This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone following the news.

Trump has said broadcasters who allow criticism of him should lose their FCC broadcast licenses [1], demanded that "Bondi Move Now" to prosecute foes, ordered DOJ investigation of two first-term administration aides who criticized him.

Trump is doing this to members of congress (threat of primarying by Trump and Musk), judges (threat of impeachment and even the threat of eliminating federal courts that oppose him), law firms (threat of canceling federal contracts and security clearances), press and media (threat of banning from White House press pool, launching FCC investigations), etc. This atmosphere of fear and intimidation — of pretty much everyone — is the norm for this administration.

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/us/politics/trump-fcc-lic...

[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/us/politics/trump-justice...

[3] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/09/donald-trump-retrib...