The ABC vs the FCC war of words has escalated…

[gr8oldies]

While I very much agree with your response, I should add in one more factor. What this administration is trying to do is make someone an example. It doesn't matter if they win or lose in court. What matters is that they can cow other parts of the media (as well as public speech critical of it) by making it so expensive to fight and win against them that nobody is really going to want to try it. In other words, even if ABC/Disney and its stations do win, the other TV networks (most notably NBC since CBS is now out of the game) will think twice before running critical news pieces or hiring comedians who are critical of the Trump administration and its behaviors.

Those who know history know this playbook--it has been tried elsewhere before. The problem is that when support for this kind of behavior becomes widespread and violence is used to quell dissent (the latter hasn't happened in the U.S.--yet), there is very little (if anything) that can be done to stop the juggernaut.

Renee Good and Alex Pretti would like a word if they were here to speak it

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

This is part of his effort to control big tech. In any case, the role of the FCC is to regulate the facility, not the content. Carr wants to expand to content.

Ultimately it will be up to congress to set the FCC's parameters.

Congress has largely abdicated its powers. Moreover, the unitary executive theory has no meaningful limits on the power of the presidency to steamroll over any congressional authority.

It would be funny if it weren’t so sad how people still try to cling to the notion Congress or the courts have any actual control. Those days are burned to the ground.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

Renee Good and Alex Pretti would like a word if they were here to speak it

This. And this is what sickened me about the over the top, sugar-coated performative patriotism on display last week.

 

[ted chittenden]

Congress has largely abdicated its powers. Moreover, the unitary executive theory has no meaningful limits on the power of the presidency to steamroll over any congressional authority.

It would be funny if it weren’t so sad how people still try to cling to the notion Congress or the courts have any actual control. Those days are burned to the ground.

...by our own US. Supreme Court, nine days ago.