The Mainstream media propaganda machine is in overdrive.
by Ali Collins, | January 29, 2026
A recent Washington Post article asks: Can you still be a real man if you live with your mom? In an article titled “Stay-at-home sons are here—and they’re not going anywhere,” author Shane O’Neill debates the merits of men moving back home. Apparently, this new phenom began after Jeopardy champ Brendan Liaw jokingly listed his profession as “stay-at-home-son,” and the moniker went viral.
Full disclosure: I don’t love mainstream news. Too often, it’s clickbait for boomers about “kids these days.” This article proved even less insightful.
The Masculinity Crisis
The grand thesis: men are moving home, at a time when America is in the throes of a full-blown “masculinity crisis.”
OK, I’m not a man… but is this REALLY what folks are worried about right now? (cough, cough… GREENLAND, MINNEAPOLIS, cough, cough… EPSTEIN…)
Yet, somehow, national panic has shifted to men’s jawlines and the “male loneliness epidemic.” The fate of the American man apparently hangs in the balance—especially if he’s living in his childhood bedroom. [Insert: Marlboro Man sobbing into his pillow]
At this point in the article, I was so annoyed that I had to keep going. As if reading my mind, the author explained this was a “nuanced” conversation. The author then explained that living with one’s parents well into adulthood is considered normal in many non-white cultures. As one interviewee, Che Durena, pointed out, media coverage of stay-at-home dads lacks cultural context. “That’s just called being Italian or Filipino or Indian.”
What’s missing
What stood out most was what the author didn’t talk about: Why this “trend” makes sense on multiple levels: 1) the pre-frontal cortex isn’t fully developed until well into one’s twenties; 2) American expectations of moving out at 18 defy human evolution; and 3) it’s fucking expensive! Crippling college debt, a flagging economy, and a constrained job market due to AI automation and the rise of gig”work make it impossible.
Also lacking was any analysis of how “independence” and “self-sufficiency” are American man myths grounded in both patriarchy and capitalism. After WWII, ad men (and the US government) sold us the idea that real men buy houses, cars, and TVs (and don’t live with mom.) The resurgence of the MAGA movement is now challenging men to live up to standards that may have been doable in the 1950’s, yet are no longer attainable in today’s financial reality.
What this propaganda is really about.
Angry white men were manipulated into voting a reality show felon into office. Their candidate won, and now the chickens are coming home to roost. As more and more Chads can’t afford to buy a condo or get out of college debt, it will inevitably become clearer that no matter how many trans athletes are banned from playing sports, the American Dream is still a pipe dream for most Americans. The cost of eggs and healthcare continues to rise, and that uppity Black woman who ran for president is no longer in the picture.
It’s no wonder there’s a masculinity crisis! 60% of white men voted for Trump, along with their pick-me Latino and Asian cousins (55% and 39% accordingly.) They bought the snake-oil ideology of “bootstraps” and “hard work”. One year later, with DEI dismantled and ICE deporting the competition, they are running out of scapegoats.
There is only one person left to blame—themselves.
Based on the myth of meritocracy, if you are still struggling despite America Being Great, it means: A.) You actually are a loser; B.) 92% of Black women were right. You were duped by a con artist who protects pedophiles. C.) All of the above. You are not only a loser; you are also an idiot.
(Hint: The answer is C.)
As neither of these conclusions is palatable, mainstream media is pivoting to “stay-at-home-sons”. When immigrants were doing it, it was trashy. Now that white people are doing it’s classy! Prepare for more articles like this and others on “the joys of van life!” (aka: living in your car.)
What I wish we were talking about.
And honestly? As a mom, I’m thrilled if my kids stick around. In fact, I consider it a compliment. I have always believed that multi-generational living is more practical, ecological, and economical. After seeing multi-generational living elsewhere, the American obsession with kicking kids out at 18 also seems… kind of sad.
Maybe, instead of obsessing over masculinity, we could talk about supporting each other—crazy, I know. Unfortunately, with newsrooms purging diverse voices, there will be no more Black, queer, disabled, feminist critiques of popular culture in mainstream media. Instead, enjoy more puff pieces on the “masculinity crisis” and “stay-at-home sons.” How else will the current regime distract the public from crushing debt, skyrocketing inflation, and a precipitous decline in the American quality of life?
Last summer, I saw an article that seemed to encapsulate where many Americans now find themselves. “I finally achieved the American Dream,” the author wrote, “by moving to Europe.”
What do you think? Tell me in the Comments below…
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