Parallel Coronavirus Universes: Fox and Non-Fox

Cactus in bloom

Over the last week or so, I've spent some time each day watching Fox News and comparing that to what other cable and non-cable sources are reporting about the pandemic. There is almost no overlap in coronavirus coverage. Each day, Fox downplays the coronavirus infection and heavily criticizes democrats for all sorts of things, especially exaggerating the seriousness of the disease. There was no criticism of Trump by Fox for anything, just endless hyperbolic praise. Any problems are 100% the fault of democrats, the fake news media and whoever or whatever else can be blamed, even if the blame is a lie, a non-sequitur or otherwise makes no sense.

In several interviews on non-Fox outlets, Ezra Klein of Vox mentioned poll data showing that during times when the president downplayed the pandemic, democrats were hoarding toilet paper and sanitizing hand, body and surface wipes but republicans were not. But after the president finally started saying that the pandemic was real and serious, both democrats and some republicans were hoarding. For people siloed in the Fox News and other partisan pro-Trump source universe, they hear essentially nothing about the infection that the non-Fox universe is hearing. They constantly hear that Trump has done the best job any human ever could.

Words, including lies and deceit, have real world consequences.

According to fact checkers, statements by Trump about the pandemic and his handling of it are heavily larded with false statements, misleading statements and vastly exaggerated praise for himself for his brilliant handling of the situation.

Thus, some people who are ignoring public health calls for social distancing and staying at home are not taking this seriously. Some of them may see this as an opportunity to do some shopping while the stores aren't crowded. The information sources they trust, especially the president himself and Fox, are telling them to not worry about this. They have a license from authoritative sources to do business mostly or completely as usual.

All in all, it now seems reasonable to call this the Trump virus or Trumpvirus since he has made things worse. His incompetence, lies and deceit are going to come home to roost. More Americans than would have been the case if the president had acted with competence and honesty are going to die or suffer serious economic damage.

It is now too late for the president to stop the death and economic damage that could have been avoided had he been competent and honest. Because of that, it is fair and balanced to call it the Trumpvirus.


Question: Is it unfair or hyperbolic to shift this much blame to the president?