From The New Yorker · Jon Allsop · · 3m
Trump's press attacks reveal a deeper threat
As Trump bans outlets again, the real danger isn't distraction, it's his grip on media ownership and the press's weakening resolve.
In brief
As Trump bans outlets again, the real danger isn't distraction, it's his grip on media ownership and the press's weakening resolve. Trump's media bans are escalating, but the bigger threat is his influence over media moguls who own major networks, which could reshape coverage for years. Originally reported by The New…
Trump bans CNN again, history repeating
In 2018, Trump suspended Jim Acosta's press pass after a heated exchange about immigration. Last week, he announced a ban on CNN, MSNBC, and Politico, citing fake news.
“"When you report the fake news, which CNN does a lot, you are the enemy of the people."”
The distraction theory keeps resurfacing
Both times, observers suspected Trump was distracting from bigger problems: firing Attorney General Jeff Sessions in 2018, and the war in Iran now.
Acosta moved on, but the pattern holds
Jim Acosta left CNN and now works on Substack and YouTube. He's the one warning that Trump may be laying groundwork for a constitutional crisis.
Maybe Trump isn't the master manipulator
A new book portrays Trump as trapped in a warped information bubble, fed news by aide Natalie Harp, the "human printer." He may be reacting, not strategizing.
The ban came without a press secretary
Trump announced the ban on Truth Social without going through the White House press secretary. There currently isn't one, and advisers were reportedly blindsided.
This time, the media fought back harder
In 2018, CNN sued and won. Now, CNN, MSNBC, and Politico are suing again, and the other TV pool networks, CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, announced a boycott.
The TV pool boycott silenced Trump
When Trump cut a ribbon on a new helipad, White House cameras streamed it, but the absence of a boom mike meant his voice was inaudible.
“"Trump feeds off being covered by the very press he says he loathes and cutting his mike is akin to cutting the air he breathes."”
The press finally drew a line
The boycott shows resolve the press corps lacked a year ago. It's a sign that Trump's grip on power is weakening and media outlets are no longer accommodating his behavior.
But the real threat runs deeper
Even if Trump loses this case, his threats to press freedom persist. In his second term, he's systematically restricting critical coverage and detaining immigrant journalists.
Trump is flexing regulatory power
The administration is seizing reporters' data, restricting Pentagon coverage, and using the Federal Communications Commission to create a hostile climate for anti-Trump speech.
Trump's real leverage: media ownership
CNN's parent company is being acquired by Paramount Skydance, chaired by David Ellison, a friend of Trump. This gives Trump influence over a major network's editorial direction.
The Ellison family has Trump's ear
Larry Ellison reportedly suggested to Trump that CNN anchors he dislikes, including Erin Burnett, could be cleared out. The administration green-lit the deal.
An editorial board won't fix the problem
The settlement includes an "editorial independence board" to ensure objective coverage, but a CBS staffer called it "utter garbage." The board will be picked by the company's board.
“"sounds like utter garbage"”
Media concentration is the real danger
Allowing the same billionaires to own multiple major networks, two-fifths of the White House TV pool, is a concerning degree of concentration, especially with Trump ties.
Trump has more paths to winning
Even if CNN wins this case, Trump probably has more paths to winning than the press does. The bans are just one more threat to worry about.
The takeaway
Trump's media bans are escalating, but the bigger threat is his influence over media moguls who own major networks, which could reshape coverage for years.
