Trump Threatens Licenses of TV Stations That Criticize Him

[Infinite Chaos]

I don't understand how any American who professes to love their country and the Constitution can support this......and I suspect because they know it's wrong there will be crickets

Any UK Prime Minister proposes taking away our media licences for criticising them and most of the UK will be out on the streets in protest. This wouldn't stand.

Is there an equivalent to "Private Eye" of the UK or Charlie Hebdo of France where news magazines routinely take the piss out of politicians and all parties?

If not, the USA needs one or more and a media ready to stand up to coercion like this.

 

[Decypher]

Are there rules against personal attacks like this upstairs?

Nice try, but @Roadvirus was referring to Trump as a “poor whiny, thin-skinned little MAGA Baby.” Pretty funny you see yourself in that description, though.

 

[Northern Light]

After preaching for years about the harm done by this sort of thing the right has fully gone properly authoritarian fascist by having the government use force to implement their view on cancel culture.

Spitting on the first amendment in the process.

I have a hard time seeing this as a truly First Amendment issue. Kimmel was deplatformed, his speech wasn't violated. He could go into the streets tomorrow and tell all of the jokes he wants, nobody would stop him. That doesn't mean he has a right to an ABC platform.

I agree his firing was politically motivated, but I don't think it's an FA issue.

The FCC issued a threat, they didn't follow through on it. ABC accepted the threat and took action. So it was a private entity doing what private entities do, and eliminating a liability. Nobody wants the heat right now.

 

[Northern Light]

My earliest memory of cancel culture was when the right went full cancel back in 2003 on the Dixie Chicks for their lead singer comment about GWB. Can you share who, when, why you think the left-wing started it?

I remember that too. It has always happened in more minor forms.

Left-wing brought it to an industrial level scale through social media, during the pandemic and after. Their ownership of social media made it an extremely toxic environment to hold right-wing views, even minor ones.

I'm pretty sure boycotting/cancelling has been around for decades maybe even a century or two or three and I can't say any one particular political group started it.

It's not the same though. Boycotting has been about products and brands, e.g. the Dixie Chicks. The left transformed it into doxxing people's personal lives and actually destroying their ability to function and feel safe as human beings. They started that version of it on a massive scale. Now the right-wing is utilizing that same apparatus to do the same to the left... but the apparatus they are currently using, the left created it.

 

[Northern Light]

You are joking right?

The religious right had been doing cancel culture for decades. Boycotts etc

Boycotting a product isn't the same as doxxing someone's personal life and destroying their ability to function and survive, like the left has used social media for.

The right are now using the system that the left created.

It's ironic that "Kirk had free speech but you are not free from the consequences of speech" when he was brutally assassinated, but the same standard does not apply to Kimmel who is just a TV comedian.

You either defend the free speech of your opponents or you yourself will lose it. That's how it works.

Everyone is running to authority to cancel their enemies but everyone loses as it expands government authority and increases statism. People will never learn to respect each other's rights so we are in the process of losing them. It's a big FAFO moment in American history. You'd think we would've learned from McCarthyism, but nope. The cycle keeps repeating. Thank goodness the Constitution has survived it all, so far.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

when he said he was going to send ng to chicago...serious? not serious? how about memphis?
trump said the 2020 election was stolen...serious? not serious?
which of his many contradictory tariff statements he made over months were serious? not serious?
releasing epstein files..serious? not serious?
eliminate taxes on social security...serious? not serious?

KImmel? Is that you?

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Trump is a clear and present danger to our democracy.

 

[Along Came Jones]

Any UK Prime Minister proposes taking away our media licences for criticising them and most of the UK will be out on the streets in protest. This wouldn't stand.

Is there an equivalent to "Private Eye" of the UK or Charlie Hebdo of France where news magazines routinely take the piss out of politicians and all parties?

If not, the USA needs one or more and a media ready to stand up to coercion like this.

Not really. Once upon a time 60 Minutes fulfilled the role rather well. Reports were often widely discussed days afterwards. No longer. I seldom watch it anymore.

Then there is the generational divide and the explosion of news "sources." Old people generally like the tele. Young people generally prefer their digital devices. And then there are so many "sources" people pick their preferences almost as if choosing from an al a carte menu. There is no Charlie Hedo effect here, I believe.

That's the way I see it.

