Conventional wisdom says that James Hodgkinson fired on Republican lawmakers early last month because he hated President Trump. He called him a “traitor,” and said it was “time to destroy Trump and Co.” Hodgkinson also worked for Bernie Sanders’ campaign, and even used a picture of Sanders on his Facebook page.

Moreover, Hodgkinson especially obsessed about Republican tax policies, writing many letters to his local newspaper about how their policies “suck.” He would also protest “the rich” outside the post office in his town of Belleville, IL.

So we can pretty much conclude that an obsession with leftist politics drove Hodgkinson, right?

Not so fast, says the Washington Post. They point out that a fringe far right shock jock, Bob Romanik, “The Grim Reaper of Radio,” also broadcasts in Hodgkinson’s town.

So the WaPo carefully examined the evidence and came to this stunning conclusion:

Hodgkinson lived in Belleville. Romanik broadcasts on the airwaves around Belleville.

Coincidence? asks the WaPo. I think not!

Despite what is obvious to reasonable people, the WaPo can’t accept that Hodgkinson was a fellow liberal traveller, driven by left wing politics. So they pinned the fault on the left’s favorite whipping boy: conservative talk radio.

Besides, the WaPo quotes Romanik as saying, “I can’t say for sure if this Hodgkinson guy listened to me, but he probably did.”

Well, of course! There’s your proof! Like talk radio hosts never boast or exaggerate anything, right?

So who is Bob Romanik? He’s a former East St. Louis cop with a no holds barred style of delivery. He deals in racial slurs on his radio show, and has a running feud with a rapper named Waka Flocka Flame (yes, you read that correctly). Mr. Flame, or is it Mr. Waka Flocka? infuriated Trump enthusiast Romanik by using a Trump shirt as toilet paper during a concert.

Romanik’s response was just as vile. (Language warning here.)

So because of Romanik’s broadcasts we’re to believe — with no evidence whatsoever — that his talk show triggered Hodgkinson’s shooting spree. Because conservatives! It’s always conservatives! Yeah, that’s the ticket!

Except logical people aren’t buying it.

This article is pure shit and low even by your basement standards

— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) July 8, 2017

And this from Byron York:

Revision of year: WP suggests, without evidence, Alexandria shooter was inspired by right-wing bigoted radio talker. https://t.co/97tHJDrofH

— Byron York (@ByronYork) July 8, 2017

So why did the WaPo print this garbage? Here’s your answer in a tweet:

This is classic, grade F #FakeNews. This is how the immoral Left rewrites history. They create associations which lead to false conclusions.

— Discarded Virtues (@DiscardedVirtue) July 8, 2017

And then the media wring their hands and gnash their teeth and wonder why no one believes them anymore.