Alexander Acosta for Labor Secretary , this exchange took place :
[ A ] reporter asked Trump whether he was concerned that , by labelling stories he didn ’ t like as “ fake news ,” he was undermining public faith in the First Amendment . He threw the question back . “ The press — the public doesn ’ t believe you people anymore ,” he said . “ Now , maybe I had something to do with that . I don ’ t know . But they don ’ t believe you .” 10
This administration is using the perceived unreliability of the news media-- an unreliability that it is substantially overblowing--to undermine freedom of the press . Why protect the freedom of people to express themselves if they ’ re just gonna lie , right ?
Of course , it ’ s not all apocalyptic from here . The Daily Sentinel in Colorado is threatening to sue Senator Ray Scott for defamation because he called one of their opinion columns criticizing him “ fake news .” If the paper went through with it , the court would then be responsible for defining and regulating the term “ fake news ,” so that politicians can ’ t just throw it out whenever they dislike an article . That ’ s the hope , anyway .
If that doesn ’ t work , like I said , welcome to the club of people living under cartoonishly evil dictators .
Sincerely , The Egyptian People .