Democracy Dies In Darkness, Chapter 2

Ron DeSantis hates the "Woke" Left-wing lugenpresse, and he proved it by getting Ben Montgomery fired

Josh Marshall @joshtpm

You really REALLY want to read this piece. The kinetics of the story any publisher wld love. But the piece tells you a huge amount abt the role of journalism in today's political environment. Very important stuff

talkingpointsmemo.comReporter Describes Being Fired By Axios After Being Targeted By Ron DeSantis’ Media ‘Machine’Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R) press team often attacks the reporters who cover his state. On Monday, they cost one of those journalists, Ben Montgomery, his job with Axios. In a conversation with TPM…

Before mass leaders seize the power to fit reality to their lies, their propaganda is marked by its extreme contempt for facts as such, for in their opinion fact depends entirely on the power of [the] man who can fabricate it.

• Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism

The concept of a free press informing the people of what their government is doing is integral to the functioning of a free society. No democracy can effectively function when government officials or a part of a government can intimidate media outlets into silence.

And yet that’s exactly what’s happening in Ron DeSantis’ Floriduh.

So what to do, then? Does a reporter cave to the pressure to maintain access so he can do his job? Or does he call out the bullshit and let the chips fall where they may?