Take a moment to absorb President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s latest pledge: a hard-hitting crackdown on rebel groups and criminal organizations. It’s almost refreshing to see a political figure ready to tackle the rampant crime that mainstream media would prefer to sweep under the rug. Yet, we all know how CNN, MSNBC, and their ilk will spin this. Instead of a clear-eyed analysis of his intentions, expect a miniseries of ‘concerns’ about human rights—where they’ll drag out sob stories while ignoring the reality that lawlessness leads to suffering for everyday citizens.

Fox News might play it differently, painting de la Espriella as a “strongman” figure, either glorifying authoritarian control or calling for restraint, depending on their audience. But can you blame them? They thrived on the unpredictability of leaders like him for clickbait. The only consistent narrative is to distract from the big picture—people living in fear of gang violence while politicians tango.

Let’s call it what it is: a desperate attempt by corporate media to dictate the narrative. They want us to pick sides in a polarized battle while ignoring the plight of innocents caught in the crossfire. In the end, if Abelardo de la Espriella is truly serious about tackling crime, the radical left and over-cautious right will have to face their fears of real solutions—because ignoring crime doesn’t make it go away; it escalates it.