Trump’s war on the press is straight out the Putin playbook

The pen may not be mightier than the sword, but it still has the power to wound. So, yes, a lot of “things” happen in London and no doubt the senior management of The Times are taking the best security advice as to how seriously they should take the scarcely veiled threat from the man who served as Russia’s president between 2008 and 2012. We’re going to come after you, whether it’s criminally or civilly.” That quote came from an interview with Trump’s former henchman, Steve Bannon, who appears to be back in favour and who has been making similarly menacing noises about the incoming administration’s intentions towards the media. Should the media be included in the vast criminal conspiracy against President Trump?” He named checked liberal commentators and broadcasters: “Andrew Weissmann on MSNBC and Rachel Maddow and all of them.” Bannon gave some clue as to what could lie ahead for “unfriendly” American media when he announced: “We want all your emails, all your text messages, everything you did.” If the idea is to get the American media worried it seems to be working, despite Yale professor Timothy Snyder’s memorable exhortation: “Do not obey in advance.” Newspapers have fallen silent rather than upset Trump by not endorsing his presidency. Not content with humbling ABC, Trump has now announced he is suing the Des Moines Register newspaper, along with its parent company and its former pollster for “brazen election interference” over what turned out to be a rogue poll suggesting Kamala Harris might win Iowa, published days before the election.