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thesquanderer

(12,780 posts)

32. Yes, The norms reference is understatement, but there needs to be something in between.

Sat Sep 27, 2025, 11:20 AM

Saturday

They can't say laws broken, if a court hasn't (yet) found that to be the case (presumption of innocence until proven guilty). Constitution violated is not a factual statement until/unless the Supreme Court says so, because they are the ultimate arbiter of that. So no reputable news source will headline with these statements which are technically/legally false.

"Alleged" can be a useful qualifier, but it doesn't so well communicate that we do know that we do know that a person did something. IOW, an alleged shooter communicates that there definitely was a shooter, we just don't know for sure that this person did it. But with Trump there is no doubt that he did the thing, the doubt is only about whether it indeed did actually break a law or would be found to be unconstitutional by the court.

It seems like there should be a neat, concise term for this, but I can't think of any.

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Highlight:

Timothy Snyder: Why do headlines say "norms shattered" when what is meant is "laws broken" or "Constitution violated"? [View all] highplainsdem Friday OP

Yes! EarthAbides Friday #1

Finally someone (important) says that! To the average person spooky3 Friday #2

And to Republicans markodochartaigh Friday #19

Good question. NNadir Friday #3

Because it's our Fascist "media" Cha Friday #4

I'd just drop the "enabling" from your title, Cha. The M$M is fascist to its core. erronis Friday #7

Right? I used to say that and then Cha Friday #9

The use of "norms" has always bothered me MadameButterfly Friday #5

"Breaking norms" sounds like an alternate usage for "innovation." hay rick Saturday #31

Because institutions like the media/press BaronChocula Friday #6

Maybe all their talk of "killing" and how "norm-ish" it is to do and say such things... BurnDoubt Friday #11

And yes, how about a thesaurus BaronChocula Friday #14

This message was self-deleted by its author sop Friday #8

Yep. kentuck Friday #10

The media framing gets to the point of being vomit inducing. nt moniss Friday #12

It has gotten to the point where markodochartaigh Friday #21

Excellent question! Thank you for asking it! liberalla Friday #13

Dems need to remind everyone crud Friday #15

I'll bet their lawyers require it. Kablooie Friday #16

I would still prefer "alleged crime" or "alleged lawbreaking" to "norms shattered." Nt spooky3 Friday #28

Yes, The norms reference is understatement, but there needs to be something in between. thesquanderer Saturday #32

And why doesn't the media call Trump out on his bottomless pit of lies? agingdem Friday #17

Agree malaise Friday #18

This x 1000. These people are just criminals. travelingthrulife Friday #20

Very good point. It is a kind of normalization suggesting it is just bad manners, not illegal. Martin68 Friday #22

Because a bunch of thugs are running our govt, with no oversight or even good Scrotus judgements to stop them mdbl Friday #23

... Solly Mack Friday #24

I miss the days of sitting with a cup of coffee and a newspaper. Buddyzbuddy Friday #25

Kick SheltieLover Friday #26

For the same reason they will say Trump mispoke or was inaccurate drray23 Friday #27

The SCOTUS majority has Trump's back. Frasier Balzov Friday #29

There is nothing "norma"al about what is going on. yellow dahlia Friday #30

With few execptions, our media is awful. CaptainTruth Saturday #33