I’ve read The New York Times and The Washington Post for over 50 years. In the last few years, I have noticed a change in philosophy from these two leaders of the Fourth Estate. It has gone from reporting facts to, in some cases, downright pandering in defense of the indefensible.

The Post pandered when it reported on Trump’s interview at the National Association of Black Journalists convention. It posted an online article titled, “Harris faces a pivotal moment as Trump questions her identity.” I watched the interview, and the headline was unrelated to the facts of what happened. The Guardian headline was, “Trump repeats lies and attacks Kamala Harris’s racial identity at panel of Black Journalists.” Notice the difference?

I was outraged by what The Post did. It put the onus on Harris for Trump being a white supremacist and misogynist. What Trump said on the stage was disgusting but you would never know that from The Post. It didn’t have the spine to report the truth.

What has happened to our Fourth Estate? When and why did it lose the ability to report facts? When did it become necessary not to call out lies, racism, and misogyny? Why are they so afraid of Trump?

Trump intentionally attacked Harris’s racial identity and that Harris being a woman isn’t capable of being our president. The Fourth Estate is essential to the survival of our democracy. It is way past time that they meet their responsibility and report facts. The Guardian did, yet The Post, NYT, and even our KJ weren’t up to the job of reporting Trump’s racist and misogynist attacks against Harris.

Maybe they should watch Edward R. Murrow’s March 9, 1954, report on Senator Joe McCarthy — they might learn something about responsible reporting.

Mike Grove

Belgrade Lakes