We are at the precipice of what could be a very dangerous time for the press in the United States.

Why?

Two words: Donald Trump.

The former and now future president of the United States has been clear about what he thinks about the media. They are the “enemy of the people.” He says it over and over and over again.

In a campaign speech only a week before the election, he made remarks about the media being shot, saying, “I don’t mind that so much. I don’t mind that.”

And press that he doesn’t like he dismisses as “fake news.”

Mother Jones’ Julianne McShane notes that several major press freedom groups have issued warnings about the threats posed by Trump now that he is set to become president again in January.

Following Trump’s victory in the presidential election, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement saying a free press must be protected.

The statement said, in part, “At this pivotal moment in U.S. history, we urge the next administration and decision makers across government and business to recognize the free press and the factual information that journalists provide as an essential component of democracy, stability, and public safety.”

It added, “The fundamental right to a free press, guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, must not be impaired. Legal persecution, imprisonment, physical violence, and even killings have sadly become familiar threats for journalists across the world. They must not now also become commonplace in the United States, where threats of violence and online harassment have in recent years become routine.”

In their statement, Reporters Without Borders wrote, in part, “On the campaign trail and during his previous administration, President-elect Donald Trump has frequently deployed violent language and threats against the media. His election to a second term in office marks a dangerous moment for American journalism and global press freedom. The steps he takes in the early days of his next administration could chart the course for the years to come, with implications far beyond U.S. borders. Rather than doubling down on the hostility he has espoused towards the media so far, Trump should take the opportunity instead to repair the domestic press freedom climate and reposition the United States as a global leader in press freedom.”

And the Freedom of the Press Foundation said, in part, in its statement, “Just like his last term, Trump is likely to try to censor social media outlets and interfere with the editorial discretion of publishers. His campaign against free speech online will be even worse this time around, especially if he gives the world’s biggest free speech hypocrite, Elon Musk, a prominent role in his administration. At the local level, Trump’s anti-press rhetoric has already emboldened everyone from governors to county-level politicians to retaliate against the media. With their leader back in the White House, Trump wannabes nationwide will feel even more empowered to harass the press — and they’ve spent Trump’s years in exile priming their base to tolerate it.”

The foundation added, “Suffice it to say, we’ve got some hard work ahead of us at Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF). But we’ve been here before. During the first Trump term, we fought him every step of the way, from launching the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, the first comprehensive database of press freedom violations in the United States, to expanding the availability of SecureDrop to enable whistleblowers to communicate securely with journalists. And we’re now better equipped than ever to hold Trump accountable.”

None of this, however, is going to be easy. Trump appears more emboldened than ever in his war against the media.

As McShane wrote in the piece for Mother Jones, “​​This all comes at a time when Republicans, and young people, are as likely to trust social media as a news source as they are to trust national news outlets, according to data published last month from Pew Research Center. The Trump campaign and the GOP have both contributed to and capitalized on this distrust, with Trump launching his own social media network, Truth Social, in 2022, and eschewing the cable news sit-downs Harris did during the campaign for interviews with right-wing male podcasters, who likely helped him make massive gains among young men this year. Media outlets hoping to win back the trust of these voters, though, will not just have podcasters and social media to compete with: One of their biggest adversaries will likely be Trump himself.”

Everyday issues

Radio host Charlamagne tha God says “dinner table issues” swayed the election for Donald Trump. In an interview that aired Sunday on ABC News’ “This Week,” Charlamagne told moderator Jonathan Karl, “It’s dinner table issues. It’s literally that simple. Every day, people wake up and all they want to do is have more money in their pocket and to feel safe. I don’t care if you’re Black, white, gay, straight, whatever religion you are. Those are the two things that you’re thinking about every day.”

Charlamagne also said that Trump’s message about the border might have broken through to the Black community, and that “Trump speaks to the grievances of the working class.”

Charlamagne was backing Kamala Harris for president, and says he remains optimistic. “I have no choice but to be,” he said.

He also complimented Harris, saying, “I think that the vice president made a lot of people sit up on the couch and pay attention, and at least be curious.”

What now?

Jen Psaki, from her MSNBC show. (Courtesy: MSNBC)

On her MSNBC Sunday morning show, former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki talked about Donald Trump’s victory against Kamala Harris.

Psaki said, “I have spent the last few days thinking a lot about what just happened, and I’m sure you have, too … I’m mostly trying to learn from it and think about what comes next because right now is a time to reflect. It’s definitely a time to be humble, but it’s also a time to be very, very curious.”

