undermines elections or Russia threatens nuclear war, there’s no need to give these claims equal weight or treat them as legitimate concerns. Doing so doesn’t inform the public—it misleads them.
And let’s not even start on sensational headlines. They may drive clicks, but they also spread fear and normalize extremism. Journalists have a responsibility to prioritize truth and context over spectacle.
Western media must do better if it’s to effectively counter disinformation and authoritarianism. First, journalists must scrutinize their sources with greater care. If a story aligns too neatly with Kremlin or Trump agendas, it’s essential to ask why and report on it critically, without amplifying its motives or giving it undue credibility. Context is also vital—reporting the “what” isn’t enough; audiences need to understand the “why.” Whether it’s Russia’s nuclear saber-rattling or Trump’s attacks on the institutions, the strategy behind the rhetoric must be explained.
Additionally, the media must stop amplifying propaganda under the guise of sensationalism. Headlines should inform, not stoke fear and every word must be chosen with responsibility. Anti-democratic behavior should also be called out for what it is—Trump’s threats to jail opponents or dismantle institutions aren’t just “controversial” tactics; they are autocratic. A well-informed public remains the strongest defense against disinformation and authoritarianism.
With Trump’s return to power, the media has no room for error. His threats to democracy aren’t hypothetical—they’re promises— and he’s made it clear that he’ll follow through on them.
We need a strong, principled press to counter this, not one that gaslights the public, whitewashes authoritarianism, or treats propaganda as news.
The survival of our democratic institutions depends on it. This isn’t just about better reporting—it’s about safeguarding the truth itself.
