“While the book was greeted by gratifying reviews in many print outlets, including the New York Times, and debuted at No. 9 on the Times’ best-seller list, most every significant television news outlet — ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN — has declined to have it discussed on its news shows,” Wolff writes of his new book. “MSNBC, a network whose bread and butter is opposition to the president and which had booked me for several shows, including Lawrence O’Donnell, a show I regularly do when I publish a book, canceled those appearances as soon as portions of the book began to leak, followed shortly by the White House tirades.” Wolff writes that MSNBC opted to send the book through an extra “Standards and Legal” check, which he says is “unusual,” especially since the book has already been adapted into a documentary that is airing in Europe without issue.
Of course, it’s possible that there are other factors at play—a fourth book on a topic is going to be less novel than the first, maybe—but it’s undeniable that this administration has used the justice system to silence and punish its enemies, including those in media. Trump, for example, is currently trying to sue 60 Minutes for $20 billion over their October interview with Kamala Harris. “To some degree, this is all predictable Trump stuff — God knows he has threatened the media enough,” Wolff writes. “What was not anticipated is how quickly and easily the media has capitulated and groveled.” You can read his whole column here.
