"As a columnist, I realize that whatever amount of corruption I expose, half my readers will block it out, although they may get a frisson of joy in the process"

This quote by Margaret Carlson recommends that, as a writer, she is aware that her readers may not be responsive to the corruption she exposes. Despite this, she thinks that her readers might still get a sense of pleasure from reading her work. This could be translated as a commentary on the human tendency to disregard or ignore issues of corruption, even when they exist with proof of it. Carlson's quote suggests that, while her readers might know the corruption she is exposing, they might still choose to disregard it and instead get a kick out of the process of reading her work. This could be viewed as a criticism of the general public's apathy towards corruption and their choice for entertainment over meaningful engagement with the problems.