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For remaining silent amid threats by President Donald Trump against press freedoms, advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers are calling on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to speak out. (Image: via Free Press)
While advocates of press freedom condemned the comments and lawmakers urged the Federal Communication Commission to specifically rebuke them, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has so far refused to denounce President Donald Trump's threats to strip news outlets of their "licenses"--something he himself doesn't have the power to do but which critics say speaks directly to his "authoritarian" tendencies.
But while members from both parties condemned the implications of Trump's remarks--and other FCC commissions assured the public that they would stand in the way of such attempts--many said that Pai's strategic "silence" on the issue is cause for deep concern of its own.
As The Nation's John Nichols said in response to Pai's refusal to speak out: "Worry."
\u201cFCC chair Ajit Pai has refused to comment on Trump's talk of using the FCC to punish dissenting media.\nWorry.\nhttps://t.co/xVNdZzuLFa\u201d— John Nichols (@John Nichols) 1507903557
"When it comes to defending press freedom from this president's threats, " Nichols wrote in a column on Wednesday, "this is mission critical for those who take seriously their duty to defend the First Amendment that Donald Trump so casually disregards."
And Bloomberg's Todd Shields notes how "the presidential threat evoked memories of intimidation by President Richard Nixon, who urged his lieutenants to interfere with the renewal of the Washington Post's licenses for Florida TV stations in 1972."
And so why Democrats on Thursday called for hearings over Trump's veiled threats about media licenses, advocacy groups like Free Press did their best to turn up the heat on Pai:
\u201cACTION ALERT: Tell @AjitPaiFCC: Take a stand and publicly reject Trump's attacks on 1st Amendment press freedom\u2014 https://t.co/QD4aN11f3j\u201d— Free Press (@Free Press) 1507840811
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
While advocates of press freedom condemned the comments and lawmakers urged the Federal Communication Commission to specifically rebuke them, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has so far refused to denounce President Donald Trump's threats to strip news outlets of their "licenses"--something he himself doesn't have the power to do but which critics say speaks directly to his "authoritarian" tendencies.
But while members from both parties condemned the implications of Trump's remarks--and other FCC commissions assured the public that they would stand in the way of such attempts--many said that Pai's strategic "silence" on the issue is cause for deep concern of its own.
As The Nation's John Nichols said in response to Pai's refusal to speak out: "Worry."
\u201cFCC chair Ajit Pai has refused to comment on Trump's talk of using the FCC to punish dissenting media.\nWorry.\nhttps://t.co/xVNdZzuLFa\u201d— John Nichols (@John Nichols) 1507903557
"When it comes to defending press freedom from this president's threats, " Nichols wrote in a column on Wednesday, "this is mission critical for those who take seriously their duty to defend the First Amendment that Donald Trump so casually disregards."
And Bloomberg's Todd Shields notes how "the presidential threat evoked memories of intimidation by President Richard Nixon, who urged his lieutenants to interfere with the renewal of the Washington Post's licenses for Florida TV stations in 1972."
And so why Democrats on Thursday called for hearings over Trump's veiled threats about media licenses, advocacy groups like Free Press did their best to turn up the heat on Pai:
\u201cACTION ALERT: Tell @AjitPaiFCC: Take a stand and publicly reject Trump's attacks on 1st Amendment press freedom\u2014 https://t.co/QD4aN11f3j\u201d— Free Press (@Free Press) 1507840811
While advocates of press freedom condemned the comments and lawmakers urged the Federal Communication Commission to specifically rebuke them, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has so far refused to denounce President Donald Trump's threats to strip news outlets of their "licenses"--something he himself doesn't have the power to do but which critics say speaks directly to his "authoritarian" tendencies.
But while members from both parties condemned the implications of Trump's remarks--and other FCC commissions assured the public that they would stand in the way of such attempts--many said that Pai's strategic "silence" on the issue is cause for deep concern of its own.
As The Nation's John Nichols said in response to Pai's refusal to speak out: "Worry."
\u201cFCC chair Ajit Pai has refused to comment on Trump's talk of using the FCC to punish dissenting media.\nWorry.\nhttps://t.co/xVNdZzuLFa\u201d— John Nichols (@John Nichols) 1507903557
"When it comes to defending press freedom from this president's threats, " Nichols wrote in a column on Wednesday, "this is mission critical for those who take seriously their duty to defend the First Amendment that Donald Trump so casually disregards."
And Bloomberg's Todd Shields notes how "the presidential threat evoked memories of intimidation by President Richard Nixon, who urged his lieutenants to interfere with the renewal of the Washington Post's licenses for Florida TV stations in 1972."
And so why Democrats on Thursday called for hearings over Trump's veiled threats about media licenses, advocacy groups like Free Press did their best to turn up the heat on Pai:
\u201cACTION ALERT: Tell @AjitPaiFCC: Take a stand and publicly reject Trump's attacks on 1st Amendment press freedom\u2014 https://t.co/QD4aN11f3j\u201d— Free Press (@Free Press) 1507840811