I stick with the default assumption of psyop re: all reporting about what the ruling class believes. Corporate media exists to confuse the public. Remember how everyone gave Reagan and Bush Jr infinite leeway because they were perceived as dumb. Neither of them was dumb — Michael Parenti made this point in one of his popular videos about Reagan, that actually Reagan was very competent, just a little slower than he was in his youth.

Anyway the idea that the ruling class is scared is immaterial until proven by their actions.