Trump's Attack on the Free Press Threatens Democracy

By Mildred Robertson

According to PBS NewsHour, this week Donald Trump barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. He accused the outlets of false, unfavorable, and anti-Republican coverage, but gave no enforcement details. 

The Trump administration’s restrictions on press access raise a central democratic question: whether the government may limit journalists’ access in response to critical coverage. Retaliatory restrictions weaken First Amendment norms, reduce public access to independent reporting, and deepen distrust at a moment when voters need reliable information.

Among those reporters with whom Trump has clashed are Kaitlan Collins (CNN), who is known for asking uncomfortable follow-up questions; Jim Acosta (CNN) who refused to give up his microphone while asking about immigration; Kirsten Holmes (CNN) whom Trump accused of being fake news, calling her a "loud, boisterous person," and demanding that she "be quiet". Kelly O'Donnell (NBC News) stood up to Trump in the Oval Office and confronted him over his decision to ban competing news organizations from the executive branch complex. Numerous other news reporters and media outlets have come under attack from this administration for refusing to back down when asking the hard questions about Trump's policies. The administration currently is revoking press passes and denying West Wing access to any reporter representing CNN, MS NOW or Politico.

Although federal courts have consistently ruled against broad administrative efforts by the Trump administration to restrict press access he, nevertheless, warned other news outlets they might face similar restrictions.  Critics say this action violates the First Amendment which allows individuals the right to express their thoughts and opinions without government censorship or punishment. The Amendment reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..."

The dispute between news outlets and the Trump administration raises broader questions about the role of the free press in American politics. Constitutional protection of the press is rooted in the need to inform the public, scrutinize government, expose abuse, explain policy, and check political claims. It also seeks to facilitate the presentation of competing views and to highlight unfair treatment of U.S. citizens. The Trump administration appears to intend to muzzle all media who choose to report on the facts as they see them, rather than regurgitating the talking points of the administration. 

While retaliation against media for criticism violates constitutional free speech norms Trump's efforts have resulted in a chilling effect on journalism and factual reporting by some U.S. news media outlets. Trump's attack on reporters and news outlets who refuse to report the administration's false narratives has already resulted in some media self-censoring in order not to antagonize him. Among those organizations is ABC and CBS/Paramount who admitted to self-censorship, legal settlements and programming shifts.

It appears that the United States has fallen in global rankings and lost its long-standing status as a "liberal democracy. This recent degrading of freedom of speech and of the press in the U.S. point to a severe and unusually rapid erosion of American democracy. In fact the Pew Research Center states that the Economist Intelligence Unit (the world leader in global business intelligence and market insights), classifies the country as a "flawed democracy." Experts say it is rare in modern history to see the pace of institutional decline currently being experienced in America.

The need to stop the decline of democracy is at the forefront of 2026 midterms. Americans have become acutely aware of the struggle this administration has with the truth. Pew Research states that 83% of Americans believe the U.S. government is suppressing important news from the public. However, they also distrust the news organizations and social media.  This skepticism has resulted in a highly fractured political landscape where citizens struggle to find the truth in the various messages with which they are bombarded. 

This is a particularly critical as voters wade through conflicting messages from this administration and news outlets to find the facts they need to vote their best interest in November. It is imperative that the media be free to research and report the facts as they see them, and then let the people decided what is the truth. That can't happen if this administration muzzles large portions of the free press, and only shares information with those who will positively promote the president's agenda. 

Independent journalism supports democratic accountability. When reporting is limited to positive views of political actors, the media is weakened and reporting becomes a disservice to the American public. Limited access can favor official messaging, and sustained pressure may deter reporting and deepen distrust. The lack of fact-based reporting results in a misinformed public and leads to poor public policy making. It also leads to a lack of trust by other nations and world leaders.

 

Cautionary Tale: Check Your Voter Registration, NOW!

By Mildred Robertson

My granddaughter turned 18 in July, 2026. One of the first things we did was visit the Wake County Board of Elections to register her to vote. She excitedly waited for her Voter ID to show up in the mail. And it did, this week. However, the last name on the voter ID card was not her last name.

We immediately headed to the Board of Elections to straighten it out. The clerk indicated that her form had been filled out properly, with her CORRECT name, and said they would start an investigation to see what went wrong. We were assured that her name was correct in the database, and that she would experience no problems when voting in the upcoming election. I took little comfort from that, and plan to make sure that we vote on October 15th, so that if there is a problem, we have time to rectify it before November 3, 2026.

I don't know if this was a nefarious attempt to disenfranchise my grandchild, or whether it was simply a clerical error. I await feedback from the Board of Elections to determine how this error occurred. If it happened to her, it is possible that it happened to other eligible voters; who knows how many. 

Regardless, if you don't want to just cast a vote, but for that vote to be counted you must remain vigilant during this election season. We know that one party in particular plans to make it as difficult as possible for some of us to vote.

No matter how many elections you've voted in, check to ensure you are still on the roll. Have a plan on how and when you will vote. Determine where your polling place is, and if you wish to vote early learn the various locations around your county where you can cast your vote. You can get all that information from your county board of elections. 

This election is too important for us to allow clerical errors, or malicious tampering to deny even one eligible voter access to the ballot box. Register. Plan. Vote in this primary election. 

Ensure Your Vote Counts on November 3, 2026

 By Mildred Robertson

As the 2026 midterms approach, many Americans will tune in to the political battle immediately following the Labor Day holiday. Voting should be easy, but the fact is that we may have to struggle to cast our vote in 2026. However, we cannot be daunted or intimidated as we work to ensure that our voices are heard.

The Trump administration has gone to great lengths to try to make the process as confusing as possible, eliminating voting locations, decreasing ballot drop-off sites, gerrymandering voting districts and attacking the mail-in ballot process. The goal is to inject confusion into the process in the hope that many voters, particularly minority voters, will be frustrated enough not to participate in the election.

That tactic, however, will not prevail if voters are proactive in their preparation for the November 3^rd election. Every voter should have a plan on how they will ensure that their vote is both cast and counted.

In North Carolina, a key state in this year’s midterm, election boards across the state will begin to mail out absentee ballots on September 4 to voters who requested them. In-person early voting runs from October 15 through October 31.  Voters will cast their ballots at their designated precinct on election day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026. All those options are open to every North Carolinian. Each of us should assume the responsibility of making sure we are prepared to cast our vote in a way that cannot be challenged.

Each voter should contact their county board of elections to ensure that their name is still listed as active. Reasons you may be suspended or purged from the roll is if you have moved since the last election. You also might fall into this category if your name has changed since you last voted. This is particularly important for women who may have changed their name due to marriage or divorce. If your name has been suspended or purged for any reason, you can submit an updated voter registration form through the DMV website or your county registrar.

Another tactic by the Trump administration is to eliminate or change voting locations. You may have voted at the same location for years and find that that location is no longer a voting site.  So, make sure when you check your registration that you also check your voting location. If you do end up at the wrong site on November 3, let the official know that you are not in your precinct and want to vote using a provisional ballot.  The best way to ensure that your vote is cast and counted is to have a plan:

• Know when and where you are going to vote.
• Know where the ballot drop-off locations are.
• Know where the early voting locations are.
• Plan your transportation to the voting location.
• If you are going to mail in a ballot, do so in a timely fashion to ensure that it will arrive in time to be counted.

You can go online for status notifications through BallotTrax, which is available 30 days prior to the election.

This may be the most consequential election of your lifetime. Make sure you are prepared. Make sure you are involved. Make sure your vote counts on November 3, 2026.