I’ve spent decades lamenting the sad, sick, sorry state of journalism in this country. That turned out to be a waste of time and energy. Far better to just mock it without mercy these days, like The Babylon Bee. The media industrial complex is virtually irredeemable. So is our government. I honestly don’t recognize this country anymore.
As you noted, the joke is on the American people. Unfortunately for The Babylon Bee, most of their “jokes” actually come to fruition. How can you be satirical when it all turns real!