Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy

Batya Ungar-Sargon critiques the transformation of American journalism from a blue-collar trade to an elite, ideologically driven profession that increasingly alienates the working class. She argues that mainstream media’s embrace of “woke” ideas such as antiracism and critical race theory serves to consolidate liberal elite power while neglecting the concerns of ordinary Americans. The book traces how digital media economics and the nationalization of newsrooms have intensified ideological crusades, undermining trust and contributing to political polarization. Ungar-Sargon warns that this media shift threatens democratic accountability by fostering cultural wars that distract from substantive issues affecting the majority. This incisive analysis calls for a media landscape that better serves all Americans and restores faith in journalism’s role as a democratic pillar.