A recent study shows that college-age viewers of “The Daily Show” tend to be more cynical about politicians and the Media than non-viewers. Keep in mind, that’s all their data shows.
Why, then, does the mainstream conservative Media conclude from this study that this effect is likely to lead to citizens deciding not to vote? Sure, the study’s authors posited that as a possible outcome, but they also said the opposite — increased voter participation, is just as likely. In other words, they have no idea what this study means. Yet the Media has been spinning it entirely in the negative, an action that pretty much validates our allegedly Jon Stewart-inspired cynicism.
Some alternative news sources have reported both possibilities. Oddly enough, one of those sources was Fox News. Of particular interest is one of their last lines, where they — again, without even a trace of irony — point out that The Daily Show is a “fake” news program.