When Criticism Turns to Retaliation – A Threat to the Freedom of the Press
Howdy, folks! Jesse Saunders here, and I've got a tale to tell that's got the swamp rattled and the press under fire. It seems former President Trump has made quite the pledge – promising to investigate Comcast if he takes the helm in 2024. Now, I'm a Trump supporter through and through, but this one's got me thinking.
Trump's beef with Comcast, the parent company of NBC and MSNBC, is no secret. He's calling them out for what he deems "knowingly dishonest and corrupt coverage" that threatens our great nation. But let's pump the brakes for a sec and look at the bigger picture.
Now, I've been no stranger to slamming the media for their bias and sometimes downright wonky analysis. Heck, I've even called them out for being a bit too cozy with the powers that be. But this here pledge, my friends, it's an attack on the very heart of what makes America America – our First Amendment values.
Sure, I've given Trump an earful about his rhetoric, especially his constant bashing of the media as the "enemy of the people." But what we've got here is a whole new level of rhetoric, and it ain't pretty.
See, Trump's promising to investigate Comcast, and by extension, NBC and MSNBC, once he's back in the big seat. He says they'll be put under a microscope for their coverage of "people, things, and events." Now, I ain't one to shy away from speaking my mind, but this here is a slippery slope.
Look, we all know the media landscape is a mess. Bias runs rampant, and it feels like we're stuck in an echo chamber. But here's the deal – it's up to us, the folks out here in the real world, to sort that mess out. The market for news is where we cast our votes, so to speak.
Sure, some news organizations are struggling, like the Washington Post losing readers left and right. But the media still plays a critical role in our political system. They've uncovered government waste, exposed lies, and brought unlawful conduct to light, from the Pentagon Papers to Watergate.
Now, here's the rub – any investigation into Comcast, NBC, or MSNBC is likely to find bias, but that's a far cry from treason. The media's march to the beat of their own drums, sure, but it's more like a dance they're doing together, consensually. It's not a conspiracy; it's a collective choice. It might be wrong, but trust me, two wrongs don't make a right.
Now, don't get me wrong, folks. I've been all in for investigating government censorship on social media, and Congress sure can ask the tough questions. But aiming the government's big ol' magnifying glass at the media and shouting "treason" – that's a threat to one of the core pillars of our democracy, a free and independent press.
Back in the day, in 1789, Edmund Burke called the press the "Fourth Estate" – more important than all those folks in Parliament. And he had a point. Our country's defining moment came when publisher John Peter Zenger faced off against the Crown. They accused him of publishing "scandalous, virulent, false, and seditious reflections." Sound familiar?
The jury stood up for the independence of the press and acquitted Zenger. Since then, we've held press freedom close to our hearts, no matter how much we might gripe about the headlines.
James Madison, one of our Founding Fathers, called it "the choicest privilege of the people."
Now, running for president on a promise to investigate the press may be popular, but it's a dangerous game. It's a road we don't want to travel down, folks. So let's keep the press free and independent, warts and all, and remember what makes America truly great.
Until next time, keep your eyes peeled, your voices loud, and your democracy intact.
Stay Safe, Stay Curious and for goodness sake, dont believe anything you hear from the 10,000.
Jesse
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