The Federal Commerce Fee simply opened an investigation into Media Issues, and shock, shock, it simply occurs to be “investigating” the very same factor Elon Musk sued Media Issues over. And due to Donald Trump’s unlawful removing of the Democratic members of the FTC, you possibly can count on much more of this.
In November 2023, Musk sued Media Issues, alleging that it had someway manufactured some white supremacist racist rubbish posts to seem subsequent to paid commercials on X. On condition that Musk’s total purpose in buying Twitter was to show it right into a Nazi bar, this was patently absurd. It’s a lawsuit that ought to have been tossed instantly, however Musk filed the case within the Northern District of Texas in order that Choose Reed O’Connor might hear the case.
Choose-shopping to O’Connor is sort of all the time profitable for conservatives. This time was no exception, regardless that NPR uncovered that O’Connor is a Tesla investor. O’Connor ought to have recused himself, however guidelines are for suckers.
Demonstrators protest towards Elon Musk exterior a Tesla dealership in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
Pursuing this vendetta through lawsuits prices Musk cash. So, why not simply have the federal government pursue the vendetta as an alternative on the taxpayers’ dime? The nice residents of Texas and Missouri already acquired to pay for his or her attorneys common to research whether or not Media Issues engaged in fraudulent enterprise practices by … discovering Nazi posts on Elon’s web site.
So the FTC is getting in on the motion, investigating Media Issues about whether or not it colluded with advertisers. It additionally calls for that Media Issues produce all the things it has produced in Musk’s lawsuit. It’s a clear try and have the FTC backstop Musk’s lawsuit, and the Trump administration is now not bothering to disguise that it sees businesses solely as weapons, methods to assault Trump’s—and Musk’s—political enemies.
The FTC is meant to be an unbiased physique, with members protected against removing. There’s a complete Supreme Courtroom case about it and all the things.
However two months in the past, Trump fired all of the Democratic commissioners, which signifies that the FTC is wholly below his management. The 2 commissioners have sued, and the case is continuing by the courts.
Nevertheless, provided that the Supreme Courtroom simply functionally overturned Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, the case that had dominated the president couldn’t hearth FTC commissioners on a whim, it seems that firing them is ok and dandy.
So now the FTC is simply three hard-right conservatives in a trench coat, standing able to do Trump’s bidding.
With this, the FTC joins the opposite businesses Trump has reshaped to make their main focus the unyielding harassment of anybody who has displeased Trump and, apparently, Musk.
The Division of Justice goes after ActBlue and attacking schools and universities. The Division of Schooling now not investigates civil rights complaints, as an alternative shifting to attacking faculties for having variety initiatives and letting trans youngsters simply reside their lives.
The courts might cease this. Congress might cease this. As a substitute, they’re letting Trump run wild and letting him blatantly increase the facility of the chief department. One would suppose that the opposite branches can be occupied with preserving their energy, however they appear content material to let Trump dismantle democracy, root and department. Media Issues often is the first to be attacked by the FTC, but it surely actually received’t be the final.
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