What’s happening between Iran and the US is a textbook example of how corporate media spins narratives. Both sides have traded strikes, with Tehran launching attacks on US military facilities, yet you won’t see CNN or MSNBC laying the groundwork for a real discussion about the root causes of these tensions. Instead, they’ll focus on sensational headlines meant to whip the public into a frenzy, creating a conflict-centric soap opera rather than a nuanced political analysis.

Let’s get real: the mainstream media plays a role in escalating hostilities by framing the narrative around ‘bad guys’ and ‘heroes’. Fox News dances around the question of accountability, focusing more on patriotism rather than questioning why we’re even in the Gulf—could it be the glimmer of oil or geopolitical chess games? They love to paint Iran as the villain without acknowledging our history meddling in their affairs. Meanwhile, liberal networks will show their true bias by emphasizing victimhood without ever asking why Iran feels cornered to respond aggressively. It’s shallow, sensational journalism that does a disservice to viewers desperate for real information.

The truth is, both sides are fueled by an agenda, and unsuspecting Americans are trapped in a media echo chamber. It’s imperative we dismantle this overwhelming narrative and hold responsible those in power—democratic and republican—who perpetuate these cycles of violence. Because while we’re glued to our screens, the real churning of military action continues, and our country risks losing sight of what matters: accountability.