News Friday that Steven Bannon was convicted of refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena was a sweet surprise for many across social media. But in reality, Bannon’s conviction is less than a slap on the wrist.

According to Associated Press, the Washington, D.C. jury found Bannon guilty in less than three hours. He will be sentenced in late October on two counts, each carrying up to two years in jail. He will have a minimum of 30 days of jail time and possible fines.

But in reality, this is like putting a toddler in time out for two minutes, and they go back to doing the same thing that got them in trouble. Bannon’s conviction is also representative of how white supremacy inflicts harm but is rarely ever held to task.

The system “held him accountable,” and yet it feels empty. The joy people have at this moment is simply seeing a close Trump associate slapped with some form of consequence.

But symbolic victories feel empty when the person or entity doing harm will soon be back at it. And more than being team Trump, Bannon’s participation and leadership in establishing widespread disinformation networks home and abroad remain unchecked. Continue Reading