2026-03-16T00:00:00-07:00
This is what state media pressure looks like before it becomes state media.
The Trump administration launched a coordinated campaign against news organizations covering its Middle East military operation — one that a majority of Americans oppose. Pentagon briefings now include attacks on outlets like CNN. Trump is posting on Truth Social accusing news organizations of “LIES” and floating “Charges for TREASON” against journalists. Not off-the-cuff rage — a sustained, multi-front effort to make the press back off.
And then the FCC chair made it explicit. Brendan Carr posted a public warning to broadcast networks: cover the war the wrong way, and your local stations could lose their licenses. Trump said he was “so thrilled to see” it.
Let’s be precise about what that is. The federal government threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of news organizations that reported critically on a war. That’s not hyperbole. That’s what happened.
The First Amendment doesn’t mean much if the press is afraid to use it.
Source: The New York Times