Exhaustion Theory

Journalistic and pundit discourse is increasingly governed by cognitive exhaustion: reporters default to simple affective signals (likes/dislikes, aesthetic notes, tired tropes) instead of assembling causal arguments or evidence. That exhaustion cascades into public conversation, producing shallow coverage that amplifies polarization and reduces institutional accountability. — Labeling this dynamic makes it easier to spot when civic conversation is being replaced by gut reactions and to design interventions (editorial standards, accountability metrics) to restore evidentiary norms.