No disagreement, here, but pejorative language has been the norm in the press for well over a decade. Even "vaccine denier" and "Climate Denier" have intended negative connotations, right along with "misinformation" and "conspiracy theory".
It's their stock in trade. Besides, I really wonder if, like "gun violence", the terms are ever separated even mentally by the people who write that dreck.
And it's not like we need trust in the public arena. After all, calling people Repuglicans or Demorats doesn't irritate people or create any bad feelings.
I get that some on the left think those on the right are neanderthals and that some of the right feel the left are all lovers of Marx.
I have friends (I realize that is heresy to some) who are democrats. We discuss....we don't argue. They are good people. They love their families and want what is best for them.
Shame on them.....we have to use terms like extremist, leftist, idiot, election denier or whatever to make sure that those we oppose are scum and villany.
It's tiresome.