Trust isn’t just personal. It’s structural. And the media, God bless it, hasn’t helped.

It’s easier to build an audience when the lines are sharp. When “they” are always wrong and “we” are always right. That’s how you grow a flock. Not by telling the full truth, but by spotlighting the half that flatters your side.

But the real truth? Most of us aren’t that cleanly divided. Even the reddest red or bluest blue has shades of purple. We just don’t say it out loud because the tribe might turn on us.

And that silence adds up. It erodes trust. Not just in institutions, but in each other. You start to wonder if the person across the table is being honest or just playing a role.

The worst part is, we’ve gotten used to it. As if mistrust is the price of being informed.

But what happens when nobody believes anyone, even the ones telling the story?

So here’s my question:

Is the media reflecting the trust gap, or making it wider?

Let me know in the comments and check out more at jamesbrowntv.substack.com.

On that note, I’m James Brown, and as always, be well.