More recently, the tabloids have moved into politics, promoting various alt.right stories and fantasies about Democratic politicians, Muslims, Mexicans and other popular targets.

This might be just another instance of freedom of speech and the evolution of the media, but these publications are not just another item on the magazine shelves. In many supermarkets, they are the last thing you see on checkout – right next to the checkout person. The supermarket management wants us to pay particular attention to them.

Defenders of the markets might note that this is just a matter of good business sense. Many products are in supermarkets because their manufacturers or distributors pay the market to carry them, and desirable locations bring a higher price. The tabloid location is one of the most visible locations in the building, seen by almost all customers while waiting to pay. The spot is a prime location for advertising. Even if people don’t buy them, their presence plants their headlines in the minds of shoppers. The important thing for the publisher may not be to sell magazines, but to get eyeballs: to publicise the meme.

So why do supermarkets display the tabloids in such a prominant place? Either they have a political agenda, and want to actively push the messages on the front page of the tabloids, or they are simply selling shelf space to the highest bidder. Either way, they promote anger, unhappiness and the goals of the far right.

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