It would be absolutely correct to assign responsibility for the attacks on journalists as well as democracy itself, to the Republican party. None of this would be happening if not for the cowardice and contempt for the constitution exhibited by Republicans.
I've said it before, just as lawyers are banding together and institutions of higher education are banding together to oppose this administration's assault on the judicial, on education and others, the media, and journalists should band together to ward off attacks on our freedom of speech and our free press. United is better and more powerful than the individual.
While some journalists are under attack for their reporting, others may need training on the ways their reporting backs up authoritarians. Journalists have to unite to raise their awareness and sharpen their skills. In a comment below, I paste a letter I wrote to the Chicago Sun-Times about a story on social security that concluded with a White House insult, which was completely off topic. Was the journalist trying to give space to the other side? The editors approved the article, I’m sure. The Sun-Times is public media, which suggests to me journalists have a lot of work to do to get on top of the ways they are being played.
Authoritarian governments must muzzle the independent press because it exposes the lies in their propaganda. Trump has been undermining the press for years. He is not in control yet but is getting closer. Citizens who support democracy and believe in the rule of law are going to have to stand up to protect the press. Trump’s minions, the GOP Senators and House Reps and Trump supporters will support Trump in excluding, intimidating, imprisoning and assassinating members of the free press as does Putin.
When Lisa Murkowski (Alaska senator) said on Thursday "I'm afraid", the cliff just got closer. White men from the GOP sit on their hands, their cowardice couldn't be more obvious. Journalist --keep your heads on a swivel --remember C. Hebdo.
Let's declare open season on those in charge! What is the best way for average citizens to publicly call out those at the top? They don't have emails, and I'm not going on Facebook or X or any other such platform. Writing letters is one option, and letters to the editor of various newspapers may be another, if they are received/published. Other suggestions?
Here’s the letter I wrote that was published in the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday, April 19:
Don’t let Trump administration get the last word
Writing about former President Joe Biden’s speech on Social Security, the Sun-Times political reporter ended an otherwise informative article about Social Security Administration staff cuts and service curtailments with a White House statement disparaging Biden because of his age.
If the other side says nothing to contribute to citizens’ understanding of the topic, why report it? I am sure the White House is pleased that it got the last word in. You have helped deliver the message that serious topics, and those who address them, deserve to be mocked. I expect public media to do better.
Lisa Jean Walker, Irving Park
Letters from readers that correct the record and call out MAGA nonsense reassure me so I wrote one too.
Just think. If those journalists had done their jobs properly during Trump’s first term and Joe Biden’s administration, TRUMP WOULD HAVE BEEN IN PRISON NOW.
We have a Supreme Court that has given Trumpy immunity "for official acts"-I agree, all four cases against him --he outplayed them time and time again.
I agree that it is not the journalists' job to make a president happy. Unfortunately, the lack of truthful information has taken a hold over too many people. I'd prefer truth and investigation, not parroting of lies.
It would be absolutely correct to assign responsibility for the attacks on journalists as well as democracy itself, to the Republican party. None of this would be happening if not for the cowardice and contempt for the constitution exhibited by Republicans.
I have heard all of these unhinged people, Hegseth, Vance, Leavitt and others tell pointed lies especially about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
I've said it before, just as lawyers are banding together and institutions of higher education are banding together to oppose this administration's assault on the judicial, on education and others, the media, and journalists should band together to ward off attacks on our freedom of speech and our free press. United is better and more powerful than the individual.
Agree.
While some journalists are under attack for their reporting, others may need training on the ways their reporting backs up authoritarians. Journalists have to unite to raise their awareness and sharpen their skills. In a comment below, I paste a letter I wrote to the Chicago Sun-Times about a story on social security that concluded with a White House insult, which was completely off topic. Was the journalist trying to give space to the other side? The editors approved the article, I’m sure. The Sun-Times is public media, which suggests to me journalists have a lot of work to do to get on top of the ways they are being played.
Authoritarian governments must muzzle the independent press because it exposes the lies in their propaganda. Trump has been undermining the press for years. He is not in control yet but is getting closer. Citizens who support democracy and believe in the rule of law are going to have to stand up to protect the press. Trump’s minions, the GOP Senators and House Reps and Trump supporters will support Trump in excluding, intimidating, imprisoning and assassinating members of the free press as does Putin.
When Lisa Murkowski (Alaska senator) said on Thursday "I'm afraid", the cliff just got closer. White men from the GOP sit on their hands, their cowardice couldn't be more obvious. Journalist --keep your heads on a swivel --remember C. Hebdo.
https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/lwv-declares-united-states-constitutional-crisis-announces-new-initiative
Thank you for sharing. For those who don’t follow the link or don’t know that LWV stands for League of Women Voters:
LWV Declares United States in a “Constitutional Crisis,” Announces New Initiative to Mobilize Voters
Thanks for clarifying.
Let's declare open season on those in charge! What is the best way for average citizens to publicly call out those at the top? They don't have emails, and I'm not going on Facebook or X or any other such platform. Writing letters is one option, and letters to the editor of various newspapers may be another, if they are received/published. Other suggestions?
Here’s the letter I wrote that was published in the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday, April 19:
Don’t let Trump administration get the last word
Writing about former President Joe Biden’s speech on Social Security, the Sun-Times political reporter ended an otherwise informative article about Social Security Administration staff cuts and service curtailments with a White House statement disparaging Biden because of his age.
If the other side says nothing to contribute to citizens’ understanding of the topic, why report it? I am sure the White House is pleased that it got the last word in. You have helped deliver the message that serious topics, and those who address them, deserve to be mocked. I expect public media to do better.
Lisa Jean Walker, Irving Park
Letters from readers that correct the record and call out MAGA nonsense reassure me so I wrote one too.
It is still a good idea to write our congress people.
Just think. If those journalists had done their jobs properly during Trump’s first term and Joe Biden’s administration, TRUMP WOULD HAVE BEEN IN PRISON NOW.
We have a Supreme Court that has given Trumpy immunity "for official acts"-I agree, all four cases against him --he outplayed them time and time again.
I agree that it is not the journalists' job to make a president happy. Unfortunately, the lack of truthful information has taken a hold over too many people. I'd prefer truth and investigation, not parroting of lies.