The media is filled with stories blaring details of political scandal, the immorality of politicians and seditious behavior of candidates running for president. Vicious allegations of corruption and misbehavior are standard fare as politicians are relentlessly attacked in the media.

Campaign 2024? No, this was America in the early 1800s, the era characterized by what is now known as the partisan press. At the turn of the century, what are now considered the august founders of the United States were subject to abusive attacks on their character and roles as public servants and candidates for the presidency. Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and John Quincy Adams were portrayed as dangers to democracy.

The media consisted of newspapers and pamphlets that were mouthpieces, for all intents and purposes, owned and operated, by the political parties and powerful interests behind candidates running and serving in office. This was a propaganda attack machine designed to discredit political opponents as seditious, corrupt and immoral threats to the young republic.

In 2025 we have a contemporary partisan press on steroids. Despite a precipitous drop in the audience for network broadcast news and cable news, this media exacerbates the role of partisanship in the presentation of the news.........

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