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Legacy media trust hits new low with Swalwell story latest example of protecting Dems
A defining story of the past decade or so has been the collapse of trust in the credibility of legacy media institutions.
The latest survey data from Gallup found that just 28 percent of Americans have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in mass media to report accurate or complete information. That’s the lowest number in the poll’s history. Conversely, a whopping 70 percent of respondents have “not very much” confidence or “none at all” in those same institutions. In 1972, that was flipped, with nearly 70 percent of Americans saying they trusted media outlets.
Among Republicans, those numbers are far worse. Just 8 percent of those on the right trust the media to report information fairly. That figure represents a 62 percent decline on the right even from 2015.
And that decline is very well deserved. The latest example of an obvious partisan bias being the reporting around accusations levied at now-former California Congressman Eric Swalwell. Swalwell over the last five to seven years turned himself into one of the most prominent voices on the left. Always outraged, committed to whatever progressive talking points were at a given moment, always with an expression on his face that seemed to imply he couldn’t believe he was getting away with gaslighting, lying, and extreme hypocrisy.
Well, that all came crashing down in less than a week. And in the process exposed not just the Democrat Party yet again, but its most willing and helpful partners: legacy media.
Before diving into Swalwell, it’s important to back up. Starting around the time when Donald Trump was first elected in 2016, legacy media quite obviously made a collective decision about its news coverage and reporting. Instead of attempting to present stories or information and let readers or viewers interpret for themselves, it would put its thumb on the scale. Pew Research, for example, found in 2025 that 55 percent of journalists don’t believe that both sides do not deserve equal coverage. In reality, that number is likely far higher.
Impartiality and fairness among ostensibly unbiased journalists has all but evaporated. This only got worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. While prior generations of journalists believed that their mandate was to hold powerful people accountable, COVID was the exact opposite. The powerful, people like Anthony Fauci, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, or local public health officials, were treated with awe, reverence, and deference. Instead of questioning their statements, decision-making, or mandates, virtually every legacy media outlet promoted them.
Holding the powerful to account turned into holding the public to account. It was your fault for not wearing enough masks, or not wearing the right kind of masks, or for wanting your kid to go to school and have class without wearing a mask. It was your fault for not getting COVID vaccines based on inaccurate promises of efficacy and the disinterest in side effects legacy media demonstrated.
Why did they handle the pandemic this way? Because they do not view journalism as their primary goal or outcome. They are ideologues first, reporters second. And what their ideology said and believed during the pandemic was that Fauci and “health experts” must not be questioned, no matter how absurd their views were, or how quickly they were disproven. Criticism of Fauci, or coverage of his failures would be a betrayal of their political party and the “In this house” messaging it depends on.
There are many more examples of legacy media “missing” stories that would hurt Democrats. The Hunter Biden laptop story undoubtedly impacted the 2020 election, as mass media downplayed, ignored, or in some cases, helped ensure that the story was censored from the internet lest it hurt Joe Biden’s campaign. The lab leak explanation for the pandemic was labeled as a “racist conspiracy,” before evidence became overwhelming that it was the most likely source of the coronavirus.
Joe Biden’s cognitive and physical decline was dismissed as a right-wing conspiracy, with “cheap fakes” becoming one of CNN’s most popular terms before his atrocious debate performance. Russiagate was another. And news this week on the first Trump impeachment has exposed yet another media failing.
Now we have Swalwell as yet another shining example.
After the allegations about years of improper behavior surfaced, several reporters took to social media to explain that they’d long heard rumors or reports of Swalwell’s actions and simply…did nothing about them.
One Democrat strategist posted on X Thursday morning that “…A reporter with Politico was working on verifying the rumors on Swalwell when he was running for President.” He continues, “Two days before he was scheduled to sit down with this reporter Swalwell dropped out of the race. The energy disappeared to potentially take him out, the victims if they were even willing to go on the record never did.”
Another reporter, Bethany Allen, said she heard information on Swalwell’s behavior in 2020 when at Axios, but because it wasn’t her beat, simply passed it along and never reported it. A journalist based in California posted this, saying that “shortly after being elected to Congress in 2013, [Swalwell’s] behavior towards women was known by all levels of our local government and the Alameda County Democratic Party.”
The executive editor of American Prospect, David Dayen, wrote “The truth, which will be available for all to see before long, is that Swalwell’s conduct with interns, young staff, and female fans was an open secret for a long time, and yet the party…had been supporting him and raising money for him.”
