Before I researched this book, I didn’t. Reading multiple accounts of 2016 and 2020 changed my mind, however. Was there a concerted effort by journalists? No, but journalists generally lean left and, in an effort to thwart Trump, they collectively threw their weight behind the “best” Democratic candidate in each primary season—the establishment candidates, in other words. I don’t think this was conscious or in bad faith. It just resulted in a lot of coverage portraying Bernie as a third party candidate instead of as a serious contender for the Democratic nomination.

One example that comes to mind is the “Bernie Bros”—often talked about in the media, but not something I saw in the crowds at his rallies, which attracted diverse crowds/ Check out The Fighting Soul by his former campaign manager Ari Rabin-Havt for specifics. It’s an eye-opening book.