A worrisome sign as media companies and tech leaders start lining up to bend the knee to Trump | Editorial

Even before the presidential election, many members of the press began caving to the possibility of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

The owners of major newspapers, including the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today, decided not to endorse a candidate in the race, prompting some opinion staffers to resign.

In the weeks since Trump’s narrow victory, media companies and other influential leaders — including powerful chief executives, federal law enforcement officials, and moderate Republican lawmakers — appear to be falling in line.

The widespread capitulation before Trump even takes office is a worrisome omen for the media and the American system of government built on checks and balances.

Yale historian Timothy Snyder said the first rule to combat tyranny is: Do not obey in advance.

Yet, many are doing just that.

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The hosts of MSNBC’s Morning Joe dedicated much of their campaign coverage to criticizing Trump and exploring his legal troubles, including his criminal conviction, four criminal indictments, sexual abuse finding, civil fraud verdict, and two impeachments.

But soon after the election, hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski flew to Mar-a-Lago to try to “restart communications” with Trump. CNN reported the cable news hosts feared they could face harassment from the incoming administration.

Trump has long called the press “the enemy of the people.” During the campaign, he promised to jail reporters and other perceived political enemies. Trump has also called for revoking the broadcast licenses of ABC News, CBS News, CNN, and MSNBC and loosening libel laws.

His sustained attacks have helped undermine trust in the media, prompting many to get their news and information from unreliable sources.

Trump also promised retribution and has publicly compiled a long list of enemies. He is even more emboldened now that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled presidents have broad immunity, essentially placing them above the law.

However, the First Amendment guarantees freedom of the press, a bedrock principle of our democratic system. But rather than continue to report the news without fear or favor, some are beginning to back down.

Time magazine crowned Trump “Person of the Year,” less than seven months after he was convicted of illegally paying off an adult film star in a scheme to influence the outcome of the 2020 election.

Over the weekend, ABC News agreed to pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos’ claim that Trump was found liable for rape. (A civil jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse, which a judge ruled was commonly considered rape.) The network issued an apology for the remarks made in March and agreed to pay an additional $1 million for Trump’s legal fees.

Others are also getting on board or getting out of the way.

Tech titans, including Facebook and Amazon, are donating $1 million toward Trump’s inauguration. Amazon was founded by Jeff Bezos, who also owns the Post. Two other Bezos-affiliated companies, Amazon Web Services and Blue Origin, receive billions of dollars a year in federal contracts.

Jack Smith, the special counsel who investigated Trump, announced plans to step down. FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom Trump appointed and later criticized, resigned rather than face being fired before completing his 10-year term. During the previous Trump administration, two FBI officials who clashed with him were audited by the IRS.

Some Senate Republicans who raised questions about some of Trump’s cabinet nominees have likewise faced intense pushback to come to heel.

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Trump allies are joining in the effort to chill public debate or go after the press.

Billionaire Elon Musk, whom Trump appointed to a newly created advisory position, said he planned to keep a “naughty and nice list” and fund primary opponents against Republican lawmakers who do not support the incoming administration.

Sen. John Kennedy (R., La.) introduced a bill to end taxpayer funding for public radio and television. Trump nominated MAGA loyalist and election denier Kari Lake to head Voice of America.

Trump’s unqualified nominee to head the FBI, Kash Patel, promised last year to go after journalists who he falsely claimed lied about the 2020 presidential election. “We’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections,” Patel said. “Whether it’s criminally or civilly, we’ll figure that out.”

Trump and his allies fail to understand the adversarial role the press plays in a healthy democracy. More alarming, some in the media also fail to understand George Orwell’s famous description that “Journalism is printing something that someone does not want printed. Everything else is public relations.”