She added, “Despite how hard this moment is and how challenging the years ahead will be, we have to resist that urge as hard as it is, because that’s just not how democracy works, because winning elections is about convincing more voters that you are the right choice. No one American and no one group of Americans owes anyone their vote. People choose with their own free will who they think better represents their interests. Doesn’t always make sense all the time.”

Psaki finished by saying, “It’s important that we don’t fall into the trap of believing that things can’t get better, that we can’t get to the other side of this because they can get better and we can. So, let’s listen carefully. Let’s be curious. Let’s learn a lot and let’s get back to work.”

There was more to Psaki’s comments, which you can see here.

Hot mic moment

Jon Wertheim is one of the more respected journalists in the business. He is an excellent longtime writer at Sports Illustrated and has been a correspondent for “60 Minutes” since 2017. (I spoke to Wertheim back in 2022 for a story he did about the state of local news.)

He also is a correspondent for the Tennis Channel, and it was while working for that network that he said something inappropriate that got caught on a hot mic.

The Tennis Channel was airing a match involving Barbora Krejčíková, one of the top women’s players in the world, when the broadcast briefly cut back to the studio by mistake. Wertheim could be heard making a comment that seemed to make fun of the forehead of Krejčíková.

Krejčíková put out a statement on X that said, “You might have heard about the recent comments made on Tennis Channel during the WTA Finals coverage that focused on my appearance rather than my performance. As an athlete who has dedicated herself to this sport, it was disappointing to see this type of unprofessional commentary. This isn’t the first time something like this is happening in sports world. I’ve often chosen not to speak up, but I believe it’s time to address the need for respect and professionalism in sports media. These moments distract from the true essence of sport and the dedication all athletes bring to the field. I love tennis deeply, and I want to see it represented in a way that honors the commitment we make to compete at this level.”

Wertheim apologized on X, writing, “During a Tennis Channel studio show on Friday, I made some deeply regrettable comments off-air. I acknowledge them. I apologize for them. I reached out immediately and apologized to the player. What happened? I joined the show by Zoom. In rehearsal we were shown a graphic of a player who had just competed. It showed her at an angle that exaggerated her forehead. A few moments later, I was told to frame up my Zoom. I looked at the low camera angle and joked that it made my forehead resemble the photo of the player in question. Someone in the control room chimed in and I bantered back. Though this was a private rehearsal, this exchange inadvertently, and without context, made it to live air. I realize: I am not the victim here. It was neither professional nor charitable nor reflective of the person I strive to be. I am accountable. I own this. I am sorry.”

The Tennis Channel put out a statement saying Wertheim has been removed “indefinitely” from the network. The statement said, “When Tennis Channel became aware of an inappropriate comment about a professional tennis player made by our analyst Jon Wertheim on Friday, we immediately removed him from our air indefinitely. The network also apologized to the player, Barbora Krejcikova, as did Jon. Jon has dedicated his career to shining a light on and growing this sport and has been a valued member of our family and the tennis community. That said, Tennis Channel holds its employees to a standard of respectfulness for others at all times, a standard that was not met in this moment.”

Media tidbits

• The Washington Post’s Manuel Roig-Franzia with “Murrow Award rescinded for acclaimed ‘Retrograde’ documentary.”
• The New York Times’ Jennifer Valentino-DeVries and Michael H. Keller with “She Was a Child Instagram Influencer. Her Fans Were Grown Men.”
• Gannett, owner of The Des Moines Register, has launched an investigation into the apparent leak of Ann Selzer’s Iowa poll — that stunning poll the weekend before the election that had Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump by three points in Iowa. Semafor’s Shelby Talcott has the scoop.
• University of Florida men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden has been accused by an undefined number of women of sexual harassment and stalking, according to Title IX documents. And who broke that story? UF students Jack Meyer and Max Tucker, who work for the Independent Florida Alligator — the student-run paper at UF.

Hot type

• The Washington Post’s Emily Yahr with “Randy Travis’s beautiful baritone was lost. AI helped him sing again.”
• The Ringer’s Nora Princiotti with “Everything You Need to Know About the 2025 Grammy Nominations.”
• For “CBS News Sunday Morning,” CBS News national security correspondent David Martin with “A helping hand to America’s wounded veterans.”

More resources for journalists

• Transform your crime coverage while helping your community.
• Encourage an outstanding colleague to apply for Leadership Academy for Women in Media.
• Are you an up-and-coming newsroom manager?

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at tjones@poynter.org.

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