It was one of my first newscasts on WIOD-AM in Miami FL. From a truly “wet behind the ears” DJ at a local radio station, I caught an amazing break and snagged a gig at the top rated station in town. WIOD was already legendary for the incredible talent that had passed thru their doors and was still entertaining a wide audience with that booming signal.
Whatever possessed News Director Chuck Dent to grant me the opportunity, I’ll never know. But he saw something in me, gave me a few quick lessons, had me shadow veteran newscasters such as Al D’Amico and Henry Barrow, then set me on the schedule for a top of the hour newsbreak. I wrote my copy, delivered it, came out of the announcers booth all proud of myself.
That’s when Chuck called me into his office.
Turns out when forgetting the word “allegedly” in delivering the story of a murder suspect being arrested, I had thus already convicted the suspect. I made a mistake, and Chuck let me know it. At the end of the conversation, he said, “Learn to accept criticism, because it will make you a better newscaster and a better person. Use it to be that better person”.
Words that resonate to this day, and taught me a valuable lesson.
If only certain people in our current state of affairs could accept such lessons, imagine how much better off we might be.
Which brings us to what truly has cut America in half and left us much angrier and now nearly as inherently smart as we would be.
That failure to accept criticism and instead be all insulted and arrogant on being corrected.
Let’s face it: criticizing Donald Trump in front of his most loyal supporters is like trying to convince a die-hard Elvis fan that maybe, just maybe, the King wasn’t perfect. It’s not going to happen, and you’re better off just letting them gyrate away in blissful ignorance. For Trump’s base, their loyalty to him transcends facts, logic, and sometimes even reality itself. Any legitimate criticism of Trump is met with the fervor of someone defending their favorite child, except this child has a habit of babbling nonsensical things, making questionable choices, and leaving everyone else to clean up the mess.
Take, for example, the infamous phone call to Georgia election officials where Trump asked them to “find” enough votes to overturn the election results. The audio recording is out there for the world to hear, as clear as a bell and twice as damning. But to his supporters, this isn’t evidence of meddling or election interference—no, no. This is just Trump being Trump, a misunderstood genius fighting against the corrupt establishment. “He was joking,” they’ll say. Or, “It’s taken out of context.” You could play the tape on a loop at a MAGA rally, and they’d still insist the “Deep State” doctored it to make him look bad.
This level of denial isn’t limited to Trump’s flirtations with illegality. Remember when he suggested injecting disinfectant to combat COVID-19? To most people, it was a horrifyingly dumb thing to say, bordering on dangerous. But to his acolytes, it was either a brilliant joke that flew over everyone else’s heads or “taken out of context” by the evil media. Never mind that actual poison control centers saw a spike in calls after his remarks. Nope, those were probably “false flag” incidents orchestrated by CNN.
And then there’s the Mar-a-Lago classified documents debacle. If it were any other former president, Republicans would be lining up to scream about national security risks. But because it’s Trump, his followers insist he has some magical power to declassify documents by simply thinking about it. Forget protocols or actual laws—if Trump thinks it’s declassified, then it is. One wonders if this extends to other areas of his life: “I thought about paying my taxes, so technically, they’re paid.”
But what makes this blind loyalty so fascinating is the sheer indignation Trump’s supporters display when confronted with facts. Show them the evidence, and they’ll shout “Fake news!” Explain the law, and they’ll cry “Witch hunt!” Point out the hypocrisy, and you’ll get a 20-minute lecture on Hunter Biden’s laptop as if that’s the answer to everything.
These acolytes will point out how "tough" Trump is, how unwilling he is to back down and be cowed by these cowards. In effect, Trump is the coward here. Mr. Tough Guy rails against being criticized or faulted, demanding that all around him see him as infallible and incapable of making a mistake or uttering a single incorrect phrases. He is unable to accept any level of criticism, and has indoctrinated his followers to stand firm in the knowledge that he, and then by rote they, are never wrong. It is a level of hubris and arrogance that was perhaps once entertaining, but now has become dangerous.
But before we bury Trump and his side, let's not allow the other side to get so easily off the hook.
To be fair, Democrats can be just as touchy and annoying when their leaders are criticized. Say something unflattering about Joe Biden, and you’ll likely get an earful about how he’s “doing his best” or “inheriting a mess from Trump.” But the difference is that most Democrats will, however grudgingly, acknowledge Biden’s flaws. They’ll admit he’s gaffe-prone, sometimes a little too folksy for his own good, and maybe not the most charismatic leader of all time.
Meanwhile, Trump’s followers act like any critique of their orange-hued hero is a personal attack on their very soul.
So why is it so hard for people to accept legitimate criticism of their political idols? Part of it is tribalism. When you’ve invested so much of your identity into one person or party, admitting they’re flawed feels like admitting you were wrong and perhaps even less intelligent than others.
And let’s face it, nobody likes to be wrong. It’s easier to double down, deflect, or scream “Fake news!” until the critic gives up and walks away.
But it’s also about the cult of personality. Trump isn’t just a politician to his base; he’s a symbol. To them, he represents sticking it to the elites, draining the swamp, and making America great again. Never mind that the swamp seems swampier than ever or that his “great” America often leaves them worse off economically. Facts don’t matter when you’re rooting for the underdog, even if the underdog is a billionaire with a private jet and a gold-plated toilet.
Of course, this doesn’t mean all Trump supporters are bad people. Many are kind, hardworking, and genuinely believe he’s the best thing to happen to America since apple pie. But their inability to entertain even the slightest criticism of him is both baffling and dangerous. Democracy thrives on accountability, and refusing to hold leaders accountable—whether it’s Trump, Biden, or anyone else—is a recipe for disaster.
And we are hip deep in that disaster right now.
So here’s a radical idea: let’s all take a deep breath and learn to handle a little criticism. It’s okay to admit your guy (or gal) messed up. It doesn’t mean you have to abandon them entirely, but it does mean you’re willing to hold them to a higher standard. Because if we can’t do that, we’re not citizens of a democracy anymore; we’re just fans cheering for our favorite team, facts be damned.
And being all “rah rah” won’t save anything or help anyone.
Use criticism to be a better person, or watch as what you touch disintegrates into chaos.
Ed Berliner is a political Independent, and doesn't believe legitimate media should ever shy away from criticizing both and every side when they deserve it. Read more of his opinions and those of really smart people without having to endure one of the network cable TV news panels filled with "experts" by subscribing to "Shakedown Street", the email newsletter delivered to your inbox with fresh ideas, no partisan bias, and the ideal that everyone needs to be held accountable. It's thought provoking discussion, and isn't that something original and fresh.
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