New York Attorney General Letitia James announced an imminent lawsuit against the Trump administration for its temporary freeze on federal grants, a move she deems unconstitutional and dangerous to numerous communities. The White House, while asserting that crucial programs like Social Security and Medicare remain unaffected, justified the freeze as eliminating funding for initiatives deemed “woke.” This action has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who highlight the potential devastating impact on vulnerable populations, while conservatives defend the move as targeting specific programs. The lawsuit, joined by other Democratic attorneys general, challenges the legality and impact of the freeze.
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ABC News’s $15 million settlement with Donald Trump, stemming from a lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos’s accurate but technically imprecise use of the word “rape,” exemplifies the media’s self-censorship. This capitulation, far from an isolated incident, reflects a broader trend of media organizations prioritizing appeasement of Trump over defending press freedoms, as seen in various instances of self-imposed restrictions. This self-censorship allows Trump to effectively silence dissent without needing legal changes, rendering the media complicit in eroding its own First Amendment rights. Ultimately, the future of press freedom depends on the public’s willingness to reject media outlets prioritizing self-preservation over truth.
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President-elect Trump is suing pollster J. Ann Selzer, The Des Moines Register, and Gannett, alleging violations of the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act due to a pre-election poll showing Kamala Harris with a surprising lead in Iowa. This lawsuit, while unlikely to succeed, is part of Trump’s broader campaign against what he views as left-leaning media coverage. The suit claims the poll’s results constituted election interference, despite the poll’s methodology being unremarkable and Trump ultimately winning Iowa by a significant margin. Legal experts widely condemn the lawsuit as a baseless attack on the First Amendment and a chilling tactic against the press.
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‘Your poll made Trump mad’ is not a valid basis for a lawsuit. That’s the simple truth, no matter how much the former president might wish otherwise. The core issue isn’t about hurt feelings; it’s about establishing legal harm. A lawsuit requires demonstrating actual damage, and simply upsetting a powerful figure, even one known for thin skin, doesn’t meet that threshold. The legal system exists to address tangible harms, not bruised egos.
The fact that Trump won the election further underscores the pointlessness of such a lawsuit. If his victory wasn’t affected by a particular poll, there’s no demonstrable harm to claim.… Continue reading
Donald Trump filed a civil lawsuit against the Des Moines Register, pollster J. Ann Selzer, and their respective parent companies, alleging “brazen election interference” due to a pre-election poll showing him trailing. The suit stems from Selzer’s poll predicting a three-point deficit for Trump in Iowa, which he ultimately won by fourteen points. Trump claims the poll was fraudulent and constituted election interference, a claim Selzer denies. This action follows a recent defamation lawsuit settlement with ABC News and is part of Trump’s broader strategy to target perceived media adversaries.
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ABC News and George Stephanopoulos settled a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump for $15 million, including a donation to a future presidential library and covering Trump’s legal fees. The settlement, following a deposition order for Trump, prompted strong criticism, with many commentators labeling it a “sellout” and an “awful precedent.” Critics expressed concern that the network caved to pressure, setting a worrying precedent for future conflicts. The case stemmed from an interview where Stephanopoulos questioned Rep. Nancy Mace about her Trump endorsement in light of the E. Jean Carroll case.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood