# Always better to read primary sources when available. This is a general rule for history and other fields as well.
Absolutely. I read through most of them, and the oral arguments when they come up as well. I’ve seen absolute lies about both in the media reporting. The media simply cannot be trusted.
Yes, the combination of the words “media” and “trustworthiness” has become mostly an oxymoron these days. And they did it all to themselves by selling their souls to activist/viewpoint journalism (aka “woke”).
Watching CSPAN was the great eye opener for me. I would watch an event (usually a speech, interview, conference, etc.) then view a media account of the same event later. It was like there had been two separate events; the one I watched and the one the media reported on. The “spin” was very obvious.
It brings to mind Goebbels and his claim that, if you are going to lie, make it a big lie and his holding that a lie repeated often enough and loudly enough becomes the truth.
Unfortunately, media on the right is just as likely to spin things as on the left. Perhaps it is defensive. But there is no honor in doing it.
During the Vietnam War, there was a self-condemning saying that circulated:
“We had to destroy the village in order to save it.”
Paraphrasing, will it be said:
“We had to destroy honor in order to save it.”
and
“We had to destroy the media in order to save it.”
Beyond not being a “good look,” can a democratic, free society sustain itself when so much purposeful lying and exaggeration is going on? This is the point when dictators and strong men arise.