Mini-Post: Those Who Control The Media

During World War II, Hitler's Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels controlled the media during World War II and now the Republicans following in his footsteps...

Opinion | Today’s ‘anti-American’ hearing could wreck public media

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s hearing kicks off today, with PBS and NPR leaders set to testify amid growing calls to defund public media

Poynter

By: Tom Jones

March 26, 2025

Today is a big day on Capitol Hill as leaders from PBS and NPR face Congress in a DOGE subcommittee hearing being called — how’s this for grim? — “Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the heads of NPR and PBS Accountable.” Even more ominous, it’s headed up by Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Greene is planning to call Paula Kerger, the chief executive of PBS, and Katherine Maher, the chief executive of NPR, to testify. Greene is also pushing to defund PBS and NPR, which has plenty of support among Republicans.

[...]

Greene said, “I think the important thing for Americans to ask is: Is this where our taxpayer money needs to go? To extremely left-leaning broadcasting and political bias that doesn’t represent all of America?”

The thing is... to the Republicans "Fair and Balanced" means Fox News! ChatGPT says this about NPR & PBS to the question: How does PBS and NPR stack up against the rest of the media?

While no media organization is completely free from bias, studies and analyses suggest that PBS and NPR strive for neutrality in their coverage, though they are sometimes criticized for being more liberal-leaning on certain social issues. However, they tend to be less sensational than commercial outlets.

Political Donations or Extortion?

You have to wonder if this is the 1890s all over again? Take a look at the political cartoons from the era it could very well be now. The way that the oligarchs were broken was first with the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, Theodore Roosevelt used the law to break up the monopolies and he was nicknamed "trust-busting" Roosevelt. The other weapon used to break up the monopolies were... TAXES.

The income tax was created in 1914 (You remember that Al Capone was busted for income tax evasion.)

Musk donates thousands to GOP members of Congress pushing to impeach judge who oppose Trump: Report

Trump push to impeach judges come as administration is accused of defying federal court order on deportation flights

Independent

By Josh Marcus

20 March 2025

Elon Musk has reportedly donated to seven Republican members of Congress, all of whom support the Trump administration’s calls to impeach or ignore federal judges who have halted parts of President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Musk, who has claimed in recent days that such judges are leading a “judicial coup,” gave thousands of dollars in donations each to Representatives Eli Crane of Arizona, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Andy Ogles of Tennessee, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin and Brandon Gill of Texas, and Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, according to The New York Times.

The reported recipients are among the loudest voices in Congress pushing to impeach or to otherwise constrain the judges.

"Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching!"

The Republicans lawmakers are quacking in their boots to keep on the right side of Musk.

If the lawmakers don't follow the party line then just like the 1930 the enforcers take over...

Republicans terrified of crossing Trump due to physical threats, Democrat says

Eric Swalwell says threats to them and their families are stopping GOP officials from criticizing president

The Guardian

By Robert Tait

Thu 27 Feb 2025

Republicans on Capitol Hill are shying away from criticizing Donald Trump’s policies over fears for their physical safety and that of their families, a Democratic member of Congress has said.

Eric Swalwell, a Democratic representative from California, said his Republican colleagues were “terrified” of crossing Trump not only because of the negative impact on their political careers, but also from anxiety that it might provoke physical threats that could cause personal upheaval and require them to hire round-the-clock security as protection.

[...]

“I have a lot of friends who are Republicans,” he said. “They are terrified of being the tallest poppy in the field, and it’s not as simple as being afraid of being primaried and losing their job. They know that that can happen.

History has a lot to tell from the 1890s and the 1930s

I will not say that "We have the best government can buy" because this is more like extortion.

Extortion!

That is what it is... pure and simple extortion. You give me what I want and I will not tie you up in court. That is Trump's MO and it worked.

Legal community shaken by a powerful law firm's decision to give in to Trump's demands

President Donald Trump rescinded his executive order targeting Paul Weiss — after the law firm agreed to certain conditions.

NBC News

By Ryan J. Reilly and Lawrence Hurley

March 21, 2025

On Thursday, the powerful law firm Paul Weiss caved.

It agreed to give Donald Trump’s administration $40 million in free legal work for causes the president supports and, according to a social media post from Trump, get rid of any internal diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

In response, Trump rescinded his executive order that targeted the firm and could have cost it significant business.

STOP Right there! "...rescinded his executive order that targeted..." to me that sounds an awful lot like extortion.

The agreement shocked many in the legal community, and for Rachel Cohen, an associate at another large firm — Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP — it was the final straw.

