Dworman’s podcast interview stands as one of the most revealing and vivid examples of how the media has changed in the age of rage. Bump moves quickly from the conversational to crazed when simply asked about the basis for his claims in the Washington Post.

Dworman was asking about the mounting evidence and contradictions in the Biden corruption scandal. Some of us have said that there is evidence of obvious corruption and influence peddling, but more investigation is needed to establish any basis for impeachment or criminal charges involving President Biden. Bump, however, will have none of it. The Post writer (who demanded investigations of a wide array of Republicans on false stories with little evidence) is vehement that there is nothing to see here . . . and the public just has to take his word for it.

Dworman remains polite and pushes Bump to simply engage him in explaining some of the countervailing evidence. Bump responds “I just I’m gonna lose my mind. I’m gonna lose my mind.”

[Bump walked out rather than offer evidence supporting his earlier reporting. Turley concludes by suggesting that while democracy might die in the dark, journalism dies in the sunlight. That’s not quite true. Real journalism thrives in the sunlight. Advocacy masquerading as journalism dies in any kind of light, and unfortunately, that’s mostly what today’s media outlets produce. “Trust me, trust me!” is not journalism, and it’s not even very effective advocacy — since few people trust the media these days, and Bump apparently demonstrated why. — Ed]