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Welcome to The Logoff: At the moment I’m targeted on the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine Voice of America, a US-funded information community that brings info to individuals all over the world — together with individuals dwelling beneath repressive regimes.
What’s the most recent? The administration fired about 600 contractors Thursday who work for the community, greater than a 3rd of the group’s employees.
What about the remainder of the employees? In March, the administration put nearly the whole employees on depart, however they efficiently sued to dam these de facto firings, no less than briefly. Litigation is ongoing over whether or not the administration has the authority to chop the company, which is funded by Congress.
Why is the administration doing this? Voice of America is, by legislation, editorially impartial, that means the Trump administration can not management the community’s content material. Which means it typically publishes information that displays poorly on the president or his insurance policies — one thing this administration can not abide.
What’s the large image? Like every outlet, Voice of America has its shortcomings, and there are reputable disagreements over the way it covers the information. However for tens of millions of individuals whose governments block entry to the information, Voice of America and its associates are their finest likelihood of studying about what’s taking place on the planet round them — together with what their very own governments are as much as. Now, Trump is making an attempt to take that away.
And with that, it’s time to log out…
Right here’s an award-winning Voice of America story about what occurs to accountability right here within the US when native information organizations are pushed out of enterprise. It’s a fantastic piece, however if you wish to put it aside for a non-Friday afternoon, there’s all the time the wonderful livestream of a bald eagles’ nest. Thanks a lot for studying, and I’ll see you again right here Monday.