 

[multivita-man]

Where did the Never Trumpers and Lincoln types go? Seems like they had a "well, if we can't beat him, join him" silent assimilation shuffle of a march.

I think there are Never Trumpers who are steadfastly against this. Their fault is that they still continue to call themselves Republicans, clinging naively to the idea that the Republican party will eventually awaken to the dangers of Trump and return to normalcy. There is no saving the Republican party, in part because people like George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, and others destroyed its credibility when it comes to governing effectively. That's partly why so many Republicans signed their souls to the devil because they knew that Trump's populism was the only way conservatism could remain politically viable. So they now have a Republican party that can win elections and get tax cuts and deregulation and fight wokeness and all that. But the deal with the devil was that they may have signed democracy's death warrant.

 

[multivita-man]

View attachment 67590056

A speech in which he argued that democracy is precious and should be preserved. Yes, I thought the imagery was a bit weird and he wasn't really reading the room when it came to persuadable voters, but you can't fault him on the message. One president believes his performance and that of his successor, like those who came before him, should be assessed by voters in free and fair elections. The current president seems hostile to that idea, in spite of the fact that he came to power via that same process.

 

[Along Came Jones]

I think there are Never Trumpers who are steadfastly against this. Their fault is that they still continue to call themselves Republicans, clinging naively to the idea that the Republican party will eventually awaken to the dangers of Trump and return to normalcy. There is no saving the Republican party, in part because people like George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, and others destroyed its credibility when it comes to governing effectively. That's partly why so many Republicans signed their souls to the devil because they knew that Trump's populism was the only way conservatism could remain politically viable. So they now have a Republican party that can win elections and get tax cuts and deregulation and fight wokeness and all that. But the deal with the devil was that they may have signed democracy's death warrant.

Re: "Their fault is that they still continue to call themselves Republicans, clinging naively to the idea that the Republican party will eventually awaken to the dangers of Trump and return to normalcy."

Not limited to Republicans. In a recent appearance on C-SPAN Senator Elissa Slotkin described the two camps within the Democratic party in devising strategy to confront Trump. One camp sees Trump as an existential threat to Democracy. The other camp views the situation as similar to Trump's first term, threatening and harmful but survivable. Slotkin is in the first camp.

 

[multivita-man]

Re: "Their fault is that they still continue to call themselves Republicans, clinging naively to the idea that the Republican party will eventually awaken to the dangers of Trump and return to normalcy."

Not limited to Republicans. In a recent appearance on C-SPAN Senator Elissa Slotkin described the two camps within the Democratic party in devising strategy to confront Trump. One camp sees Trump as an existential threat to Democracy. The other camp views the situation as similar to Trump's first term, threatening and harmful but survivable. Slotkin is in the first camp.

I think those who tend to believe MAGA 2.0 is survivable tend to be in safe blue districts in solidly blue states. I could be wrong, but I suspect that their belief is that whatever Trump does, it can't keep them from getting reelected. I guess they haven't considered the possibility that MAGA House/Senate majority leadership could actually refuse to seat representative/senate-elects.

 

[roguenuke]

He's a Maoist piece of shit. He wants the power of Un or Xi.

I was already saying that Trump would use this whole Kirk thing to come down hard on criticism of him or MAGA, and he's already proving it. MAGAs are such lying scumbags pretending that Trump was going after "violence" or whatever. But we knew, we KNEW from the start that the goal is suppression of all dissent and criticism of Dear Leader and Party. It won't stop at the media either.

One of the first things I recognized when I heard about Kirk being killed was my anger and fear. Anger that someone would do that and put so many in danger because I knew this would cause more problems, and fear of the retaliation of the government and MAGAs. We see it happening, and I'm pretty sure it's only the beginning.

 

[roguenuke]

Trump says shit all the time, he is one of the most facetious Presidents in our history, only one close to him in saying off the wall statements was Johnson.
People with IQ's above 90 can tell the difference when he is serious and not serious

You are making excuses. He is a troll and also a fascist. He's Schrodinger's troll or fascist. And since there isn't much difference there, and we are talking about the President, it should be scary to absolutely everyone.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

You are making excuses. He is a troll and also a fascist. He's Schrodinger's troll or fascist. And since there isn't much difference there, and we are talking about the President, it should be scary to absolutely everyone.

