What mistake does the news reporter accuse the US government of making?
They trusted their allies to come to their defense.
They did not believe that Japan would launch an attack without a declaration of war.
They thought that their base at Pearl Harbor could not be attacked.
They did not think that their ships could sink.

They did not believe that Japan would launch an attack without a declaration of war.

Explanation:

the presidential debate between carter and reagan in 1980 was ranked among the highest ratings achieved by any television program in the previous decade (the 1970s). carter focused on portraying reagan as a "war hawk" and a "right-wing radical", which could be considered as comments with no factual evidence. however, reagan openly criticized medicare and social security benefits, stating the fact that national debt was approaching $ 1 trillion. these arguments, plus his closing remarks, in which he asked viewers to question themselves "if it is easier for them to buy things in the store or find employment than 4 years ago", were key to him win the election by a vast margin during that year.

e."

you have too put the passage for people to understand