I read this, not because I wanted to spend more time with irresponsible drek the United States is dishing from DC, but because I had to. You're right, Kathleen, and thanks for breaking it down. Institutional capitulation creates the strongest stench of bullshit, next to the guy who bullies companies and school systems into running scared while tossing millions of dollars back to the emperor. The weak excuse for an office-holder has nothing to stand on except threats.
We the people can't mimic those organizations or the dude's ass-absorbing minions, or there won't be a country to reclaim once people realize he's coming for most of us before long. (Why yes, I'm pissed ... how could you tell? 😡)
You are advance guard here, seeing what is developing. Publishers will say nothing, placate as needed, and hopefully do what they want behind the scenes. Meantime small presses, under the radar will do heavy lifting?
I agree with all of this, but find it ironic when people are fine with suppressing speech when it's the speech they disagree with and then get outraged when the other side gets into to power and tries to suppress theirs. I really hope progressives/the left can look in the mirror and recognize that they absolutely supported and advocated for this kind of thing when their ideological enemies were the target and only longstanding liberal institutions and value prevented it, the same institutions and values they are mourning now. Trump and his minions are absolutely hypocrites, but they are far from alone in that.
By caving in to Trump's threats, media companies are digging their own graves. As I described in a recent post, fear is the main tool of fascism and fascism-like policies. Giving in to fear only allows fascism to grow.
Large media companies would demonstrate integrity by resisting the "deals" Trump tries to strong-arm them into. It would also be a strategy for maintaining their relevance. They could survive the Trump years if they accepted losses during that time with the goal of long-term survival with integrity.
By selling out to the likes of Bezos and Ellison (who are willing to sacrifice integrity to avoid losses and obtain favors), media companies that were once the stalwart defenders of democracy now become the pallbearers as Democracy Dies in Broad Daylight.
History repeating itself. There was some gold at the end of the post especially regarding jeans. Thank you, again. Always a good investment of my reading time.
Attorney here, who has litigated First Amendment cases up to SCOTUS. The First Amendment will not save us. Rights not enforced are as good as no rights, and what's happening here is a gangster shakedown scheme.
ABC is as much or more to blame than anyone here, as they were the first to bend knee. Sheri Redstone would have bought Trump a bloody jet to get FCC approval for the Skydance purchase, so CBS was always going to capitulate. This is the danger of rules-based order: it is beautiful until someone in charge realizes it's really just an honor system.
Ah! Yes! Your argument here for publishers has so many similarities to one we were trying to get big law firms to pay attention to this spring. (Don’t cave, the law is on your side.) And one that has played out in other fields, too. I can’t help but think about an article I read recently that called on how important it is for various industries to try to come together to resist this playbook across industries. I just wish I had a better sense of how to make that happen…Thank you for shedding light onto this issue in publishing.
If you really think The View has a liberal bias, you have no clue. Their exec producer is a conservative. And one side should not get to dictate what media does, which is precisely what’s happening. ANY interference from the govt on media should make people pay attention.
After reading this article, I'm still not sure what policies this administration is pursuing or issuing that have reshaped media. I see fearful headlines, but not real policy.
Kathleen, you mention the Sweeney ad is a problem because it is "as white as possible." Other than the model being white, what made it over-the-top white to you?
I feel like you come here to comment, but don't fully comprehend what I write. I laid it all out. I am not repeating it.
Go back and read what I wrote about the Sweeney ad. I did not say the ad was as white as possible. There is context. I am also not repeating it because I already wrote it. It's all there.
If you haven’t read it yet, it’s fascinating to learn about a time when the US was NOT banning books, but actually sending them to Eastern bloc countries—and it was the CIA doing it(!)
I read this, not because I wanted to spend more time with irresponsible drek the United States is dishing from DC, but because I had to. You're right, Kathleen, and thanks for breaking it down. Institutional capitulation creates the strongest stench of bullshit, next to the guy who bullies companies and school systems into running scared while tossing millions of dollars back to the emperor. The weak excuse for an office-holder has nothing to stand on except threats.
