'The 2022 midterms are a referendum on how well America's newsrooms have conveyed the authoritarian threat to the voting public. Studies show that the issues most important to voters closely match which issues the media's been covering.' salon.com/2022/10/23/med…

That’s weird, because democracy has been eroding for years in Wisconsin thanks to just one of the parties listed here.

How are we going to convince journalists to stop both-sidesing the decline of democracy? (Really - I would love to know.)

In many ways, this epitomizes the urgent threat to democracy: Self-stylized paramilitaries who undoubtedly view themselves as noble defenders of “real America” - when they are actually assaulting the foundations of the democratic system by spreading fear of fascistic violence.

🧵ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA: In Arizona, election officials have faced death threats.

Poll workers have been harassed.

For days I have covered voter intimidation complaints.

A thread of just a portion of the comments I have received:

More armed watchers at the Mesa drop box this evening. Photo taken by someone that went to watch the watchers. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office came over to ask everyone to get out of each other's personal space.

BREAKING: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office tells ABC15 Arizona they are looking into several individuals watching a voter drop box in Mesa, AZ.

I’m told they have magazine clips, dressed in tactical gear, fully disguised. The AZ - abc15 - Data Guru

Video:

NEW: A migrant unable to legally work in U.S. was paid to help coordinate Gov. Ron DeSantis’ migrant flights, putting the Republican governor’s high-profile political gambit in conflict with his push to crack down on undocumented labor.

miamiherald.com/news/politics-… w/ Sarah Blaskey 🏝

Breaking news: A Miami judge dismissed one of the voter fraud cases trumpeted by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this summer. This is the first case go forward on a motion to dismiss and a blow to the governor as the cases have come under scrutiny: theguardian.com/us-news/2022/o…

Currently the US govt pays $30/dose reuters.com/business/healt…

An Afghan couple accuses a U.S. Marine of abducting their baby girl. Unbelievable story by my colleagues from The Associated Press investigative and enterprise teams: julietlinderman Claire Galofaro and Martha Mendoza bit.ly/3TzUGT7

Joseph Ladapo, the surgeon general of Florida, went on QAnon show X22 Report, where he tried to cast doubt on the safety of COVID vaccines.

Next week at #INSS22 , I'm moderating a session on remote and distributed work. I'm glad that the Sustainability Summit is making room for conversations like this, so we can collectively share solutions to make operations and workflows better for all.

BREAKING confirmed by Secretary Katie Hobbs office. A complaint has been filed with the AG and DOJ for voter intimidation. It happened Monday at the Mesa drop box location when a voter said they were approached and followed by a group of individuals.

.Maricopa County BOS Chairman Bill Gates says in a press conference that election workers are being harassed as they come to work.

But it's not just idle chatter from fringe sites stoking this narrative.

It's Bannon on War Room, who repeatedly tells his listeners that the only possible way Dems win is if they steal votes.

It's current and former members of Congress, like Madison Cawthorn:

Recent polls suggesting possible GOP wins in November are being used to prop up the belief that a 'red wave' has been pre-ordained by God... and the only thing that could prevent it is if Dems commit 'massive election fraud'

vice.com/en/article/bvm…

Democracy needs the media's help! Journalists are not simple bystanders or recording devices. They are very much in control of the entire country's narrative - whether they want to be or not. Ignoring their responsibility to democracy is a choice that they keep making.

News media need to realize that they're the ones teaching Americans about democracy. No one else has the reach to do it. And most Americans don't really understand what it means to be a part of a democracy.

This chart of what Americans views as a major threat to democracy is telling. washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/…