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thesquanderer

(12,840 posts)

32. Yes, The norms reference is understatement, but there needs to be something in between.

Sat Sep 27, 2025, 10:20 AM

Sep 27

They can't say laws broken, if a court hasn't (yet) found that to be the case (presumption of innocence until proven guilty). Constitution violated is not a factual statement until/unless the Supreme Court says so, because they are the ultimate arbiter of that. So no reputable news source will headline with these statements which are technically/legally false.

"Alleged" can be a useful qualifier, but it doesn't so well communicate that we do know that we do know that a person did something. IOW, an alleged shooter communicates that there definitely was a shooter, we just don't know for sure that this person did it. But with Trump there is no doubt that he did the thing, the doubt is only about whether it indeed did actually break a law or would be found to be unconstitutional by the court.

It seems like there should be a neat, concise term for this, but I can't think of any.

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Highlight:

Timothy Snyder: Why do headlines say "norms shattered" when what is meant is "laws broken" or "Constitution violated"? [View all] highplainsdem Sep 26 OP

Yes! EarthAbides Sep 26 #1

Finally someone (important) says that! To the average person spooky3 Sep 26 #2

And to Republicans markodochartaigh Sep 26 #19

Good question. NNadir Sep 26 #3

Because it's our Fascist "media" Cha Sep 26 #4

I'd just drop the "enabling" from your title, Cha. The M$M is fascist to its core. erronis Sep 26 #7

Right? I used to say that and then Cha Sep 26 #9

The use of "norms" has always bothered me MadameButterfly Sep 26 #5

"Breaking norms" sounds like an alternate usage for "innovation." hay rick Sep 27 #31

Because institutions like the media/press BaronChocula Sep 26 #6

Maybe all their talk of "killing" and how "norm-ish" it is to do and say such things... BurnDoubt Sep 26 #11

And yes, how about a thesaurus BaronChocula Sep 26 #14

This message was self-deleted by its author sop Sep 26 #8

Yep. kentuck Sep 26 #10

The media framing gets to the point of being vomit inducing. nt moniss Sep 26 #12

It has gotten to the point where markodochartaigh Sep 26 #21

Excellent question! Thank you for asking it! liberalla Sep 26 #13

Dems need to remind everyone crud Sep 26 #15

I'll bet their lawyers require it. Kablooie Sep 26 #16

I would still prefer "alleged crime" or "alleged lawbreaking" to "norms shattered." Nt spooky3 Sep 26 #28

Yes, The norms reference is understatement, but there needs to be something in between. thesquanderer Sep 27 #32

And why doesn't the media call Trump out on his bottomless pit of lies? agingdem Sep 26 #17

Agree malaise Sep 26 #18

This x 1000. These people are just criminals. travelingthrulife Sep 26 #20

Very good point. It is a kind of normalization suggesting it is just bad manners, not illegal. Martin68 Sep 26 #22

Because a bunch of thugs are running our govt, with no oversight or even good Scrotus judgements to stop them mdbl Sep 26 #23

... Solly Mack Sep 26 #24

I miss the days of sitting with a cup of coffee and a newspaper. Buddyzbuddy Sep 26 #25

Kick SheltieLover Sep 26 #26

For the same reason they will say Trump mispoke or was inaccurate drray23 Sep 26 #27

The SCOTUS majority has Trump's back. Frasier Balzov Sep 26 #29

There is nothing "norma"al about what is going on. yellow dahlia Sep 26 #30

With few execptions, our media is awful. CaptainTruth Sep 27 #33