Thousands of mourners flocking to honor Iran’s late Supreme Leader Khamenei in Tehran might seem like a story worth exploring, but don’t count on CNN or MSNBC to give you the real scoop. Instead of analyzing the nuances of political fervor, these outlets will likely use this event to further their own agendas—painting an oversimplified picture of Iran as a monolith of extremism.

Let’s be real. While mainstream media circles buzz about the incident, you’re not going to see any in-depth breakdowns of what this procession represents to ordinary Iranians. Instead, expect a barrage of sensationalism: “thousands mourn” will become “the relentless grip of tyranny.” Fox News might focus on the doom-and-gloom narrative of Iran’s influence, without investigating the legitimate political and cultural contexts that are fueling this public display.

What we have here is journalism on autopilot. Corporate media rely on a cliché script: report the visuals, sprinkle in some dramatic commentary, and—voilà!—you’ve got an “expert” analysis that’s as one-dimensional as it gets. With such a simplistic lens, complex geopolitical issues are reduced to mere headlines on social media feeds, conveniently neglecting the voices of the Iranians themselves.

Where’s the critical investigation into how the Iranian populace navigates its political landscape? Instead, we’re being served a pre-packaged narrative designed to fit neatly into the Western political framework. The real story is often sidelined, leaving us with half-baked takes and unchallenged assumptions. But hey, that’s all part of the game, isn’t it?