> Which seems nonsensical considering their readership is strongly correlated with the subset of Americans who think we should do things like Western Europe.

In a somewhat myopic way. Social security is great, but laïcité is bad. Scandinavians can do nothing bad, but the rest of Europe is a big mess. Free speech (as it is seen in the US) is a fundamental right, but not for those who criticise organised religion (like those European blasphemers).

Reports of anything in places like Germany, France, Spain, or Italy is always ambivalent.

From my experience this reflects the majority point of view in American liberals.