Freedom will be the victim if journalists grasp a new pretext to portray government as a trustworthy savior.

In January, Washington Post columnist Perry Bacon called for a "pro-democracy media," vigorously describing "long-standing Republican tactics such as aggressive gerrymandering as … dangers to democracy." Bacon frets because "gun-shy editors" fail to denounce Republican "radicalism" in banner headlines. Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan declared, "That American democracy is teetering is unquestionable" due to pro-Trump Republicans, requiring a "new pro-democracy emphasis" to be "articulated clearly — and fearlessly — to readers and viewers." Post columnist Brian Klaas admits that "the media adopting a pro-democracy bias … effectively means being pro-Democratic [Party]," but there is no alternative except to "unequivocally and unapologetically condemn" Republicans.