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Thread about rights.
1/n
The Trump administration has been attacking some of our rights. Recall them.
1st Amendment enumerates them:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Law school explanation of each of these rights:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/first_amendment
Thread about rights.
2/n
For the GOP, a party that has screamed about "freedom" and "liberty" for decades, as if their rights had been somehow limited by their adversaries, the Trump administration has gone head-on to limit specific freedoms.
If you've been keeping up, you know that this administration has been rather unsystematically abridging some of those rights.
Ex: DEI. The government is currently trying to erase words and the ideas they stand for.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/07/us/trump-federal-agencies-websites-words-dei.html
Thread about rights.
3/n
Let's talk about press freedom.
This current government has been limiting the free press in varying ways.
First, it selects which outlets can have access to the Executive branch.
Second, it selects which outlets can travel with the President.
Third, it cancels mainstream media subscriptions.
Fourth, it fires Voice of America reporters for "bias".
Let's talk more about Voice of America in the next post.
Thread about rights.
4/n
The Voice of America (VOA) was established in 1942 during World War II to provide accurate news and counter Nazi propaganda. It has since evolved into a major international broadcaster, delivering news and cultural programming in nearly 50 languages, funded by the U.S. government through the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
President Trump appointed Kari Lake as a special adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
Thread about rights.
5/n
This news story caught my eye yesterday:
"Voice of America ending contracts with Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France Presse"
"Lake announced via social media on Thursday that she was ending the 'expensive and unnecessary contracts' with the wire services."
So far, it would appear another cost-cutting move by the Trump administration, although VOA severing relationships with international news services seemed extreme.
But there's more...
Thread about rights.
6/n
Statement by Kari Lake:
“We should not be paying outside news organizations to tell us what the news is,” said Lake, who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor. “With a nearly billion-dollar budget, we should be producing news ourselves. And if that’s not possible, the American taxpayer should demand to know why.”
Why should VOA be "producing news ourselves"?
So that the Trump administration can literally *control the news*.
Thread about rights.
7/n
VOA was producing news, and had been for decades. It also ran stories from the news wires, like Reuters and AP.
Let's recall that Trump made a statement about VOA when Lake was appointed. He said:
Lake's appointment would help “ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the world FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the lies spread by the Fake News Media.”
Link to the previous #VOA story.
https://apnews.com/article/voa-government-media-contracts-2bd47cf0c1bbcdc5cbe08eea030c1454
Thread about rights.
8/n
I am worried that these events will lead to VOA becoming purely government propaganda rather than actual news, and then it may be the only news source that comes from the White House.
This administration is cracking down on speech and ideas.
Press freedom was meant to be a pressure point for government transparency. Trump's eliminating that freedom--and the right of the public to know what it's doing.
#USpol #USpolitics #1A #PressFreedom #Trump Administration #VOA
Thread about rights.
9/n
One more thing about the right of the public to know what government is doing.
Independent news media is crucial during the times we're living in. If we don't know what is happening, how can we be responsible citizens?
Watch this space:
"Maddow: Trump's dismantling of independent news media is happening before our eyes"
Maddow looks at how Trump & allies are undermining news outlets...
Thread about rights.
10/n
And here it is, exactly what I feared. Getting rid of staff so they can install Trump's people.
Just today:
"Voice of America staff put on administrative leave"
"Full-time employees at Voice of America received an email this morning from human resources saying they have been placed on paid administrative leave, according to a copy of the memo that was obtained ABC News."
#USpol #USpolitics #1A #PressFreedom #VOA #TrumpAdministration
If we go all the way back to Nazi Germany and Hitlers Propoganda Minister, it's easy to see how he molded the minds of his followers. Controlling the MEDIA give one control of public opinion and that's all you need!
It's what Trump is doing! The Hitler playbook.
