Trump’s trade commission is using fear to silence dissent
The FTC's investigation into Media Matters, though settled, exemplifies a broader strategy of using legal pressure to intimidate critics and suppress dissent. These actions, supported by state attorneys general and aligned with powerful corporate interests, aim not to win in court but to impose financial and operational costs on watchdogs. This convergence of government and oligarchic power risks undermining free speech and distorting the media landscape.
- ▪The FTC investigated Media Matters over its reporting on pro-Nazi content on X, leading to advertiser departures and legal threats from Elon Musk.
- ▪FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson admitted the agency’s investigations are costly for targets even if the FTC doesn’t win, effectively using legal tools to pressure compliance.
- ▪State attorneys general in Texas and Missouri launched related probes after pressure from Stephen Miller, and the FTC tried to block ad firms from using credibility assessment services like NewsGuard.
- ▪Musk’s lawsuit against advertisers and Garm led to the coalition’s dissolution, despite a court later dismissing the case for lack of merit.
- ▪The pattern extends to media mergers, such as Paramount-Skydance, where regulatory decisions appear influenced by political and corporate alignment rather than antitrust concerns.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
‘Governments and oligarchs work together to make dissent ruinously expensive.’ Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreen‘Governments and oligarchs work together to make dissent ruinously expensive.’ Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty ImagesOpinionTrump administrationTrump’s trade commission is using fear to silence dissentCourtney RadschThe FTC settled its case with Media Matters for America. But it doesn’t have to win in court to achieve its goalsSun 17 May 2026 07.00 EDTLast modified on Sun 17 May 2026 07.01 EDTShareIs there something “radically left” about being anti-Nazi? That was the question a judge put to the lawyer for the Federal Trade Commission, which has no good answer.This week, the FTC abruptly settled its case with Media Matters for America, a media…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Guardian — US.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Guardian — US
