The Mouse That Censored
America Needs a Better Mousetrap – an Orwellian One
Toto’s ministration was not required this time. The man behind the curtain yanked it away himself. The curtain pulled aside, there stood the emperor, resplendent in his new clothes, the couture of fascism. Armed with a chain-saw ego and steaming with resentment, he commands a cavalry of culture warrior mice.
One of Donald Trump’s most vocal rodents is Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr. Channeling his inner Tommy DeVito, Carr told a podcaster last week that “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” referring to the Trump administration’s desire to silence talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, a frequent Trump critic. “These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel,” he added, “or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
It’s unlikely that Carr’s inner Walter Mitty emulates DeVito, the psychotic thug from Goodfellas. More likely, his inner fantasy conjures a caped hero in flight, his fist thrust forward, singing, “Here I Come to Save the Day!” Brendan Carr is the Mighty Mouse wannabe of the Trump administration.
Never send a mouse to do a man’s job. Carr, Trump and the right-wing cabal that nurtures the mice, enjoyed their take-down of Kimmel for less than a week. Kimmel came back.
There is a simple reason why Kimmel supporters won and Trump and Carr lost. More Americans believe in upholding free speech than repressing it. Warrior rodents impress us not.
The Threat Continues
Whether the return of Kimmel is a Constitutional knockout, or just a counter-punch, won’t be known until history unspools the answer. Nearly 70 local ABC affiliates continue to keep the show off the air. Sinclair Broadcasting, for example, said its stations will be “preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming.” Nexstar Media Group also refuses to air the show.
But even those stations may relent. Sinclair’s statement also said, “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.” That makes sense, given they are replacing a well-known and popular show with news programming, which can be expensive, especially if produced locally. Spending more money on fewer viewers is an unsuccessful formula in local broadcasting. Even the mightiest mouse of all endured a financial bite. The Walt Disney Company suffered a loss of nearly $5 billion in market value virtually overnight following Kimmel’s suspension, according to The Economic Times.
But Trump’s Putinesque disdain for free speech continues to drive him. He recently told reporters on Air Force One he believes “97%” of national news coverage was critical of him. “That’s no longer free speech,” he said, as reported by Deadline. “That’s just cheating, and they cheat. They become really members of the Democrat National Committee. That’s what they are, the networks, in my opinion. They are just offshoots of the Democrat National Committee.” And he wants to use governmental power to silence them. “They’re getting a license,” he said, “I think maybe their license should be taken away. It’s up to Brendan Carr.”
No wonder the FCC Chairman feels free to squeak his mind. He’s channeling his role model.
How To Repel the Repellent
There is a way to turn Trump’s ego into his own self-administered poison. A simple, but creative, media strategy could break his power and dissuade his increasingly fascist tendencies. Best of all, it’s relatively easy. To quote Walter Sobchack, “The beauty of this is its simplicity.”
P.T. Barnum once told a critic, “say anything you like about me, but spell my name right.” When Donald Trump complains that most of his coverage is negative, he overlooks the thing he finds most valuable: attention. Whether texting on the Internet, musing on the tarmac, or wandering incoherently through public appearances, he lives to be an eyeball magnet.
If Trump is concerned that so much said about him is objectionable, there is a remedy: Don’t Say Anything at All. Ignore him. Make him an “unperson,” to quote 1984. Relish the opportunity to turn his Orwellian tendencies against him.
Here is what I propose: broadcast networks should go a full week without mentioning Trump’s name, or showing his image. That doesn’t mean they should refrain from reporting on the presidency, which is not reasonable. All presidents make news and merit coverage. But broadcasters should report on the office, not the man. Never use his name. Just say “the President” instead. Never show his face. Disappear him. It will make him crazy. (Crazier?)
Donald Trump, the avatar of political itch, made the body politic scratch until it bled. It’s time for payback. Ignore him and he’ll unravel like a ball of string. If there’s anything he hates more than being criticized, it’s being ignored.
After a week, return to normal. Sit him down, bring in a photographer, and tell him, “Please try to smile, Mr. President.”
“Say, ‘cheese.’”