The press is supposed to be instant replay, not the cheerleading squad. In American politics, the people are the NFL audience. We invest our money in franchise swag and tickets. The opposing teams’ ownerships are the political parties that divide the big championship money in the playoffs.

The media should be referees with honest instant replay: cameras on the pylons and overhead, delivering rapid granular review so we can see what really happened. Writers who explain the genius and blunders of the coaches and players. That’s why our press is protected to a high bar.