"There were no shortage of insults."
A network news reporter said that on camera, describing a combative political debate.
Does it matter that the plural verb "were" did not match the singular noun "shortage"?
I believe it does matter: a professional communicator — that reporter — should know better, and his editors should know far better.
That particular error, missed by his editors, has become commonplace.
The plural noun "insults" seduces the reporter into using the plural "were," instead of saying, "There was no shortage of insults."
We do have a shortage of gatekeepers to protect the language, especially in broadcast news.
Seduction by the plural reaches into other high places: "But a New York Times analysis of advertising data, along with interviews with media executives and personalities, reveal that Mr. Lindell's [political] influence goes beyond funding activism."