Frustration nation: the media’s role in America’s political divide

From television, to talk radio, to the newsstands, Americans are inundated with news about the sorry state of politics. But are the media merely covering the story of D.C.’s gridlock, or are they creating it? For the second installment of our series, “Frustration Nation,” we examine the role of the media and its impact on the political divisiveness in America and Washington, D.C., today.

We speak to Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, along with Michael Kinsley, founder of Slate magazine and former co-host of the TV show, “Crossfire.” They explore how the media provides both a service and a disservice in the drive for splashy headlines, the 24-hour political coverage.