Before my book “Fire and Fury” was released in 2018, Donald Trump tried various methods to intimidate me, including threats of prior restraint, lawsuits for libel, and increasingly harsh words. At that time, these attempts were seen as empty posturing by myself, my publisher, lawyers, and the media community at large. The obstacles to prior restraint appeared insurmountable, and the notion of suing a sitting president for libel seemed absurd. John Sargent, CEO of Macmillan, the publisher of my book, strongly rejected the White House’s attempts at coercion. I was warmly welcomed by most media outlets to continue my “libel” against the president, and the book sold over 5 million copies worldwide. My two subsequent books about the Trump administration, “Siege” and “Landslide,” also received similar reactions: they provoked Trump’s anger, gained media attention (and, in an unusual turn of events, a dinner invitation to Mar-a-Lago from Trump himself, because, as he explained, “You get big ratings”).
I’ve just released my fourth book titled “All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America“. This book provides insights into Donald Trump’s unpredictable, some might say foolish, actions during his potential 2024 campaign. It also delves into the people close to him, including those now holding top positions in the new White House – individuals who were once his flunkies or yes-men. The response from Trump and his team was predictably aggressive: his communications director branded me as a “dishonest bag of garbage,” while Trump himself, in a lengthy post, made threats and used derogatory language similar to his style in 2018.
But the difference this time is striking and frightening.
The book has received praise from numerous print publications like the New York Times and made it to the 9th spot on their bestseller list upon release. However, unlike these positive receptions in print media, major television news stations such as ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN have refused to discuss the book on their news programs. Initially, MSNBC, which is known for its opposition to the president and has frequently hosted me during my previous publications, had scheduled appearances on shows like Lawrence O’Donnell. But once excerpts from the book started leaking, these appearances were promptly canceled. This was soon followed by White House criticisms.
Jesse Rodriguez, head booker at MSNBC, informed representatives from my publishing house, Crown (an imprint of Penguin Random House), that my book was being scrutinized by their “Standards and Legal” department, which is uncommon. Rodriguez frequently reassured my team that he expected things to get back on track soon, but seemed taken aback as this review stretched into a prolonged, indefinite process. Interestingly, the UK division of Comcast, known as SKY, has created a 90-minute documentary based on my book, which is currently being broadcast in Europe.
Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC’s newly appointed leader, admitted to a prominent figure in the entertainment sector who reached out to her on my behalf, that the decision regarding the recent blackout (or potential blacklist) was beyond her control and lies with executives at NBCU and its parent company, Comcast. She also mentioned that the industry is currently experiencing a shift, as MSNBC was simultaneously terminating several of its more liberal personalities, including Joy Reid.
In our recent conversation, Boris Epshteyn, one of Trump’s influential lawyers, employed similar terminology to what he used in a menacing call prior to publication. He referred to the changing climate, echoing his previous warning about potential consequences. His reference to a “new climate” was in relation to three ongoing issues:
1. The settlement ABC made regarding Trump’s lawsuit against George Stephanopoulos over comments about the E. Jean Carroll case. Although technically it was a verdict of sexual abuse under New York State’s narrow definition of rape, the judge stated that Trump had “raped” Carroll in common usage outside of the state’s penal law.
2. The ongoing settlement discussions between the White House and CBS over the editing of Kamala Harris’ 60 Minutes interview.
3. The leverage the White House holds over media companies like CBS, which is merging with another entertainment group, and any other media organizations that require renewal of their licenses or approval for mergers. This was a veiled threat to exert influence in these matters.
After his criticism of media outlets for spreading false news about him, Donald Trump subsequently warned journalists who rely on anonymous sources when reporting on his activities, that they could potentially face legal action.
Initially, my own publishing house, assured of our strong legal ground and resolute during the book’s preparation for release, unexpectedly proposed hiring a lawyer to attend any interviews I might conduct regarding the book or Donald Trump. However, I chose not to accept this offer.
As a gamer, I’ve picked up some intel from the same White House insiders who filled my book with juicy details. It seems that major media corporations are reaching out to Trump advisors for guidance on how to keep the White House happy, presumably to dodge legal actions and regulatory hassles. They’ve been told a few strategies, such as Jeff Bezos paying Melania Trump $40 million for a documentary about her life, suggesting potential TV projects for the Trump kids, and even providing lists of Trump-friendly faces who might make appearances on mainstream news shows.
That is the new climate.
To a certain extent, this behavior from Trump towards the media is nothing new – after all, he has made numerous threats against them before. However, what was surprising was how swiftly and submissively the media reacted. Historically, news organizations have responded to governmental threats and encroachments with unyielding resistance. They take pride in their steadfastness during the Pentagon Papers and Watergate scandals with Richard Nixon, standing firm against any damaging precedents that could lead to future intrusions and intimidation. Yet, in this current atmosphere, where news outlets’ corporate parents are essentially held hostage by Trump’s whims – for example, MSNBC’s parent company, Comcast, is planning to spin off the network and sell it, requiring approval from Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – news divisions appear to be at a disadvantage.
The move by ABC to withdraw from the Stephanopoulos case, without requiring the president to provide a detailed account of events in the Bergdorf Goodman dressing room with E. Jean Carroll, could potentially hold similar weight in media history as the seminal 1964 case, New York Times Company v Sullivan, where the Supreme Court ruled that the freedom of the press was paramount over political interests.
Although we’re not at the lowest point yet, similar to the McCarthy era media threat, it’s clear that things are far from ideal. However, comedy seems to show more courage than news these days. For instance, Jimmy Kimmel recently mocked Trump using material from my book in a monologue. Moreover, my book is now widely available for anyone to read and understand the story of Trump’s erratic mood swings during his campaign.
However, it’s important to recognize now that Trump’s threats may not be harmless bluffs as previously thought, and that the traditional media might not have the resolve to counteract them. In this battle between Trump and the media, his efforts seem to be successful.
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2025-03-13 16:24