June 20, 2018

The Media Totally Blew the Initial Coverage of Trump’s Family Separation Order

Here are a few of the worst headlines.

Chris Kleponis/ZUMA

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced his intention to sign an executive order aimed at ending the family separation crisis at the border. The move comes amid intense backlash over the administration’s zero-tolerance immigration initiative, which has torn more than 2,300 children from their families since last month. It’s also a 180 for Trump and top administration officials, who have insisted that Trump did not have the power to end the separations and falsely accused Democrats and the Obama administration for being responsible for the policy. 

But the media on Wednesday published a slew of headlines that largely failed to mention that Trump is fixing a crisis of his own making. Below are a few of the worst offenders:

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Investigative journalism, like the story you just read, takes time to do. Months of research. Weeks of writing, editing, and fact checking—and putting together the photography, art, video, and audio that tell the stories in a new way, illuminating new perspectives and voices

We can afford to take that time because we don’t report to an oligarch or corporation with a special agenda. We report to you, and for you. That’s why we unabashedly pursue the truth and relentlessly shine a light into the darkness.

In this month’s Summer Membership Drive, we’ve got to raise $200,000 to support more crucial investigations. This is a pivotal moment in our nation, with democracy on the line, and we can only do this work because readers like you step up. Every donation, of any amount, makes a difference here. We cannot do this work without you.

So, we’re asking: Will you support independent journalism that demands those in power answer for their actions?

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