Selling The Apocalypse: The Press And Pundits Face Devastating Polls On The 'Threat To Democracy'

The Washington Post's slogan "Democracy dies in darkness" is being tested as the publication portrays the election between Trump and Harris as a choice between tyranny and democracy. However, a poll commissioned by the Post found that voters in swing states believe Trump is more likely to protect democracy than Harris. The poll sampled 5,016 registered voters in seven states and found that 43% of respondents trusted Trump to defend against threats to democracy, while 40% trusted Harris. This result is similar to a previous poll that found voters trusted Trump more than Biden to protect democracy. Many in the Harris campaign and the press have been warning of the end of democracy if Harris is not elected, with some making apocalyptic predictions. However, the author argues that these predictions are ignoring the safeguards in the US system against authoritarian power. The author criticizes the rhetoric of Harris supporters, including Michael Cohen, Al Sharpton, and Rachel Maddow, who have made outlandish claims about Trump's intentions. The author notes that the US system has withstood challenges, including the January 6 riot, and that the public is not buying into the alarmist predictions. Despite the warnings, voters are not convinced that Harris is the only hope for democracy, and are instead demanding more than a political pitch of fear and joy. The author concludes that the public has an innate resistance to being manipulated and is seeking more substance in the election.