So, we’re hearing that the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, will be Andy Burnham’s first international guest since taking office. What a coincidence! The mainstream media is practically having a love fest over this meet-up, scrambling to paint it as a monumental diplomatic triumph. But let’s not be fooled by the glittering facade. CNN will likely hype this as a “historic moment” and pile on the emotional music while glossing over the real implications. Where’s the balanced perspective on how this political theater plays out in the lives of average Brits struggling with the fallout of government decisions?

On the other hand, you can bet Fox News will lean into the angle about how Burnham’s international debut could impact local politics, making it all about local heroism (cue the dramatic footage). But don’t expect them to dissect whether this is just a pantomime staged for public consumption. The reality is likely a blend of good optics and more unanswered questions about what it truly means for UK policy toward Ukraine and Europe.

Instead of exploring substance, both will rally around a narrative that sounds good in a headline but does nothing to challenge the status quo. This is just another day in the media circus where both sides of the political spectrum twirl around the same tired themes. Real journalism should question this cozy little get-together, digging into the motivations behind it rather than simply publishing the press release.