Is Trump About to Control the News?

The potential for presidential control over the FCC and the future of free press in America spark intense debate.

On this revealing episode of the Tara Palmeri Show, media law expert Stuart Brotman joins to examine whether the Trump administration is poised to exert unprecedented influence over broadcast news through FCC actions. The discussion covers selective enforcement on programs like Colbert and The View, the ongoing Supreme Court case that could end FCC independence by allowing the president to fire commissioners at will, and the chilling effect on agency staff fearing dismissal. Brotman analyzes the Don Lemon prosecution under the FACE Act as an assault on journalism, DHS subpoenas targeting critics of ICE on social platforms under national security pretexts, and aggressive lawsuits against outlets like the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and pollsters as textbook lawfare designed to intimidate and exhaust independent reporting. He highlights anti-SLAPP protections in most states as a key defense and notes how rising insurance costs and exclusions make journalism riskier and more expensive. The conversation also explores how platforms like YouTube evade traditional FCC oversight, potentially shifting audiences toward alternative sources where equal time rules hold less sway.

What steps can protect journalistic independence when government tools target critical coverage?

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Stuart Brotman's book 'Free Expression Under Fire: Defending Free Speech and Free Press Across the Political Spectrum':

Tara Palmeri is one of the most feared and fearless reporters covering power and politics. She has 15 years of experience covering national politics and foreign affairs. Formerly a White House Correspondent for ABC News where she covered the first Trump administration. Chief National Correspondent for POLITICO. She has been a political analyst for CNBC, CBS and CNN. She started her career as a columnist for the Washington Examiner and then went on to report for the New York Post. She was a foreign correspondent for POLITICO Europe. She hosted the Ringer's political podcast "Somebody's Gotta Win" and wrote a column for Puck. Tara also hosted two acclaimed podcasts on Jeffrey Epstein, "Broken: Jeffrey Epstein" and "Power: The Maxwells." Tara currently hosts the Tara Palmeri Show.

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Is Trump About to Control the News?

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