There are many more examples of those on the left admitting that Swalwell’s treatment of women was an open secret among Democrats, which would, of course, trickle down to their partners in mass media outlets. So why did it take until now for it to come out?
Well, the legacy media’s primary objective is to help and protect its “side.” Which is why a majority of these people openly admit in surveys that they don’t feel the need to treat both sides equally. Reporting does require those who are making the allegations to come forward. But apparently some did, then interest in the story fizzled as Swalwell stopped running for president. But that’s not an acceptable excuse.
Swalwell was a sitting congressman from the country’s largest state. He started a campaign for governor, and in some polls, was the leading candidate. He was a relentless force against Trump and the right, with sneering, smirking social media videos, predictable #Believeallwomen hashtags, and was seen as one of the primary leaders of the “resistance” in appearances with good buddy Jimmy Kimmel.
He was prominent enough to deserve scrutiny, particularly in light of the “everyone always knew” messaging we now see. They knew, they just didn’t care enough because Swalwell was on the left. And those on the left are never treated with the aggressive mentality journalists take when they can hurt a member of the opposition. Fauci is still viewed as a hero because they never cared enough to point out how many lies he told, or facts he got wrong. All the Democrat Party partners now talking about how it was so obvious Swalwell was engaging in inappropriate behavior were happy to support his candidacy. Until now.
Some look at ~20 percent trust ratings for mass media and wonder how we got here. The real question is why it isn’t lower.
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Warsh’s $226 million fortune under scrutiny as Fed nominee faces Senate confirmation
Kevin Warsh heads into his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday morning vying to be the richest-ever chair of the Federal Reserve amid mounting questions over his sizable financial portfolio.
Newly released disclosures reveal the extent of Warsh’s wealth but leave key portions of his holdings unclear, which could complicate his path toward confirmation since the position he is up for wields enormous influence over financial markets.
The disclosures are likely to draw scrutiny from lawmakers due to potential conflicts of interest and concerns over transparency, both central focuses of the confirmation process — particularly at a time when the central bank’s credibility is already under a microscope.
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According to documents submitted to the Senate last week, Warsh reported assets valued at roughly $135 million to $226 million, positioning him to become the wealthiest chair in the Federal Reserve’s history if confirmed.
The nearly 70-page filings, released by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics as part of the standard vetting process for senior nominees, detail a portfolio spanning investments, board roles and other financial interests.
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Still, the disclosures leave some gaps.
For example, certain holdings are listed in broad ranges or lack full detail, a common feature of such filings but one that can draw scrutiny when nominees are poised to oversee institutions with vast influence over financial markets.
In fact, a note from a government ethics official attached to the filings says Warsh is currently out of compliance with ethics rules for certain holdings where he did not disclose the funds’ underlying assets.
The Office of Government Ethics said the rest of the filing meets federal requirements and that Warsh would return to full compliance once he divests those assets, which he has pledged to do within 90 days of confirmation.
That dynamic could prove especially sensitive for Warsh as lawmakers weigh potential conflicts of interest and the steps he would need to take to avoid them.
Beyond that, the filings also underscore the scale of wealth tied to his family.
They do not include the far larger fortune connected to his wife, Jane Lauder — granddaughter of Estée Lauder’s founder — which Forbes estimates at about $1.9 billion. Separate disclosures show Lauder holds millions of dollars in additional assets, further adding to the family’s overall financial footprint.
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Warsh’s potential ascent comes at a turbulent moment for the central bank.
Senators are still weighing ethics concerns tied to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, with at least one Republican vowing to block Warsh’s confirmation over the issue.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who has been holding up the nomination, said he supports Warsh but will not back his confirmation until a Justice Department investigation into Powell is resolved. But that’s unlikely considering President Donald Trump’s push for the probe and refusal to back off pressuring DOJ to investigate.
On Jan. 11, Powell confirmed that the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into his congressional testimony regarding the renovation of the Federal Reserve’s two historic buildings on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall.
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That probe comes as the Federal Reserve faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts, including a Supreme Court case testing its independence and persistent cost-of-living concerns weighing on President Donald Trump’s economic agenda.
Against that backdrop, scrutiny of Warsh’s finances — and how he manages them — is likely to intensify as his nomination advances.
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Mexico pyramid shooter who took hostages and killed 1 is identified
A gunman who fatally shot a Canadian tourist and wounded more than a dozen others atop a historic pyramid in Mexico on Monday has been identified, according to officials.
