Our country is facing three dangers.
First, in danger is one of the most important pillars in our democracy…the free press. President-elect Trump sued ABC news for defamation based on a pre-election interview. George Stephanopoluos used the word “rape” in his interview. ABC, caved and agreed to pay $15 million to settle.
Trump is known for using “fear” he then sued the Des Moines Register newspaper over a pre-election poll which showed him losing. He used Iowa’s consumer fraud laws. You can imagine the fear of media owners & news reporters writing about this “fearmonger.”
The news business fights every day to stay alive. More than half of the nation’s 3,143 counties have no local news sources – or 55 million people who rely on social media. Bet Trump likes having Elon Musk as a buddy, owner of Twitter (now X) where many Americans get their news.
The second danger we wrote about earlier this month. Is Trump or Elon Musk the President-elect? Just yesterday as Congress prepared to pass legislation to avoid a government shut down…Musk charged forward using X to “frighten” members of Congress. He said, “any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!” No doubt congressional members are concerned he would use his $400 billion to defeat them. For Donald Trump to let Musk…regardless of their relationship upstage him and usurp power …makes one wonder who is in charge. But Musk did spend nearly $300 million to elect Trump.
Our third danger is the subservient House Republicans. Not only will these MAGA Republicans to do whatever Trump/Musk want or is it Musk/Trump…but they cannot agree among themselves how to accomplish anything. It’s been that way throughout the 118th Congress. Before long those persons electing Republicans to Congress are going to ask themselves…how do we get rid of these undisciplined hangers on.
Finally, the dangerous precedent hanging over America is the willingness to let Elon Musk stand in for President-elect Trump. A better question is how long will Americas put up with Elon Musk pretending to be President?
With all of this is taking place…wonder who will be inaugurated January 20, 2025.