One of the worst features of our modern journalist class is its love for spouting abject propaganda while hiding behind its self-assigned cloak of invincibility that protects it from consequences. With their pithy X/Twitter bios and over-credentialed LinkedIn resumes carefully crafted, legacy journalists have decided that they are uniquely qualified to decide what is best for the public. And this includes the right to say whatever they want, true and especially false, to ensure that nothing comes between them and their chosen narrative.
When we, the plebeian consumers of their craft, dare to speak out and offer any criticism, including criticism of their blatant and shameless lies, we are rejected outright as anti-freedom fascists engaging in an assault on the freedom of the press. First Amendment for me, but not for thee, you see?
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Every now and again, however, their bubble bursts. We saw it when Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann settled multiple defamation lawsuits with legacy media outlets after he was incorrectly portrayed as the leader of an imaginary MAGA-driven confrontation with a Native American elder.
And now, we’ve seen it again, courtesy of Donald Trump, with ABC News settling a defamation lawsuit with the president-elect after host George Stephanopoulos declared on live television that Trump had been found liable for rape.
“You’ve endorsed Donald Trump for president,” Stephanopoulos said to Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) during an interview in March. “Judges and two separate juries have found him liable for rape and for defaming the victim of that rape.”
Let’s ignore the utter irony of a Clinton hack having the gall to ask anyone — let alone Mace, a survivor of rape — how she could possibly support someone accused of rape. It should be obvious that no one, including journalists, should get away with falsely accusing someone of rape. But even the notion that Trump should have any legal recourse in the face of such lies is, as the Hill put it, “send[ing] chills through media.”
“Trump has a history of using libel accusations to quash criticism, and it’s something that news organizations will have to contend with going forward,” said Lisa Zycherman, deputy legal director at Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. TV journalists Chris Cillizza and Chuck Todd discussed the settlement as setting “an incredibly dangerous precedent” that “undermines journalists doing their jobs.”
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Wait, I thought journalists were meant to uncover the truth. So how does punishing Stephanopoulos and ABC News for doing the opposite undermine anything? Unless, of course, their job is no longer to uncover the truth, but to promote their personal agendas free of any pushback, protest, or challenge.
For the journalists in the back, let’s make something abundantly clear: False rape accusations are not “criticism,” and thanks to people such as Trump, the sun is finally setting on your free pass. Welcome to the real world, where you can’t get away with saying quite literally whatever you want. You’re going to hate it.
Ian Haworth is a columnist, speaker, and podcast host. You can find him on Substack and follow him on X at @ighaworth.