The exact moment everything started to suck irrevocably

It was a while back when that obvious jet contrail was panickedly reported by everyone and sundry as a "mystery missile" when anyone could see it was a just contrail at an odd angle, then none of the networks really followed up on it  or on their mistakes because they were embarrassed that, like their viewers, they were all going "guh...owhn...urnt...unt..buh..." all day, every day.

There are all sorts of other other examples, but this is the one!

Take note, future historians, scribbling down late human history while a deer-tallow-in-soup-can candle burns beside you!