Well, the article points out that lying is worse in autocracies, so I didn't forget that.

Sure, a free press is supposed to investigate and discover the truth, which should make journalists antagonistic to lying politicians. That relationship broke down when the news became a business. As I say in the article, news outlets must retain access to big-name guests to fulfill the strange demand for such interviews, even though the public doesn't trust politicians. I think it all comes down to that strange demand.