What struck me about the Axios article was that it consisted entirely of emotion-based innuendos and accusations such as genocide denial. The piece is filled with trigger words such as "media darling" and "conspiracy website." It appears we have reached the point where "journalism" consists entirely of various forms of emotional flavoring with all the nourishing ingredients of truth removed.

Jacques Ellul characterized the aim of such smear pieces rather well, "Propaganda does not aim to elevate man, but to make him serve." Propaganda always reduces us to the lowest common denominator by promoting "journalists" who don't worry about truth and punishing those who are disturbed by lies. As long as they can hide behind a "human rights" cause no concern for truth is necessary.