is mainstream media net detrimental in its current approach to politics and policy?

yes, my impression is that the entirety of mainstream media's over-coverage of trump and MAGA is to a large extent net detrimental.
sure, they have to worry about ratings when missing out on the latest lunacy, but this offer to conservatives to 'present their side' in the name of balance seems like nonsense.
there is absolutely nothing to be gained by the repetition of stances and phrases stamped by trump as acceptable.

twitter\x is hopeless since musk, am not sure about facebook since never being a member. the past history of responses to disinformation by zuck were wholly inadequate (too little, too late).
on a related note, complex explanations of recent civil\social events seems ineffective, despite one's instinct to avoid over-simplicity. in the end, the center and left cable\broadcast media outlets should just stop wasting time on allowing the GOP to spread propaganda. it just may catch low information voters.

(refs from Science & Nature, not a publisher for the STEM-incapable)
news.ucr.edu - Banning misinformation tweeters improved online discourse
Nature: Post-January 6th deplatforming reduced the reach of misinformation on Twitter
Science: Doi 10 Sciadv