Trump's War on the Press: A Dangerous Game

Donald Trump has been on a mission to silence critics in the media. His latest tactic? Using the power of the government to intimidate news outlets. The Wall Street Journal, owned by Rupert Murdoch, has called out Trump for this behavior, labeling it a "low move" in a country that values a free press. Trump and his administration have been making threats against CNN. They've suggested prosecuting the network for reporting on an app that tracks ICE agents. This app, ICEBlock, is not run by CNN. The network simply reported on its existence. Yet, Trump seems to think that reporting on something is the same as endorsing it. The Journal pointed out that traffic apps like Waze and Google Maps often warn drivers about police activity. This is not illegal. Neither is accurately reporting the contents of government documents. But Trump seems to think otherwise. He's even suggested jailing journalists until they reveal their sources. This isn't the only instance of Trump trying to control the media. He recently settled a lawsuit against CBS for $16 million. The suit claimed that CBS deceptively edited a Kamala Harris interview. The Wall Street Journal called the suit "meritless" and the settlement a "sellout. " They also noted that Paramount, the company that owns CBS, needs federal approval for a merger. This gives Trump leverage. Trump's actions are harming the country. They're setting a dangerous precedent. The political culture is spiraling into "lawfare, " where legal actions are used for political purposes. This is not good for democracy.