Hypothetical horrible becomes White House reality

[Bob78164]

On November 17, 2016, Matt Yglesias wrote a story warning that the incoming Administration might well use control of regulatory matters to engage in "systemic corruption": a regime in which supporters of the Administration enjoy a light regulatory touch, whereas businesses deemed unfriendly to the Administration are crushed. As one hypothetical example, Yglesias noted: "But big corporate media does face enough regulatory matters that even a single exemplary case would suffice to induce large-scale self-censorship. AT&T, for example, is currently seeking permission from antitrust authorities to buy Time Warner — permission that Time Warner executives might plausibl[y] fear is contingent on Trump believing that CNN has covered him 'fairly.'”

Here is a story published yesterday by the New York Times. According to the story, "White House advisers have discussed a potential point of leverage over their adversary, a senior administration official said: a pending merger between CNN’s parent company, Time Warner, and AT&T. Mr. Trump’s Justice Department will decide whether to approve the merger, and while analysts say there is little to stop the deal from moving forward, the president’s animus toward CNN remains a wild card." This, of course, is the very example of systemic corruption that Yglesias was warning us about eight months ago. --Bob

[jarnon]

Bob has a soulmate in Germany:

It's Time to Get Rid of Donald Trump

[BackInTex]

This, of course, is the very example of systemic corruption that Yglesias was warning us about eight months ago.

I see no example in what you wrote. It is all "might" and "may", but nothing has happened. There is only the potential of it happening, as it is with EVERY administration there has ever been and ever will be.

Yet, you write it like it is and has happened.

Dog [might] bite man here.


What about the IRS under the previous administration targeting rival conservative groups? Seems as egregious, except it is not a "might", it is a "did".

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

Is that something like abuse of prosecutorial discretion to favor the connected and punish enemies or more like weaponizing the IRS?