This week, we’re taking a step back to look at the decline of local news, and how that has contributed to polarization. As part of that conversation we highlight the work the Los Angeles Times newsroom has done this week to fact check claims being made nationally that L.A. is a warzone, through vital, on-the-ground reporting. The stats are staggering. Nearly 3,000 local newsrooms have closed since 2005 and 49.5% of U.S. counties have just a single surviving news outlet. You’ll also hear some personal stories on how our panelists have seen the race to scoop in the cable and digital era sometimes get it wrong, including from Luis’s time at the White House when a major cable news channel went on air with the wrong conclusion on a Supreme Court decision. And we take a moment to comment on Substack, and the way that it is enabling a connection between experts, journalists, and their readers and viewers that may well help fill some of the gap. (hint: don’t forget to subscribe!)

Of course, this conversation is occurring in the context of protests that are now spreading around the country and as the Trump Administration steps up a very aggressive approach not only towards migrants, but also towards protesters and as we now know, towards U.S. Senators. DHS posted an image of Uncle Sam asking Americans to report “all foreign invaders” — an image that CNN reported was previously circulated by far-right accounts. The racial undertones and not-so-subtle message for people to turn in their neighbors cannot be ignored. And it hardly seems a coincidence that the White House also moved to rename military bases to restore their original Confederate names, and did so just a week before Juneteenth.

Thank you for your time and support! At a time of growing polarization, CenterD is about elevating the center, and refusing to let the extremes dominate. We believe most Americans are much more grounded, and we hope they find common ground here.

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