Journalists don’t need to learn to code — they need to wash dishes and wait tables

The first time I got an idea that former President Donald Trump was popular among Hispanic males, it was 2018 and I was working as a dishwasher. I had spent most of my life as a journalist, but as a political conservative, the jobs in the field outside of freelancing were scarce. So I washed dishes, did elder care, and worked at Home Depot — all odd jobs. It was at these jobs that I met real people.

Every profession has periods of tutoring to sharpen skills. Professional athletes practice in the offseason, studying strategy and doing drills to master the fundamentals. Airline pilots have to take tests to make sure their senses stay sharp. Doctors bone up on the latest illnesses and their treatments.