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The late Richard J. Daley famously declared: “We Democrats have no apologies to offer to anyone.”
It seems that this doctrine is still alive and well with many in the party when it comes down to it President-elect Trump. After ABC News and its anchor George Stephanopoulos apologized to Trump last week to settle the defamation lawsuit, many Democrats felt apoplectic.
Marc Elias, the controversial lawyer who co-financed the Clinton campaign for the infamous Steele dossier, condemned ABC News for kneeling to Trump. He then trolled for contributions to his organization and called it “unjustifiably pro-democracy.”
Of course, the ABC was not apologizing for promoting democracy, but rather for alleged defamation. The network and the broadcaster expressed their “regret” for announcing that Trump is “liable for rape” in a civil case in New York. (The jury found that Trump sexually assaulted and defamed EJ Carroll. While Trump was never convicted of rape, Stephanopoulos repeated the allegation 10 times in his interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.).
What made the settlement interesting was that ABC had previously relied on statements by the judge in the New York case, Judge Lewis Kaplan, who declared the rape charge 'substantially true…as many people ordinarily understand the word 'rape'.' “
Stephanopoulos strengthened his challenge to Trump CBS late night host Stephen Colbert. To the delight of Colbert, who has regularly attacked Trump on his show and has publicly supported both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Stephanopoulos announced that he would not be “prevented from doing my job because of the threat.” He added: “Trump sued me because I used the word 'rape,' even though the judge said that's what actually happened. We filed a motion to dismiss.”
So what happened?
Well, there are two things and they are both related to settlement timing.
Joe Concha: Trump extends his winning streak with victory over ABC and Stephanopoulos
First, the settlement came just before ABC and Stephanopoulos were called to testify, as ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette M. Reed. The revelation would likely have been more embarrassing for the network than for Trump, and could have revealed internal messages about the controversy.
The danger is on full display in another courtroom as CNN loses critical motions in a defamation case that could lead to punitive damages. Anchor Jake Tapper and CNN are being sued by Navy veteran Zachary Young after he falsely suggested he and his organization were exploiting… Desperate Afghan refugees. Discovery discovered malicious and unprofessional emails from producers promising to “nail” Young and make the clip his “funeral.” Disney wasn't keen on putting its morning character, Stephanopoulos, through a similar meat grinder.
Plaintiffs in CNN's high-stakes defamation lawsuit want to question Jake Tapper again
Second, the settlement occurred after an election in which Trump won the trifecta of the White House, Congress, and the popular vote.
Like most media outlets, ABC has been known for its relentless attacks on Trump and its positive coverage of his opponents. The network's popular show “The View” has become a turbulent partisan pep session against Trump, Republicans and the majority of American voters. The show's hosts now regularly read retractions or corrections to mitigate the screeds of alleged defamation from its hosts. It's gotten to the point where ABC's general counsel may soon need a seat at the table.
Disney is trying to adopt a more neutral stance after years of opposition for its stances on political issues and accusations of hyper-vigilant products. It is still struggling to attract more than half the country's population, including a recent controversy involving the star of the soon-to-be-released “Snow White” remake.
After the election, actress Rachel Ziegler declared that she was “speechless” about the results. This would have been a welcome situation for Disney, but the actress then found her voice in a more polarizing way, publicly praying: “May Trump supporters, Trump voters, and Trump himself never know peace.” Ziegler was clearly wrong in the movie. It was the Evil Queen who was supposed to listen to “a gust of wind to fan my hatred.”
On top of these controversies, ABC News has been attacked by many for its handling of the Trump debate Vice President Kamala Harris And biased “fact-checking.”
With ratings and revenues for networks like MSNBC and CNN declining after the election, it's clear that Disney wants to start over with the new management. Both face potential sales at potentially low prices.
The anti-Trump media echo chamber failed spectacularly in this election. With record levels of distrust in mainstream or traditional media, audiences have increasingly turned to new media.
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Meanwhile, Trump has been running the legal war tables with the dismissal of the two federal cases and his victory over presidential immunity at the Supreme Court. The prosecution in Georgia collapses because of the plaintiffs' conduct, not the defendant's conduct. The civil case in New York faced a court very skeptical about the ugly decision against Trump and his company.
Even Democratic politicians, like Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, are now comfortable publicly admitting that New York's illicit funds trial was just “bulls—.”
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For many politicians and pundits, the election seemed to flip the country's magnetic poles. We now have ABC News giving millions to the Trump Presidential Library while Democratic donors move toward a boycott of the library Biden Presidential Library.
With networks like MSNBC and CNN struggling for their existence, ABC intends to grab a seat when the music stops. While the ABC settlement may not be an admission of guilt, it is an admission of reality after this historic election.
