So, a U.S. judge has finally let the last straggling prosecution cases from the January 6 insurrection slip away, and what do we get? A resounding “meh” from the mainstream media, led by the likes of CNN and MSNBC. These outlets have played a masterclass in fearmongering, amplifying every insurrectionist as a threat to democracy while failing to explore the motivations and the chaotic realities of that day. It’s predictable, really—pick a narrative, stick to it, and ignore anything that might counteract the fear-based agenda.

Let’s look at Fox News, which, for all its faults, at least attempts to balance the conversation—pointing out the government overreach and questioning whether the punishment truly fits the “crime.” Meanwhile, CNN’s obsession with painting January 6 as a full-on coup attempt ignores the gray areas that create actual stories, distorting them into black-and-white, “good versus evil” paradigms. No room for nuance, no space for dialogue.

This story doesn’t end just with the dismissal. The implications are bigger: what does it say about how we handle dissent? Are we so easily dismissing the complexities in favor of a one-dimensional narrative? The dismissal of these cases should spark conversations instead of being brushed aside as a conclusion. This is yet another instance of corporate media shaping the public’s perception to fit a preferred narrative, rather than offering the messy, nuanced truth.