When we say “the media” called the election, this means certain news organizations sent people to find out how people voted, which is public information gathered by 50 states and 3,100 counties. They put the available numbers in context. Then they reported what the facts were.

When people criticize “the media,” I discount their statement by 90%, because they failed to say which news organization among many; it’s just a way to smear Americans. And if the criticism is also nonsensical, that costs them the other 10%.

Sometimes a specific news organization will get its assessment wrong, as with Fox and other networks that called Florida too early in 2000. This damages their credibility, but doesn’t change the final election numbers, which are simply facts.