I think it’s the opposite. The _distrust itself_ was pushed by those looking to stir up outrage, generate engagement, and turn it into votes.

Case in point: look at all the people who’ve now built their entire political identities atop this unfalsifiable distrust. They’d even distrust “stand further apart” if the wrong person said it.

> I do not know how this trust can be rebuilt but definitely not by publishing more reviews.

This is the crux. Outrage spreads way faster than the boring truth.