The electoral effect of this is hard to measure. But the constant normalizing and sanitizing of Trump combined with the disproportionate critique of Harris in order to provide “balance” and the semblance of “neutrality” is evidently bad. (Screenshot of @joshtpm.bsky.social’s post on ex-Twitter)
I know there is a segment of elite opinion both on the center/center-right and on the left that considers it intellectually unserious to point out the problems of mainstream coverage, just “Libs whining” and looking for excuses… but look, there is no question critique is correct on substance.
Let's leave aside for a moment (but don't dismiss!) reporting on values and morality which is unbalanced at the moment, if reporting is supposed to be balanced it should report on facts and fact checking and evaluation equally for both parties. Partisanship does not become the Fourth Estate.