You're right, it is shocking how easily people are manipulated. Take this "free press", working in collusion with the democratic party and certain people in the intelligence agencies cook up a fantasy story about Trump colluding with Russians and nearly half the nation believes it 18+ months later even though there is no evidence. Of course, this is part of the same crowd who still walks around with "hands up, don't shoot" signs even though the leftist Holder Justice Dept. could find no evidence of that ever happening. This TDS is apparently a real thing. Otherwise intelligent people have lost all ability to reason in a rational manner.
BTW, a "free press" which so blatantly misinforms, mis-represents, and in some cases completely fabricates stories, all to push a political agenda, that "free press" is a clear and present danger.