Governance becomes untenable when media prioritizes sensationalism over facts. The Iraq War provides a stark example. Legacy media uncritically amplified fabricated claims of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), with The New York Times running front-page articles based on anonymous intelligence sources. The truth was different: UN inspector Hans Blix found no WMDs before the 2003 invasion, yet by 2004, a PIPA study showed 57% of Americans still believed Iraq possessed such weapons—a testament to the media’s influence. The consequence? Over 4,000 US troops and 100,000+ Iraqi civilians perished, while trust in Western governance eroded. By 2007, only 19% of Britons trusted their government, per Ipsos Mori.

The media’s role in exacerbating racial tensions became glaring in the wake of the 2020 George Floyd riots. While outlets like CNN and The Guardian highlighted police brutality, they largely ignored the widespread rioting that caused $2 billion in damages, as estimated by AXA Insurance. The selective narrative deepened racial divisions; a Pew Research poll found that by year’s end, 73% of white Americans felt race relations had worsened, up from 44% before Floyd’s death. Rather than fostering understanding, the media amplified discord.