51: James and Deborah Fallows on Trump's Alternate Reality and the Concerns of Small Town America

<div>A major contributing factor to Trump's success in 2016 was his love-hate relationship with the mainstream media. Whether it was giving the then-candidate a disproportionate amount of free press, or an unwillingness to be critical in a misguided attempt to appear balanced, news agencies everywhere unwittingly aided and abetted the President's rise to power. Now journalist <a href="https://www.ourtownsbook.com/about/view/james-fallows">James Fallows</a> argues they have neither learned their lesson nor are they willing to be held accountable for their irresponsible behavior. Also, author <a href="https://www.ourtownsbook.com/about/view/deborah-fallows">Deborah Fallows</a> suggests that in remaining hyper-focused on the "sport" of national politics, little attention is ever given to the real needs and interests of communities outside urban coastal areas. </div>