Yeah, well it shocks me! And it is not just me that's upset... it is the legal profession!

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Now the dean of Columbia University said...

Columbia Journalism Dean Says His Comments on Self Censorship Were Meant to Protect Foreign Students

Jelani Cobb told students, “nobody can protect you. These are dangerous times” in a meeting earlier this week 

The Wrap

By Ross A. Lincoln

March 13, 2025

In a statement Thursday night Jelani Cobb, dean of Columbia Journalism School, said that comments he made this week that critics blasted as effective surrender to Donald Trump’s war on immigrants and the press were taken out of context by the New York Times. They were intended to protect foreign students, he says, and not intended as a directive to journalist.

On Wednesday, the New York Times published an account of an off-the-record meeting held Tuesday at Columbia with journalim students, where Cobb and adjuct professor Stuart Karle addressed concerns about Trump’s attacks on the university, and his administration’s detainment of recent Columbia grad Mahmoud Khalil.

During the meeting, Karle warned students with foreign visas, “if you have a social media page, make sure it is not filled with commentary on the Middle East.” According to NYT, when one Palestinian student objected, Cobb said, “Nobody can protect you. These are dangerous times.”

Killing the First Amendment!

It Is Never The Answer

[Editorial]

Violence is never the answer.

I am very disheartened at all the vandalism and violence being directed at Tesla owners and the violence in general.

I know many Tesla owner and they are worried, they bought the car for the environment not for politics and now they are caught up in politics and if I had to guest I would say that many of the Tesla owners didn’t vote for the man in the office.

But that isn’t the only violence, here in Connecticut a twelve year old girl attacked two Muslim girls.

The level of animosity is increasing on both sides.

Those that were silenced before because of social pressures have now been given the green light to discriminate, to vocalize their bigotry and to act out their bottled up anger.

Trumps actions are designed to stir up his base and anger his opposition, look at his “modus operandi.” He attacks with these outrageous propositions… 50% tariffs! Or some other ridiculous ideas. Then he backs off and creates confusion. He keeps everyone off balanced.

Trump played to his base of Christians, bigots, racist, homophobes, and xenophobes, then he got got them to believe that they are under attack by the college educated liberal elitist. Just look at his attack on “DEI” what does DEI stand for? Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Stop and think for a moment what it is really saying to the people when he says he is against DEI?

This is what the dictionary says…

1. : a set of values and related policies and practices focused on establishing a group culture of equitable and inclusive treatment and on attracting and retaining a diverse group of participants, including people who have historically been excluded or discriminated against

2. : the state of having a diverse group of participants as well as policies and norms that are equitable and inclusive

So what they are really saying is that they want to bring back “Jim Crow!” Bring the LGBTQ+ people back into the closet! Bring back the backroom abortions!

For over forty years at work not once did I have to sign a diversity statement that said that I would give preferential treatment to any group or class of people, that I would only hire the best person for the job. But this past week Trump signed an Executive Order that according to Perplexity AI…

• Revokes Executive Order 11246 [signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 24, 1965], which had required affirmative action plans for federal contractors.
• Eliminates federal contractors' obligations to create affirmative action plans based on race and gender.
• Requires federal contractors to certify that they do not operate DEI programs that violate federal anti-discrimination laws.
• Directs federal agencies to combat private sector discrimination, including through civil compliance investigations.

Trump has attacked and intimidated the independence of the court system by saying judges who rule against him should be impeached! He has gone after law firms that had clients he didn’t like. And he  told his Attorney General and Homeland Security Secretary to sanction law firms filing lawsuits deemed "frivolous" or "unreasonable" against the administration! What is the definition of "frivolous" or "unreasonable"? I foresee the government going after GLAD and ACLU for it lawsuit against banning trans servicemember. 

Trump has attacked the freedom of the press, he has directed the Justice Department and the FCC to go after CBS aired a segment on 60 Minutes he didn’t like. 

He has also had fired military leaders that he couldn’t control!

I ask you where have we seen all the before in history?

Possibly in the take over of the Venezuela government by Nicolás Maduro, or maybe further back in history in the 1930s by the National Socialist German Workers' Party in Germany and the National Fascist Party in Italy? And who backed them? The Industrialist! The billionaires of that time.

I started this editorial talking about violence and I end with violence has always been the tool of dictators and fascist. Back then Hitler had his “Brown Shirts” and Mussolini had his “Black Shirts” and Trump has his “White Shirts.”

