In 2010 the Supreme Court of the United States removed the sentinel guarding our republic when it ruled that money is protected speech in Citizens United v. FEC. Centuries of campaign finance law went away and those with lots of money moved in to influence politics, environment, labor laws. Health care, voting, government policies, education, and media.  So it is not surprising that Gallup has found that 4 in 10 Americans completely lack confidence in the media.