To the editor:

Media pretend they’re upholding a balanced, honorable form of journalism called “bothsidesism.” If that were actually true, there wouldn’t be people in the North Country who still think the Republican Party represents rule-of-law or “we’re so lucky Trump is president” or Stefanik faithfully represents our district.

It’s a betrayal for mainstream media to treat all “opinions” as viable. Free speech, maybe. But they’re not rational, knowledgeable opinions when they’re based on debunked lies, contrived innuendos and proven-to-be exaggerated slurs against Democrats. The fact MAGA/Republican voters were led to believe that Oct.18 protests would be violent, radical “Hate America” rallies — and never informed about reality-based reasons why seven million Americans fear for our democracy — is verification enough that “bothsidesism” is lacking.

Trump is a gangster using extortion to get what he wants. That’s not my “opinion,” it’s a biographical fact about how he conducted his real estate business and why he’s been involved in 4,000-plus legal battles. And the GOP thought this corrupt man would take his constitutional oath seriously — when he’s always broken laws and never put his hand on a Bible to swear to tell the truth, including at his own inauguration?

Media amplified Trump’s massive lie campaigns instead of doing the responsible thing of telling their audiences the truth. COVID wasn’t a “hoax,” masks weren’t an abuse of “personal freedom” and vaccines weren’t harmful. There were 102 million reported COVID cases in America and 1.2 million people died — the most of any country.

No shame about his inept leadership or a drop of sympathy from Trump. No attempt to bring communities together by showing consideration and wearing masks. Just pitting Republicans against Democrats. That was Trump’s goal and people fell for it.

Fact: Hard-core evidence exists that Russia used fake bots, websites and inside influencers to help Trump get elected in 2016. Fact: Trump was extorting Zelenskyy by withholding the promised weaponry in exchange for dirt on Biden. Fact: Trump hoped to cover up his shady behavior by firing inspector generals and lawyers who wouldn’t lie for him.

Fact: The courts found no evidence of 2024 election fraud. Fact: Trump’s economy was never “great.” Fact: Trump is lying when he claims he has the power to lower gas or grocery prices. Fact: Trump was part of the plan to set off a Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol building. Fact: Immigrants don’t commit the majority of crimes in America. Fact: Trump has been cooperating with right-wing/libertarian billionaires all along who intend to replace our Constitution with Project 2025.

But MAGAs reject reality-based truth in favor of illusion. “Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.” “Mike Johnson wants all the Epstein files released.” “Melania Trump cares about helping the 19,000 Ukrainian children Putin has abducted over the years.”

Unfortunately, the majority of media choose not to explicitly explain how it’s all smoke, mirrors and subterfuge. The sculpted rhetoric is a pretense of “bothsidesism.” And Oct. 18 rally-goers aren’t falling for it anymore.

Martha Hodges

Massena