I would really like to respectfully listen to the points of view of the author, but I do not like myself manipulated by this excessive over the top clickbait headings. I hope that we can all return to a more civil discourse without resorting always to the most extreme polarised positions that go by the phrases "influence" and "persuasion" these days.
FYI the story writer almost never comes up with the headline in a traditional newspaper story pipeline (which most likely still includes wapo). Usually it’s one of the editors that has final say on the headline (and control of A/B testing online). Often the reporter will even have to push back when the editor tries to use too strong a word that may be technically incorrect based on the reporter’s more in depth knowledge of the topic.
Now I’m not trying to say that the story writer isn’t also writing sensational stories, with their own agendas, only that you would do well not to judge a story by its headline. Otherwise, I agree sensational headlines turn me off as well.
