It’s almost like the mainstream media want to raise the temperature and stoke unsubstantiated fear. Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what they want to do. That was made apparent again today after a lie was trumpeted by several major media outlets before being shown to be mostly false.

I’m talking about the story that a man provided “fake” inauguration credentials while carrying 500 rounds of handgun ammunition on his person in an attempt to enter the Capitol area. This was supposed to be proof of an elevated threat, with the assumption being that this guy was there to shoot the place up as a probable QAnon disciple.

The real story is way, way less exciting.

The Fuller Story: Man stopped with Glock and 500 rounds of ammo near Capitol was private security guard, his family says. He was not accused of showing phony credentials – but a "non-govt." credential -and an officer decided he wasn't authorized to enter. https://t.co/R5qi7XYE22

— Carol Leonnig (@CarolLeonnig) January 16, 2021

Here’s a taste of how the media originally ran with this, not bothering to confirm any of the details. The narrative always rules.

Credit to Twitter user LB for putting this together.

shot / shot / shot / chaser pic.twitter.com/9Q4IqoSTb5

— LB (@beyondreasdoubt) January 16, 2021

What actually happened here is mundane. A man was hired to do personal security, one of many who have been hired for the inauguration events, but did not have the proper licensing to carry his weapon and ammo. That’s not surprising given how restrictive Washington D.C.’s gun laws are. He also did not show “fake” credentials. He simply had a non-government ID, which makes sense given he’s a private contractor. Regardless, it appears to be have been an honest mistake. He was placed under arrest, but he was not a terrorist seeking to kill Joe Biden or anybody else. It’s likely this will all get sorted out and he’ll be allowed to go free. The Capitol Police have far more important things to worry about.

Despite that, the media ran with a false narrative anyway, spending most of the day spreading the lie that a Trump-inspired attacker had attempted to breach the Capitol protection area. It would have taken them almost no time at all to ask for comment and report the facts. Apparently, that wasn’t even attempted by outlets like CNN, which championed the story.

I’m just shocked that time wasn’t taken to discover the real story before it headlined every media outlet. Shocked. https://t.co/zyKUzw37nV

— J.R. Bansted (@JHolmsted) January 16, 2021

They never learn because they don’t want to learn. I’d say the media got played here, but is it really getting played when you willfully report unsubstantiated nonsense without doing due diligence? No, there’s obvious intent here. The media want to pour gasoline on the flames of our political environment. They live for it.

(Please follow me on Twitter…@bonchieredstate)