Sooo...the media runs a train on the collective country's understanding of what "viable candidate" is, while reality eventually serves up an even more bonkers scenario. Every news enjoyooor loses their mind from the cognitive dissonencee, and eventually capitulates that all the information they've been gorging on is garbage. They capitulate; retreat.

"Since the election, some disappointed in the results are tuning out the news media as a way to take care of themselves."