We the people can't mimic those organizations or the dude's ass-absorbing minions, or there won't be a country to reclaim once people realize he's coming for most of us before long. (Why yes, I'm pissed ... how could you tell? 😡)
You are advance guard here, seeing what is developing. Publishers will say nothing, placate as needed, and hopefully do what they want behind the scenes. Meantime small presses, under the radar will do heavy lifting?
The small press world may be too diverse for control. And larger publishers should focus on Amazon bending its “knee” first.
I agree with all of this, but find it ironic when people are fine with suppressing speech when it's the speech they disagree with and then get outraged when the other side gets into to power and tries to suppress theirs. I really hope progressives/the left can look in the mirror and recognize that they absolutely supported and advocated for this kind of thing when their ideological enemies were the target and only longstanding liberal institutions and value prevented it, the same institutions and values they are mourning now. Trump and his minions are absolutely hypocrites, but they are far from alone in that.
By caving in to Trump's threats, media companies are digging their own graves. As I described in a recent post, fear is the main tool of fascism and fascism-like policies. Giving in to fear only allows fascism to grow.
Large media companies would demonstrate integrity by resisting the "deals" Trump tries to strong-arm them into. It would also be a strategy for maintaining their relevance. They could survive the Trump years if they accepted losses during that time with the goal of long-term survival with integrity.
By selling out to the likes of Bezos and Ellison (who are willing to sacrifice integrity to avoid losses and obtain favors), media companies that were once the stalwart defenders of democracy now become the pallbearers as Democracy Dies in Broad Daylight.
History repeating itself. There was some gold at the end of the post especially regarding jeans. Thank you, again. Always a good investment of my reading time.
Attorney here, who has litigated First Amendment cases up to SCOTUS. The First Amendment will not save us. Rights not enforced are as good as no rights, and what's happening here is a gangster shakedown scheme.
ABC is as much or more to blame than anyone here, as they were the first to bend knee. Sheri Redstone would have bought Trump a bloody jet to get FCC approval for the Skydance purchase, so CBS was always going to capitulate. This is the danger of rules-based order: it is beautiful until someone in charge realizes it's really just an honor system.
Thank you.
I'm with you Kathleen! 👏🙏❤️🌹
Ah! Yes! Your argument here for publishers has so many similarities to one we were trying to get big law firms to pay attention to this spring. (Don’t cave, the law is on your side.) And one that has played out in other fields, too. I can’t help but think about an article I read recently that called on how important it is for various industries to try to come together to resist this playbook across industries. I just wish I had a better sense of how to make that happen…Thank you for shedding light onto this issue in publishing.
Liberal bias not an issue? Absurd.
If you really think The View has a liberal bias, you have no clue. Their exec producer is a conservative. And one side should not get to dictate what media does, which is precisely what’s happening. ANY interference from the govt on media should make people pay attention.
Not going to argue with someone who can’t see reality.
After reading this article, I'm still not sure what policies this administration is pursuing or issuing that have reshaped media. I see fearful headlines, but not real policy.
Kathleen, you mention the Sweeney ad is a problem because it is "as white as possible." Other than the model being white, what made it over-the-top white to you?
Thanks for the article and your opinion.
I feel like you come here to comment, but don't fully comprehend what I write. I laid it all out. I am not repeating it.
Go back and read what I wrote about the Sweeney ad. I did not say the ad was as white as possible. There is context. I am also not repeating it because I already wrote it. It's all there.
Interesting to read your post while I’m in the middle of listening to “The CIA Book Club” by Charlie English.
That's funny (I mean, not funny but funny)
If you haven’t read it yet, it’s fascinating to learn about a time when the US was NOT banning books, but actually sending them to Eastern bloc countries—and it was the CIA doing it(!)
Thank you. I hope it forces them to do something.