In a tragic case that has gripped Flint Township, Michigan, Damien O’Brien and Jessica O’Brien face murder charges for the alleged neglect of their 7-year-old son, who prosecutors claim suffered from extreme obesity at the time of his death. While the facts are harrowing, the corporate media’s framing of this story is where we must zero in. The sensational headlines from CNN and MSNBC are designed to provoke outrage but conveniently leave out critical questions about systemic issues around health and welfare.

Both networks spin the narrative as a moral failing, mobilizing public sentiment without acknowledging the societal factors that lead families to such disastrous circumstances. They sensationalize the obesity angle, painting a grotesque picture of negligence, rather than framing it as a public health discussion that might address food deserts or lack of access to quality healthcare—which is often not mentioned amid the narrative they push. It’s easy to stoke rage and despise the O’Briens, particularly when highlighting their supposed depravity serves to distract from the vast systemic failings in our government and health care system.

Meanwhile, conservative outlets like Fox News could exploit this tragedy for a different kind of outrage, pivoting to blame liberal policies for the degeneration of family values. Yet, in doing so, they miss an opportunity to engage constructively with real solutions. Both sides fail to address the fact that this isn’t just about a couple of negligent parents; it’s about a society that allows such neglect to happen in the first place, thus perpetuating cycles of poverty and neglect.