Legally Creative, Democratically Dangerous: Trump’s Plan to Twist the News

By The Editorial Board

The editorial board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values. It is separate from the newsroom.

The Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission were designed to be independent stewards of the public interest — guardians against monopolies, fraud and the misuse of public airwaves. Congress created the agencies in the first half of the 20th century, and they are led by commissioners serving fixed terms to insulate them from the political whims of the White House.

The Trump administration has ruined that independence. President Trump’s appointees have weaponized........

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