Here's a problem /1. Someone sets up an organization to "defend free speech" which we all know - as is now demonstrated - is not really about doing that at all, and yet the media goes along with the pretence and asks them constantly to pontificate on free speech.

Then...

/2 Someone else sets up a new "political movement" which we all know is basically about dog-whistle xenophobia and racism but the media goes along with the pretence and continually asks said individual for his views on all and sundry until he becomes established.

So...

/3 Why does the media do this? What purpose does it serve? Whose interests? Why does it knowingly (for media folks are surely not so stupid) go along with all this pretence, rather than just seeing these people for what they are and ignoring them?

/4 The typical claim is "But they represent a certain constituency." Oh, they do. But not the one they are claiming to represent, and we all know it. So why pretend otherwise?

/5 There's an element of this in some lockdown sceptics too. They say their objection is the harm it does to people and the economy, but there's clearly bad faith involved - and they demonstrate that by also opposing vaccines that will protect people and let the economy reopen.

/6. And yet who is it who constantly invited on panels and programmes to put the "anti-lockdown case"?