Authorities identified the gunman as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso, a Mexican national, according to a state official who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
Jasso later died by suicide after turning the gun on himself, and security officials found a gun, a knife and ammunition. Authorities said he acted alone, with the State of Mexico government confirming he was the sole assailant on Monday night.
Officials said seven of the victims were struck by gunfire, while others were hurt in the chaos as people scrambled to get down from the pyramids, with some falling during the panic.
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Those hospitalized included tourists from several countries, among them the United States, Colombia, Russia, Brazil and Canada, authorities said. The victims ranged in age from 6 to 61.
Footage circulating in local media appears to show the suspect positioned atop the structure as visitors rushed for safety below, with gunfire echoing across the site.
The Teotihuacan complex, located just outside Mexico City, is one of the country’s most visited archaeological landmarks, drawing millions of international visitors each year to its towering pre-Hispanic structures.
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The shooting took place shortly after 11:30 a.m. when dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.
Security measures at the site have changed in recent years, with routine entry screenings no longer consistently in place, according to a local guide.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the shooting would be investigated and that she was in touch with the Canadian Embassy.
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“What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” she wrote.
Anita Anand, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, said on X that as a “result of a horrific act of gun violence, a Canadian was killed and another wounded in Teotihuacán” and that her “thoughts are with their family and loved ones.”
Later in the evening, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson also expressed “deep concern” and sadness over the deaths and numerous injuries, and said in a post on X that the U.S. is “ready to provide support as needed while Mexican authorities continue their investigation.”
The National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a statement that the Teotihuacán archaeological site will remain closed until further notice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Blue state poured thousands of dollars into study on reparations as effort launches
Washington reportedly began a study on “reparative actions” for descendants of slavery on Friday after allocating $300,000 to the effort.
Last year, the Washington State Legislature funded a study to examine the history and impact of slavery in the U.S. as it relates to “the geography of the former Washington and Oregon territories.”
The state also wants to analyze how residents were impacted by state laws and systems regarding criminal justice, economics and education, according to the Washington State Department of Commerce.
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State documents show that the legislature approved $300,000 to fund the project. The Washington State Department of Commerce reserved 10% of the money for administrative costs to manage the program and the remaining funds will be distributed yearly through fiscal year 2026 to 2027, beginning July 1 to the end of June.
The department is open to philanthropic or private donations to “expand the scope and depth of the study.”
Ashley Gardner, the lead director of the project, vowed a thorough review of the historical injustices during an info session last month.
“We intended to leave no research stone unturned,” Gardner said, according to Seattle Times reporting.
The amount of funding provided by the state resulted from consultation with the Commission on African American Affairs. The commission is a representative of the African American community in Washington advising the governor, legislature and state agencies on public policy and its execution.
Researchers must have a Ph.D. qualification in history, African American studies, sociology and several other listed social science and liberal arts degrees with a “direct focus” on “reparations or United States chattel slavery.” The study sought candidates with an “expertise in calculating the present value of uncompensated slave labor for direct victims of the United States chattel slavery.”
The launch of the study came after the state issued a survey to residents to help inform policy recommendations within the study.
“We’re tasked with looking at the national picture, and understanding, is Washington culpable, and if it is culpable, to what degree?” Marvin Slaughter Jr., co-lead of the valuation and policy team, said.
The research team, the Washington Department of Commerce and the Commission on African American Affairs did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Washington follows several other local municipalities and states spanning from coast to coast looking to study the harms of slavery, Jim Crow-era policies, and redlining policies that led to housing discrimination in order to issue reparations in some form. Many others have already conducted a study, which resulted in reports on a detailed review of the past that linked to researchers’ policy recommendations.
A Chicago suburb — Evanston, Illinois — went as far as paying $25,000 in cash to Black residents to address past racial housing discrimination through its program.
As far as what reparations would look like in Washington, researchers reportedly believe it is too early to determine.
“Should it be cash payments? Should it be pensions? Should it be health care?” asked Thomas Craemer, the co-lead of the valuation and policy team on the research project.
“There’s a number of ideas,” he continued. “This is a research project. We’re not actually making any decisions, and we don’t want to. We want to let the community speak to us and to guide us.”
Despite efforts to issue reparations, some of the programs are facing obstacles due to budgetary or legal pressures. The cities of Evanston and San Francisco have been hit with lawsuits over alleged racial discrimination due to their reparations efforts.
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