Media In The Cross Hairs

When it comes to the media and Donald Trump, we all know what the White House bottom line is: The narcissist-in-chief craves coverage—but only if he can control the narrative. It has nothing to do with national security. It has everything to do with presidential vanity.

His ideal media coverage would be Breitbart, Newsmax, Fox, LindellTV and Trump TV. But he “allows” other news outlets if they don’t cross his “hoax” rubicon of negative news. It’s his call. Imagine the outrage had Presidents Barack Obama or Joe Biden banned Fox News because they disapproved of “fair and balanced,” right-wing coverage?

For non-MAGA Americans, the recent (temporary) ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House was a constitutional affront that treated the first amendment and due process like “enemies of the people.” Viewpoint discrimination is abhorrent and un-American. Period.

While alarming, none of this is shocking in the Trump era. It was foretold in the 1980s when Trump adopted the alias of “John Barron” to contact New York media about gossip favorable to the man who ran the Trump Organization. That’s how pathologically devious he was—and still is.

Trump remains an ongoing threat to the free press because he resents not being in a compliant media orbit like his peers: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un.

The best way for this free-press assault to end, of course, is for Trump to stop being a bombastic, autocratic embarrassment to this country and what it still stands for. Shy of that implausible scenario, it’s up to the collective media itself to further fortify its constitutional concord and push back with the rallying support of all those who still believe in the sacred tenets of democratic free speech.

Mid-Term Context

Amid all the mid-term speculation about turning Congress blue, including several prominent Senate races, there is also this: serious SCOTUS implications. Donald Trump’s top two loyalists are Clarence Thomas, 78, and Samuel Alito, 76. Their replacements could have consequences lasting for decades. A simple majority vote of the Senate is needed for confirmation. Thirty-seven times (out of 165) has the Senate not confirmed a president’s nominee.

Dem Notes

* The Congressional Black Caucus has endorsed James Talarico in the high-profile Texas Senate race. This is noteworthy given that Talarico defeated Representative Jasmine Crockett, who is black, in the March Democratic primary. Democrats have not won a Senate seat in Congress since 1988.

* All of Florida’s Democratic members of Congress, including Tampa’s Kathy Castor, signed off on a formal letter to state and federal officials seeking more information that those held in Alligator Alcatraz were sometimes kept in small metal cages. “We can enforce our laws without abandoning basic human dignity,” said the letter in part.

* “We stand ready to capitalize on any opportunity to make a real difference in this race in the final stretch.”—Kevin Donohoe, spokesman for the Democratic Governors Association, on the DGA’s donor role on behalf of David Jolly.

 

 

Musings

* For the pun of it:

<A cute Chinese Communist kitten name: Chairman Meow.

<A hypochondriac believes life is just a bed of neuroses.

<Termites never die; they live happily ever rafter.

* Favorite coaster: “It’s Wine O’Clock and Ale Is Well.”

* Is it progress if a cannibal uses a fork?

* Books: What they make a movie out of for television.

Florida

* Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, a former broadcast journalist who represents Miami-Dade County, has broken with the president (who endorsed her) over the Administration’s hardline ICE tactics. “The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today,” she says in a campaign ad while standing in front of the White House. More than 2/3 of Miami-Dade’s residents are Hispanics, a county Trump won in 2024.

* The University of Florida’s College Republicans chapter was disbanded after two members were seen performing a Nazi salute on social media.

* Since 2023, Florida law has required all middle and high school students to learn about the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil. It’s called “9/11 Heroes Day.” It’s about perspective, including civil liberties, airport security and heroism. But it’s also an ongoing cautionary tale about the catalytic ripple effects of Middle East intervention. Geography is not the deterrent it used to be. The Iran war should be seen by today’s students in 9/11 context.

* Threading an electoral needle: Byron Donalds’ campaign website is now largely devoid of any references to his endorsement by Trump, although the president still plans to show up for a couple of Donalds’ rallies in Florida.

* The Florida minimum wage is now $15 an hour. The federal minimum is still $7.25 an hour.

Media Matters

* Because of censorship threats from the FCC, Jimmy Kimmel was forced to move his interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico to YouTube. Ironically, it drew 10.4 million views. ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” averages 1.8 million viewers on broadcast.

* “No news organization—or person—should be retaliated against by the government over the words they use.”—An Associate Press statement, after President Trump banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. Recall that last year Trump banned AP reporters from the Oval Office, Air Force One and various events over alleged “fake news.”

* “Speculations,” a new play by Sir Trevor Nunn about the suspicious death of Dorothy Kilgallen, the American journalist and syndicated columnist who was investigating the JFK assassination, will open Oct. 30 at Marylebon Theater in London’s storied West End.

Foreign Affairs

* In Strasbourg, France, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney received a standing ovation at the European Parliament. Later, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada the EU’s first “associate member.”

* Cuba participated as a partner country with the recent BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit in New Delhi. Cuba is pursuing bilateral cooperation on energy, trade and investment while seeking collective diplomatic opposition to U.S. sanctions.

 

Sports Shorts

* “He’s probably going to be the first Ray to do a lot of things.”—Rays manager Kevin Cash, on Junior Caminero, 23, becoming the first Ray to hit hit 40 home runs multiple times.

* The first MLB pitcher to record 40 saves this season was Rays closer Bryan Baker.

* Bucs rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter is the first player in NFL history to record a sack and a pick-six in his first game (against Cincinnati).

* Ben Shelton, a former NCAA champion from UF, was runner-up at the U.S. Open.

* The University of Miami and Nike have reportedly struck a (10-year) deal worth more than $200 million. UM has been an Adidas school since 2015.

* Pope Leo XIV is a big Villanova basketball fan. It’s his alma mater.