I agree with you about the facts being distorted, but I would have to say that a terror attack on a Monday morning can set the tone of the news for at least a week. Sort of the opposite of a Friday afternoon news dump.
a terror attack on a Monday morning
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To protect the general safety of citizens, one would think that the government has an obligation to immediately alert the people to even a potential instance of terrorism, if there are indications of such. The incident at the Navy Yard would seem to qualify for this type of alert. Just saying.