We’re descending to a place, in the United States and Rhode Island, in which controversy is not permitted over certain subjects, as Erika Sanzi points out:

Of course, several trends probably all come together. Media outlets don’t have the business model to fund all that they used to, and most journalists don’t have the legal expertise to understand these issues, so they’re reluctant to use their limited time to step into a contentious issue, especially when their reportage could raise questions about a cause they support.