And if you want to go further back in time go to the 1890s and the Robber Barons!

Are you scared yet?

[/Editorial]

Now Here Is An Idea!

All you Pride committees our there how about this?

In move that could cost organization tens of thousands of dollars, Cincinnati Pride cutting ties with sponsors

WLWT Ch 5

By Nicole Aponte

March 24, 2025

Cincinnati Pride is willingly giving up tens of thousands of dollars as it prepares for its biggest event of the year.

The LGBTQ advocacy organization says it's choosing to stop working with some of its sponsors even as it's in need of funding for its annual parade this summer.

Beginning at 7th and Plum, Cincinnati's pride parade in June costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to put on every year. It's made possible by donations, but as companies roll back diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the organization says they're re-evaluating their partnerships.

Cincinnati Pride says they're committed to equality for all and advancing the mission of celebrating the rich history and diverse culture of the LGBTQ community.

While not naming names, Cincinnati Pride says they'll separate from some corporate sponsors, ranging from small businesses to major retailers.

How about... your company dropped DEI, we don't want you for sponsors!

How about... your company donated to the Republican party, we don't want you for sponsors!

How about... your company donated to Trump... we don't want you for sponsors!

Companies are shaking in their boots that Trump & Company will come after them!

Sponsors drop San Francisco Pride as festival decries ‘rights backtracking’

Comcast, Anheuser-Busch and others cancel funding as US becomes increasingly hostile toward LGBTQ+ communities

The Guardian

By Dani Anguiano

Tue 18 Mar 2025

Pride, one of the largest LGBTQ+ celebrations in the world, has lost significant funding as major corporate sponsors – some who supported the festivities for years – have pulled out of the event.

Several companies, including Comcast, Diageo and Anheuser-Busch, which had provided about $300,000 in funding, told the organization that they did not have the budget to participate this year, Suzanne Ford, the executive director of San Francisco Pride, told the Guardian. Some of the companies had been a part of Pride for decades, Ford said. “We have relationship with all those people. It’s not just a number or transaction.”

Ford believes the sudden departure of long-term sponsors is the result of a political environment, driven by the Trump administration, that has become increasingly hostile to the LGBTQ+ community.

“The backtracking on rights for the LGBTQ community certainly have to be part of any [corporation’s] calculus on whether they give us money so I can’t pinpoint the exact reason, but, as we all know now, it’s more difficult than ever to stand up and say you support rights of LGBTQ people,” Ford told KRON4.

FEAR! Fear of legal action...

But maybe we should boycott the companies that put profit first before human rights?

Since taking office, Donald Trump’s administration has attacked LGBTQ+ people and diversity efforts with a barrage of executive orders. The president has ordered that the US only recognize two sexes, sought to ban trans people from the military, and repealed policies promoting racial equity and protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination. Major US companies from Amazon to Google have announced they will end their diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The Christian Post.

The national retail chain Target is scaling back socially progressive policies, including phasing out its diversity and inclusion policies.

In a statement on Friday, Target said it is ending the "three-year diversity, equity and inclusion goals" as well as concluding its "Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiatives in 2025 as planned."

Additionally, Target promised to stop "all external diversity-focused surveys," specifically naming the LGBT activist group Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index as an example.

The businesses fear the wrath of Trump & Company more than the wrath of a god.

FEAR! Fear of losing grants and funding...

Under threat from Trump, Columbia University agrees to policy changes

The announcement drew immediate condemnation from some faculty and free speech groups.

Boston.com

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ, Associated Press

March 21, 2025

Columbia University agreed Friday to put its Middle East studies department under new supervision and overhaul its rules for protests and student discipline, acquiescing to an extraordinary ultimatum by the Trump administration to implement those and other changes or risk losing billions of dollars in federal funding.

As part of the sweeping reforms, the university will also adopt a new definition of antisemitism and expand “intellectual diversity” by staffing up its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, according to a letter published Friday by the interim president, Katrina Armstrong.

The announcement drew immediate condemnation from some faculty and free speech groups, who accused the university of caving to President Donald Trump’s largely unprecedented intrusion upon the school’s academic freedom.

“Columbia’s capitulation endangers academic freedom and campus expression nationwide,” Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement.

First they came for...

We are living in  Rev. Martin Niemöller poem.

There was this meme on Facebook:

It is time for Pride events look at who their sponsor are and if they are capitulating to Trump the way Neville Chamberlain capitulated to Hitler!

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Updated: 3/26 @ 3:30AM