Media Bias Misleads, Manipulates, and Divides Americans

I was taken aback by a Wall Street Journal front-page story on November 8, 2026, with the headline: "No Star-Spangled Banner in Sight! First-Ever Palestinian State Lawmaker Celebrates Win with Palestinian Flag."

The story featured Democrat Aber Kawas, who defeated Republican nominee Han-Khon in New York's 12th State Senate District on Tuesday, becoming the first Palestinian American elected to the New York State Legislature.

First of all, Aber Kawas is a Palestinian American community organizer who was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to Palestinian parents. She has lived in New York her entire life.

Had she been white, the Wall Street Journal might simply have described her as an American. Instead, the paper chose to emphasize her Palestinian identity and the fact that she is a hijab-wearing Muslim woman.

Why lead with the absence of an American flag rather than congratulate an American woman on making history? The headline seems designed to draw attention to her Palestinian identity rather than her electoral achievement.

Yet when Palestinians flew the American flag in Rafah, Gaza, during a memorial service honoring Rachel Corrie, IDF soldiers raided the gathering and disrupted the service.

I am old enough to remember how the American "mainstream media," particularly the Wall Street Journal, blamed the 23-year-old peace activist from Olympia, Washington, for her own death rather than holding those responsible accountable.

Funny how the American flag makes headlines when it is absent but barely gets noticed when Palestinians proudly fly it.

I have my own biases, and I make no apologies for having opinions. But there is a difference between expressing an opinion and manipulating facts to shape public perception.

The media has a responsibility to inform the public, not manipulate it. When journalism becomes a tool for promoting prejudice rather than reporting facts, it undermines public trust.

The ugly truth is that media bias misleads, manipulates, and divides Americans.

Mahmoud El-Yousseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes about U.S. foreign policy, Middle Eastern affairs, and justice.