The Era of Media Hit Pieces and Cancel Culture Is Over
Source: Chris Bray. "NYT Tries To Gin Up A Hit Piece On The Texas Rangers." April 16, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that the media's ability to create damaging controversies has collapsed. He uses a failed New York Times attempt to create outrage over a Texas Rangers statue as proof that people no longer care about these manufactured scandals.
Conclusion
The cultural engine of media hit pieces and cancel culture has lost its power and effectiveness
Premises
- The New York Times attempted to create controversy over a Texas Rangers statue but failed to generate actual public outrage
- Despite claims of controversy, fans at the stadium were taking selfies with the statue and expressing positive views
- The reporter could only quote one fan who supported the statue, undermining claims of widespread controversy
- Authority figures (MLB, team management, sponsors) refused to engage with the manufactured controversy
- The public mocked the attempted hit piece rather than being outraged by the statue
- Hit pieces that would have caused major scandals five years ago now generate no significant response
- The reporter had to manufacture controversy by calling sponsors and trying demonetization tactics, which also failed
Assumptions
- Media hit pieces were previously effective at generating real consequences
- Public response to controversial content can be measured by attendance, complaints, and social media reaction
- The Texas Rangers statue controversy is representative of broader cultural trends
- Ignoring or mocking media attempts at controversy is an effective counter-strategy
- The failure of this particular hit piece indicates a broader cultural shift