It has started. Pretext to authoritarianism: Trump demands Republicans ‘kill’ the bipartisan bill that would give journalists greater protections. More authoritarian insanity and destruction likely!

@thirdperson

 Reporting on protest is not a crime 

 

Very true 3rd, "reporting" is not a crime...

Apparently a Grand jury of his peers in the bluest of the blue State by the name of Minnesota disagrees with your assessment  

Time to brush up on the 1st Amendment rights....

1. Ku Klux Klan Act (Enforcement Act of 1871) — Codified in part as 18 U.S.C. § 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights): Makes it a federal crime for two or more people to conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate anyone in the free exercise of constitutional rights, including First Amendment religious freedom. Originally aimed at protecting Black communities (including in churches) from KKK violence and intimidation during Reconstruction; still used today against conspiracies interfering with worship.

2. Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act (1994) — 18 U.S.C. § 248: Prohibits using force, threat of force, or physical obstruction to intentionally injure, intimidate, or interfere (or attempt to) with anyone lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise their First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship. Also bans intentional damage/destruction of a place of worship. Applies directly to invasions or disruptions inside churches.

 

You can read the indictment for yourselves here from CNN mouthpiece.... 

https://x.com/jaketapper/status/2017325705499988217?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.....cheers to hoping Trump doesn't bomb Iran over the weekend  

 

 

@thirdperson

 As usual you hit the trifecta once again!  

 

 

 

‘That’s what authoritarians do’: 

Senator Mark Kelly weighs in on Trump GESTAPO arrest of journalist Don Lemon

      GOV. of red state KENTUCKY says

  trump is trying to rig the coming elections!!!

There are evidences of attempts to lay groundwork to steal 2026 elections.  Promote lie about widespread voting fraud.  Gerrymander electoral map to favor republican candidates.  Demand voter files from states to purge voters.  Ban mail voting. Decertify voting machines. Limit acceptable documents to prove citizenship.  Use FBI to seize ballots from election office in Georgia.  Push for nationalization or federal takeover of state election administration.  Apparently, Trump knows that he cannot win without cheating.

In his farewell address, George Washington warned us about
'cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men coming to power' 

 

  Even then he forewarned us about trump...

Federal judge rules that republican Kari lake was illegally appointed to run US agency for global media.  As a result, her orders for layouts at Voice of America are now void.

CNN reveals defense secretary Hegseth complaining about media reporting on Iran war.  But job of media is to tell the truth.  Not to sell an illegal and unnecessary war.  US constitution protects press freedom in order to hold government accountable.  Except for Israel, no ally supports Trump unjustified war.  Control of media and war against truth are among characteristics of fascism.

Interesting , and mentioned before , more so revealing that only CNN is allowed by the Mullahs 

@thirdperson

 

 

 

Judge rules against illegal pentagon policy limiting access of independent media.  Constitution protects press freedom in order to hold government accountable.  Previously, court rejects indictments against congress members who remind military of legal duty to disobey illegal orders.  Authoritarian regimes control media and punish journalists for telling the truth.

While odd not to allow media in to report, not out of the ordinary to only allow certain news outlets in....however, in only having one major news outlet from the US in (CNN) it is odd that one would be complaining about about media reporting in Iran from the one source that is there.....since internet and telephone capabilities are essentially cutoff and hardly anyone is allowed on the ground and the Iranian government stating that anyone reporting on or filming military strikes would be considered cooperation with the enemy, we really are relying on one major news source and a few independent ones for information.....

 

Suppression of allowing citizens to communicate via phone or internet has been the regimes go to and was used widely when they were protesting....they would allow internet use for about an hour and watch the communication to learn where the protestors would gather and they would go and kill or rape them....pretty horrible that anyone would be ok with this type of government behavior....  

 

 

 

Every time.

As you've mentioned before, freedom of the press/free speech are usually the first to fall.

 

March 21 . . . 

 

CNN -

. . . Democrats quickly condemned Trump’s comments, with Sen. Richard Blumenthal telling reporters the threat “to use ICE agents as a general kind of militia or state police is contrary to the Constitution, the law of the United States, and common sense.”

 

“If the president is serious about providing TSA salaries, he ought to agree with us that ICE should be forced to obey the law"

 

 

 ** Or at the very least, agree to the Dems repeated attempts to provide funding separately for TSA workers - WITH NO STRINGS/earmarks ATTACHED to that separate bill. 

 

...but the FASCIST in the Oval and his fascist Republican accomplices are refusing to provide funding for the TSA workers...

New Republic reports that a federal judge has ruled Trump administration defunding of NPR and PBS is illegal because US constitution protects freedom of speech.

 

@thirdperson

 So will the funding be restored? 

Der Führer of the MAGA REICH vows search for "leaker" who disclosed officer was missing, threatens to jail reporters

 

" The press is the enemy of the people!!!!

except those that write glowing praise about me "

 

" The press is the enemy of the people!!!!

except those that write glowing praise about me "

Federal judge rejects Trump's dubious defamation lawsuit against Wall street journal.  Previously, he lost lawsuits against CNN, Washington post and New York times.

trump loses in court  AGAIN

Washington post reports that Hegseth has designated pentagon press office as off limits to journalists despite courts ruling largely in favor of press freedom.  Normally, they are supposed to have access to public areas in pentagon.  War on truth and control of media are typical in authoritarian regimes.

  Trump plans to use homeland security funds to [extort] states into election changes [he personally wants]

@fubah2  "Trump election reforms"

No evidence of widespread voting fraud.  Despite court rulings against his claims, Trump continues to question the legitimacy of fair elections.  He distrusts voting machines and wants verification of voters citizenship by inaccurate federal database.  But US constitution says states run elections.  Not the federal government which can only recommend guidelines.  Besides, illegal for Trump to withhold federal funding approved by congress to help states prepare for threats from terrorism and disasters.  Contempts for democracy and rule of law are among characteristics of fascism.