TPM - "What Trump Can And Can't Do To Bully Broadcasters Over Negative Coverage"

[NRaleighLiberal]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/trump-fcc-bullying-broadcasters-negative-coverage

By TIERNEY SNEED Published OCTOBER 11, 2017 5:39 PM

President Trump’s latest threat against NBC for negative coverage was classic Trump: a frightening broadside against essential American freedoms that nonetheless ignores — almost comically—the basic workings of the government.

Telecommunications law experts and veterans of the Federal Communications Commission told TPM Wednesday that Trump’s suggestion for how NBC could be punished for “Fake News” is a long shot, legally speaking, but also troubling in its implications.

“When the President is attacking the media criticism and threatening legal action, because he doesn’t like what they’re broadcasting, it’s obviously a great concern and raises serious questions of First Amendment values and relationships with the free press. But as a legal matter, it’s an empty threat,” said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, an expert in telecommunications law at Georgetown University Law Center.


In a tweet Wednesday, which appeared to be in response to an NBC report on comments Trump made at Pentagon meeting about nuclear weapons, Trump mused that the broadcaster’s licenses should be challenged, seeming to reference a process overseen by the FCC, an independent commission. In theory, Trump seemed to hint at a major financial penalty for the broadcaster in the form of putting its ability to operate its stations into question.


snip - more to read at the link

[RKP5637]

1. President Doofus Dotard Trump again. n/t

[angrychair]

2. When he started the NFL issue was a empty threat

As of the other day the NFL has caved to him and fuck their rights.

Not sure what magic power he has to make people do what he says but I would not be surprised if two weeks from now we hear:

“The management at NBC has decided that all MSNBC and NBC news reporting will now be approved by the trump whitehouse before each show to adhere to trump’s request to only show him in a positive manner”

Really would not be surprised...no more than surprising than the NFL folding

[NastyRiffraff]

3. His instincts are ALWAYS authoritarian

and threatening.

He threatens the NFL over players' behavior.

He has said he "alone" can fix "the system."

He has not only disagreed with judges who ruled against him; he has attacked their integrity,and that of the court system.

He refuses to listen to the intelligence committee when they sound the alarm about Russian interference, because it reflects on his election.

He has appointed people to the Cabinet who are actively hostile to the missions of the agencies they oversee.

He has no respect for the office of the presidency, as evidenced against his unhinged tweets and behavior.

And of course now he's threatening the media. Every president has had problems with the media, of course, but none in my memory have threatened to actually shut down a network. The fact that he doesn't understand the mechanics of the FCC regarding licensing doesn't make the threat any less chilling. Clearly, he doesn't respect the First Amendment, or the Constitution.

[smirkymonkey]

4. Very good, clear article.

Trump, as usual, is playing dictator in the bizarre little fantasy world that he lives in.