First it was Colbert. Then Kimmel. Who will be next as MAGA implements its own Great Replacement Conspiracy?
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The MAGA cult likes to fulminate about the “Great Replacement Conspiracy”—the imaginary plot to dilute the white Christian majority with immigrants.
But there is a real Replacement Conspiracy clearly unfolding before our eyes—the canceling of voices in the media who dare to diss Dear Leader.
Among the first to get the ax was late night comedian and commentator Stephen Colbert whose The Late Show on CBS is being canceled.
Yesterday, another of Dear Leader’s critics was toppled. Jimmy Kimmel was pulled off the air after his network, ABC, dropped his show under threat from the Federal Communications Commission.
Other media outlets have been sued by Dear Leader and settled, and this week he filed yet another defamation lawsuit against The New York Times that, if it ever gets to trial, will play out here in Florida. (More on that here.)
And U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has long played footsie with Dear Leader, now says she wants to criminally prosecute Americans who exercise their First Amendment rights of free speech.
That didn’t go over so well, either on the right or the left, and she was forced to walk them back. But, you know, she said it.
Bondi is best remembered here in Florida as the state’s attorney general before being tapped by Dear Leader to take over the Justice Department.
While Florida’s A.G., Bondi solicited a donation from Dear Leader while the state was considering joining a lawsuit against his Trump University. A Political Action Committee supporting Bondi got a $25,000 donation, and, like a miracle, legal action against Trump was discarded.
Nothing to see there.
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder, Bondi began blathering about locking up Americans whom she found politically disagreeable. It’s blown up in her face, so maybe there’s still some hope of dodging an Orwellian future, although I’m not holding my breath.
I’ve republished a breakdown of Bondi’s terrifying remarks on the Tropic Press website by Dina Doll writing for Meidas+ and I encourage you to give it a read.
You may also enjoy reading the Disobey in Advance post entitled “White House Ministry of Unity curtails free speech in the name of free speech.” You can find a crosspost to it on the Tropic Press homepage as well.
Is there hope? Share your thoughts.
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In the news
Will Florida drug stores get guidance on the new Covid booster vaccinations? That will be determined in a meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Committee on Immunization Practices that begins today. The panel’s members have been replaced by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., so what they recommend on how the vaccine may be administered is being closely watched.
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J.C. Bruce, journalist and author, is the founder of Tropic Press. He holds dual citizenship in the United States of America and his native Florida. Forward this email to your friends. They will love you for it.
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I believe that anyone being approved by congress for a government position should have to pass a course in American history, particularly to understand what our country was dealing with during the first 3 administrations after the revolution. President Adams instituted the Aliens & Seditions acts to restrict any domestic criticism against the administration, and from foreign influences. That didn't go over too well with the American people then, and I doubt it will now. Both acts were repealed under the Jefferson administration.
Good segment on Chris Hayes' show last night about how this is exactly the Authoritarian playbook. What do you think Trump talks about with Putin when he banishes all note takers and anyone else from the room?? He has learned the playbook from some of the worst dictators in the world. They start by ridding the media of any critical voices. Encapsulated in Project 2025, they spent the four years out of office planning this. This is what we are up against.