No, "unearned" was in reference to the supposed moral superiority of the overly political correct.

As a once cultural studies academic type I find the critique carries with it an anti intellectual strain that is esp right now when the Trump admin is destroying the humanities dangerous

That's a fair point, but we're not there yet in terms of education. I hate to say that, though. I wish all schools taught critical thinking and the ways to identify propaganda, then Fox and its clones might not have the pernicious effect they have.