Who needs fiction when you have MSNBC’s Alex Wagner distorting real-world situations to fit her narrative? In continuation of media tradition by some outlets to spread untruths, Wagner gave a mistaken account of what Harrison Butker, a Kansas City Chiefs’ kicker, told the graduating women at a Catholic college recently.
Wagner would have you believe that Butker told the ladies their primary duty was to play second fiddle to men, a flawed statement that was only promoted further by her guest, Prof. Leah Litman, who advised her viewers against conservatives over perceived misogyny. But let me clarify that Butker said nothing of the sort.
In reality, what Butker did during his address was to predict that these women, despite having the opportunity for successful careers, would put more emphasis on their future families. The idea someone might value their family more than their job might shock Wagner, but it certainly doesn’t shock average Americans. Wagner, however, tore it out of context, accusing Butker of all sorts of conservative “crimes,” from speaking against abortion and in vitro fertilization (IVF), to calling birth control “unnatural” and questioning diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Wagner continued her rhetoric, painting Butker’s words as a longstanding conservative conspiracy. She threw out statistics about state laws concerning abortion and claimed anti-LGBTQ policies were being implemented without actually explaining what these laws entail, conveniently glossing over the details to keep her narrative intact.
As she conversed with Littman, the professor echoed this sentiment, branding Butker’s imagined statements as terrifying and making alarmist comments about the current political climate. Litman emphasized how Republicans were supposedly bringing back dated laws to prohibit abortion, implying it was a part of a broader Christian nationalist agenda.
Here’s an idea: What if Wagner had asked Butker about the value he places on his career as a professional football player versus his roles as a husband and father? But that question wouldn’t fit Wagner’s narrative. It seems her intent was more to sensationalize Butker’s words and demonize conservatives than to understand Butker’s perspective.
Lastly, it’s worth questioning why Wagner would twist Butker’s words so much. Could it be that she is so out of touch with normal Americans who value family and traditional principles that she can only see them through a distorted lens? Maybe it’s time to restore rational, clear-eyed journalism that doesn’t aim to exaggerate or misrepresent the facts for its own ends.
