WinterMute

Be the change that you want to see in the world.-Gandhi. Supporter of Democratic Values:Free Speech/Assembly. #FuckNazis #FightForJusticeEquality #FuckTrump

[Jeff Kemp @jkempcpa]

That would mean a Pentagon reporter could never reveal a story the government didn’t want exposed. The very point of a free press is to hold those in power accountable—and this would shut down that function entirely.

[Barbara Starr @bstarrreports]

It has to be asked. Where are all the four star generals and admirals including the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff on Hegseth restricting reporters from unclassified information? You all have taken an oath to defend freedom of the press. Silence is acquiescence.

[Star Wars Holocron @sw_holocron]

ANDOR writer Dan Gilroy has released a statement critiquing the Trump administration and commenting on the parallels between the show and Disney’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.

“As one of the writers on the Disney+ drama Andor, we spent six years thinking about a fascist takeover of a galaxy far, far away. Six years thinking about ordinary beings as an authoritarian regime comes in for the kill. Many people saw parallels between Andor and the real world. I see them as well, particularly in the events of the last week.

Donald Trump’s tools of governance, coercion and intimidation, have found focus on Hollywood. Faced with a social media firestorm, fear, and an FCC head threatening “they can do this the easy way or hard way,” Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel for speaking his mind. I deeply disagree but acknowledge it was a difficult decision. If you believe otherwise, wait until fate knocks on your door and demands you choose between conscience and hardship — because if you work in this industry that day is coming.

The suspension bought time, but not much. Disney now stands at a crossroads: terminate Kimmel’s contract and become pavement for the road to a brave new Trumpian world; or stand for the First Amendment and take the onslaught. There’s not much at stake, just free speech, the oxygen that sustains life in this town.

Trump’s aim is to control what we make and say. The concept seems far off and abstract. Neither is true. Is it hard to conjure a new oversight office or cabinet seat? Is it difficult to picture Trump toadies deplaning at LAX with binders of banned topics and mandated alternatives? You’ll meet them when you have to pitch for approval or get grilled about subversive co-workers.
Regardless of how the jack-booted attack on Jimmy Kimmel is resolved, this isn’t a skirmish. It’s a siege. The first thing Putin did after taking power was silence shows that criticized him. Artists are censored first because they fear us most. The fact this isn’t new doesn’t diminish the shock of the last few days. The majority in Hollywood believed their job was entertainment — the bolder souls attempted to inject theme and commentary — but for everyone this has suddenly become Westworld real.

Whether you’re reading this on line at Blue Bottle or killing time before your 3 o’clock Zoom or staring at a glowing screen unable to sleep, we have all become characters in a story where our actions carry actual weight and consequence. Our industry faces the most sophisticated, venomous, creeping evil in America’s history. There’s no standing above this conflict. No impartial observers. If you’re on the sidelines you’ve made a choice and must live with it.

Their goal is to instill fear, to make you feel helpless, hopeless, to break you down. Don’t let them. Educate yourself. Organize. Speak truth to authority. Because the story’s not written — the pen is in your hand.”

[The Daily Show @TheDailyShow]

"72% of the world is now under authoritarian rule... because of insidious manipulation." @mariaressa, author of "How to Stand Up to a Dictator"

[WinterMute @WinterFNmute665]

He's 100% going after his political opponents and critics. That remark at the end was a clear tell.

[The Tennessee Holler @TheTNHoller]

NPR: “Regarding Antifa…”
TRUMP: “Who are you with?”
NPR: “NPR.”
TRUMP: “You’re still here? Won’t be for long… does Antifa have anything to do with your network?”

[Don Winslow @donwinslow]

It's stunning to me that the White House Press Corps

*NEVER stand up for each other.

*NEVER stop Trump from attacking a colleague.

*NEVER demand basic decency or respect.

*NEVER stand up to his sick, twisted threats.

[WinterMute @WinterFNmute665]

Echos of Germany 1933

[The Tennessee Holler @TheTNHoller]

Bannon says “we’re in charge now” and celebrates Kimmel’s removal, saying Colbert needs to be taken off the air as they “seize the institutions” with a “maximalist” & “irreversible” strategy

He has no sympathy for workers on the “evil” show. (He also lies about 2020 again)

[POLITICO @politico]

Judge tells Meta not to share Instagram users’ information with Trump admin https://t.co/m6u7Fy6Mfs

[Ben Pauker @benpauker]

🚨BREAKING: Pentagon unveiled a new crackdown on reporters, requiring a pledge not to gather any information — even unclassified — that hasn’t been expressly authorized. Will revoke press credentials of those who do not obey and sign.
By @ScottNover https://t.co/VYIu1qOsi2

[Bill Kristol @BillKristol]

Pentagon demands journalists pledge to be stenographers not journalists.

[Governor Newsom Press Office @GovPressOffice]

Your freedom is being strangled. This is how authoritarianism starts. Don't look away.

[WinterMute @WinterFNmute665]

@krassenstein If they are doing this to a peaceful, older female protester on a public street, in front of cameras and eyewitnesses, what do people think they are doing behind closed doors—with no cameras, no eyewitnesses, and complete impunity?

[Brian Krassenstein @krassenstein]

This is America.
This is sick.
This is not what I voted for.

[Ravi Mangla @ravi_mangla]

Read it again:

5 corporations control 90% of the U.S. media market.

[Scott Nover @ScottNover]

Katie Fallow from @knightcolumbia said the new policy is part of “the Trump administration’s broader assault on free speech and press freedom.”

“A reporter who publishes only what the government ‘authorizes’ is doing something other than reporting,” she said.

[Scott Nover @ScottNover]

NEW: The Pentagon told journalists it will require them to pledge they won’t gather any information — even unclassified — that hasn’t been expressly authorized for release, and will revoke the press credentials of those who do not obey. @washingtonpost

https://t.co/8lmPMb553G

[Melanie D'Arrigo @DarrigoMelanie]

The billionaires who own the social media platforms and news networks pushing carefully curated information to our phones 24/7 keep us divided because of this chart.

They want us fighting each other, so we don’t pay attention to them robbing us blind.

[Meacham @MeachamDr]

Please remind us how this isn’t in any way a cult. We’re all ears.

[Will Stancil @whstancil]

Dictatorship has arrived. They think they're far enough along they can start bragging about it.

[Carlos E. Gates @CarlosEGates1]

If you don’t think Trump will try his hardest to suspend the 2028 elections by declaring Martial Law, you’re being naive.