There is some debate over whether or not Donald Trump represents some form of fascism. Probably not the Hitler-kind, but maybe the Mussolini-kind? This goes to the idea that he represents some form of American authoritarianism.
Certainly, threatening to go after newspapers because they print things about you that you don't like isn't really in the spirit of American democracy and civil liberties. Unfortunately, the press is held in almost as low esteem as Trump himself, so I'm not sure attacking them will really change many minds. People who respect the freedom of the press aren't voting for Trump anyway. The fact that Trump's attacks on WaPo are factually illiterate won't matter either.
With Sheldon Adelson becoming the first mega-donor to endorse Trump, we are going to see some movement towards Trump. Paul Ryan has begun his inevitable capitulation before the Great Orange Satan.
The question becomes what happens when Trump says something so outrageous - or allegations surface from his past of criminality - that you really can't justify Trump to yourself or the world at large?
And will the press be willing to abandon their "both side do it" reflex - and their tendency to wilt in the face of charges of bias - and hold people accountable?
I have my doubts.
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