A 2018 study published in the American Political Science Review
found that
stations purchased by Sinclair
increase "coverage of national politics at the expense of local politics"
and undergo "a significant rightward shift in the ideological slant of coverage."
Delivering right-wing attacks on Biden's mental fitness under the guise of "local news" is an extremely powerful tactic. 
While many Americans are distrustful of the national media,
71% believe that local news is accurate,
including 78% of Democrats and 66% of Republicans.
This is not the first time Sinclair has exploited Americans' trust in local news to boost Republicans politically.
In 2016, the Trump campaign provided Sinclair stations with extensive access to Trump in exchange for friendly coverage that did not include fact-checking.
"We are here to deliver your message," Smith told Trump
in a 2016 meeting.
In 2017, Sinclair hired #Boris #Epshteyn, who previously served as a Trump advisor and surrogate, as its Chief Political Analyst.
Sinclair stations were
required
to run Epshteyn's political commentary.
"The American people demand change, and they demand action, and that’s exactly what they’ll get from this administration going forward," Epshteyn declared in one piece.
In 2018,
anchors at Sinclair affiliates were forced to read a script warning viewers about "fake stories" being published by other media outlets "to push their own personal bias and agenda." 
The argument mirrored then-president Donald Trump's criticism of the media.