US Media Under Trump's Allies: Democracy's Descent into Tyranny
The influence of billionaire Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle and financier to the Republican party, on US media cannot be overstated. His acquisition of Paramount Global, home to CBS News, has enabled him to exert significant control over the network's editorial direction, with a Trump appointee now serving as ombudsman and Bari Weiss, an anti-woke crusader, at the helm. This consolidation is part of a broader erosion of democracy in America, facilitated by Ellison's vast wealth and connections.
The erosion of media freedom in the US has accelerated under President Donald Trump. Control over information flows has become increasingly important for those seeking to maintain power. The media plays a crucial role in holding leaders accountable and providing citizens with accurate information about current events. However, when media outlets are controlled by individuals or interests aligned with the ruling party, this democratic function is severely curtailed.
Trump's appointment of a pro-Trump ombudsman at CBS News serves as a prime example of this trend. This move further restricts the network's ability to report on contentious issues objectively and independently. The same can be said for Meta owner Mark Zuckerberg's decision to abandon third-party factchecking in the US, effectively allowing false information to spread unchecked.
Moreover, Trump's increasing influence over media outlets has led to a significant erosion of press freedom. Journalists who fail to conform to his expectations are often censored or fired. Karen Attiah, columnist at the Washington Post, was fired after speaking out against political violence and racial double standards. Jimmy Kimmel's ABC show was suspended following criticism from the pro-Trump chair of the Federal Communications Commission.
Another worrying trend is Trump's use of executive power to silence dissenting voices. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been defunded, and access to the White House has become increasingly restricted to media outlets that do not toe the party line. US media outlets have also seen their Pentagon credentials revoked after refusing to report only officially authorized information.
The stakes are high as Trump's allies continue to consolidate power in the US. Republican efforts to gerrymander voting districts and push for denaturalization of socialist candidates further exacerbate the crisis. The threat of defunding cities that elect Democratic mayors adds another layer of complexity to this already dire situation.
While some argue that the US has always been "rigged" in favor of wealthy elites, the rapid decline of democracy under Trump is a stark reminder that complacency can have disastrous consequences. In just nine months, the country has descended into an authoritarian abyss. With 39 months left in office, it remains to be seen whether America's democratic institutions will survive the onslaught of Trump's allies.
As Owen Jones, Guardian columnist, warns, "complacency has collided with brutal reality." The US media's fall to Trump's allies serves as a harbinger of a more profound crisis. If democracy is to be saved, it must begin with an acknowledgment that complacency and inaction will no longer suffice.
The influence of billionaire Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle and financier to the Republican party, on US media cannot be overstated. His acquisition of Paramount Global, home to CBS News, has enabled him to exert significant control over the network's editorial direction, with a Trump appointee now serving as ombudsman and Bari Weiss, an anti-woke crusader, at the helm. This consolidation is part of a broader erosion of democracy in America, facilitated by Ellison's vast wealth and connections.
The erosion of media freedom in the US has accelerated under President Donald Trump. Control over information flows has become increasingly important for those seeking to maintain power. The media plays a crucial role in holding leaders accountable and providing citizens with accurate information about current events. However, when media outlets are controlled by individuals or interests aligned with the ruling party, this democratic function is severely curtailed.
Trump's appointment of a pro-Trump ombudsman at CBS News serves as a prime example of this trend. This move further restricts the network's ability to report on contentious issues objectively and independently. The same can be said for Meta owner Mark Zuckerberg's decision to abandon third-party factchecking in the US, effectively allowing false information to spread unchecked.
Moreover, Trump's increasing influence over media outlets has led to a significant erosion of press freedom. Journalists who fail to conform to his expectations are often censored or fired. Karen Attiah, columnist at the Washington Post, was fired after speaking out against political violence and racial double standards. Jimmy Kimmel's ABC show was suspended following criticism from the pro-Trump chair of the Federal Communications Commission.
Another worrying trend is Trump's use of executive power to silence dissenting voices. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been defunded, and access to the White House has become increasingly restricted to media outlets that do not toe the party line. US media outlets have also seen their Pentagon credentials revoked after refusing to report only officially authorized information.
The stakes are high as Trump's allies continue to consolidate power in the US. Republican efforts to gerrymander voting districts and push for denaturalization of socialist candidates further exacerbate the crisis. The threat of defunding cities that elect Democratic mayors adds another layer of complexity to this already dire situation.
While some argue that the US has always been "rigged" in favor of wealthy elites, the rapid decline of democracy under Trump is a stark reminder that complacency can have disastrous consequences. In just nine months, the country has descended into an authoritarian abyss. With 39 months left in office, it remains to be seen whether America's democratic institutions will survive the onslaught of Trump's allies.
As Owen Jones, Guardian columnist, warns, "complacency has collided with brutal reality." The US media's fall to Trump's allies serves as a harbinger of a more profound crisis. If democracy is to be saved, it must begin with an acknowledgment that complacency and inaction will no longer suffice.
. Can't believe CBS News is now just a mouthpiece for his ego 
. Journalism needs objectivity, not propaganda 
.
how can one billionaire just control all the major news networks?! it's like something from a dystopian novel 
. and what's next? them controlling our social media too?! 
that would be absolute censorship, you know? the thought alone is giving me anxiety 
. i mean, what's even more disturbing is that these people are just rubber-stamping whatever trump says without questioning it. it's like they're afraid to speak up or face consequences 
. and don't even get me started on the fact that journalists are being silenced left and right 
. this is a crisis, folks! we need to wake up and take action before it's too late 
Just saw this news about Larry Ellison owning Paramount Global and I'm low-key freaked out! 
Like what's next? Is our access to news gonna be controlled by a single billionaire? 
This whole thing reminds me of the importance of fact-checking, especially with Meta abandoning third-party factchecking. 
Can't we just get back to trustworthy sources and real journalism? 
It's kinda scary that journalists are getting censored or fired for speaking out against Trump. 
. News outlets are supposed to be independent, but it seems like that's just a word now 
. Can't we just have some semblance of real journalism without the politics getting in the way? 
this is so depressing what happened to the usa 
and its media outlets being controlled by billionaires like ellison and zuckerberg makes me really sad 
these guys are just using their money and influence to shape public opinion and silence dissenting voices 
we need more journalists and media outlets that can tell it like it is without fear of retribution 
meanwhile karen attiah was fired @ washington post for speaking out against violence 
and jimmy kimmel got his show suspended 
what's next? us media under trump's allies is literally the worst news ever 
... maybe it's time for some real oversight, you know?
. And hey, a pro-Trump ombudsman at CBS News doesn't necessarily mean they're suppressing hard-hitting journalism 
. And yeah, Mark Zuckerberg abandoning third-party factchecking might be a concern for some, but what about the benefits of having Meta's vast resources and expertise bring high-quality content to the masses? 
. And as for Trump's tactics to silence dissenting voices...I think he's just trying to stir up some much-needed debate and discussion 
- after all, isn't that what America is all about? Free speech and a healthy dose of controversy 
. We can't just sit back and let our leaders quietly consolidate power while we're too busy scrolling through our feeds or watching TV. We need to hold them accountable and demand better from our media outlets. It's not too late to act, but we need to start speaking out now! 
I'm all for critical thinking and holding leaders accountable, but not when it involves demonizing entire groups of people 
.
. It's like we're living in some kind of dystopian novel 
and what's with all these billionaires running the show? 
Ellison's got a lot of influence, but is that a good thing? 
don't get me wrong, I'm not against capitalism or anything, but when it comes to media, you want someone who's gonna report the truth, not just what's convenient for them