Compliance Costs $15M: ABC Just Gave Trump What He Wanted”

On Friday, Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, promising billionaires that he’d slash corporate taxes to 15%—down from the 21% rate he put in place with his 2017 tax cut, which itself was a massive drop from 35%. A room full of billionaires cheered as he once again pledged to put their wallets over everything else.

Then, Trump turned his attention to the media, declaring, “The media’s tamed down a little bit. They’re likin’ us much better now, I think. If not, we’ll just have to take them on again, and we don’t want to do that.” Silly me, I thought he was referring to Joe and Mika flying down to kiss the ring, or TIME magazine embarrassingly naming him “Man of the Year” again (barf). But no—it turns out this smug declaration came after ABC News agreed to pay Trump $15 million in a defamation settlement.

Why? Because during an interview George Stephanopoulos

dared to call rape exactly what it is -rape-. This was not conjecture, Trump was found liable in the E. Jean Carroll case for sexual abuse and defamation in accordance with New York law. Nevertheless Trump sued, claiming the reporter was defaming him, despite the fact that sexual abuse is recognized as rape in the broader, moral sense. (New York law makes a technical distinction because Trump used his hand, not another part of his body.)

Here’s the thing: ABC News didn’t have to settle. The judge in the case had already called for recorded depositions. ABC had the chance to force Trump to explain on the record, in his own words, how he thinks “sexual abuse” differs from “rape.” It could have been a moment of accountability—a public service. Instead, they handed him $15 million.

Let’s be clear: That’s an obscene amount of money for a network that did nothing wrong. So, what exactly were they buying? Peace and quiet? Protection from Trump’s fake FBI investigations or baseless accusations of “fake news”? Access to exclusive Trump interviews in the future? Whatever the reason, one thing is certain: ABC just gave Trump one of the biggest payouts he’s ever received from the media.

This is textbook compliance in advance, as historian Timothy Snyder warned in his book On Freedom. It’s the kind of appeasement authoritarian leaders count on to chip away at institutions. Sexual abuse is rape. ABC had the legal and moral high ground, yet they folded—just like so many powerful people and institutions have before.

And this isn’t happening in isolation. Just days ago, people were outraged that Jeff Bezos gave $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund. Now, ABC hands over $15 million. How much more of this spineless behavior can our country afford? Because every dollar, every concession, every act of appeasement is another step toward normalizing authoritarianism.

If billionaires, corporations, and the media continue to roll over and accept a fascist takeover, the dystopian future we fear isn’t just coming—it’s already here.

nytimes.com/2024/12/14/…?