In this episode of This is America, hosted by Anna Burns-Francis, Al Jazeera examines the deepening divide in US media amid the war with Iran. The Trump administration intensifies attacks on mainstream outlets, accusing them of spreading „fake news“ and undermining war messaging, while Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters „you’re either informing the people of the truth or you’re not.“ Trust in traditional media has sharply declined—from around 70% in the late 1970s to just 28% last year—while social media overtook television as Americans‘ top news source for the first time, with 54% of people now getting news online.
Chief US correspondent Alan Fisher reported from the White House that right-wing influencers with hard passes now amplify the president’s message, as traditional outlets face restricted access. The programme explored the rise of alternative platforms: Joe Rogan’s podcast draws 14 million listeners per episode; Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Dan Bongino command massive audiences; left-leaning shows like Pod Save America and The Young Turks offer opposing views. Media ownership shifts, including CBS’s appointment of pro-Israel editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, were noted as potential influences on coverage.
A panel featuring Huffington Post’s Akbar Shahid Ahmed and conservative commentator Carrie Sheffield debated the fragmented landscape. Ahmed warned that the „loss of professional layers“ like fact-checking is alarming, while Sheffield argued conservatives created their own ecosystem after being „iced out“ of mainstream platforms. Both agreed the administration’s attacks on the press, combined with rising distrust and social media algorithms creating echo chambers, are fragmenting how Americans understand the conflict. The White House’s use of memes, gaming-style videos and AI content to sell the war drew criticism for dehumanising the conflict. Ultimately, Americans are left navigating competing narratives to determine what is credible.

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