What was scary was a President whose cognitive decline was so bad - he literally had "body servants" everywhere he went to prevent him going the wrong way, forgetting where he is and to stop him when he started to go off the que written for him to read.
That was scary.

 

[roguenuke]

Yes, the left wing media have lied and been sued for it by Trump. It is not just being critical, it is telling lies.

Trump has only been able to settle most of those "suits" in his favor when he had the power, as President, to threaten their mergers or licenses, as in be corrupt and do corrupt mob boss like things, deals.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Trump has only been able to settle most of those "suits" in his favor when he had the power, as President, to threaten their mergers or licenses, as in be corrupt and do corrupt mob boss like things, deals.

Is that worse than the Biden administration working hand in hand with all of the networks and social media?
The entire media protected Biden, with great effort. How is that better? Is that not corruption?

 

[multivita-man]

What was scary was a President whose cognitive decline was so bad - he literally had "body servants" everywhere he went to prevent him going the wrong way, forgetting where he is and to stop him when he started to go off the que written for him to read.
That was scary.

Clearly, dementia isn't a dealbreaker if you've listened to any given interview or public speech over the last few months.

"They're eating the dogs!" lol

 

[Allan]

Fascist America, it’s going to be great!

The trains will run on time!

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Clearly, dementia isn't a dealbreaker if you've listened to any given interview or public speech over the last few months.

"They're eating the dogs!" lol

Not even close.
Every single way of measuring - everything got worse under Bidens "Fog years". We were leaderless, and it did not go well. Globally everything got worse also, the world MUST have a strong America. Essential for peace. There was no American presence during Biden, and it shows. Russia invaded Ukraine, China leaped ahead militarily and greatly grew their global presence. Hamas grew to become a major force in the M.E. thanks to Iran getting all of their money back and Biden repeatedly lifting sanctions against them - they used that money to rebuild Hamas.
And the left took over the Democrat party like a tsunami.

 

[Along Came Jones]

I think those who tend to believe MAGA 2.0 is survivable tend to be in safe blue districts in solidly blue states. I could be wrong, but I suspect that their belief is that whatever Trump does, it can't keep them from getting reelected. I guess they haven't considered the possibility that MAGA House/Senate majority leadership could actually refuse to seat representative/senate-elects.

You may not be wrong at all. Makes for a rather strong guess, I think. You raise a possible scenario over recognition and seating which until now I would have believed far-fetched. The bizarre intra state battles over out of cycle congressional redistricting puts everything into the realm of possibility.

What's to stop a Republican majority from refusing to seat Democrats? Article I Section 5 gives Congress the absolute power to judge the qualifications of members to serve. Except it doesn't. Not absolutely.

Time for me to look at Powell v McCormack to see how the Court limited that power. Basically, if minimum eligibility to serve is met the person takes their seat. Also, the Federal Contested Elections Act which lays out the procedures for threshing out contested elections.

 

[NJBob]

The trains will run on time!

There will be no trains. All funding for transit, except maybe roads, will be cut.

 

[NuffSaid]

What was scary was a President whose cognitive decline was so bad - he literally had "body servants" everywhere he went to prevent him going the wrong way, forgetting where he is and to stop him when he started to go off the que written for him to read.
That was scary.

I remember when he said that you need a license plate to vote.

 

[Decypher]

Not even close.
Every single way of measuring - everything got worse under Bidens "Fog years". We were leaderless, and it did not go well. Globally everything got worse also, the world MUST have a strong America. Essential for peace. There was no American presence during Biden, and it shows. Russia invaded Ukraine, China leaped ahead militarily and greatly grew their global presence. Hamas grew to become a major force in the M.E. thanks to Iran getting all of their money back and Biden repeatedly lifting sanctions against them - they used that money to rebuild Hamas.
And the left took over the Democrat party like a tsunami.

You deal in nothing but disinformation.

 

[roguenuke]

What was scary was a President whose cognitive decline was so bad - he literally had "body servants" everywhere he went to prevent him going the wrong way, forgetting where he is and to stop him when he started to go off the que written for him to read.
That was scary.

Trump has been in cognitive decline this entire time.

Fascism is far more scary than simple incompetence or problems doing a job, especially when the person is actually able to somehow still do the job without resorting to personal attacks, grandstanding self aggrandizing, threats to anyone not getting in line, firing any opposing views or those who simply don't like you, as a government employee.