How Wreck-It Donald broke the media

The Univision anchor stood up and confronted Trump over the Republican's plan to build a big beautiful wall on the U.S.-Mexico and stick Mexico with the bill. It took Ramos several minutes of speechifying to actually ask a question, which Trump answered. Ramos didn't like the answer, and so he kept probing for an answer he might like better. Finally, after more jousting, Trump motioned to one of his security people and Ramos was removed from the room. Several minutes later, after NBC News' Kasie Hunt protested the removal, Trump allowed Ramos to return to the room and ask his question again.

Once more, had it been me, I would have told Ramos: "Look, amigo, you asked a question and I gave you an answer. I don't have another response. If you don't like it, come up with your own. And if you want to debate me, file the paperwork and enter the race."

Elsewhere, the resignation of former Fox News anchor Shepherd Smith, after nearly a quarter-century at the network, is more proof that Trump has shattered the news business. Smith was a Trump critic, so there was no future for him on a network that might as well rebrand itself "Trump TV." Left-wing cable networks like MSNBC and CNN are now parodies that simply wait to see what Trump's position is on an issue before taking the opposite one.

Meanwhile, during last week's Democratic debate, CNN's Anderson Cooper asked Joe Biden a question with a safety net. Cooper claimed that Trump had "falsely accused" the former vice president's son, Hunter, of "doing something wrong" while serving on the board of a Ukrainian energy and gas company. Of course, Cooper noted, "there is no evidence of wrongdoing by either one of you."

Biden ought to change his official campaign theme song to The Beatles' "With A Little Help from My Friends."

No wonder many Americans find TV news -- and even some talk radio and newspapers -- undigestible. And so they're tuning out.

What happened to journalism? Has anyone checked the autopsy? It's tempting to say that Trump stabbed it in the heart. But the truth is, he only gave us the knife. We did the rest.

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Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com. His daily podcast, "Navarrette Nation," is available through every podcast app.