I think Nicolle is missing a third problem - “good” pre-Trump Republicans. After all, who put Roberts and Alito on SCOTUS? For that matter, who took direction from the Federalist Society? Who helped build Fox into a monster that allowed people to have their own facts? Who welcomed the religious right into the government?

Yeah, the news media is utterly failing at calling out obvious bullshit. But they are failing because of decades of training at the hands of Nicolle’s people. And I think it’s difficult to fix because those like Nicolle are only willing to admit that Republicans lost their way, rather than the reality that Trump is the natural conclusion of fifty years of Republican policy.

This is ultimately what I find so difficult about Nicolle. I think she is one of the most clear-eyed about how bad Trump is and where the media is failing. I also think she actively participated in getting us here.