Summary
Sen. Bernie Sanders warned that media self-censorship and legal intimidation from Trump pose a major threat to press freedom.
He criticized CBS for reportedly considering a settlement in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit over a “60 Minutes” interview and ABC for paying $15 million to settle Trump-related defamation claims.
Sanders also condemned Trump’s lawsuit against a pollster for unfavorable election polling.
Media owners have faced scrutiny for restricting anti-Trump coverage, fueling concerns that press freedoms are eroding even before any government crackdown.
Freedom of the Press has been irreparably tainted already. Trump has already got the 3 major networks (CBS, ABC, and NBC) to all bend the knee, along with major publications like the Washington Post. Companies have already altered their coverage of Trump to avoid retaliation either in the form of lawsuits, government action, or both. Independent media and reporters have toned down their coverage considerably out of fear of lawsuits they cannot afford to defend themselves against or executive retaliation.
This is damage that cannot be undone, as every media outlet going forward will have the fear of “What if this president decides to retaliate?” in the back of their heads, which has a chilling effect on reporting.
