The First Amendment, protecting free speech and free media, is a pillar of US law. It is, famously, the first one. We don’t usually tolerate government interference with speech.

So it’s been disconcerting these first few weeks of the second Trump administration to realize suddenly, there’s a nonzero chance the government will punish our work. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is absolutely determined to turn all that talk about the media being the enemy of the people into concrete legal action — incredibly serious, unprecedented attacks on free speech.

Links:

Carr’s emerging agenda and its dangerous effects | Tech Policy Press
Trump’s MAGA enforcer is having ‘the time of his life’ | The Daily Beast
FCC to investigate Comcast for having DEI programs | The Verge
Trump amends CBS ’60 Minutes’ lawsuit & demands $20 billion | LA Times
No Apology Over Trump Lawsuit, ‘60 Minutes’ Top Producer Says | New York Times
The FCC is investigating NPR and PBS | The Verge
ABC News to pay $15 million to settle Trump defamation suit | Wall Street Journal
Top Trump donor wants SCOTUS to reverse press protection | The New Republic

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Ursa Wright.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

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The FCC is a now a weapon in Trump’s war on free speech