Every day that I read The New York Times headlines since the June 27 Biden-Trump debate, it feels like Groundhog Day. The lead story repeatedly focuses on the need for Biden to exit the race. He’s too old, too feeble, too lackluster, too stubborn, unwell, can’t confront Trump. In short, candidate Biden doesn’t stand a chance of winning a second term. Each day the headlines reveal the voices of Democratic leaders calling for his resignation publicly and clandestinely, while Biden makes it clear to his dwindling supporters that he’s not going anywhere. Still, the Times and a whole array of mainstream media bring to our inboxes a daily avalanche of gloom and doom forecasts of Biden’s defeat. Jennifer Schulze, writing in Heartland Signal reported on July 5 that since the debate, the NYT published 192 pieces on Biden’s debate performance, 142 news articles about the debate, and 50 opinion pieces about Biden. Only 92 stories covered Trump, half of which were about the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling. None mentioned Trump’s mental fitness.

The imbalance of coverage of the two candidates is shocking, with little attention paid to the elderly, often unintelligible Trump, who, in case nobody noticed, is running for dictator. What Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post refers to as “media malpractice,” extends far beyond the NYT, encompassing a lineup of mainstream media replicating right-wing talking points about Biden, complete with inaccuracies. Endless repetitions can turn fiction into facts for readers and listeners. Though disappointed after Biden’s troublesome debate performance, initially, I remained a staunch supporter. It was too late in the game for a new candidate. A lousy debate performance didn’t hold a candle to all that Biden has accomplished. And where is this magical candidate who can turn out voters, call out Trump’s lies and crimes, and capture the excitement of sharply divided Democratic voters? Days later, I found myself swayed by the barrage of one-sided headlines and speculations about Biden’s unsuitability. Surely, I am not the only victim of this media hysteria.

The motives for the media obsession with pushing Biden out of the race are unclear. Perhaps it’s as simple as the adage that, “Bad news sells.” Does fear of Trump’s retribution against the media play into the disproportionate attention given to the fascist candidate’s opponent? Clearly the media has failed to adequately inform the public about events that have a huge impact on what is left of our democracy. On July 1 the Supreme Court declared that, “Presidents have absolute immunity for exercising their core constitutional powers and are entitled to a presumption of immunity for other official acts.” Justice Sotomayor summed up the decision’s impact with a chilling warning: “In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.” Despite having a Democratic president, the Supreme Court used their activist majority to give the president the right to “use their official powers to commit crimes … without being held criminally accountable, even after they leave office.” (ACLU) This decision leaves the world vulnerable to the consequences of a president who would not hesitate to extract revenge on enemies anywhere, yet two weeks after the Supreme Court’s announcement, the media and the public largely seem to be ignoring this danger in our midst. Instead, Democrats are wringing our hands in fear of a Biden loss. It’s as if we view the president as a savior, who will rescue us from the evils of Republican extremists.

The reality is that we are responsible for our fate as a country. When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed draconian reforms long before Oct. 7, Israelis turned out week after week by the thousands to protest. Last week thousands of Jewish and Palestinian Israelis turned out to take a stand for peace, coexistence, and an end to the occupation. When it appeared that right-wing Marine LaPen’s National Rally party might succeed in taking control of the French government, left-wing and centrist candidates combined forces, turning out a record number of voters that resulted in victory, and defeat for the National Rally. Why haven’t Americans taken to the streets to stand down against presidential immunity? Why hasn’t the media treated this decision as an issue worthy of its continued attention?

Knowledge is our super-power. Educate yourself, even if what you learn is scary and depressing. “The Project 2025 Transition Project is a well-funded (eight-figure) effort of the Heritage Foundation and more than 100 organizations to enable a future anti-democratic presidential administration to take swift, far-right action that would cut wages for working people, dismantle social safety net programs, reverse decades of progress for civil rights, redefine the way our society operates, and undermine our economy.” Its “900+ page policy policy playbook … provides a radical vision for our nation and a road map to implement it.” (Democracy Forward.org) Project 2025, unsurprisingly, is underreported in the media, including the NYT. You can’t fight against what you don’t know. Re-visit Carrie Baker’s Gazette column on the subject: https://www.gazettenet.com/Columnist-Baker-55757322.

All of us have a role to play to preserve our precious freedoms. Getting out the vote, legislative advocacy, speaking truth to power, spreading the word about extremism whenever you hear or see it, forming coalitions,calling out the media, organizing for justice, and education, are all needed to save our country. Use your voice, the power of your pen, or your marching feet. Cynicism and apathy will not save democracy.

Sara Weinberger of Easthampton is a professor emerita of social work and writes a monthly column. She can be reached at columnists@gazettenet.com.