The tragic shooting involving two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. should have been reported with clarity and seriousness. Instead, USA Today managed to turn it into yet another example of why legacy media outlets are losing credibility by the day.
Rather than simply stating what happened, they layered in slanted framing, selective context, and political seasoning that had no business being attached to a story about two service members losing their lives in the nation’s capital.
When taking a closer look at the coverage, it revealed what many Americans already see clearly. Legacy outlets have traded straight reporting for narrative building. The facts take a backseat, and the angle becomes the headline.
America Is Not Buying It Anymore
Trust in national media is sitting at historic lows, and this is exactly why. When people read about a deadly incident in D.C. involving members of the National Guard, they expect information, not ideological gymnastics.
Most of the public no longer believes these institutions report the news. They believe they massage it. Twist it. Shape it. Sell it. And they do it with the same tone every time.
Here in Wyoming, folks see right through it. When a newsroom 2,000 miles away tries to turn a D.C. shooting into a political morality play, the disconnect becomes obvious.
This Hits a Nerve in Places Like Wyoming
The National Guard is part of the community in places like Jackson, Cody, Sheridan, and Cheyenne. These are people you see at the grocery store, out hiking, coaching youth sports, and responding when disaster strikes.
So when national media treats their deaths as an opportunity to push a slanted storyline, it feels like a slap in the face, not journalism.
That is why people keep turning to local outlets and regional voices that still value accuracy over agenda.
The Real Story
USA Today’s handling of the D.C. National Guard shooting was not just an editorial misstep. It was a flashing neon sign reminding the country that legacy media has drifted dangerously far from the basic mission of reporting facts.
When the public reads a headline about a tragic incident and immediately thinks, “What part of this is spin?” the industry has already lost.
Americans are exhausted by it. Wyoming is exhausted by it.
And moments like this only push more readers toward news sources that treat the facts, and the people involved, with the respect they deserve.
AntlersArch founder and the voice behind Teton Tattle.
